We recently connected with Stephanie Arias and have shared our conversation below.

Stephanie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I began Stephanie Arias Event Planning in the hopes of showing others around me that starting your own business and succeeding is possible. I am a first generation college graduate. There are no entrepreneurs in my family so I didn’t have anyone to follow or ask advice from when I began my business. I hope to inspire others to follow their dreams and believe in themselves to take that leap of faith.

Stephanie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am the owner and founder of Stephanie Arias Event Planning (SAEP). I got my bachelor’s degree in health administration, but after three years of working in the field I knew it wasn’t what I was meant to do for the rest of my life. I had always wanted to be my own boss and create something for myself and family. After COVID hit I realized that I could take that leap so I did. I started SAEP in 2020 (I know crazy in the midst of COVID) but that year really allowed me to learn about running a business and all the things it takes to become a CEO. We went into 2021 with 8 weddings and went into 2022 with 18 weddings. Now, we are at about 25 for this year. It is surreal to me the way we have grown and continue to grow. I am so grateful for the support of my family and friends. At SAEP we provide event management, partial and full planning services. We are known for our amazing customer service and the way we are able to connect with our clients. When we sign on a client we are not just signing on another couple. We aim to really create a connection with our couples. Our clients always say to us that on their wedding day we make everything feel so seamless and calm. We pride ourselves in eliminating the stress from our couples and really taking on that responsibility. In our industry, just like in life, not every planner is the right planner. If you are a couple looking to find your dream planner, don’t look at pricing or what a service may or may not include (although that is important) look at how that planner makes you feel and that’s how you’ll know.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I am still working on building my audience but I can say that it has been a ride. I have learned that social media and really anything in life is all about consistency. If you are consistent with your followers, showing up everyday in stories and posts or reels you will begin to grow a following. People want to know about the face behind the business not just pretty wedding pictures. They want to know how you run your business, the struggles, the wins. I try to think about it from my perspective and what I would like to see as a consumer. I’m not going to buy from a company that doesn’t necessarily make me feel something. People buy from an emotional stance, especially in the wedding industry, not from the service or product themselves. On my social media I always try to make my followers feel something whether that is laughter, happiness, happy tears, whatever it is I always try to make my audience feel something.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I love podcasts and one of my favorites is The Wedding Pro CEO Podcast by Brandee Gaar. She is actually my mentor and friend and have learned so much from her and her podcast.

Contact Info:

• Website: stephanieariasep.com
• Instagram: @stephanieariasep
• Facebook: Stephanie Arias Event Planning

Image Credits
Abdiel Cespedes Photography Christine Wozz Photography Jason Angelini Photography Landrum Photography Wild Love Photography