Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria.
Hi Maria, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I jumped into the events world right out of college back in Vermont, where I grew up. I started my events career coordinating weddings and conferences for the state’s largest resort and conference center in Stowe, VT. I moved to Austin in fall of 2019 with my sights set on large-scale music festivals. I had mapped out a “foolproof” four-step plan to get onto the ACL planning team: coordinate private events for a local craft brewery –> jump to event production for Tito’s Vodka –> leverage their ACL stage sponsorship –> meet the festival team and join the crew. Bada-bing, bada-boom. How hard could it be?
Enter the 2020 Covid pandemic. While I was still on step one, the live events world ground to a halt. Like any good event coordinator, I rolled with the punches—pivoting to manage a to-go beer program at a local craft brewery, slowly reintroducing private events, and throwing game-day parties when Q2 Stadium opened nearby.
After a few years, my goals had evolved. I shifted into an industry I never pictured for myself: Tech. I spent over four years producing internal events for Meta’s downtown Austin offices. It was an incredible ride that proved how powerful thoughtful events are for building community.
Subconsciously, I always knew I wanted to get back into wedding planning. After planning my own wedding in the fall of 2024, I didn’t get the classic ‘post-wedding blues’—I simply just wanted to keep designing and planning more weddings! In January 2025, I officially launched Austin Event Co. with the goal to take the stress out of the planning process and make wedding planning genuinely fun for couples. I initially treated it as a side hustle with a goal of two weddings that first year. Instead, I booked six for 2025 and quickly filled 14 dates for 2026. Realizing our approach truly resonated, I took the leap in spring 2026 to leave the corporate tech world and take Austin Event Co. full-time.
Today, I have a phenomenal team of three planners supporting our couples across Texas and beyond, including destination dates in Florida and California. Local Austin celebrations remain our heart and soul. Watching our couples be able to be fully present on their wedding day without an ounce of stress is the best reward we could ever ask for.”
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Each wedding and each couple are so unique, particularly in what aspects of their wedding day are most important to them, so over time we have learned the importance of honoring each unique desire and not always sticking to a template.
Our biggest struggle by far: wrinkled table linens! We had to to battle these and learn the hard way that it can take HOURS to steam linens, and they will still have a mind of their own. To all brides: plan ahead when deciding on your linens and ensure you have plenty of time to get those wrinkles out!
As you know, we’re big fans of Austin Event Co. . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
What sets us apart: Going above and beyond is our standard. We’re obsessed with creating a hospitable experience for you and your guests, and ensure this by proactively thinking through the entire day’s flow from every guest’s point of view to ensure they feel comfortable and taken care of. Don’t be surprised when you see us walking by with a tray of surprise drinks for your wedding party on the dance floor, or sitting next to your grandparent to listen to them reminisce on their own wedding memories. your wedding is so special for everyone involved, and we want to make sure they feel that.
Offerings:
Austin Event Co. specialized in wedding planning by offer 3 distinct planning packages, so there is something for every type of couple and every budget.
Full Service Planning – Designed for the couple who leads a busy life and wants an expert to guide them through every single decision. We act as your creative directors and project managers from day one and are by your side for every step of the journey. We find so many busy professionals would love to be involved in planning their wedding, but realize they might not have the time or eye for design like they originally thought. With this package, we’re the single voice you hear during planning, bringing you ideas and vendor options to choose from. Kick your feet up and enjoy making the fun choices we present you!
Partial Planning – For the couple who is looking forward to having a large hand in the planning process, but still wants a professional by their side to consult with throughout their whole journey. We collaborate with you from the start by giving you professional guidance in booking all your vendors, so you can feel confident that you’re assembling a dream team. Through monthly check ins, we keep you on track so you feel confident in your decisions along the way.
Event Management – Also known as “Day Of” or “Month Of” coordination. For the couple who is excited and has the time to book their vendors, create their own design, and even kick start the timeline and structure of the day. You’ve got the vision and the desire to really own your wedding, but you also want to fully enjoy your wedding day, not spend it directing everyone around to complete your vision. This is where we step in to learn your unique plan and take care of executing it on wedding day, so you can enjoy being the guest of honor.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The biggest change I have seen in the wedding industry is decreased guest counts in order to amplify a full weekend experience. Couples aren’t sending invitations to their parent’s coworkers or long lost cousins anymore. Instead, they’re allocating that money to extend how much time they get to celebrate with their closest family and friends. Ask your parents how many guests they had at their wedding, and they will likely say 300+. Even 5-10 years ago, anything below 150 was considered small. Now, our client’s average guest count is 80-150. I think the intimate full weekend experience is here to stay!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://austineventco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austineventco/
