May 1, 2017

Meet Sandy Alvarez of Splendid Weddings & Events in River West

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandy Alvarez.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Hi, I’m Sandy; I consider myself a down-to-earth entrepreneur passionate about event planning and design, a business career where my love for people, organization, and creativity are perfectly aligned. I find joy and beauty in the simple things in life and also like to live a life with style. You can find me working in my office with a cup of coffee and in most weekends orchestrating splendid events. In my spare time (recharge days), I am the happiest sharing time with my family and friends, entertaining, and visiting new places (love nature). My life purpose is to love, to grow, and create.

I have been in the event and hospitality industry for about 13 years, my background as a corporate planner and catering manager is what introduced me to the world of events. While I enjoyed the fast-paced environment and organization of corporate events, I wasn’t able to fully exercise my creative and social personality, which is part of my essence. For this reason, I began to offer my planning services independently for social events.

After planning and orchestrating different events, I realized I wanted to focus on weddings. I was able to identify some needs in the wedding industry, which I took as an opportunity to bring a different and fresh approach to wedding planning. Bridal couples value high-quality work and appreciate the luxury of a one on one experience with their planner. I knew I could offer my clients the personal and professional service that they deserve, so I took the leap and opened Splendid Weddings and Events.

Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t been easy but it has been worth it. Building a wedding planning business is not all glamorous, it takes sacrifice, besides the time and financial investment, and one has to have a true commitment and a strong work ethic. It’s a whole process to start a business from scratch, create your brand, define your ideal client and establish good relations with other wedding professionals. It takes dedication and innovation to establish and maintain a successful business.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Splendid Weddings & Events story. Tell us more about the business.
Splendid Weddings & Events is a boutique wedding planning and design firm in the city of Chicago. We specialize in wedding planning, design, and coordination services. We are known for our unique and fresh approach to planning. We provide high-quality work, a practical and effective planning process, and a one on one experience.

What sets my company apart is that I genuinely care for each of my clients, and provide the professional but personal service that they deserve. At Splendid, we can help you plan, design and coordinate the wedding of your dreams through our extensive knowledge of weddings and design, our professional and hands-on experience, the resource of trusted wedding vendors including venues, caterers, photographers, florists and everything you need to bring your wedding vision to life, so you can rest assured knowing that your wedding is in good hands.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The wedding industry will continue to be stable in the next 5-10 years, each year in the United States 2.5 million people get married. However, the biggest shift we have been experiencing in the industry is technology, as more couples are turning to the digital world of weddings. With smartphones and devices, couples have the practical access to digital platforms such as apps, websites and online tools to help them with their wedding planning. According to the Knot’s Real Wedding Study, about 6 out of 10 brides are planning their wedding thru their mobile device. They search for wedding gowns and wedding vendors online. Moreover, with social media and sites such as Pinterest, Instagram and wedding blogs, brides are looking online for planning tools and inspiration. As a wedding professional, it is important to embrace change and take advantage of technology to save time, improve communication and provide an easier planning experience to our customers.

When it comes to wedding trends, bridal couples are moving towards unconventional wedding venues such as lofts, art galleries, museums, gardens, and raw spaces that allow them to create their wedding vision from scratch rather than having their wedding at a traditional hall. They are also open to different table settings and layouts in their floor plan. Couples are more risky to incorporate unusual colors into their wedding design as well as different elements such as furniture, special lighting, and rentals to create their desired look and atmosphere.

Another change I have seen is that modern couples want a personalized wedding menu, with the multicultural population in the city, bridal couples have unique catering needs and there are some amazing catering companies out there with exceptional chefs who can create the perfect wedding menu for them.

With so much information online, bridal couples have become more educated and aware of the wedding trends, design, and styles, resulting in a more demanding client. For instance, in the case of wedding photography, most of my couples have a clear idea of the photography style they are looking for, with “natural light” and “fine art” photography being the most popular in the last two years. In fashion, brides are looking for gown designs that represent their style and personality, rather than a conservative or traditional design.

Ultimately, wedding trends will continue to emerge and change with the times, however, I believe that technology cannot replace the mind and dedication of a human being in any field and industry. We are people and a wedding app won’t be there for you to resolve an unexpected issue or to hold your hand right before you walk down the aisle, or to calm your nerves before your first dance. We have a soul and have a unique gift that technology can’t ever replace.

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