This week our spotlight shines on Washington DC based Wedding & Event Planner, Raven White of The EnVISION Firm, a lifestyle management organization. With over fifteen years experience as a project manager in the field of Engineering, Raven decided to follow her passion, applying all her knowledge and expertise to wedding & event planning – building The EnVISION Firm from the ground up.
A Munaluchi Coterie member, Raven White’s impeccable organizational talent and immeasurable vision is sure to make your wedding dreams a reality!
Tell us a little about your background and how you got started in the wedding and events industry?
I graduated from Howard University with a degree in Computer Science and went on to get my Master’s Degree from the University of Maryland in Technology Management. I spent over 15 years in the engineering world working as a Project Manager. Although my career was in engineering, I also spent a lot of time working as an event planner on the side for another company. I’ve planned a National Conference that grew from 200 people to well over 1500, and was held in multiple states over the span of 10 years. After planning my own wedding, which was featured in Munaluchi, I decided to follow my passion and start my own event planning firm.
What did you do before Wedding Planning?
I worked as a certified Project Manager for a contracting company.
What locations do you cover?
I’m based in Washington DC, but I’ve planned events all over including Mexico, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Charlotte, and California.
What do you love most about your job?
I love designing events, and working with clients to organize their dream wedding.
In your area what are some of your favorite venues and why?
There are so many in the DC area. Let’s see…I love the Grand Ballroom in the Mayflower Hotel DC because it exudes opulence and grandeur. When clients want a rustic look, I always suggest we look at the Stone Tower Winery in Leesburg, Virginia. They have a charming reception barn and the natural beauty overlooking the vineyard is breathtaking. Oh, and if clients want an outside feel without the risk of moving their event inside, I suggest we look at the Hilton Tysons Corner Hotel due to their stunning atrium that is covered in glass from floor-to-ceiling.
What trends are you seeing with your current brides?
More brides are moving towards destination weddings with a guest list over 100 people. In the past, destination weddings tended to be more intimate affairs with a guest list fewer than 50 persons. However, I recently coordinated a wedding in the Riviera Maya and there were over 100 guests who attended the wedding. It was an absolute blast.
What would you say to brides-to-be who are on the fence about hiring a wedding planner?
I’d share that most people spend a lot of money on their wedding. A great wedding planner can help you save money throughout the process by helping you avoid costly mistakes. Also, you want to have a professional working with you to help your wedding day go seamless. And lastly, planning a wedding can become stressful. When brides hire a planner, they are investing in someone who will handle all logistics, negotiating vendor contracts, bringing your vision to life, making sure guests are comfortable, and ultimately allowing the brides to enjoy the wedding planning process and their wedding day. It’s definitely worth the investment.
Now lets have some fun!
Favorite thing to do? I love spending time with my husband and 14-month-old son.
Android, Blackberry, or iPhone? Android
Mac or pc? That’s hard. Right now, I love my MacBook Pro.
If you could travel to any location right now, where would it be? I really want to go to the Maldives. It just looks breathtaking.
Favorite song? Too many to name. Currently, I have Drake’s Controlla on regular rotation.
Favorite book? Kindred by Octavia Butler
TV show? I’m a Power fanatic. It’s a terrible thing that the season is so short.
Guilty pleasure? Red wine
Something that recently left you inspired? I’m reading “ The year of Yes” by Shonda Rhimes. It’s very inspiring. She shares her experience of saying “yes” to everything for a year even if it causes her fear. The results of her saying “yes” are transformational.
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