Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Puente.
Hi Elizabeth , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I come from divorced parents, and for anyone who has been in that situation, you know how tough it can be. After my parents’ divorce, we lived with my grandfather for a while. When my mom was finally able to buy a house, we lived on a very tight budget. She made $500 a week, and that had to cover the mortgage, groceries, and everything else.
I wasn’t naturally school-savvy, but I knew education was my path forward. I started night school and pushed myself to graduate a year early. From there, I enrolled at Houston Community College. After my first semester, I received a $2,000 refund check from FAFSA. I couldn’t believe it! I had passed my classes and even had money left over. Those $2,000 motivated me to keep going, and I eventually graduated with an associate degree in science and a 3.8 GPA.
I applied to just one university: Texas A&M. Whoop! I was stunned when I was accepted. I didn’t know how we would afford it, but I knew I had to go. I took out loans… lots of them and after graduation, I began my career as a teacher. While I loved teaching, the pay barely covered my living expenses and student loans.
To make extra income, I started working for a small jewelry company called Premier Designs. The more I sold, the more commission I earned, so I hustled hard. That side hustle opened the door to my next business, Galis Goodies. The idea was born when I was pregnant with my first daughter and couldn’t afford desserts for my own baby shower. Today, Galis Goodies has been in business for over 10 years, thanks to the incredible support of our community.
As my family grew my daughter was born in June and my son in February I found myself needing a venue every year for birthdays. The options were either too hot outside, too cold outside, or venue with strict time limits. After one frustrating experience where we were rushed to leave, I told my husband, “One day, I want to open a venue where clients have plenty of time to decorate, celebrate, and clean up without feeling pressured.”
That dream became reality when we opened our first small venue, Dazzling Beauty Parties, in Pasadena, TX. Over the past five years, Dazzling has earned over 100 five-star reviews and has been a blessing to so many families. But with a 60-guest limit, we knew it was time to grow.
One day, while driving my son to school, I noticed a space for lease. It checked all our boxes except it was an old, dark bar that needed a complete transformation. We prayed about it, reviewed our finances, and took a leap of faith. The remodel took six months of hard work, countless permit hurdles, and a lot of late nights.
When we finally opened San Pedro Venue, our first open house brought in just one booking. We were heartbroken and questioned whether we’d made the right decision after investing nearly $200,000 into the project. But we kept going. Slowly, one booking turned into two, then many more.
It hasn’t been easy. My husband and I work every single event ourselves, leaving our kids at home with a sitter and trusting that God will provide. We believe San Pedro Venue isn’t just a business it’s a place for our community to come together and create lasting memories. This journey has been full of challenges, but with faith and perseverance, we’ve turned our dream into a reality.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not a smooth road. There have been many challenges along the way, both personally and professionally. When we first opened San Pedro Venue, we faced countless permit hurdles, city inspections, and unexpected costs. The building was originally a bar and needed a complete transformation to meet city codes, which was overwhelming and expensive. Good is so good that some of those inspectors had been clients from our other venue and helped us along the way with questions. (what were the chances!)
The biggest challenge, though, came when we opened our doors. After investing nearly $200,000 and six months of hard work, our very first open house brought in just one booking. My husband and I felt crushed and questioned whether we had made the right decision. But instead of giving up, we leaned on our faith and pushed forward. Slowly, one booking turned into two, and eventually, we began to see our calendar fill up.
On a personal level, balancing work and family has been tough. I was a full time teacher that had to leave her Carrer and went into Real Estate to have flexible time. My husband and I run every single event ourselves, which often means late nights, early mornings, and missing time with our kids. There have been moments of exhaustion and doubt, but we keep reminding ourselves why we started to serve our community and build a better future for our family.
Through it all, we’ve learned that challenges are part of growth. It hasn’t been easy, but every obstacle has made us stronger and more grateful for how far we’ve come.
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?
San Pedro Event Center is more than just an event space it’s where memories are made. We specialize in weddings, birthdays, and community gatherings, providing clients with flexibility, personalized service, and plenty of time to celebrate without feeling rushed. What sets us apart is that my husband and I personally work every event, ensuring every detail is handled with care. I’m most proud of the reputation we’ve built within both of our venues. Over 100 five-star reviews
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I love to read and continue learning whenever I can. Right now, I’m reading books like Keller Williams and Ninja, which focus on real estate but also give me strategies I can use in my business. I give most of my credit to God and my family so many of my family members run small businesses, whether it’s carpentry, baking, or other side hustles, and growing up around that taught me the value of hard work and entrepreneurship.
My grandfather was one of my first real-life examples of hustling. He would bring items from Mexico like cheese, peppers, flour tortillas and sit outside the meat market of a dear friend in Magnolia to sell them. My mom would ask him, “Why do you do that if you only make $10 here or there?” and he would always reply, “Those are $10 no one will give me sitting at home. I have to work for them.” That mindset of working hard for every opportunity has stayed with me ever since.
Early on, I also read books by Dave Ramsey to learn about money management, and I follow YouTubers and business leaders to stay inspired and pick up tips for growing my ventures. I even worked in the stock market and followed finance-focused content creators, which helped me become more money-savvy and confident in making financial decisions for my businesses.
Life has truly been a podcast in itself of lessons, experiences, and growth. One of my favorite things to do is go on missionary trips, which I’ve been able to do through hard work and dedication. Traveling to other countries allows me to bring toys, school supplies, and necessities to children in need especially children with disabilities in countries where they are often overlooked and not provided for. As a mom with a child with Autism this has been so important to me. Being able to give back in this way is one of the most meaningful parts of my life.
Pricing:
- $700 saturday for our Dazzling Beauty parties
- $2,500 saturday for San Pedro Event Center
- $7,500 all inclusive package
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sanpedroeventcenterhtx.com
- Instagram: @sanpedroeventcenter
- Facebook: Sanpedroeventcenter
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@eventdecorbyliza
