Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherine Zaza.
Sherine, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have both Middle Eastern and American roots. Growing up attending beautiful weddings in Lebanon and Syria, I developed an obsession with weddings. The amazing floral designs took my breath away. I can remember the crystal chandeliers hanging from the celings with flowers dripping from the walls. It was truly a dream come true.
Later traveling to exotic places like Turkey, Dubai and Egypt, my sense of design and culture came together. Visiting Italy, Spain and France ignited my love for fashion. Scenes of flamenco dancers in fire red gowns, singing songs full of pathos and longing touched my soul.
My world travels and Syrian background combined to instill a deep love of other cultures and people. I wanted to do something that demonstrated this feeling. I helped my best friend Ana Rockanjack with her wedding which was in Serbia. Ana, interested in fashion, design and photography steered me to take on an event planner job for her friend’s wedding. She would later claim to have found my calling.
Five years into the business, I ventured into flower and decor design. I found this area to be my forte. Design is a passion I always had. I approached every event with a mix of passion and love for the different cultures and religions I encountered. The end result was like visiting different countries without ever leaving the USA.
The rest is History!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Event planning is a competitive field. Oftentimes, I felt like I was swimming with sharks. My passion and love for this work, along with my integrity allowed me to rise above the challenges.
Initially, I worked for free and received zero appreciation. People took advantage of novice event planners or florists and I suffered the same fate. I’ve cried and bled, and had a sunburn that boiled my head. These experiences only served to mold me into the resilient person I am today.
I faced many obstacles in terms of culture. I consider myself an out-of-the-box thinker with energy that can light up the sky. Being creative comes easy, but fitting in is not as easy. My Arab-American roots made it challenging. With the war in Syria, many opinions flew. Some remarks pierced my soul. On the other hand, I do not look like a typical Arab. I have blonde hair and green eyes. This made it difficult to fit in with the Arab crowd who criticized freely and considered me “not good enough.”
Sometimes it’s difficult to get back up when you’ve failed. I’ve cried countless times or just laughed at myself. But the thing that always brought me up was my spirit and love for what I do and create. It’s beautiful to be unique, and I get to help create it. I create a uniquely you wedding or event, and the exciting decor reflects the unique personality of my clients.
Zaza & Co. Events and Flowers – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Our business is unique in many ways. I am honored to have planned some of the most culturally complex weddings where all sides were over the moon. Recently I got to do a fusion wedding with a beautiful Chinese bride and amazing Indian groom. Culture was rich on both sides. From the Chinese Tea Ceremony with deep red gowns, to the Indian ceremony with vibrant colors and traditions.
I made it work while keeping the wedding unique adding the bride and grooms unique nature or touch to the wedding, so it felt like them. It’s a blessing and so beautiful to see the acceptance and love of the families — emotional intelligence at its finest.
We also are known for our custom and high-end decor and floral arrangements. A celebrity wedding we did at the Santa Anita horse race track was well-received. We used recycled and painted horseshoes in every element, including the bouquets. Our team designed floral arrangements in trophy cups resting in a bed of green moss.
At another wedding, we created orchids hanging in a beautiful secret garden. You guessed it, one of my favorite movies was “The Secret Garden.” The positive energy and love for each event and person we work with is the biggest thing that sets us apart.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career is each moment. Getting to watch the most precious moments and beauty of each culture brings tears to my eyes each time. It’s the first dances and emotional speeches of the groom with so much Love he is brave enough to serenade his bride right after the professional band plays. Or the surprises each has for each other. And the beauty of two cultures coming together with love. If only the world was this way!
There all proud moments and I can’t wait for more.
Pricing:
- Wedding packages start at $2,000 for day of or month of coordinating
- Full starts at $5,000 and up depending on factors And guest count
Contact Info:
- Website: www.zazacoevents.com
- Phone: 310-292-6578
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/zazaco.events
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/eventsbyzaza
Image Credit:
Julia Varga photography
Ana Rockanjac
Rythum and Me – Anita Chueng
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