Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ariana Pellegra. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Ariana thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
Growing up, my mother threw the best parties while my father was a natural hosting. So it came as no surprise when I started entertaining the idea of owning my own events venue. It wasn’t until my father passed away from Covid that I decided it was time to take a leap of faith. Before the pandemic, my father and I would plot about what type of space I wanted and how he would do the behind the scenes work while I handled all things front of house. At this time, I had spent almost a decade either curating public events for venues or jump starting an array of entertainment venues as a side passion all while working as a professional contemporary ballet dancer and teacher. Growing up, military prepared me best for juggling, so a full plate never scared me from dabbling in a large spectrum of interests. I realized that because of my current commitments I had zero room, time, nor energy to start anything outside of them to explore anything new. After everything begun shutting down, having my daughter and then loosing my father so quickly at the height of the pandemic, my life; like many others, had shifted drastically. I was rattled to the core in isolation and Covid ptsd with access to only a very small bubble. While the world was swirling with new ways to “do life”, I too knew I could never go back to the lifestyle I was participating in. I could imagine what I wanted for myself and family but I couldn’t see how it was possible when society proved otherwise. I wanted to be home to eat dinner with my family, do bedtime routines, and witness the milestones firsthand… A family and a career – I wanted the best of both worlds! After much prayer and divine conversations, I decided why not? And why not now? The world was shifting. Now is the time to color outside the lines, sink or swim, carve out a place that was uniquely mine. By this point, life seemed to have handed me the worst possible luck – alone and grieving not only my father but the life I had worked hard to build and genuinely loved. But like many, too much had changed without even a warning and it was time to acknowledge it for myself. So I begun casually looking for a space that inspired and excited me. I needed a space that would wake me out of the fog mentally and physically, (because by now our daughter was a little older than a year and hello.. new mom, barely out of sleep depravation and into an isolated, completely not normal routine was not how I envisioned motherhood.) As soon as I took the first step, doors begun to open, opportunities started falling into my lap, and my cup was starting to fill again. Fast forward to a year and a half into opening our family ran event space, Lumi is flourishing! We host an array of artists, both private and public social and corporate events, weddings, and receptions. Although I miss teaching young artists in the community terribly and I’ve drastically reduced my performance schedule at the moment. I know that I am exactly where I’m suppose to be at this exact moment in time – I’m a big advocate of following your heart. And after a scary two years, I’m excited to live again and am seeing that others are as well! There is so much to celebrate these days. I’m eager to continue making art more accessible to the Birmingham community, to provide space to artists of all mediums to create, and to share this beautiful space with the magic city to celebrate life’s milestones.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am an artist first and always. I believe my attention to detail, interpersonal communication and ability to think creatively are assets in the event industry. From event and venue management to floral, decor design and management, I wear a variety of hats depending on the project. Lumi is just one branch under the umbrella of Boundless, my small business. At Boundless, we create custom designs for theme events that tell a unique story, branding, as well as custom laser details for socials, businesses and photoshoots. Boundless allows me to dabble in all my passions: fashion, design and parties.
I’ve always been known for curating parties for friends and family, big and small, so it came as no surprise when I squeezed time in my schedule to work another passion job. Everything on this journey has happened organically and I have so much gratitude for that. My first job in this field was working with one of the leading luxury floral designers of Birmingham. She not only taught me all things floral, but decor and warehouse management, the power of connecting with each client and the importance of presentation. I’m sure I could list more, but I’ll forever be grateful that she saw something in a young gypsy ballerina.
With a performance and military background, I am a unique hybrid creative manager. The discipline required of both helped to instill unparalleled value in a business that consist of many different details. It is of high importance that clients move with confidence in what we can do to help bring their vision to life and leave feeling more like family and friends. The goal for a successful and positive experience starts from the beginning all the way to the final production. You can enjoy the excitement and buzz of planning just as much as the party with the right vendors in your corner! That to me, sets us apart and makes a meaningful difference in working with us, whether you’re looking for a venue or design details.
I’m most proud to have a space that celebrates the connection of community, empowers a diverse group of curious artists to collaborate and create, and passionately welcomes inclusivity. It is important to me to have a space with meaning beyond its four walls. At Lumi, we get the pleasure of building relationships with and serving some of Birminghams finest!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I’m not sure I’ve quite recovered from the personal impact the pandemic had on me and my family. I am certain it has provided clarity for what I still want out of life. I repeated “just keep swimming” for a long time until I felt like I could swallow the fact that the world was still happening while I felt stuck in my grief and new reality. I couldn’t control what I had lost – a father, a flourishing dream job, even a bit of myself when becoming a mom. But one day, with the help of my strong and beautiful mother, I was able to shift my thoughts to what I did have control of.. what I do from here. I was forced to live everyday a bit more truthfully which meant I had to deepen the connections with those around me. I felt naked due to the vulnerability of living in my truth. Looking back, I realize that the same vulnerability is what carried me through. It opened up conversations around me that in turn produced both courage and chances.
“There’s a shift happening right now. It’s shaking things up to get us in alignment. To get us in position for what makes sense for us now. It’s asking us to let go of what was and start seeing what is. Or what could be. And it’s inviting us to show up and become. Can you feel it?” -@coolurbanhippie
A little phrase helped me turn the page and begin a exciting new chapter full of golden opportunities all around.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Boundless was created to manage entertainment venues and to build our styling portfolio. However, when the pandemic hit and the world shut down, we needed to pivot to bring revenue in. The world of events was almost non-existent. We noticed that celebrations were forced to downsize significantly. After applying for a few different grants, we were awarded one and bought a laser to take custom acrylic and wood orders. This was not in the original business plan but there proved to be a demand for it. So we begin taking a variety of custom orders. From drink stirrers to table signs. Nursery decor, wedding party boxes, acrylic fans, invitations, and more – Boundless began to take on a new form that we hadn’t considered. Since coming out of lockdown and isolation, events are beginning to make a comeback. We haven’t been taking as many laser orders as before due to Limi but it’s always fun creatively to take a break from hosting and provide meaningful details that help make a celebration memorable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lumibham.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lumibham/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lumibham
- Other: @boundlesscurated
Image Credits
@pipervine @canvasandleaf @coco_nanh @picspease @laurenbattles @laurawalker_creative Clark Scott