Photo by Evoke Photography

Event planning is one of the best businesses to have in a major city. The wedding industry offers a lot of opportunities. Only the strong survive. For an individual to make it in the event planning industry, it requires a lot of hard work, innovative ideas and a very good product that stands out above the rest.

A Day to Remember has been a cornerstone in the event planning industry in the city of Houston for nearly 8 years. Not only are they highly sought after now, but the company is steadily expanding. I sat down and discussed A Day to Remember with Claudia De Velasco, founder of the company.

LM: What drives you?
CD:The love and passion I feel when doing the things I love to do.

LM: What experiences influenced your decision to start a business?
CD: My dad owned his own company. Growing up, I worked for him, so it only seemed natural for me to do the same. One of my brothers followed in his footsteps as well.

LM: What formal education and/or training do you have or had to get to start your business?
CD: As mentioned before, I worked for my dad, so I guess you could say he was my teacher. In addition, I did plenty of research within my field.

LM: How did you get started?
CD: My business was originally just a hobby, a hobby that actually paid me. Little by little, I started promoting the business more and more, to the point that my job was actually getting in the way of my business.

LM: How did you determine what product and or service to sell?
CD: I grew up watching and helping my mother cook and bake. I’ve always loved working in the kitchen, so it was only natural that I should get paid for doing something I love to do.

LM: What lessons have you learned from your first years in business?
CD: I’ve learned that while owning your own company is not easy, it is certainly rewarding. I’ve learned that owning your own company is not a “9-5″ kind of job, but more of a “24/7″ kind of job. In the end, though, I wouldn’t trade it for any other job.

LM: Who were the primary influences in your life as it relates to being an entrepreneur?
CD: My dad

LM: What has been your biggest success?
CD: Achieving your goal

LM: What has been your biggest disappointment?
CD: Not having started the business sooner.