Conversations with Nina Johnston

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nina Johnston.

Hi Nina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I planned events for fun for as long as I can remember – birthday parties, theme parties, any reason to celebrate. I remember how happy I felt when I decided to make events my career. My first job out of college was as a Special Events Coordinator for the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in NYC. From there, I spent years in corporate events, planning for PGIM, Prudential’s investment division, and later as an Event Manager for Google + YouTube.

Where I really fell in love with events was through freelance work with established wedding planners. I’ve always loved seeing both the glamorous and the gritty side of events. But what I always loved most about events was the design. Feeling inspired, I started hosting my own themed parties like pink disco, and a pickle party. Before I knew it, strangers were reaching out asking me to plan and decorate their events.

That’s when I started Nina J Events, with the goal of making the hosting experience more fun for everyone. Today, I run my own business where we bring event wish lists to life through over-the-top event design and decor. With teams in LA and NYC, we blend strategic planning with personalized touches for brand and social events.

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?
Of course not! I originally launched Nina J Events in NYC, and just a year later I made the decision to move to LA. Trying to grow momentum in one city while simultaneously stepping back from it, and starting over in a brand new market at the same time, was one of the biggest challenges.

It often felt like I was building from scratch in LA while still trying to maintain the momentum I had built in NYC. I was learning a new city, a new network, and a new way of working all at once. And because so much of event planning is hands-on and location-based, it really takes time to get to know a new city, build relationships, and get fully grounded in a new market.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an Event Planner and Event Designer! I specialize in party planning and tablescape design with a decor-forward approach. From intimate dinners to full scale productions, at Nina J Events we prioritize custom attention to detail – think over the top decor with thoughtful, personalized touches that feel uniquely you. Whether collaborating with first-time hosts or event professionals, we make the event planning process seamless and fun while delivering inspiring decor.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ninajevents.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninajevents/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ninajevents