We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Andrea Gonzalez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Andrea thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

Picking the name for my business was a rollercoaster. I went back and forth on the name for a while, but it all started when my husband and I were on vacation and he asked me, “so what’s going to be your business name?” I had no idea. As I was getting ready that morning, I remember that my friend, Sunny (a friend whose wedding I did), kept telling me during her wedding “you are my fairy godmother.” So I came out of the bathroom and I told my husband, “Fairy Godmother Events” and he said “that’s perfect! I love it! When you make your business cards you can make them like the fairy godmother in Shrek, and use the phrase “happiness is a tear drop away.” As soon as he said that, I said “never mind. I hate it. I don’t like that name. I’ll keep thinking about it.” So for the next few weeks, we kept a running list of names on my phone. There were about 50 names on that list, and I didn’t like any of them.

One night as I was falling asleep and was thinking about the name, for some reason, the movie The Godfather came to mind and I though what about THE Fairy Godmother? I will be THE Fairy Godmother. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how fitting it was for me, my personality, and also the brand I wanted to create. I think when you are planning your wedding you hope to have a fairy godmother, and not in the sense that they’ll bring birds and mice to make your wedding dress, but in the sense that they want to make your dream come true. When you think about the fairy godmothers in fairy tales, making your dreams come true is not just a job, It’s their mission. That is what I want my clients to feel. I want them to know that their wedding is as important to me as it is to them.

And that’s how THE Fairy Godmother Weddings and Events was born. It was there all along. Even though it took me a minute to come around to it, I am so glad I can sign off as “Love, The Fairy Godmother” on my stationary.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have always loved weddings. I love everything about them: the florals, the love, the bows, the vows, all the delicate details. I just think that weddings are so pretty. I first noticed I was good at it when my sister got married back in 2014. My mom wanted to do all of the normal wedding things but I started to think there is surely a more efficient and cost effective way to go about this. I remember that at my sister’s wedding, I was running the whole show even though no one asked me to, and I really enjoyed it. I was exhausted, but it felt good. I didn’t think much about it then because I was soon going to college, and back then I wanted to be a prestigious attorney. When I was in college, I was assigned to organize the events within my congregation and that’s where my talents really shined. Everyone suggested that I should be an event planner, but again event planning was just a hobby. I got excited every time a close friend would get married and I always wanted to help, but never considered it as a career. However, after a few years in the legal field, I started to feel burned out and I knew I wanted to do something else.

With some encouragement from my husband, I left my job and started my own business to bring passion, flair, and love to others. I believe that every couple deserves to have a wedding day coordinator, that’s why I try to keep my services reasonably priced. I think that when people hear the words “wedding planner” or “wedding coordinator” they automatically think expensive or luxury, but not every couple has a luxury budget, and I think that small budget couples also deserve to have royal treatment on their special day!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

When I started my business, I had the mindset that the “client is always right, it’s their wedding and therefore they get to have the last say” and while that is true, as a wedding professional you are tasked with the responsibly to educate them. One of my first weddings as a brand-new business owner, the bride refused to use hurricane vases for her candles. I knew it was a bad idea – it’s never a good idea to have a highly flammable object right next to an open flame. I let her know I didn’t feel comfortable, she said it wasn’t a big deal and surely enough, two centerpieces caught on fire mid-reception. I was the one that had to put out the fire. Yes, it’s their wedding, but sometimes letting them have the last say will cost them and me. So, I quickly learned that, no, they are not always right, and I should push back on their decision when I know it is in their best interest. They are hiring me to deliverer a seamless and flawless event. It is my responsibility to make them kindly aware of the risks. I am glad it was a lesson that I learned early on, it helped me avoid further chaotic events.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I spent most of my young life wanting to be a world changing attorney. I wanted to make lots of money taking on bad guys and helping people. As I finished my undergrad in law, I jumped immediately into the field of law as a paralegal. I was able to help people in business, immigration, and family law, but it felt as if every day the desire to show up and work started to wane in me. As a child of Mexican immigrants, I felt immense pressure to work hard, no matter whether I liked it or not. I had never really asked myself the question, “If you could do something you loved for work, what would it be?”

I knew what the answer was, but could I do it? Am I allowed to do it? Am I letting people down if I do?

Once I got married, my husband encouraged me to ask myself those questions, but also to follow through. Quitting my job as a paralegal was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I had to be home, working to find clients, but not working nine to five. I felt guilty, alone, inconvenient, and inadequate. It was difficult at first, but when my first client signed a contract, and I got paid for the first time, I felt this surge of pride and joy in what I do. Then the clients came pouring in, and I realized I could do this for real. I can do what I love and get paid for it. I get to fulfill my Mother’s dream for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fairy-godmother.com/
• Instagram: thefairygodmother_events
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/152247Sgtn/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-j-gonzalez-323792190?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Image Credits

– Jessica Murray
– Jessie Schultz
– Sam Hugh