We recently connected with Anniola Cesar and have shared our conversation below.

Anniola, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us a bit about who your hero is and the influence they’ve had on you?

My hero is my father, André Cesar. He was born and raised in Haiti and came to the United States with a dream of building a better life. As a single father, he raised my brother and I while running his own businesses, he was a real estate investor and the proud owner of Cesar’s Barbershop.

From him, I learned the value of hard work, education, and independence. He always reminded me that I could achieve anything I set my mind to, as long as I stayed focused and committed. My father was a humble and wise man, but also a natural jokester who could light up any room. Despite the many challenges he faced, he never complained, he just kept moving forward.

Watching him build a life from scratch taught me that there are no excuses. If he could come to this country with limited resources and still succeed, then there’s nothing stopping me from doing the same. His resilience and belief in me continue to shape who I am today and how I approach every goal I set for myself.

Anniola, 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’m a proud Haitian American with passion and a dream. My journey into the event planning industry happened somewhat randomly, but with purpose. In college, I had my child halfway through, and if you know me, you know I’ve always loved celebrating life and bringing joy to every moment. I’ve celebrated everything from passing college exams, birthdays and baby showers. You name the moment, and I was there to celebrate.

When I planned and decorated my own baby shower people kept asking, “Who did your decorations?” I didn’t think much of it at the time, since events weren’t as big back then, and social media wasn’t what it is today. Some even ridiculed me for being “extra,” but I never cared about what others thought. I was doing what I loved.

Eventually, I decided to start offering balloon décor only but clients soon began asking for more. That demand naturally evolved into the creation of my business, Annievents. What started as a small idea grew into something I’m deeply proud of. I never imagined becoming who I am today through this journey, and it’s been so rewarding to watch my passion turn into purpose.
At Annievents, I specialize in curating meaningful, stress-free celebrations. I understand how overwhelming planning an event can be, and my goal is to take that stress away while making every detail special. Each event I design is filled with care, intention, and heart, if I wouldn’t do it for myself, I won’t do it for my clients.

What sets me apart is my genuine love for bringing people together. During COVID, I realized just how precious those moments with loved ones are, and now, every event I plan is about creating those same unforgettable memories for others. Seeing my clients’ faces light up and knowing I played a part in their happiest moments is what fuels me every day.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’ve had to pivot more times in my adult life than I can count, and honestly, that’s what’s helped me grow the most. Every chapter has taught me something new about resilience, adaptability, and trusting my own journey.

I started out doing hair in high school, then got my first job as a cashier at Winn-Dixie. From there, I did delivery driving, worked in customer service, ran my own rental car business, and even spent time in the corporate world. And somewhere in the midst of it all, I became a mom, which was its own beautiful, life, changing pivot.
Each stage came with its own challenges, but instead of resisting change, I learned to adjust based on my circumstances and find purpose in every transition. Every role prepared me for the next, even when I didn’t realize it at the time.

With my business, the evolution has been just as real. I went from being clowned for being “extra,” to offering balloon décor only, to creating full focal points, and now providing full-service event planning. Each pivot refined my skills, deepened my confidence, and helped shape Annievents into what it is today.

Life has taught me that change isn’t something to fear, it’s something to embrace. Every pivot has been a lesson, and every lesson has brought me closer to my purpose

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

Honestly, I built my audience on social media by simply showing up and posting, consistently and unapologetically. In the beginning, I didn’t care if I had three followers or if no one was watching. I just kept sharing my work because I believed in what I was doing.

There were times I got backlash or people didn’t understand my vision, but I stayed focused on my purpose. I knew there was someone out there who would connect with my work and want event planning services. Some days I’m more consistent than others, but the key for me has always been to keep going, no matter what.

I’ve learned that slow and steady truly wins the race. My motivation has never been to get rich quick, it’s the joy and happiness my clients feel at each curated event that fuels me. That genuine passion is what has helped my audience grow organically over time.

My advice for anyone just starting out is simple: post, even when no one’s watching. Don’t worry about likes or followers, focus on your craft and your message. Stay consistent, stay authentic, and remember why you started. The right people will find you when they see your passion shine through.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/annievents__
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annievents__?igsh=ajk3dGl1dXU3OGQ2&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GcRsTkqYv/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Image Credits

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