Community Highlights: Meet Ariana Avila Torres of Ariana Event Co

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariana Avila Torres

Hi Ariana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Becoming an event planner might be the singular thing in my life that makes complete sense and I mean that in a divine way. Planning events was an evolution from being detail-obsessed and a lover of all celebrations to creating a career out of it that felt like a love story in itself. Everything else in life (naturally as a Pisces) I ponder about, but not this. As far as my memory goes I have been a lover of the art of celebrating intentionally. Whether it was a birthday, good news, a recipe made just right, or a milestone I couldn’t bear to have a moment of celebration to go unseen. I gravitated towards being the planner in almost every space I was in. I began to plan events at 17 years old and I truly never stopped since then. I was 20 years old when I got a call asking me to plan the first wedding I ever did. Ecstatic feels like too little of a word to describe how I felt at that moment. After that wedding, I felt ever so clearly my life’s work would be dedicated to planning productions encompassing celebration and I would turn my focus to weddings. It all aligned perfectly with my love for details, admiration for sentimentalism, and even the adrenaline of executing the minute-by-minute timeline on the event day. From there I went off and bounced back doing events on the East and West coast. Now I am based in California but open to the globe.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I went into the event planning industry knowing I wanted to make art out of my obstacle. Very early on I was enlightened with the fact that it is very difficult to enter rooms where nobody looked like me. I didn’t see event planners who were my skin color. I didn’t see event planners my age. I didn’t see anyone young, with brown skin and curly hair around me in the industry. I didn’t see representation at the forefront and at times it made me want to crumble in doubt. If I let people tell me where I didn’t belong I would have ended my career before I even started. They can make you think the obstacle is the skin you were born in but the real burden is the looks, the questions, the assumptions that you are given for not fitting the industry’s template. The reaction to your presence is defeating but I have written my truth- being Latina makes me better at what I do. In perspective, I feel displaced by the lack of representation but when I can go from talking to the crew many times in Spanish to then immediately taking a phone call in English about the next plan of action, I feel right at home.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Ariana Event Co we plan and orchestrate gatherings, typically weddings. We wholeheartedly believe that each event is a delicate dance between three intertwined elements—creative design, meticulous logistics, and the experience of emotion.

Our full event planning services embrace all faces of this vivid canvas. We begin by immersing ourselves in your vision, asking thoughtful questions such as, “What emotions do you want to feel on your special day?” and “Which memories from your journey do you wish to be revived at your event?” By diving into the heart of your story, we make personalized decisions that truly reflect your unique narrative.

We work together from the spark of your initial brainstorming to the selection of vendors who align with your vision, through crafting a precise timeline and flawlessly executing every detail on the day itself. We cherish the truth that event production is a labor of love, where diverse talents unite to create something truly special. We pride ourselves in sourcing a team of vendors that will always go above and beyond for you.

Though based in California, no flight is too long to take us where we need to be. Tell us what you are dreaming and we will tell you how we can make it happen.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I think weddings, in particular, will turn into more unpredictable celebrations! Less traditional moments and more “we did this simply because it feels like us.” Less formalities, more intentional experiences. Wedding weekends where more memories can be created further than over dinner and dancing.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://arianaeventco.com

Image Credits
Haley Graces

Esteban Leyva Photo

Brooke Squire Art