Twenty-Five Event Management: Our interview with Liz Marcou
On a recent trip to the desert, I met with Liz Marcou, founder and owner of Twenty-Five Event Management. Liz, like myself, has a history in the corporate space, before she ventured out into the world to start her own business.
When speaking with Liz, it becomes clear very early on that she has a real passion for event planning and execution. She’s super organized, intelligent, and believe me, gets things done! I can’t recommend Liz enough for anyone in the Scottsdale and Phoenix area.
Here’s a bit about what we talked about…
[Ryan] Can you tell us a little bit about Twenty-Five Event Management? What makes your approach to event planning different?
[Liz] When people hear Twenty-Five Event Management, the next question is, “What does Twenty-Five stand for?”
February 25th, 2012 was my wedding day and inspiration behind Twenty-Five. In the months of planning my wedding, I realized I could take my professional experience of large-scale project management and apply it to wedding planning. Except wedding and event planning allows for much more creativity than corporate banking! I found a way to merge my expertise in projects with something I was extremely passionate about in wedding and event planning.
What makes our approach different is we work very hard to understand a couple’s wedding goals. For some couples the goal is to make sure their guests remember the party for a really long time and for others, it’s all about the wedding representing who they are as a couple and their families. Taking the time to genuinely understand their goals allows us to handle all the details of the wedding or event day while making sure we provide the best experience possible.
You’ve clearly planned a lot of weddings to date, what was one that really stood out and why?
This past summer I planned a wedding in the middle of July in Scottsdale, Arizona. Due to work restrictions for the couple, July was the only month they would be able to get married. The temperature on the wedding day was forecasted at 109° and everyone was coming in from out of town.
We had a lot of details to consider to make sure the guests were comfortable during the ceremony and reception. It wasn’t the heat or the challenges we had to overcome that made this stand out, it was the support from the family and friends of the bride and groom and their willingness to brave the Arizona heat to watch two people they all care about tie the knot. With 95% of the guests out of town I was so moved by the amount of people who came out for the couple!
When searching for an event planner, what are the most important qualities that a couple should be looking for?
When looking for a wedding planner there are a few qualities I would suggest as the most important. First, great listening skills are required to make sure your potential planner really hears you and takes your concerns and ideas seriously. They will be the ones responsible to make all of your wedding details come to fruition during planning and the day-of.
Second, your planner should be professional. They will take the “business” side of your wedding very seriously. There should be a planning process available to help you (and your planner) ensure your wedding is moving along and all the details are captured with precise timing.
A professional planner may also have a certification in wedding planning. Although a certificate is not required to plan a wedding, it shows that the planner has some training and is taking their wedding planning business seriously. Lastly, a great personality is an essential trait for a wedding planner to have.
When talking to a potential planner you should walk away with the feeling of “he or she totally gets us!” Just remember to always trust your instincts when selecting the right person for your wedding day or big event!
Contact:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 623-777-9997
Further reading:
Check out our interview with Denver based planner, Promise Event Planners.
