Maricela Alicia Matos’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

Maricela Alicia Matos shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Maricela Alicia, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I start my day full force. With 2 kids, 11 and 2 there is hardly any room for a slow morning. Both of my kids are early risers so it’s usually breakfast, packing lunches, prayer, school drop off for the oldest then I drop of the little one with grandma most days.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Maricela Alicia, the owner and creative director behind Alicia + Co. Events, a wedding planning and design company rooted in faith, intentionality, family, and creating experiences that feel deeply personal. We specialize in elevated and unforgettable weddings throughout Southern California and destination celebrations, with a strong focus on multi-day events that bring people together in meaningful ways.

What makes us unique is the heart behind everything we do. I’m not just a planner checking boxes. I genuinely pour myself into every couple, every detail, every story. I think the magic comes from blending thoughtful logistics with design that feels elevated, timeless, and emotional. My background as a mother, a wife, and someone who values connection also shapes the way I work. I treat every wedding like it matters, because it truly does.

At the end of the day, my work is about more than weddings. It’s about service, artistry, family, and making sure people feel seen and taken care of. That’s the heart of Alicia + Co. Events, and it’s the part I’m most proud of.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who to be, I was a girl who loved creating beauty out of anything I touched. The one rearranging rooms, organizing family parties, and finding joy in bringing people together. I was curious, imaginative, and always paying attention to the little details no one else noticed.

Somewhere along the way, life, expectations, titles, and responsibilities tried to mold me into a version of myself that fit “what made sense.” But the real me, the one I was before the world stepped in has always been the girl who finds meaning in connection, who thrives in creativity, and who lights up when transforming something simple into something memorable.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one thing to my younger self, it would be this:

You’re not lost, you’re just becoming.

I’d tell her that being quiet and shy isn’t a weakness; it’s a superpower. That softness she carried, the way she made friends with ease, the kindness she led with, those qualities would someday become the foundation of a life filled with connection, creativity, and purpose.

And I’d tell her that one day, she’d turn her quiet confidence into a career rooted in service, leadership, and creativity and that everything she once doubted about herself would become the very things that set her apart.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
For me, the difference between a fad and a real foundational shift comes down to impact and intention.

A fad feels loud, fast, and temporary. Something that shows up suddenly, gets a lot of attention, and fades just as quickly. It’s usually rooted in aesthetics or hype, not in actual value. In the wedding world, fads are the things couples want “because everyone else is doing it,” not because it aligns with their story or elevates the guest experience.

A foundational shift is quieter but deeper. It changes behavior, expectations, and the way we experience events. It solves a problem. It elevates a process. It improves the way people feel. Foundational shifts tend to show up repeatedly across different clients, venues, and vendors and they actually make planning or celebrating more intentional.

For me, the test is simple:
Does this add meaning, efficiency, or emotional depth? Or is it just cute for now?

If it enhances the guest experience, supports logistics, or allows couples to express themselves more authentically, it’s a shift worth embracing.

If it’s just noise, I let it pass.

At Alicia + Co. Events, I always come back to longevity, purpose, and how something will feel in 10 or 20 years not just how it looks this season. That’s how I stay rooted in what truly matters while still evolving with an ever-changing industry.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope the story people tell about me when I’m gone is simple, but meaningful. That I was kind, that I loved Jesus, and that I loved my family with my whole heart. I hope they remember me as someone who found joy in the small, everyday moments. The ones most people overlook. The laughter around the dinner table, the quiet car rides with my boys, the hugs before school, the sweet chaos of family life, those were always the moments that mattered most to me.

I hope they say I showed up for people. That I gave generously, cared deeply, and made others feel seen and loved. Not because it was loud or performative, but because it was who I was.

And if there’s one thing I pray lingers long after me, it’s that my life reflected grace that I left people better than I found them, that my faith was evident not just in words but in how I treated others, and that my legacy lives in my children through the way they carry love, kindness, and purpose in their own lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aliciaandcoevents.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliciaandcoevents
• Linkedin: Maricela Matos
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Aliciaandcoevents/
• Other: tik tok @aliciaandcoevents

Image Credits
@alyssalizarragaphoto
@heber_moran_photography
@gabbygandara
@ildefonso_gutierrez
@love_is_wed