Conversations with April Gray

Today we’d like to introduce you to April Gray.

Hi April, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m the Owner and Lead Designer of C.C. Monroe Event Design. A little about me and my event planning journey. I attended UCLA (Go Bruins!), while there I co-produced their annual UCLA Jazz Reggae Festival. The 2-day festival was one of the largest student-run events in the nation. The festival gave me my first taste of event planning. I quickly learned about site plans/layouts, budgets, vendor logistics, event permits, sponsorship packages, etc. I instantly fell in love with event planning, despite the grueling hours while also trying to balance the demands of college. It was during my time working on the festival that I also met my lifelong friend, Todd Hawkins (Founder/CEO of The Todd Group). After college, I began a career in commercial real estate/development, working on events as a side hustle. Realizing the corporate world wasn’t my calling, I took a leap of faith into the event industry (okay, let me be completely transparent…the real estate company relocated to TX and I stayed in CA. So I was pushed into that leap lol). I began working full-time at The Todd Group on events ranging from non-profit galas to luxury weddings. I eventually formed C.C. Monroe Event Design, focusing on luxury children’s events. At the time, I had three kids under 3, and kid events were my world both personally and professionally. However, with my kids officially out of the baby stage, I wanted to begin a new chapter of C.C. Monroe. During the pandemic, I spent the downtime taking inventory of my company trying to figure out the direction I wanted to take C.C. Monroe. My company has evolved from a children’s event company to a full-service event and design firm. We specialize in a full range of events from weddings and social events to brand activations.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think it’s ever a smooth road for any entrepreneur. There are always growing pains when trying to start a business and make it successful. For me, the hardest part was figuring out where C.C. Monroe fits within the event industry. I started as a luxury children’s event company, yet over time have evolved to doing weddings, social events and brand activations. However, making the transition was very difficult for me. During the pandemic, I took the downtime to really reflect on my brand, my ideal client and my company’s mission. In a time where everyone (at least on social media) was pivoting and continuing to work on events, I relied on the saying “what is for me will be for me”. I knew very clearly where I wanted to go and I knew patience and diligence would get me there. I am not in competition with anyone but myself. I focused on aligning myself with other vendors that share the same aesthetic and client base. I designed styled shoots to build my portfolio and reinforced my design style. To my excitement, the shoots were featured in top industry blogs and actually attracted my ideal client (looking forward to their wedding this year, lol). I began working on perfecting the art of saying “no” to projects that did not match my company’s brand. Trying to stay true to your vision when bills need to be paid is TOUGH, but I’m so grateful that I did. I am very proud of where I am and look forward to what the future holds.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am the Owner and Lead Designer of C.C. Monroe Event Design. We are a Los Angeles based full-service event planning and design company. We specialize in creating modern, “luxury-relatable” events. We design events that are refined and elevated yet inviting. What sets me apart from other event planners is my approachable nature. I love making personal connections with my clients. I only take on a limited number of events per year, allowing me to give my clients a personalized experience rather than treating them like just a file on my desk.

The most gratifying part of my job is the awkward goodbye at the end of an event. I love it when my clients aren’t ready to say goodbye to me, that means I did my job. Recently, at the end of a wedding, my client and I hugged and started to both ugly cry. I told my husband about the experience; he could not believe I would get that emotional. However, that is really just how close I get to my clients. Literally, we talk every day for weeks, months, sometimes up to a year. They become interwoven into my life and it’s sad when our time together comes to an end.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
While I can’t predict the future; who could have EVER predicted 2020! I think some of the trends we have seen as a result of 2020 will continue for years to come. For a year, we have been stuck in the house forced to use technology as a means to communicate. As humans, we are innately social creatures. I think the event industry will continue to see a surge of in-person events over the next few years as people want to be around their friends and family as much as possible.

The BLM Movement shed light on the racial disparity within many industries, the event industry included. I believe (hope) we will see the event industry becoming more inclusive with clients being more intentional with hiring minority-owned businesses. More POC being recognized for their work, included in blog features, sought after as guest speakers and included on preferred vendor lists.

I am hopeful that despite the major setbacks of 2020, the event industry has a bright future. I look forward to continuing to help clients celebrate life’s milestones in a fun, meaningful way.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.ccmonroeeventdesign.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c.c.monroedesign/

Image Credits:
Kelli Bee Photography Caitlin Alohilani Photography