Today's exciting interview focuses on Mrs. Deirdre Luster of "Divine Elegance by Deirdre!" Mrs. Luster is a successful wedding planner and events businesswoman who has been in the wedding industry for over 15 years. She is our Echo News TV in December 2022, Spotlight person. And I can't wait until you see a few of the events she has planned. https://elegancebydeirdre.com/about "Luster is a frequent speaker at Monmouth University, Farleigh Dickinson University, and Ocean County Community College, where she inspires students in their career pursuits and has also implemented an internship program in her company for students throughout the state of New Jersey." The relaunched Echo seeks to share with the public the extraordinary work and ministry Luster shares with couples seeking marriage, plus business advice from which future business entrepreneurs can learn. "Divine Elegance by Deirdre is a luxury wedding and event company dedicated to delivering breathtaking weddings, elegant corporate events, and top-tier social affairs. Her elite clientele demand first-class service and an extraordinary occasion." Luster has been featured in numerous press outlets, including The Knot, Style Me Pretty, BELLA, Glamour (Brazil), New Jersey Bride, and The Star-Ledger. I introduce to some and present to others Mrs. Deirdre Luster of Divine Elegance by Deirdre.
Divine Elegance by Deirdre
Echo:
What makes a great wedding?
Deirdre:
Well, a great wedding starts with strategic planning, making the budget the priority, and having a wedding planner who is a great listener & hears the desires of her client's heart. Because many couples underestimate the importance of having a professional wedding planner to assist them and planning their nuptials and needing to understand that timing and paying close attention to details are essential.
Echo: Many women have a natural flare for talent in various ways. Fashion design, music, advocacy, and interior decorating but for one reason or another, they never pursued or developed that talent into a successful business. How did you know that being a wedding planner was the path you should take?
Ex: Soulfood Spread
Deirdre:
Being a wedding planner was in my DNA. My mother was a charming woman; she organized unique social events and family gatherings as I grew up. And she loved to cook.
I would stay in the kitchen right by her side at an early age to learn how to cook and organize family gatherings. So I honestly followed in her footsteps. And then, in time, everything I learned from my mother transitioned into me planning celebratory events for family, friends, and colleagues. As a child, I always wanted to be a registered nurse (RN.) So I pursued my education at Lower Manhattan Community College & then Hunter College Nursing Program. However, while attending college, my mom was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. And after caring for her during those years while believing God would heal her. Unfortunately, it did not come to pass.
Divine Elegance by Deirdre
Deirdre:
Through her passing and my grief, I felt medicine had failed, and I decided not to continue my nursing education. However, I continued to work at my job at Columbian Presbyterian Hospital Center, where I spent many years there at Presbyterian while I was in college. I would always be asked to create employee events that led to other meetings & events, which led to outside events, and employee weddings. My boss at Presbyterian Hospital would always say, "one day, you're going to have an event & wedding planning business," and I would laugh and ignore him. And to this day, he says he is proud of my accomplishments and told me this would happen.
Echo:
After what you went through, God blessed you
Deirdre:
Right, so it is the serving heart that God blessed me with, and by serving him, I transitioned my gift into both of those fields of nursing and event planning into being helpful. And to be beneficial to others. As an experienced wedding planner who has the heart to serve others is very important. There is a process of being a wedding planner where ministry plays a big part. Couples are transitioning from being single to becoming one. When you have a serving heart, you can assist the family as a wedding planner during this exciting and somewhat overwhelming period. You get to learn about the family and emotions and be there in a supportive manner. So it turns into a healing and fantastic event because it is transitioning from having serving hands and a generous heart.
Divine Elegance by Deirdre
Echo:
That's ministry. So that correlates to where you took a family tradition inherited from your mom and transitioned your gifts inspired by your mother's love. Plus, her expertise is now being recreated into these beautiful luxury weddings that leave your consumers with lifelong, quality memories. Not to mention that throughout the years, you have built a reputation of being a reliable business person, plus a counselor in planning successful events and extraordinary stress-free weddings. And that's a blessing.
Divine Elegance by Deirdre
Echo:
How do your children feel about their mom being a wedding planner?
Deirdre:
Well, my son is very excited about the business. He is very hands-on and helps me to set up and break down. My niece wasn't so enthusiastic. Giggle, I told her that to be successful in life because she wanted to be a supreme court justice, she needed something to fall back on. So, I told her, if you help me with these little things now, you never know where they'll lead. So she graduated valedictorian of her high school and then went to Monmouth University. And wouldn't you know that the first job she had as a student on campus was in the special events department? (LOL)
Divine Elegance by Deirdre
Deirdre:
They were so amazed at how well she could focus on every detail and how well she could orchestrate and organize these events. She will be preparing to graduate from law school in May, and she still is executing her small events and planning business. So in retrospect, my mother's gift for organizing and creating memorable events has been passed on to another generation.
