Today we’d like to introduce you to Landra Williams.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
LRiliece Events is a little over three years old, yet it seems as though I’ve been doing this my whole life. I’ve been a creative for as long as I can remember and always wanted to take the celebrations that were happening with my friends, family, and associates to the next level by making them as beautiful, creative and stylish as possible.
While living in Las Vegas many, many years ago, the seed was planted to be an Event Planner, and I muffled that desire and decided to further my education, which is how I ended up in Houston to study Health Physics at Texas Southern University. I began teaching Physics, and although I love teaching, there was a part of me that teaching just didn’t fulfill. I saw a Steve Harvey video on social media, and he was speaking to an audience at his talk show about “jumping.” After reading his book, Jump, that’s exactly what I did. I took a year away from teaching and “jumped.” I began sowing on the seed of Event Planning and have never regretted it.
I was fortunate enough to plan a party hosted at the Houston Museum of African American Culture and that event opened the door to me becoming a preferred vendor, and they gave me numerous referrals and opportunities. I planned several weddings and private celebrations for their venue, as well as their gala.
Since then I have become a preferred vendor for several other venues and one of the things that I have learned in the few years that I have been planning is that venue and vendor relationships are key to being a successful Event Planner. “Collaboration is the new competition.” You can go fast alone or far together.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Nothing in life is without its difficulties. You don’t just wake up and decide you’re going to start a business and magically know everything there is to know about what you’re doing; despite what social media portrays, Therefore, you have to always have a yearning desire to make your business better as well as yourself. One of the struggles that I faced my first year was learning to deal with slow moments in business when I was building my clientele. It’s easy to get discouraged. I eventually learned to deal with those moments by shadowing and assisting other planners and photographers. Finding and having a mentor/mentors that have a willingness to share expertise and take a personal interest in your growth is a blessing. I wouldn’t be at the point I am without the knowledge I gained during those times.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Lriliece Events and Decor story. Tell us more about the business.
When I first started LRiliece Events, my company was most known for paper flowers. We have now grown into full-service event planning. LRiliece Events plans and services events of any kind or size–private celebrations, weddings, and corporate events. We also offer linen rental, uplighting, backdrop rentals with customization such as vinyl signs and decor. Every event is a story, One of the things that sets LRiliece Events apart from others is the amount of dedication we have to the client and the level of creativity and style that is brought to ensure that the “story” of each event shines through.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I wouldn’t call it luck but definitely grace and perseverance than anything. I’ve always been digging this goal and to reap the reward or see the benefit in anything that you believe in — the key is passion and faith as well as an unwillingness to give up. Everyone has a role to play and a time to be on stage. Some people have to understudy, and others may not. But the key is to let those characteristics carry you until it’s your time to be on stage. And when it’s your time… SHINE.
Pricing:
- The average cost of a backdrop rental is $175.
- We offer party packages starting at $250.
- Acylic signage starting at $65.
Contact Info:
- Website: landrariliece.com
- Email: landra@landrariliece.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lriliece_events/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LRilieceEvents/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/lriliece_events
Image Credit:
Xavier Burke Jrof xbjphotography
Jermario Gordon of Gordon Photography
Sunset Coffee Building
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition, please let us know here.
