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

Alright, Bryce thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risk-taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

When I graduated from the University of California, Davis, I dove straight into the corporate world, planning large-scale events for major tech companies, because at the time, I believed being in the corporate world was the only way to be “successful.” But everything shifted when a wedding planner stumbled across my website on Instagram and invited me to coffee. She offered me an opportunity to be a lead wedding planner for her, and I was suddenly faced with a choice: keep chasing the security of a salaried corporate career or take the leap into an industry that had unexpectedly captured my heart. It was terrifying to consider giving up the stability I had worked so hard for, knowing that stepping into weddings meant unpredictable income, long hours, and carrying the weight of success fully on my own shoulders.

Two years later, I took an even bigger risk by starting my own wedding planning business. Taking that leap was one of the scariest but most rewarding decisions of my life. I went from the comfort of a steady paycheck to working harder than I ever imagined – late nights, endless details, and the constant challenge of building something from scratch. Yet, I quickly realized that while I was working more, I was also infinitely more fulfilled. Every hour I now pour into my business has a direct, positive impact on my couples’ lives. I get to create celebrations that people will remember for the rest of their lives, which feels so much more meaningful than corporate milestones. Today I have the privilege of planning luxury weddings across Southern California while also offering accessible resources for couples who want to plan on their own. The security I gave up pales in comparison to the joy and purpose I’ve found.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Bryce Gaston, the founder and lead planner behind Bryce Gaston Events, a luxury wedding planning and design company based in Southern California. My journey into weddings wasn’t a straight line. I actually started my career planning large corporate events for tech companies after graduating from the University of California, Davis. At the time, I thought that path was the only way to be successful. But when a wedding planner discovered my work and invited me to step into the wedding world, everything shifted. I realized how much more fulfilling it was to create moments that will make such a huge impact on the lives of my couples. That leap of faith into a new industry eventually inspired me to launch my own company, where I now specialize in planning, designing, and executing luxury weddings that feel both deeply personal and effortlessly elevated.

My services range from full-service planning for couples who want a true concierge-level experience to partial and three-month-out planning for those who want support at key stages. I also provide digital planning tools like my all-in-one wedding planning spreadsheet that make professional-level guidance accessible to couples planning on their own.

What sets me apart is my obsession with the guest experience and my dedication to intentional, editorial-level design. I truly believe that the most memorable weddings are those where every detail is thought through, not just for the couple, but for every single guest. My couples know that when they hire me, I’m not only taking care of logistics and timelines, I’m crafting an environment where their families and friends feel welcomed, comfortable, and wowed at every turn.

I’m most proud of building a business that marries (no pun intended!) both sides of who I am: the detail-driven planner who thrives on organization and structure, and the creative storyteller who loves designing experiences that feel unforgettable. My work is deeply personal; each wedding is a reflection of the couple’s story, told in a way that’s elevated, timeless, and completely unique to them. My goal is to take what can feel like an overwhelming, stressful process and transform it into an exciting, meaningful journey that ends with the most extraordinary celebration of their lives.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe my reputation has been built on a combination of strong relationships, trust, and consistency. From the very beginning, I’ve made it a priority to build genuine connections with other vendors in the industry: photographers, florists, venues, and other vendors who all play such a vital role in bringing a wedding to life. Those relationships have not only led to incredible collaborations but also to mutual trust and referrals, which are the backbone of this industry. At the same time, I’ve focused on sharing my knowledge online, giving couples insight into the planning process and educating them on what truly goes into creating a seamless, elevated wedding experience. That transparency builds trust before we even meet, and couples know I care deeply about setting them up for success. I hold myself to the standard of consistently delivering work that goes above and beyond what’s expected. Each wedding is an opportunity to exceed my couples’ dreams, and I think that commitment to excellence is what keeps both clients and vendors excited to work with me again and again.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

From the very first day I launched my business, I made the decision to hire a social media manager, and I truly believe that was one of the smartest investments I could have made. It allowed me to focus on scaling other parts of my business, creating strong internal processes, and pouring my energy into delivering excellent work for my couples, while trusting a professional to guide me with strategy and execution on the marketing side. Instead of treating social media as an afterthought, I saw it as an essential part of building my brand and connecting with future couples. One of the biggest things that set me apart online was my focus on providing value, not just posting pretty pictures. While many vendors share only their portfolio work, I made it a priority that every piece of content I put out was either helpful, educational, or inspirational for couples. That approach built trust and engagement with my audience, because people could see I was genuinely invested in helping them, whether or not they hired me. My advice for anyone starting out would be to view social media as an extension of your client experience. Show up consistently, provide real value, and if you can, bring in an expert to help you build a strategy from the start. It will save you time, accelerate your growth, and allow you to focus on doing the work you love most.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://brycegaston.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brycegaston.events/
• Other: The above instagram focuses on my luxury wedding planning. This instagram focuses on my affordable wedding planning resources: https://www.instagram.com/brycegaston.wedtips/

Image Credits

Headshot: Sara France
All other photos: Camila Margotta