Wedding planning, production, and design seem to require a bit of tenacity. To make it in the wedding and event industry, you have to be willing to take a risk and execute a vision. It turns out that you also need to be a bit opportunistic and ready to jump when the stars align. This philosophy has carried Pauline Parry very far in the business. She is the esteemed founder of Good Gracious, a Los Angeles-based company that is creating masterful events worldwide. Pauline and her team at Good Gracious specialize in production and event design, gourmet cuisine, and flawless execution at any location. I have Pauline on the show today because her success in business wasn’t a one-shot effort, and her diverse experiences make for some wonderful storytelling.

Pauline decided to seize the opportunity to move with her new husband and two children from her home country of Great Britain to L.A. With no money, no business plan, and a passion for food and good company, Pauline dared to start her own catering business. This one venture led to many more, including a failed café, planning a few weddings, and now a high-end event production company. Pauline has learned more from her failures than her successes, and she encourages anyone in the business to keep following where passion leads. Pauline’s business had so much organic growth, and that was nurtured by her enterprising spirit and ahead-of-her-time ideas. Events by Pauline are masterfully conducted. She is most certainly shaping the industry in the best ways. Listen today to hear her inspiring story.

“The event is all about the flow, the logistics, and the experience the guest has from the moment they get there.”  – Pauline Parry

Show Highlights:

  • Pauline shares how she seized an opportunity to leave the UK and move to the United States with her family.
  • After having just about every job in a small restaurant, Pauline decided hospitality would be her industry.
  • Hear the exciting story of learning the foundation of her industry in a castle, turned chateau bistro.
  • Seeing the next adventure ahead, Pauline started a catering company one year into her move to the US.
  • Pauline’s business started to grow by word of mouth and school events.
  • What steps Pauline took to scale her business and a story of great failure that became a teacher.
  • How a very public wakeup call caused Pauline to take her business seriously.
  • Opening a restaurant focused Pauline towards catering.
  • Hear the story of Pauline’s first wedding.
  • Pauline organically moved from catering into planning.
  • An invitation or an entrance sets the tone.
  • When you are in entertainment, you should be masterful.
  • It is important that the partners Pauline works with have a compatibility before they work an event.
  • Why it is important to stay ahead of the market and not stay in the “bubble.”
  • Pauline shares a story of how smart networking got her high profile jobs.
  • What causes burnout, and how Pauline has prevented it.

Links:

Paddington Bear

Pauline’s Points

Fall Fete

September Celebration

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