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Meet Jessica Gonzales and Deniz King of Amethyst Event Productions

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Gonzales and Deniz King.

Amethyst Event Productions is a team of two – Jessica Gonzales & Deniz King. Each of us have similar backgrounds but gained our experience in different states. Deniz was born and raised in Chicago where she worked managing weddings and events in both luxury hotels and event venues. Jessica is an LA native and has an almost identical background in Los Angeles.

Our worlds collided when Deniz first moved to Los Angeles. We worked at the same event venue side by side and realized we had similar working styles and business values. Though we both loved the industry we were in, we found that there was something lacking. Every venue or hospitality company we worked for in our careers lacked the intention to create events specifically tailored to bring out the uniqueness of each client. We not only wanted to create events that emphasized each client’s passions but also to create a company that we could be proud of. We both have strong passions for animals, for inclusivity, and sustainability. With this in mind, we created Amethyst Event Productions. We want to change the wedding industry narrative. Weddings can be sustainable, weddings can be fully vegan, and they can be with more diverse couples than what you see in magazines.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
When we first launched Amethyst Event Productions, we both made the decision to work full-time jobs until we were at a point where we could work solely for our business. We actually got a lot of push back from our mentors who told us to leave our jobs and have the optimism that the work would come. As many knows, living in Los Angeles isn’t cheap and we didn’t want to leave our jobs and start to take projects that weren’t in line with our values just to make ends meet. As you can imagine, working full-time jobs and building a business is not something that came easy. There were a lot of sleepless nights, stress, and some tears, but we are so proud of the journey we took to get to where we are now.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Amethyst Event Productions – what should we know?
While Amethyst Event Productions works with both social and corporate events, we specialize in Weddings. We have a love for bringing a couples’ vision to life and seeing couples solidify their union in marriage. We love to work with our clients to bring their passions alive in their weddings. Let’s say the couple met in a record store and now loves to spend their Sunday’s digging through crates of vinyl’s; we’ll work with them to incorporate their passion into their wedding to make it something that represents who they are.

One of the biggest things that set us apart from most wedding planners is our passion for sustainability. On average, a wedding in Los Angeles between 100-200 guests produces around 500 pounds of waste. This waste ends up in landfills and in our oceans, and greatly impacts our environment and marine life. One of our favorite offerings is a wedding package that works with couples to create a sustainable wedding. There is a planning meeting solely to focus on determining the best steps on creating a low waste, vegan/vegetarian wedding. The package works with our industry partners with the same values – like florists who work with sustainable farms, and caterers who specialize in zero waste – to create a truly mindful event. We also donate a portion of the package cost towards one of our favorite Animal Welfare charities. We are so proud of this package and hope to continue to make an impact in our client’s lives and in the world we live in.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
First and foremost, we are so thankful to all of our clients who have trusted us with one of the biggest events of their life. Without their trust and beautiful stories, we wouldn’t be where we are today. We are also incredibly fortunate for all of our industry colleagues who have helped us create magic. We have worked with some of the best vendors in the business and are eternally grateful for their talents and partnerships. Finally, we’d like to thank our partners. Both Deniz’ husband & Jessica’s boyfriend have been cheering us on, helping us succeed, and putting up with our endless hours of work. We can’t thank them enough.

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
ECM Photo, Stephen Schauer, Jui Lee Photography, The DeLauras

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

2 Comments

  1. Stephanie Hlavach

    June 4, 2019 at 15:59

    Congratulations, Deniz and Jessica! You are filling a much-needed niche in wedding planning, and I wish you both continued success in a field that you so obviously have a passion for!

  2. Daniel Lombardo

    June 5, 2019 at 19:31

    Congratulations! Awesome read! Never realized how much waste are associated with weddings. Will definitely reach out to them.

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