Name: Marissa Honey-Plata
Company: Meant 2 Bee Events
Years in Business: June 1st, 2024 marks 5 years!
Website: www.meant2beeevents.com
Email: Meant2BeeEventPlanning@gmail.com
Instagram: @Meant2Bee.Events
Hi! My name is Marissa and I am the Founder and CEO of Meant 2 Bee Events. One thing you’ll hear me say a few times during our time together is that I love, love. Fashion, weddings, and creating unique experiences for clients and guests is my jam. I first fell in love with weddings at age 14. I helped plan my mother’s wedding and 15 minutes before she was scheduled to walk down the aisle, it started pouring rain on her outdoor ceremony. I handed my mother a drink and said give me 20 minutes. I moved all of the decorations inside, reorganized the reception layout, and created an indoor ceremony space. The guests didn’t know any different and we were able to keep everything rolling. The chaos of that event and the feeling of accomplishment I had sparked an interest that has never left. While working full-time at a corporate office, I got a job at a venue and worked under another wedding planner for a few years so I could learn the ropes. Fast forward to 5 years later, I have a team of 6 and absolutely LOVE the business I’ve created and I’m so thankful to the couples that allow me to be a part of their incredible stories.
How do you approach working with couples to bring their vision to life?
I have a very transparent, keep-it-real approach with my couples that keeps the planning process simple and stress-free. I pay attention to the tiny details and make sure everything is executed as smoothly as possible. I want my couples (and their VIPs) to be present in the moment and trust that everything is taken care of. We are also a strong advocate for our couple’s wants and needs and make sure what they want is being heard.
Black Oak Mountain Vineyards
What is your favorite part of working at Black Oak?
My favorite part of working at Black Oak is the opportunity to collaborate with couples in creating their dream weddings within such a stunning and naturally beautiful setting. The picturesque backdrop of BOMV inspires creativity and allows for unique, personalized designs that highlight both the couple’s vision and the venue’s charm. Additionally, the weekend destination wedding feeling makes it so our couples can relax and not feel rushed through one of the biggest events of their lives.
What do you love most about working with our couples?
I love that the couples that book BOMV are usually guest experience-focused. They want their guests to experience a wedding like no other and be able to enjoy the views the venue has to offer.
How do you balance incorporating a couple’s personal style and preferences with our natural beauty and ambiance?
Balancing a couple’s personal style and preferences with the natural beauty and ambiance of BOMV involves a thoughtful and collaborative approach. We first start with understanding our couples vision + budget, then we create a cohesive design with personal touches, and finally we work to find the perfect vendors to execute the plan! Since we have worked at BOMV multiple times, we know how the flow of the day works and how to create the perfect personal touches within the venue. By thoughtfully merging the couple’s personal style with the venue’s ambiance, you create a harmonious and memorable wedding experience that feels both personalized and naturally beautiful.
What do you believe sets your approach to wedding planning apart from others at our venue?
My approach to wedding planning is very transparent and straightforward, but also very personalized. We focus on a personalized experience, attention to detail, stress-free planning, and creating an experience your guests will never forget. I invest significant time in getting to know our couples and their unique story. This ensures that every wedding is a true reflection of their personalities, preferences, and love story, rather than a generic, one-size-fits-all event. By integrating these elements, I create weddings that are not only beautiful and cohesive but also deeply personal and memorable, making the most of a picturesque venue’s unique attributes.
Trends & Tips
What are some current wedding trends you’re loving right now?
Outfit changes! I am here for it! I love bridal fashion so the more the merrier. I also love when my couples want to do something completely out of the box and focus on their guest experience rather than just checking the regular wedding day boxes.
What advice would you give to couples who have just got engaged?
Hire a planner first. There are so many resources we have to offer and can help get you going in the right direction from the very start. Find someone you vibe and connect with because you are going to be working with them closely during your wedding planning experience.
How do you collaborate with other vendors, such as photographers, caterers, and florists, to ensure seamless coordination on the day of the wedding?
COMMUNICATION. We like to say “Hey!” to the vendor team at LEAST 30 days before and connect on the details of the day. Our job is to take everyone’s needs and morph them into one solid master plan with the couple’s wishes at the heart of that plan.
Just for Fun
If you could plan a wedding for any celebrity couple, who would it be and why?
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. Their banter is so fun and they seem like such a nice and genuine couple. I am still forever obsessed with Blake’s dress from the Met Gala a few years ago that changed colors! 😍
If you had to plan a wedding based on a movie or TV show theme, which one would you choose and why?
Emily in Paris simply because I LOVE the fashion in that show, I am a huge foodie, and obviously, Paris…
Can you share a time when you had to think on your feet to solve a wedding day emergency?
HAHA! So many… which one do you want to hear about? The hill that caught on fire 45 minutes before the ceremony? The forgotten wedding dress? The insane hail storm that flooded the reception space?
If you could plan a wedding in any era of history, which would you choose and how would you modernize it?
What a tough question! Hmm… I would choose the Roaring Twenties. The 1920s were a time of glamour, innovation, and celebration, making it an exciting period to draw inspiration from. We’d opt for luxurious fabrics like velvet and silk in a modern color palette, combining classic black and gold with pops of rich jewel tones. We’d hire a live jazz band to play both classic 1920s tunes and contemporary jazz-infused hits. Our signature drinks would include cocktails like an updated version of 1920s classics, like the French 75 or a contemporary twist on the Sidecar. I’m sensing an awesome styled shoot here…
Share a moment when you had to incorporate a couple’s quirky hobby or interest into their wedding theme.
I currently have a couple who is super into anime and the little emoji stickers, so we had some custom stickers made of the couple for their welcome table. We are also incorporating a Boba Bar during their cocktail hour!
If you were to plan a destination wedding at Black Oak Mountain Vineyards for a couple from another planet, what elements would you include to make them feel at home?
FOOD. I’m a big foodie and I feel like there is nothing that feels more like home than a home cooked meal.
