Nicole Arend of Nicole Arend Events
How did you get into event planning? I spent my early childhood watching with my dad as the general manager at Different Pointe of View. Each New Year’s Eve, they would host the biggest party, and I was able to help with set up. The idea of blowing up hundreds of balloons for New Year’s Eve was exciting to me! I then attended The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising where I fell in love with fashion shows and production after originally wanted to design wedding gowns. The two passions collided and Nicole Arend Events was born!
What is your best advice for achieving a timeless, memory-making event? You never want to look back on your wedding and have regrets about what you wore or the centerpieces you chose. The best way to ensure a timeless yet memorable wedding is to plan the wedding with you in mind and not trends. It’s sorta like Coco Chanel said about jewelry: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take at least one thing off.” I say that about decor. Sometimes a bride wants to keep adding and adding and when in reality there is a time to take something off.
What is your biggest reward in being an event planner? The biggest reward I get is seeing my clients enjoying their guests, on the dance floor and leaving it to me to worry about the day of challenges.
What is the biggest challenge? My biggest challenge is not letting my clients’ emotions affect their decisions.
Most memorable event project? It’s always so difficult to pick my favorite wedding because I build relationships with my couples that each wedding is unique and a labor of love. But one wedding that always sticks out was a wedding I won an award for a few years ago. It was an Indian/Asian fusion at the Phoenix Art Museum. From the escort card moss walls that even had a museum label/credit panel on the side, to the silent movie and even the lip-sync rap battle that the bride and groom had in place of the first dance, there were so many moving parts. The design and execution of this wedding truly made it one of the most unique weddings to plan. And best of all, it was planned and designed in three months!
Favorite Arizona-based vendors:
Florists: Poppies Flower Shop, Dei-Zinz Fresh Florals, PJ’s Flowers & Events
Caterers: Straight To The Plate Catering
Photographers: ACapello Photography, Valerie Bolitho Photography
Cake: a Bake Shop, CC’s Sweet Sensations, Silver Rose Bakery
Invitations: Lauren Yvonne Design, Copper Cactus & Company
Rentals: Prim Rentals, Event Rents
Venues: The Scott, The Boulders, Anthem Country Club, L’Auberge de Sedona
To learn more, visit www.nicolearendweddings.com.