It’s not every day you get to speak to a wedding planner with the expertise of one Amy Zaroff. Her company, Amy Zaroff Events + Design, has been planning corporate and private celebrations for years, keeping clients happy and coming back for more. Her style, spirit, and desire for professionalism come through in each Amy Zaroff Event. We spent some time catching up to hear how she got her start, why she does what she does, and what keeps her in the game.
Photo by La Vie Photography
IT STARTED WITH A DELI
“I started my career as a television producer at Edelman Productions producing shows for HGTV. From there, my husband and I opened a 100-seat full-service New York-style delicatessen restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and catering. The combination of hospitality and production was a perfect fit for event planning.” From there, Zaroff, “was approached by the then owner of Give My Regards To, a 32-year old invitation stationery and gift shop. I knew nothing about retail, but the idea that her clients were already coming for party invitations inspired me to consider how, if I bought the business, I would be able to convince the clients that they could not only get an invitation but a planned event as well. I bought the business in March of that year and transformed it over the years to a full-service planning and design company.”
HIGH-END PARTY PLANNING
“Each wedding is an extension of who our clients are as a couple and we want their guests to experience the event as a day in time that exudes their preferences in every way. We consider ourselves luxury planners, meaning we work with clients who have guest counts ranging from 300-450 or more guests and budgets starting at $200,000. Our core values drive everything we do.” And because their clients tend to be busy professionals, they are people who trust Amy and her team to bring their vision to life. “We get to know them and they know our direct but fun-loving and warm communication style prior to selecting us” Amy explains.
Photo by La De Da Photography
AN ELEVATED EXPERIENCE
“We push our creative partners to raise the bar through enhanced food and beverage offerings, elevated guest experiences, immersive decór, continuous entertainment from the start of the event to the last dance, and every detail in between.” And through this, Amy Zaroff Events are often warm, detailed, and always very memorable.
Photo by Matt Blum
INSPIRATION
Everything from travel to social media inspires Amy and her team, but possibly the most unique way that Amy Zaroff Events connects with their clients and get inspired is through “getting to know people on a deeper level, hearing people’s ‘why’ and learning as much as possible from people who have careers different than mine.”
Photo By Eliesa Johnson
When Amy isn’t party planning, she’s trying to “spend as much time as possible with my family and friends.” Here are her fun and honest answers to our lightning round questions:
What books are on your night table?
What event planner has time to read?
Favorite season for a wedding?
Fall
Favorite locale for vacation?
Costa Rica
Color combos you’re loving right now?
I always love sophisticated neutrals with mixed metallics when done right
Flats or heels?
Flats now required/ heels to feel hot; a thing of my past
Red or white wine?
Rosé
Go-to comfort food?
Burger King Fried Chicken Sandwich and Onion Rings (when no one is watching)
Favorite genre of music?
Old school rap and hip-hop
Clearly, this innovator, creative director, and event producer has a sense of humor and would make any event shine, uniquely and with the utmost of style. To find out why she’s in the business of creating life’s most memorable experiences, see more on Amy Zaroff Events website, here.