Meet Tatijana Grove

 

We recently connected with Tatijana Grove and have shared our conversation below.

Tatijana, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience from my mom, Jesika Leszewski. She was a wedding and event planner from the time she was 16, and I had the privilege of learning from her at a very young age. As a single mother, I was often forced to work alongside her, absorbing every aspect of the business—from the planning, catering, and rentals to creating florals. She was incredibly talented, and I’m so grateful to have had the honor of learning from someone so passionate and skilled.

However, my mom also faced significant struggles that deeply affected my childhood. She battled with bi-polar disorder, mental health challenges, and addiction issues. As a result, I moved around a lot, bouncing between houses and schools. This instability forced me to grow up fast, learn how to fend for myself, build new connections quickly, and always push myself to be better.

When I turned 18, my life changed drastically with my mom’s passing. By then, I had already been providing for myself and working since I was 16, but her passing pushed everything into overdrive. I had to leave college to focus on supporting myself, paying rent, and building a future. I worked in restaurants until I landed my first property management job and spent over 3 years working with high-end property management companies. Eventually, I took a leap of faith and started my own company, managing 25 privately owned properties.

As I built my property management business, I was also pursuing my true passion—weddings and events. I began with small backyard weddings and slowly built my way up to coordinating weddings across the country. Over the past few years, I’ve coordinated 35+ weddings, and each one has been an honor.

Now, I’ve made the decision to focus solely on my events and weddings business, dedicating all my time and energy to my clients. I’m incredibly passionate about everything I do, and I always strive to give the best product possible.

My resilience comes from the lessons my mom taught me, even in the toughest times, and from having to push through adversity to create a better future for myself. It’s a reminder that even in the face of hardship, we can rise up and create something beautiful.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am highly focused on growing my wedding and event planning business. My goal is to take on upscale, high-end weddings and ensure that my clients don’t have to worry about a thing. I offer packages that range from wedding planning support and day-of coordination to full-time planning services, tailored to the needs of each couple. What really sets me apart is my willingness to travel. I’ve had the pleasure of coordinating weddings in five different states so far, and I’m excited to expand my reach even further. Ultimately, my long-term dream is to plan international weddings and events.

Although my business is still growing, one of my key goals is to involve my future family in my work. My passion for events stems from the bond I shared with my mom, who taught me the ropes of event planning from a young age. I want to carry that love and passion forward and show my future family that they can do anything they set their minds to. My dream is to take my family on summer trips to different countries, where I would plan 1-3 weddings each summer in a new country. These experiences would not only allow me to live my dream of international weddings, but also help my family see the world while pursuing our passions.

I also offer a range of additional services, such as rentals, floral design, luxury picnics, balloon arches, bartending services, food handling, and even officiating weddings as I’m ordained. As I make the leap into full-time events, I’m excited about the growth and the endless possibilities ahead. I believe the sky is the limit, and I’m thrilled to see where this journey takes me.

Ultimately, my goal is to create beautiful, seamless events that allow my clients to relax and enjoy the special moments. I’m incredibly passionate about what I do, and I can’t wait to continue sharing my love for weddings and events with the world!

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

Looking back, I would say that the three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are determination, resilience, and my kind heart. Growing up, I faced a number of challenges, but I’ve always looked forward to how I could learn from each experience. My mom was the most impactful person in my life, and she continues to be my guiding light. Everything I do, I do in her honor, and I know she would be incredibly proud of where I am today. Her strength and love shaped who I am, and I carry that with me every day.

As for advice, I’d tell everyone that while no dream is too big to accomplish, it’s important to take your time and make sure you’re doing it in a way that makes you feel proud and passionate. It’s easy to get discouraged when things don’t unfold the way you expect them to, but I’ve learned that everything takes longer than anticipated. It took me about four years to grow my business to a point where I could dive in full-time. Along the way, I’ve encountered challenges, but each one taught me invaluable lessons. Those lessons have helped me become a stronger and more capable business owner.

For anyone looking to make a big change, my advice is to expect challenges, but push through them because they are what will ultimately lead to greatness. It’s important to stay focused on your end goal, even when the road feels tough. Surround yourself with a support system, trust the process, and remember that your resilience is what will keep you moving forward. Success doesn’t come overnight, but with determination, patience, and a kind heart, you’ll make it.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Yes, I’m always on the lookout for talented photographers, videographers, florists, designers, venues, and other creatives to collaborate with and help elevate the events I plan. I believe that working with other passionate individuals is key to creating something truly special for each couple or client. Additionally, I absolutely love doing styled shoots with other creatives. These shoots are a fantastic way to build our clientele and increase exposure, while also allowing us to showcase our skills and creativity in a collaborative way.

For me, building strong connections and relationships is incredibly important. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with some amazing vendors who have helped me create unforgettable experiences for my clients. These partnerships are ones I plan to continue nurturing throughout my career. Having reliable vendors I can trust and vouch for not only eases my clients’ minds but also gives me the confidence to ensure every event runs smoothly and is nothing short of perfect.

If you’re a creative professional looking to collaborate, I would love to connect! Feel free to reach out to me through my website or social media, and we can discuss how we might work together to create beautiful, memorable events. Whether it’s a styled shoot or a full-scale wedding, I’m always open to exploring new opportunities and building lasting relationships with fellow vendors. Let’s make something amazing together!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

@brittjezakphoto
@vividendeavormedia
@savannamarleephotography
@kep_photos
@mollymoormeier
@corinnabaileyphoto
@jenpattersonphoto
@taras.ilchuk.photography

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