Meet Megan Ondercin of Louise & Third Events in Orange County

Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Ondercin.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Megan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up on the east coast where I also went to college to study Apparel Design. That was, and still is, a passion of mine. I’ve always been one who’s opted for the more creative route in every aspect of my life. While in college, I spent a few summers as a server for a catering company. That was my first introduction into the world of weddings and social events. I got to see all of the different aspects of what goes into producing an event and really loved the atmosphere. After college, I worked as a Production Coordinator for the dance and yoga brand, Danskin. Just a few short months into that, I realized corporate fashion was not for me. I had my eyes set on either New York or LA to move into Costume Design and Wardrobe Styling.

So, I packed up my 1 bedroom apartment in Pennsylvania and moved back home to Maryland to save up money for my big move. I decided I wanted to end up in LA since that’s where my sister lives. During that 2 years at home, I worked for a bridal boutique selling bridal gowns and styling brides for their big day. I also worked for a corporate event company in Baltimore. Then, in 2007, I made the move cross-country and immediately started assisting wherever I could in the entertainment industry as a costumer or stylist on photo shoots, commercials, short films, and TV. I worked for an Emmy nominated show on the Style Network and once that show got cancelled I was left searching for my next gig.

While waiting for the next job to turn up, I started assisting an event planner on the side and decided that it was time to leave the Hollywood life behind and turn to my other dream job of wedding planning. I went on to assist two other planning companies, gaining the experience I needed before ultimately fulfilling my dream of owning my own business, which I launched in 2013.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Owning your own business is never a smooth road! I think anybody would agree to that. While being very organized and detail-oriented, I never considered myself a business woman. I took a few courses in college and it was never my forte, my creative side of my brain is definitely my dominate side! However, I am a quick learner and a self-starter so I wasn’t about to shy away from the challenge of figuring out how to run a small business. It’s been a huge learning curve and I’m still navigating my way and constantly adding/changing things about my business and how it reflects me.

I think the hardest thing so far is being patient with my company’s growth. It’s a long road with many obstacles to overcome, but I’ve worked hard and have often sacrificed other things in my life to achieve what I want in order to have a successful business. I’m somewhat of an introverted extrovert, so putting myself out there in the beginning was difficult. Going to networking events where it seemed everyone knew each other was definitely intimidating but I knew how crucial it was to introduce myself and meet other businesses in the event industry. I now have a great network of fellow vendors around me and I’m so thankful for those relationships.

Another big struggle has been figuring out how to balance my time. Starting off as a company of 1, I would work around the clock and often late into the night in order to get everything done. As an entrepreneur, you wear many hats in the beginning and that can be exhausting! You are not only a wedding planner, but also the marketing team, book-keeper, social media expert, and many more! There’s a lot to juggle but I’m finally at the point where I can hire on a team to support me or outsource what I don’t want to do!

Please tell us about Louise & Third Events.
Louise & Third is a planning and design company specializing in weddings and other social events. We plan everything from glamorous and luxurious high-end weddings, to intimate and casual events. We cater to each client’s specific personal style in order to deliver the most unique event possible. We love creating custom decor pieces to add that little bit of a personal, never-been-seen-before touch!

My clients inspire me every day and I really take the time to sit and chat with them in order to really get to know them. As a planner, you spend several months with your clients so the more you can dig deep into their lives and find out what makes them unique, the more ideas you’re able to infuse into their day! With weddings, I get lost in the love stories and feel so inspired by my couples. I take what I do very seriously, after all, I’m responsible for one of the most important days in someone’s life. I’m with my clients every step of the way, so it’s important that my clients feel at ease knowing they can trust me. I want them to enjoy the planning process so I always go above and beyond to ensure they are comfortable and stress-free. Us planners often joke that not only are we planners, but we are also therapists!

I think what sets my company apart is my fashion background and job experience in other areas of the event industry. Not only do I have that Type A type personality perfect for this type of career, but I bring my influence from the fashion world and merge that into wedding trends. I have a natural eye for trend-forecasting and can parlay that often into the design of a wedding or event. I have the know-how of fabrics/garment construction and can assist my clients in either selecting their attire or being there for wedding day emergencies! I have been known to sew a bride into her gown, fix a ripped seam on a groomsmen’s pants, and repair bustles!

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is don’t be afraid to ask for help. We are all so worried about image and asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of. We are all navigating our careers in some form or another and leaning on others and finding mentors is key! My sister is also in the wedding industry and I have leaned on her a lot these past few years, gaining insight through her experiences and asking for guidance when needed. I’ve also learned that having a business coach is essential to growth. I expected to know everything off the bat so don’t be hard on yourself if you’re just starting out in a new business venture and aren’t sure at first. Use resources available to you, build relationships, invest in furthering your education, and keep your head up!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.louiseandthird.com
• Phone: 714-912-0272
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @louiseandthird
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louiseandthird/

Image Credit:
Anya Kernes Photography
Kaysha Weiner Photography
Brian Leahy Photography
Studio EMP Photograph
Diana McGregor Photography
Meghan Elise Photography
Glass Jar Photography