We were lucky to catch up with Diana Bribiesca recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Diana, thanks for joining us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your business and how did you resolve those issues?
I would say that the biggest unexpected problem for my company would be the shutdowns due to COVID-19 in 202. I was unable to plan or execute any wedding or event. The way I resolved it was to offer to postpone any wedding on the calendar at no charge. During 2020, our company also created elopement packages and offered those to couples who were still looking to get married without a large guest count. We as a team were able to navigate through the next year of regulations by offering these elopement packages. We still had challenges though with a limited amount of marriage license appointments being released for San Diego County. Couples were still able to get a marriage license appointment in Orange County and Imperial County. These elopements turned into larger ceremony packages post COVID which we still offer today. We plan wedding ceremonies and micro-weddings for up to 40 guests in addition to our traditional wedding planning packages.
Diana, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am the owner and lead wedding planner of At Your Side Planning. At San Diego State University I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Social Science and my Certificate in Meeting & Event Planning. My background in planning began in non-profit and a faith-based youth group. As I put myself through college, I was on a team-building committee for my department at San Diego State. In 2004, I opened my wedding planning company.
My company, At Your Side Planning is a San Diego Wedding Planning company. Since 2004, we have been planning weddings and events. Our team consists of wedding planners, day of coordinators and designers. We attend to every detail and your wedding our priority. At Your Side began in 2004 as Ah Le Party and has since planned hundreds of weddings and events.
Besides having valuable experience, our team has credentials. After earning their Bachelor degrees, Diana Romero & Kendra Grant each acquired their Meeting & Event Certification at San Diego State University. Diana has Interior Design education which translates into beautifully styled events. Robin Alcoba earned her Bachelor’s Degree from The University of Phoenix in Business Management with an Emphasis in Hospitality & Tourism. Our team creates a clear and concise plan for your elopement, wedding or event. We are the vendor liaison so that you spend less time worrying and more time enjoying the experience. With over 18 years in the industry, we will provide you with the absolute best planning experience. We have experience in many elopement and wedding styles including Christian, Catholic, Jewish, Indian, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern and Chinese.
With a combination of planning expertise, design originality & execution, At Your Side stands out as a top notch company. In 2020, our company was named in “San Diego’s Top 10 Most Sought-After Wedding Planners 2020” by Wedding Rule. 5 star reviews on Google, Yelp, The Knot & Wedding Wire show how happy couples are! In 2011, we were named Best Wedding Planner in San Diego (As ‘Ah Le Party’) by the 10News AList. We placed in the top 3 from 2012 to 2014. Press coverage includes SD Style Weddings Magazine, Exquisite Weddings Magazine, Project Wedding, My Wedding Reception Ideas, Modern Jewish Wedding, USA Today and The New York Times.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I became a mother, I had to pivot how I did things for the company. I was not able to get much sleep for over a year and had to lean on my team for more assistance. It was very difficult to focus and be at wedding for many hours with a newborn. At that time, I taught assistant coordinators how to successfully run and close weddings. The lead coordinator I had, simply got more weddings too! I ended up with an excellent team of coordinators who can plan and run weddings on their own!
Any advice for managing a team?
For managing a team and maintaining high morale, I would say that a business owner must have a good code of conduct for all staff to go by with high standards in customer service. I would also say to show each team member how valuable they are with things like a simple thank you dinner or a gift for a job well done.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.atyoursideplanning.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/atyoursideplanning
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/atyoursideplanning
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/at-your-side-planning-san-diego?osq=at+your+side
Image Credits
headshot: Copper Collective wedding: Kristine Marie Photography