Today we’d like to introduce you to Belinda Lau.
Belinda, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I actually started as an opera singer, going to grad school on the east coast. After I finished my master’s program, I began searching for work that could provide a little more stability. Planning weddings and events was a natural addition to my life, having worked on opera productions not only as a performer but also behind-the-scenes as a producer, director, stage manager, wig & makeup artist, and costume assistant. I was just transitioning to a different kind of production!
After a few years of working in the luxury wedding industry in Baltimore, I decided to move back to LA to take some time off and be closer to family and friends. By chance, I found myself working events again, but the clientele and production level was different in LA – humongous mitzvahs, celebrity social parties, and high-profile charity galas. I began to see the amount of waste on a much bigger scale. Instead of weddings of 150 guests (which still produces a lot of trash), I began seeing waste for 400+ guests plus production crews. I felt very disconnected with the work I was creating in comparison to the lifestyle I was living. I created Opus Events Co. in wanting to help people celebrate momentous occasions but in a more thoughtful and responsible manner.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In some ways it has been incredible – I have been able to meet with so many vendors who want to produce more eco-friendly events! I think because we all have a bigger picture in mind that’s intertwined with community and the health of our environment, I’ve really connected with these people and their businesses and a lot of them have become great friends.
I think because sustainability in events is only now starting to hit the “mainstream,” some couples have no idea that they can opt for more eco-conscious vendors in their wedding planning. There’s still a lot of miseducation (or no education) about what a sustainable event looks like or how to plan one. Spoiler – it doesn’t have to look less stylish and it just takes some forethought at the beginning of the planning process! I’m hoping that in this age of the “conscious consumer,” that sustainability doesn’t just happen in our homes but spreads up to the bigger producers and manufacturers and that the revolution of more sustainable events can take hold in the industry and beyond.
Opus Events Co. – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Opus Events Co. is a full-service wedding planning company that specializes in producing all types of sustainable events in southern California. Think of us as a project manager for your wedding that guides you through design creation, booking vendors, and all the logistical aspects including vendor meetings & payments, timelines, floor plans, guest management, and task lists. We like to think of ourselves as a boutique planner and only accept a certain number of weddings each month in order to maintain the quality of events we believe our clients deserve. We’ve been able to compile an amazing vendor list of eco-friendly businesses that we partner up with for our events, and we keep a tight hold on the execution of our events to ensure that it’s not only sustainable but also beautiful and unique.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
We actually participated in the first ever vegan wedding fair, hosted by The Kind Bride, Verte Luxe, and The Treehouse in Bel Air this year. Even though we do not exclusively serve vegan couples, it’s amazing to see that the wedding industry is expanding to include all sorts of individuals, especially those that are environmentally and socially conscious. I can’t believe that we get to be on the ground floor for this movement!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.opusevents.co/
- Phone: 626-344-0055
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opuseventsco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/opuseventsco/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/opus-events-co-pasadena-2
Image Credit:
Shane F King, Amy Van Vlear Photographer, RUFFMEDIA
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