We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Felicia Luca a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Felicia, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?
My generosity has deep roots, a lifelong commitment nurtured by my parents who always extended a helping hand to family and friends. From the smallest tasks to offering support in times of need, their values instilled in me a desire to make a positive impact on others, including animals in need of rescue. I’ve even been a foster mom on occasion. Volunteering my time and giving back, including donating some of my designs, has become an integral part of who I am. I cherish the opportunity to continue spreading kindness, making a difference and making others smile.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m the proud owner and stylist behind Lifestyle Event Designs, a captivating decor rental company located in Morganville, NJ. My decor is redefining the boundaries of event decorating bringing a touch of enchantment to every occasion. I love to seamlessly fuse elements of fashion, art, florals (fresh, dried & faux) and stone, with sustainability in mind. The crown jewel of my decor is the Goddess-Inspired Floral Mannequin Collection.
My lifelong love of designing unique decor started when I was a stay-at-home mom decorating and hosting gatherings.Today I share my designs outside my inner circle elevating weddings, special occasions and corporate galas. Observing the delight my creations evoke in attendees, those moments when they pause, smile, and connect with the essence of life, that’s where my true happiness resides.
My journey began at the young age of 54 re-entering the workforce as a product demonstrator, then a health fairs coordinator, which led to the position of lead-salesperson planning and executing wellness events for corporate America. Thereafter I began a new division for the company I worked for, introducing brands to consumers through events and a podcast. This path revealed my true calling: professional event planning, enriching event experiences through themes and decor.
After a brain tumor diagnosis and surgery my perspective on life shifted; I embraced everything with more passion. When I returned to work, I juggled two sides of the business consecutively, however it no longer felt right. It was also at this point my family encouraged me to follow my passion, create decor pieces, and share my work beyond our family circle. I began by styling pieces and writing blogs with step-by-step guides for others. This led to the creation of more designs and repurposing mannequin dress forms into stunning floral designs and the rest is history.
I eagerly await the future, watching my collection grow and bringing more smiles to faces of all ages.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
There are three factors that have been most impactful in my journey:
1. Life Experiences: I find beauty and lessons in the everyday, infusing passion into everything I do. While some may say I take things to heart and get deeply involved, it’s this intensity that fuels my creative endeavors. Many experiences have led me to where I am today. My love for traveling has influenced cultural designs. Using treasures from my backyard including Pampas Grass, tree branches and Lunaria have sparked and are part of many of my designs. But it’s my love for treasure hunting that has gifted me with upcycled materials, like used mannequins and rocking horses that have become my crown jewel designs.Together with a background in coordinating and hosting wellness events throughout corporate America these experiences have proved to be pivotal in my growth to being an entrepreneur in the event industry.
2. Supportive Relationships: My strong network of family and friends has been the cornerstone of my journey. In my 37 years of marriage, my husband has been my unwavering supporter, whether I was leading the PTA, gymnastics team mom, volunteering with seniors and now venturing into entrepreneurship. My adult children also played a decisive role in encouraging my new path. Assisting me and lending creative insight when I seem to need it. Even my closest friends and two special cousins have been my cheerleaders and ambassadors.. These bonds provide emotional support and encouragement, solidifying my ability to stay on the path.
3. Self-Belief and Optimism: Self-belief is the cornerstone of my business growth. An optimistic perspective and trust in my capabilities fuel my passion. While doubts may creep in on occasion, I counter them with music that nurtures a positive mindset, whether it’s piano melodies or disco beats. Daily self-assurance and the unwavering belief in my ability to create decor that brings smiles and wonder, serve as powerful drivers of resilience, propelling me forward on my entrepreneurial journey.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
Let me take you on a journey back to the mid 70s, where the unique blend of my American Mexican mother and American Greek father had an extraordinary impact on my life. Those were the days when I struggled with embracing my Mexican heritage and vividly remember being the sole representative of my background in school. It was at this point that my parents had the most impact in my life. They not only taught me to embrace the richness of both cultures but instilled in me a lifelong commitment to viewing others with courtesy and respect, always.
My mother was a force of inspiration. She held the firm belief that I should walk through life with my head held high, proud of my unique heritage combination and empower myself with self love to achieve anything I wanted to do. But her impact didn’t stop there. She had a passion for refreshing our home with each changing season, conjuring up new curtain designs and rearranging the decor. She was also the driving force behind many art projects, and costume designs during my school years. All of this ignited my own creative spirit which now fuels the decor pieces adorning my home and enchanting guests at special occasions through my rental company, Lifestyle Event Designs. My father, on the other hand, hailed from the hospitality industry, and one standout thing he taught me was that a kitchen table was not just a place to eat, but an experience in itself. He instilled in me the wisdom of treating every element of a meal, even a barbeque with appreciation. He taught me the art of placement of cutlery and presentation of food, no matter how little might be on the table, to the delicate gift of cutting a cake with respect, because someone put their heart into creating the delicacy. His wonderful skills impacted others beyond the dining table; from his heart, he was the volunteer handyman for our extended family’s home projects building and creating wonderful home pieces wherever needed.
The lessons I learned continue to shape and impact who I am every day. I’ve joyfully passed these lessons down to my children and it warms my heart to see the influence they have on their lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lifestyleeventdesigns.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifestyle_ed/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lifestyleeventdesigns
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicia-luca-ab1b44180/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lifestylee_d
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/LifestyleEventDesigns/
