Today we’d like to introduce you to Kastina Morrison

Hi Kastina, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?

Recently, I’ve been wrapping up my story into this: former theater kid turned event venue manager turned wedding planner. With that, what else do you need to know? I live and breathe productions, storytelling, design, and logistics.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

In many ways, it has been a smooth road—event planning has been part of my life in one way or another for as long as I can remember. My brain has clung to how I get to work creatively and yet logistically all the time. It’s a constant switch between right brain and left brain muscles, and I love it. It feels natural to me, and it always has, and if I’m ever asked if I’d find another job or do anything else, it’s an easy “nope, I found where I’m supposed to be.”

The challenge has consistently been exceeding expectations, and it’s important to me to exceed all our clients’ expectations. I do my best to hold boundaries and be realistic in the beginning so that as we get closer to their events, I can pull off an almost perfect event every time (if it’s within my control, of course).

I think that’s the most significant challenge anyone in the event industry can learn—how to control client expectations, be realistic, and say “no” only as a redirect to a different idea. The best event planners, the most seasoned, know how to do this. They aren’t actually “yes” people—they are creatives who see the form and function of multiple different ways a production can go and can guide wedding and event clients through realistic possibilities.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Kastina & Co.?

Kastina & Co. specializes in wedding planning, but even more of our niche is “month-out” management, where I take all that they’ve come up with so far and take it to the finish line for them. I dive in, fix the holes, reroute issues, and finalize the plans in the final few weeks. We’ve also branched out into bar and bat mitzvahs lately, and we love the creativity of working on those.

What sets my skillset apart from others in a similar role is that I’ve come from venue management and understand what it truly takes to bring numerous crazy ideas to life. For me, it’s not just about “the pretty” things—it’s about understanding weight restrictions on floors, rigging limits on trusses, food and beverage timing, and all the backstage things that need to function to make event magic really happen. After 16+ years in the industry – I’m so grateful for all the lessons learned and what I can bring to the table for each client now.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?

The wedding and event industry is constantly growing and changing. In the Minnesota marketplace, we’ve seen a level of market saturation for wedding venues that we haven’t seen before. Couples have almost three times as many wedding venue choices in the metro area as they did pre-pandemic. It will be interesting to see what venues can withstand that market saturation and which ones end up closing. I can’t stress enough to people to read their venue contracts!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kastinaandco.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kastinaandco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kastinaandco

Image Credits

Photo 1: Antonia Kay
Photo 2: Dave Puente
Photo 3 & 4: Lauren Engfer
Photo 5: Russell Heeter
Photo 6: Antonia Kay
Photos 7 & 8: Lahzeh Photography