Today we’d like to introduce you to Pilar Merino.
Hi Pilar, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
For as long as I can remember, I have been our family and friends’ event planner (sometimes I feel like the party bus). I moved to Orlando from Puerto Rico in 2002. The first thing I did when I landed in Orlando, was become the month of coordinator for my best friend’s wedding. And I have to say, it was an amazing event! Then I became a wife, later a mother, and creative planning became my sole focus. After all, I now have 3 in-house permanent clients to create for.
Events became the antidote to the daily stresses of my corporate job. I have taken on many events as a side job. My friends, family, and co-workers have made it possible for my love for creative planning to remain intact as they blessed me with the opportunity to plan their birthdays, baby showers, engagements, weddings, and family dinners/reunions. etc. Even when they didn’t ask, I was planning on their behalf.
I decided to turn my passion into my business in 2020 after planning the third party for my dear friend and my niece Quinceañera. Both events were a success, and my family and friends encouraged me to register my business. I’m glad I did! Nothing compares to the feeling that I get from seeing happiness in the expressions of those for whom I have created something.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with any aspect of life, I’ve experienced many challenges.
From not being familiar with the requirements to open a business to finding myself being overlooked or unwelcomed because of being Latina. In addition, as women, we’re the pillars of strength within our families, personal and professional relationships, or more broadly within society as a whole – often to our own mental, physical, and emotional disadvantage. When you are a female entrepreneur, and have an 8-5 with leadership responsibilities, that pressure is magnified ten-fold. And let me tell you, that can be draining. However, I’m a firm believer that experience is not what happens to you but how you chose to respond. And I have been blessed and highly favored by the powers above in my choices.
I know someone needs to hear this today: never say or accept I can’t. Don’t allow for circumstances to keep you from reaching the heights of greatness you know you can achieve. Always be intentional about making decisions today that your future self will thank you for. And when in doubt, find help! There are many resources surrounding you that you will never know of if you don’t ask the question. I also believe in paying it forward and will be happy to guide anyone in need of help. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Pilar Merino Designs is a full-service event production and design company devoted to curating chic, unique, distinctive, and unforgettable experiences. Our passion is the celebration of life and we find joy in sharing it with everyone.
We specialize in remarkable social events and weddings.
Our promise is to provide every client with a seamless experience. We do this by pairing our years of customer service experience and our passion for intricate planning and cohesive styles with our utmost listening ability to curate our client’s dream celebration and allow for enjoyment of the event planning process of each event from the start.
We love all celebrations, big or small, and offer various collections: event management, event design, and event styling. Our Event Planning & Design collections are our most popular. It is our all-inclusive collection providing us the opportunity to manage the entire scope of our client’s event. This collection is suitable for someone who wishes to be walked through the entire event process by an experienced planner who will hold their hand from start to finish!
How do you define success?
At a personal level, I associate success with fulfillment. If I can help someone and bring happiness to their lives, I’m successful. Nothing compares to the joy that I find in seeing happiness in the expressions of those whom I have helped.
I’m especially touched by the opportunities of helping children. At a professional level, success will always be customer satisfaction. I’m driven by providing exceptional service which again takes me to create happiness. So, success is definitely creating happiness.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pilarmerinodesigns.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pilarmerinodesigns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pilarmerinodesigns
