Meet Sarah Evola

We recently connected with Sarah Evola and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

It’s funny, because “resilient” is a word I’ve used to describe myself in every decade of my life—not because resilience is a flex, but because for me, there was simply no other way.

I started in the service industry at 14 and moved in and out of it for nearly twenty years. Like many people, it was a placeholder while I figured out what came next. During that time, I went back to school and earned my bachelor’s degree. Serving and bartending gave me the flexibility to support myself and stay focused on my education. I had dreams of becoming a Physician Assistant, but when that path didn’t unfold the way I hoped, I was disappointed—but not defeated.

Even while I stayed in hospitality, I knew I wanted more. I wanted to call the shots, use my creativity, lead people, and give guests the kind of experience they truly seek. But stepping into leadership came with power struggles, big egos, and the added challenge of being a woman in a male-dominated field. None of that stopped me. In just 18 months, I moved from bartender to event coordinator to assistant general manager. Still, I knew it was time to build something of my own—to bring the heart of hospitality back into what I believe is a lost art.

After almost a year of unemployment and a stack of rejection letters, I finally chose myself and my vision. I started the Instagram page, began talking to people, and that’s where Veil & Vine was born. Veil represents the event-planning side of my work—especially weddings—while Vine symbolizes the hospitality consulting side, rooted in connection, growth, and elevating the guest experience.

My resilience comes from continually reinventing myself, trusting my instincts, and choosing to keep moving—even when the path I imagined changes. It’s what built me, and it’s what built Veil & Vine.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m the founder of Veil & Vine, a brand that blends two worlds I’ve spent decades navigating: event planning and hospitality consulting. Veil represents the event side—weddings, celebrations, and the moments people dream about for years. Vine symbolizes the hospitality foundation that brings everything to life: structure, systems, guest experience, and the kind of intentional service that stays with people long after an event ends.
What excites me most about my work is the transformation I get to witness. Whether I’m guiding a couple through the biggest day of their lives or helping a venue elevate how they operate, I get to take someone’s vision and turn it into an experience that feels personal, thoughtful, and effortless. There’s something incredibly special about giving people that kind of ease and beauty—especially in a world that feels rushed and disconnected.
I also love blending creativity with strategy. Event planning allows me to imagine and design, while hospitality consulting lets me dig into systems, guest flow, and the finer details that make a venue truly stand out. It’s the best of both worlds, and it gives my clients a level of support that’s both artistic and operational.

What else should people know about Veil & Vine?
Veil & Vine was created to bring heart back into hospitality. After working across bars, restaurants, and venues for nearly two decades, I saw how the industry was losing its warmth—the human connection that makes people feel welcomed, seen, and cared for. My brand is all about restoring that. I lead with empathy, creativity, and structure, and I truly believe that great experiences start behind the scenes.

Any exciting new updates?
Yes! I’m currently expanding the consulting side of my business to offer more support for venues, small businesses, and hospitality teams who want to elevate their operations. This includes workflow development, guest experience refinement, and customized SOPs rooted in modern hospitality standards.
On the event side, I’m opening space for 2025–2026 weddings and private events, with updated planning packages designed for couples who want a seamless, elevated experience without the overwhelm.
Veil & Vine is growing, evolving, and stepping fully into the space I always envisioned—and I’m excited for people to be part of it.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three qualities that shaped my journey the most were authenticity, attention to detail, and strong communication.

1. Authenticity
Authenticity has carried me through every stage of my career. Whether I was serving tables, coordinating events, or stepping into leadership, being true to who I am—my voice, my values, and my style—has allowed me to connect with people in a genuine way. Authenticity builds trust, and trust is the foundation of hospitality, leadership, and business as a whole.

Advice:
Don’t try to mirror what you think people want you to be. Instead, get clear on what you value and let that guide how you show up. People feel the difference between someone performing and someone being real. The more you ground yourself in who you are, the easier it becomes to attract opportunities aligned with your vision.

2. Attention to Detail
In both event planning and hospitality, the details are the experience. The way a space feels, the flow of an event, the clarity of a system, the tiny touches that make someone feel thought of—those are the things that separate “good enough” from unforgettable. My ability to see the small things has allowed me to create events that feel intentional and to build operational systems that actually work.

Advice:
Train yourself to slow down and observe. Look at your work from the perspective of a guest or client. Ask yourself: What would make this smoother? What would make this feel special? What detail is missing? The more you practice noticing, the more instinctive it becomes.

3. Communication
Clear, confident communication has been essential. It’s what keeps projects moving, aligns expectations, prevents problems, and creates trust between clients, teams, and partners. Whether it was having hard conversations in a male-dominated industry or guiding couples through high-stress moments, communication has been one of my strongest tools.

Advice:
Communicate early, honestly, and often. Don’t assume people know what you’re thinking. Practice saying things in a way that is direct but grounded in respect. The more comfortable you get with speaking your truth—and listening deeply in return—the stronger your relationships and opportunities become.
These three qualities—being authentic, detail-driven, and communicative—have shaped every part of my journey. For anyone starting out, focus on strengthening these areas and you’ll build a foundation that will support you no matter where your path leads.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Are you looking for partners or collaborators? If so, what kinds of folks are you hoping to connect with?
Absolutely—collaboration is at the heart of what I do. I’m always open to partnering with creatives and professionals who are passionate about their craft. Working alongside other talented individuals is incredibly inspiring and motivating, and it elevates the experience for everyone involved.
I love collaborating with photographers, other planners, venues, makeup artists, models, hairstylists, content creators, florists, and anyone in the wedding or hospitality space who values intention, artistry, and connection. Whether it’s a styled shoot, an event, a new hospitality concept, or a brand partnership, I’m always excited to build something meaningful together.
If you’re interested in collaborating, you can reach out to me directly through Instagram at @vineeventplanning or via email at [email protected]. I’d love to connect and explore what we can create.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: vineeventplanning
• Facebook: Vine Event Planning & Consulting

Image Credits

@tiannasamonecreatives