We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marie Georges a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Marie, appreciate you joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

The process of naming my event business, Merliahdecor, was a meaningful and personal one. I wanted a name that represented both myself and my daughter, Marie and Leah. My daughter is my everything and I wanted to honor her in the name of my business. Even though she sometimes gets annoyed that I spelled it LIAH. Lol I actually spells it that way because of a TV show we used to watch together called “Mermaid Tale.” The main character’s name was spelled that way and it just felt right to incorporate it into my business name. We would sit and watch the show together, over and over again, and she knew every word by heart. So, in a way, Merliahdecor is a tribute to our special bond and shared memories. And my slogan for the business is we create ,you celebrate.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am Marie Georges, known affectionately as Marie Gorgeous due to the difficulty some encounter in pronouncing my last name. My journey has been one of diverse experiences and accomplishments. From my early days in hospitality to earning an associate degree in medical assistance and a bachelor’s in business management, I’ve embraced a variety of roles. Alongside my ventures in real estate with my brother and my time at Muttontown Country Club, I’ve found my true passion in event planning. My business revolves around celebrating life’s milestones, whether it’s a birthday, baby shower, engagement, wedding, or simply a fun gathering. I take pride in easing the burden for my clients, guiding them through the process from concept to execution, ensuring their visions come to life within their budgets. Despite challenges, such as clients with champagne tastes on a beer budget, I remain dedicated to exceeding expectations and delivering unforgettable experiences. Witnessing the joy and satisfaction of my clients is my greatest reward, fueling my passion to continually surpass their expectations.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

My side hustle of event planning, Merliahdecor, started to gain traction when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. It had always been a passion of mine, but it wasn’t until the pandemic that it became my main source of income. In June 2020, I made it official and registered my business, and since then, it has grown significantly. I initially started by helping out friends and family with their events, but as word of mouth spread and restrictions on gatherings eased, my business began to scale up. I have had key milestones, such as booking larger events and expanding my services, that have contributed to the success of my business. It’s been a challenging journey, but I am grateful for how my side hustle has evolved into a thriving business.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One lesson I had to unlearn was that people don’t always keep their promises, especially when it comes to money. As a freelance event planner, I often worked with friends and family, trusting that they would pay me back for my services. However, I quickly learned that this was not always the case. I had several instances where clients promised to pay me after the event, but never did, and some even unfriended me to avoid paying. This taught me to be more cautious and professional when working with loved ones, and to always prioritize getting paid for my services.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @merliahdecor

Image Credits
Most photos were done by my iPhone Rtmsphotography Is the professional pictures