Today we’d like to introduce you to Angie Yoo.
Hi Angie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello~ thank you for having me on VoyageLA it’s such an honor! My name is Angie Yoo and I am the owner of Beloved Events Co. an Event Planning and Floral boutique based in Southern California!
However, it was through working here that I saw how money hungry and dark this industry could be, and so I decided to leave after several months of working. After a short vacation, I reached out to Julia, now my mentor and friend, seeking advice on what I should do at this point in my life. I was a college graduate working a server job at a Korean BBQ restaurant but was scared to invest my time into another company that would treat me poorly. Julia very adamantly encouraged me to pursue opening my own event boutique. She said that this was the perfect time to do something like this because I already had the connections, and all my peers were going to start getting married and then have babies! She told me that she thought I was fully capable and would offer guidance if needed. Many others around me shared encouragement along the same lines, so with a lot of prayer I slowly started Beloved Events Co. in January 2019.
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?
The beginning was definitely rough. Thank God I had good friends already working in the industry to help me figure out the business side of things. I purchased my company name, a business license and designed my own website and logo. It was also nice that I wasn’t diving full force into this business. I was still working my server job and saving up so there was no pressure to become successful super fast. The struggle was getting my name out there. Almost all of my clients from my first year (2019) were referrals from friends. There were so many established event planners and florists around me that I felt as a “new” business it would be difficult to make my mark in the industry regardless of my years of experience.
However, my PR classes in college seemed to pay off. I quickly branded my business and made sure I had a strong presence on social media. Now, most of my clients find me through my Instagram! Another challenging moment was when my Fiancé encouraged me to leave my server job and pursue Beloved Events Co. full-time. I was scared to let go of a great and stable income and enter the world of freelance. I was pressuring myself to become this huge corporate company known and loved by all because that was all I had ever seen. I then realized that I didn’t HAVE to be that company. I worked with flowers and made things easy and beautiful because I genuinely enjoyed it! Growth is always good but I didn’t have to become a mega business, and as soon as I made peace with that all pressure was released. The things I do for work are genuinely things I enjoy doing: meeting new people, organizing and planning and of course playing with flowers. My job never feels like work to me!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At Beloved Events Co. we offer Coordination, Design and Floral services for events. We specialize mostly in weddings but have also planned first birthdays, baby showers and bridal showers as well! The floral style I enjoy creating most is whimsical and natural, but I can also create full luxurious pieces. According to our clients, I am known for “making it easy” and “going above and beyond”. Something that sets us apart is that we offer BOTH Coordination and Floral services. This makes the planning process easier for our clients since they won’t need to worry about working with multiple vendors, and the design of the event will be cohesive all around. I am proud because I proactively cultivated my skills for both from the beginning and now am able to offer excellent customer service and insight when providing these services.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
As an Event Planner, I thought that Wedding planning would be easy for me. When I got engaged on February 29th this year little did I know a pandemic would hit us this hard (or this long). Being a COVID bride has been a trying and learning experience, but even amidst all the trials, I’m glad that I am able to experience this alongside my fellow brides. Ladies (and grooms), I’m right here walking through this with you! You girls are boss babes for rolling with the punches and still fighting for your perfect day~ 🙂 Our wedding was postponed to January 2021 so fingers crossed!!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.belovedeventsco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belovedeventsco/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belovedeventsco/
Image Credits
Photographer: Michelle Jisun Kim
