My Why: From Bride to Planner & the Journey of Velada

In celebration of Velada Events’ upcoming half-birthday, and with our first wedding season quickly approaching, I’ve found myself pausing and reflecting on the journey that led me here. Starting a business—especially in such a deeply special industry like weddings—requires a lot of heart. And for me, that heart was shaped through years of experience, unexpected pivots, and finally, the life-changing journey of planning my own wedding.

I’ll admit, it’s a little surreal to think that my path to becoming a wedding planner truly started in November 2022 when I began planning my own wedding to my amazing now-husband, Craig. I’m incredibly self-aware—perhaps even a little self-conscious—about the fact that I took the traditional Bride to Planner pipeline. But while that’s when I fully recognized this calling, the truth is: event planning has been quietly woven through my life for the past decade.

It all began in 2015, back in my hometown of Carolina, Puerto Rico. I was 20 years old and working as a travel agent, where in addition to my regular duties, I helped coordinate orientations for large group sailings and curated special trips for Quinceañeras. That same year, I took on my first major event planning challenge: throwing my mom a surprise 60th birthday party. I made a million mistakes and made some questionable design decisions—but my mom had a blast, and I still remember that day with so much fondness. That experience taught me what it felt like to bring joy to people through celebration and gathering.

After finishing my Bachelor’s degree in Puerto Rico, I moved to Washington, DC, to pursue a Master’s degree at Georgetown University. Not long after, I began working as a Program Specialist at the Library of Congress. There, my event planning journey continued to blossom. We worked on dozens of events, but by far the highlight was working on an event with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. My team also pioneered the virtual event format at the Library when the pandemic hit. It was a crash course in innovation, in an era where we had to find alternative ways to come together.

Later, I joined USAID as a communications specialist, where once again, events became the centerpiece of my work—especially in the virtual space. I spent three years there, working with incredible teams and leadership to build impactful events which showcased the scope of our work around the world.

Meanwhile, in November 2022, Craig and I decided to get married. Our engagement wasn’t traditional by any means, but it was the catalyst that led me straight into the heart of wedding planning. We knew from the start we wanted to marry in Puerto Rico and chose the very resort we were staying at for Craig’s birthday to host it. But we knew quickly that one day couldn’t capture everything we wanted to celebrate, so we planned an entire series of events.

We eloped in an intimate document signing in Washington, DC, surrounded by immediate family. 

In Puerto Rico, the night before our wedding, we hosted a blowout welcome party with a live Latin band, a cigar roller, and boozy piraguas (aka. shaved ice!). 

And finally, on April 6, 2024, we had our beautiful wedding day in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. 

I must admit, it was the ultimate logistical challenge. Between the language barriers for guests, the multiple locations, and the Caribbean heat and humidity… it was a puzzle only a planner could love.

And I did love it. Every second of it. I didn’t just enjoy planning my own wedding—I fell in love with the process. I was entranced with the details, the logistics, and most importantly, with making our events personal, intentional, and unforgettable. I realized I didn’t want this to be a one-time thing. I wanted this to be my life.

But I didn’t rush into it.

It actually took me six months after our wedding to truly sit with the idea of becoming a planner full-time. During those six months, the name “Velada” came to me. That’s when the color palette appeared in my mind’s eye, where I was drawn by the significance of the color purple. Wisdom, creativity, and spirituality. Later a business plan, the brand identity, and the heart behind it all started falling into place.

In October 2024, after a lot of reflection and a ton of encouragement, I officially launched Velada Events. I was still working full time at USAID, so I began building the foundation of my business on nights and weekends—dreaming, designing, setting intentions.

Then, in January 2025, something unexpected happened; I lost my job at USAID. It was a devastating personal blow that I still mourn. The work that we as an agency had done for decades, suddenly disappeared. 

It wasn’t part of the plan. I had expected to ease into Velada slowly while holding onto the stability of my 9–5. But in that moment—within the sadness and uncertainty—came the very thing I needed most: time.

Time to build. Time to breathe life into Velada. Time to focus fully on what I was most passionate about.

It was terrifying, but it was also freeing. And I haven’t looked back.

That’s how Velada Events was born. Velada means “an evening soirée” in Spanish—and it represents everything I want to create for my couples: magical, meaningful events that reflect who they are, where they come from, and their journey as a couple.

This career wasn’t one I always knew I wanted—but looking back, it feels like it’s been chasing me all along. From travel agent to communications specialist, from PR to DC, from working government & corporate events, to becoming a bride myself & planning my own wedding—every step led me here.

To all the couples who have already trusted me with your special day—thank you. Your belief in me, even in these early days, means more than I can put into words. I cannot wait to celebrate each and every one of you.

So here I am, fully embracing the journey and all of the ups & downs that come with it. Listening to my heart and to my gut. Trusting in timing. And finally, doing what I was always meant to do.

Welcome to Velada Events. I’m so glad you’re here.