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Meet Marissa Sanchez of The Modern Party

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Marissa Sanchez.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Growing up, I was always very creative. I had every art kit you could imagine, took every art class available and had a knack for planning. I always loved helping my mom plan and decorate my birthday parties. And to this day, everything I plan has to be perfect and tie back to a concept or theme.

As I grew older, I remained creatively motivated and driven and decided to enroll in fashion school. Within just eight years from graduating from FIDM in LA, I quickly climbed the corporate ladder, becoming the Director of Product Development for a well-known fashion brand, Guess Jeans. It was an amazing ride that I was proud to be on, however once I got married and started having children, my outlook on life and the way I measured success changed. The corporate demands started taking a toll on my family and me, from the insane hours to the exhausting LA commute and lack of time off, I desperately needed a change. I needed to find a balance that allowed me to be the businesswoman I had become and the wife and mom I wanted to be.

For years, I had toyed with the idea of starting an event planning business. I had been planning weddings and parties on the side for years, just for fun, never thinking I could turn those “creative fixes” into a full-on profitable business. Every time I planned an event or decorated for a party, friends and family would encourage me that I was talented enough to make it a profession. I eventually listened to them, and to my gut, and decided it was time to give it a shot.

I had enough of the corporate demands, the cutthroat mentality and atmosphere, and with the plan of having baby #2 soon, I was ready to come out from behind the desk and venture out on my own. The same week I decided to make the move, I put in my two-week notice, created a company name, logo, Instagram profile and website. I hit the ground running to network, design and execute styled shoots and indulge myself in all things wedding.

Success came sooner than I thought and I ended up booking weddings right away and continued to watch the business grow. I am now able to work from home, set and manage my own schedule, do what I truly love and be available for my family and my precious baby girls.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The initial change was challenging. There were so many fears and concerns. I had to ask myself, will money be an issue? Am I going to regret my decision? Will I still feel like a success and am I throwing away a perfectly good career? I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn’t happy where I was and that I was making the right decision for myself and for my family. I didn’t have anything to lose. Money isn’t everything, and if it didn’t work out, I had industry experience I could fall back on.

Since making the change, it has been surprisingly smooth, although as most entrepreneurs, I struggle with self-doubt every now and then. Am I good enough? Will my business continue to grow? Again, I keep reminding myself why I made this change. I am happy now… fulfilling all of my desires, being who I want to be for myself and those around me, and living a happy, healthy and balanced life. That’s all that matters. To me, that is success.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Modern Party – what should we know?
My business is The Modern Party, and I specialize in wedding planning and design for the modern couple. I provide a wide range of services from month of coordination to full planning and offer a la carte services to help accommodate a wide range of budgets. I am known for my warm and friendly, hands-on approach and attention to detail, as well as my modern, elegant and romantic aesthetic.

A close industry friend once described my style and design aesthetic as “timeless with a touch of trend” which I thought was a perfect description! I am all about adding in the right amount of trendy elements that keep things fun and fresh while maintaining a timeless and romantic look. It’s all about creating something that the client will be in love with now and be in love with ten years later when they’re looking at their photos.

I am so proud of how quickly things have taken off. People seem to love what I love. I often get feedback from clients that my past work is exactly what they were looking for and that they were initially drawn to the images in my portfolio and social media — knowing that people like what I am putting out is validating and encourages me to stay true to myself and my brand.

I definitely consider myself a people pleaser and will always go above and beyond for my clients. Whether it means emailing at all hours of the night and over the weekends, or taking on that extra task, I will do it without hesitation. My client’s happiness is important to me, and it’s important they feel taken care of throughout the planning process. Word of mouth is everything in this industry, and it’s imperative for your business to have happy clients who can vouch for you and for your work.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
One thing that I love about this industry is that the majority of the planners out there have the mindset of “community over competition.” Everyone is so supportive and willing to share their knowledge. I belong to many Facebook groups and organizations specifically geared towards wedding planners and entrepreneurs where I can ask for advice or recommendations, or just share past experiences amongst each other.

I also owe so much of my success to my husband who encouraged me to take the leap from “corporate career woman” to “stay at home mom/entrepreneur” AKA “Mompreneur.” He is so so supportive and reminds me everyday of how proud he is of me. It means the world to me to have a support system and a partner in life who constantly builds me up.

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Katie Jackson Photography, Rachel Stelter Photography, Britt Crowe, Shanna Castro Photography, Candice Benjamin Photography

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.

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