Inside the Office with Crystal Marie

Inside The Office WITH CRYSTAL MARIE

I am absolutely grateful for being able to bless someone else just by being me. People say, “You did such a great job!” and it’s effortless. It’s just me. I get to show what God gave me -- to be creative, to be transparent, to be a chameleon, to work with all different types of people. Not doing this would be crazy to me!

If you had it all to do over again, would you do anything differently?

I would have started tapping into my craft earlier, and exploring other options beside the corporate 9-5 world.

Inside The Office With

CRYSTAL MARIE

What is your “day job”?

I am the the owner and senior event stylist for Crystal Marie Events, which was established in 2008.

We offer event design and styling, month-of management to full service wedding planning, and social event planning (birthday parties, dinner parties, milestone events). I can execute or logistically manage your event, or turn your event into an experience. I also have a ton of fun with wardrobe styling. I am your fashionable event planner.

Who were your heroes, or mentors?

I had to be my own mentor initially, because no one got it.

My parents taught me what they knew - they didn’t know anything about entrepreneurship, so I had to research. My parents were mentors in terms of keeping me on the straight and narrow. But first starting this journey to ‘running my own’, I had to do research.

back to school. Bush was in office, and you know what happened then (chuckling). I had to find out of the box ways to make money beyond what you’re taught in school. I figured if I was going to work hard and still only break even, I would do that for my own company versus someone else’s. I decided, “If I’m going to struggle, I will struggle for me.”

I reached out to other planners and no one would help me. People look at jobs as their savior, but you can get a pink slip tomorrow. It may feel like security, but it’s really not. After I had been in business for awhile, I met Melinda Anderson, who owns MeMe Design + Events. She took me under her wings and let me work her events alongside her.

If you weren’t running your own event design company, what would life look like?

God, I don’t even want to think about it. I would be someone who is going through life but not really living. I love the aspect of being ME. I’m able to be creative, transparent, to have fun...doing something I love that is bringing joy to someone else at the same time. I’m able to use my God-given talents. It’s a blessing to be able to wake up and use your God-given talent, not something you grew up and went to school for, but something that God put together in you.

When did you decide you were an event stylist, that this would be your journey?

Right after college, you enter the job market. I graduated in 2004, and I either needed to find a job or go

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Where What You Do Meets Who You Are. Beautifully.

What do you do for you that brings you absolute joy or peace?

Outside of the business, I 100% advocate treating yourself. I love being pampered. It’s a must for me. My job can be stressful at certain times, so pampering me includes working out, getting a massage, getting a mani/pedi, or reading a book. Treating yourself to something is a must. No one wants to go through life just to pay bills!

Who does that?! You have to find the fun in everything!

What would you like your epitaph to be?

She was here. I want to be remembered. I try to leave a lasting impression. If I walk in a room, I want you to know who I am. She didn’t have to write, sign anything, she was here. We saw her, we heard her. Her fashion, she gave all of us life!

In one word, what is it that you want people to remember about you? #remembered. I will be trending on my deathbed (laughing)!

Is there anything else you wish I’d asked you?

Nope! I think your questions were on point!

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Where What You Do Meets Who You Are. Beautifully.

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