April 3, 2017

Meet Elizabeth Brandon of WINK! Weddings in Toluca Lake

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Brandon.

Elizabeth, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
After over 3 years in the catering industry, I was ready for something that made my heart joyful and would surround myself with like-minded, authentic creatives. Having managed events from intimate bridal showers to massive film industry wrap parties, I knew I wanted my home base to be in celebrations with heart. Weddings felt like the ideal place to start. In 2012, I began my work for WINK! under the then owner. It was glorious. I busted my tail and produced 36 weddings in my first year. Over the course of the next two and a half years, I would discover so much about myself, who I was as a creative, an entrepreneur. In 2015, I made my next big decision: I was striking out on my own. As much as WINK! was my whole heart, she didn’t belong to me, and owning my own business was something I knew I had to pursue. I submitted my letter of resignation.

I know what you’re thinking, “But…you still work for WINK! so, what happened?” Well, that’s where things get interesting. The response I received was absolutely not what I expected. Instead of a bittersweet farewell, an offer was made for me to purchase the brand into which I had put my own blood, sweat, tears and creative energy. I sat there completely shocked. WINK! was me. She was my whole soul, and I was prepared to let her go in pursuit of bigger things. And suddenly, the best of both worlds had been laid at my feet. After months of negotiations, contract review, due diligence, and more, on July 4, 2015, we closed on the sale of WINK!

For me, Independence Day now has a whole new ring to it!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
First and foremost, the adjustment from employee to CEO is perhaps the biggest “promotion” I’ve ever received. Learning to balance managing a staff of 12, while also maintaining my own creative work and contracts was a steep learning curve. But perhaps the hardest part of that adjustment comes with being “the boss” instead of just “the friend”.

Employees come and go, but when they are people who are near and dear to your heart as friends, the personal blow is amplified tenfold. I’ve learned that the experience of “Friend-Liz” and “Boss-Liz” are two very different ones. The separation can still be a struggle, one that I don’t always navigate with Grace. But I have to remember the excitement I felt as I moved on to new endeavors, and also be proud that my company has been a launching pad and an inspiration for another creative.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with WINK! Weddings – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
WINK! began as the go-to planning & design company for California couples who are anything but conventional. Today, we share that same energy with fewer limits, offering our services to couples in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, or anywhere else our passport will take us! And of course, weddings are the limit, they are just the beginning. From corporate to private, fundraisers to house warmings, our team has you covered.

Our pride and joy is offering what we fondly refer to as “Creative Collaborative Planning & Design”. Not only is what we craft exclusively “you”, but how we do it is tailored to your needs as well. Whether you want to sit back and show up when it’s all said and done, or if you want to come with us to the flower art at 6am, we are GAME!

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Establishing and launching our east coast team is our next big adventure. With many of our high end clients being bi-coastal, it has become essential that we are able to accommodate their needs whether they are in New York filming a project, throwing an intimate dinner party at home in LA, or are a couple from London planning the perfect destination “I Do!” Our goal is to be as accessible as possible to our consumer, while never sacrificing the caliber of service and creativity we have become known for.

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