Echo:
Yes, it did! That's wonderful, and you prepared her to carry on the family's business.
Echo:
How can we encourage more couples interested in getting married to utilize your seasoned advice and services for future weddings and special events? Because some of our folks' weddings can be a hit or miss.-----------------
Deirdre:
Well, um, I've learned that we want to be the end-all-be-all. And our people will try to do everything themselves. And get stressed out in the process. As Black women, we want to be hands-on with everything regarding our wedding. Handle everything. Do everything ourselves. And I think that is the initial and first instinct to do as a Black woman. However, with other cultures, they will quickly hire a wedding planner to take on the responsibility of doing everything they do not want to be bothered with, unlike our culture. Our people will take everything on as if no one is here to help them during this unique transition. It is a season and time when the couple should be pampered and assisted in making their one-of-a-kind wedding spectacular while sticking to the budget. And that's what's Divine Elegance by Deirdre Wedding and Events Planning Services has and can provide for our people.
Divine Elegance by Deirdre
Echo:
How many Black-owned wedding planning businesses are in New Jersey?
Deirdre:
There are not a lot of professional Black wedding planners who are very successful. The struggle is real because other cultures may have access to networks that work with them. Also, as a Black wedding planner, you are looked at a certain way by wedding seekers and vendors. And because of that, I chose a different avenue of marketing my services by putting on events that will showcase my gifts and talents, and this way, you won't just view a beautiful picture off of a website or on Instagram. You will be a part of an event I created.
Echo:
This way, wedding seekers get to test drive your services ahead of time by attending one of your luxurious events by Divine Elegance by Deirdre!
Deirdre:
That's right! And couples and families love attending these events.
Divine Elegance by Deirdre
Echo:
How does your faith in God and yourself enable you to be all you can be?
Deirdre:
Well, consistent prayer and going behind the veil to hear what God has to say, especially in planning and dealing with people, unlike me. Because some of the events I'm planning may not be my lifestyle, my business and reputation dictate that I serve all my clients exceptionally. To know whose you are and to know it is your responsibility to provide above and beyond quality service for all your clients without discrimination. You can do everything through Christ, which strengthens you. But it is your responsibility as a business person to understand the changing times is crucial for today's wedding planner.
Divine Elegance by Deirdre
Echo:
Yes, because it's about doing an above-and-beyond job for everybody. It's essential to provide quality services to every couple. It's about your reputation to deliver classy, top-notch events so that in your client's minds when they meet other couples interested in getting married, they recommend you gladly as a wedding planner for their special event.
Deirdre:
I included the name "Divine" in my business, which helps dictate who will come to me for business—Divine Elegance by Deirdre.
Divine Elegance by Deirdre
Echo:
Yes, the word divine is holy. Clients will know that you bring a tiered service when they select you as their wedding planner. Even though some wedding partiers may fall drunk on the dance floor later that evening, committing to be married is sacred. Plus fun when you add good wine & champagne!
Divine Elegance by Deirdre at The Nomad Hotel NYC
Echo:
What are some of your favorite venues?
Deirdre:
The Park Chateau Estate & Gardens, https://www.parkchateau.com/
The Grove, https://www.groveatcenterton.com/
The Nanina's In The Park, https://www.naninasinthepark.com/
The Park Savoy, https://www.theparksavoy.com/
The Merion, https://themerion.com/
Saddle Brook, https://www.excelsior46.com/
Oheka Castle, https://www.oheka.com/
Gotham Hall, https://www.gothamhallevents.com/
Four Seasons Philadelphia, https://www.fourseasons.com/philadelphia/
The Nomad Hotel, NYC https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/new-york/nomad/Weddings/venues
The Crystal Plaza https://www.eventective.com/livingston-nj/the-crystal-plaza-222363.html
Divine Elegance by Deirdre
Echo:
So many young couples are married and seeking a larger wedding since having a small wedding during Covid; how can you assist these couples?
Deirdre:
One of the things that couples need to realize is that I, as a seasoned wedding planner, have the connections to save money on their budget. Vendors know that I bring more brides than an individual couple. So working with me as your wedding planner, I will be far more able to obtain more savings than the couples on their own. Especially venues that I frequent often. One hand washes the other. That's with anything. Sometimes I get couples who call a vendor before counseling with me, saying," Well, I reached the venue, and they said this amount of money." But if they had come to me before they called the forum, I could have saved you money on that venue. And unfortunately, I can't go in and negotiate terms after the couple contacts the venue. There's no turning back. This is why it's essential to have a wedding planner like myself because I go with my couples everywhere. I go to the bridal shop with them for food tasting, flower arrangements, family gatherings, etc. As a wedding planner, I bring supportive logistic management, sensitivity, and care so my couples' wedding journies go without flaws.
Divine Elegance by Deirdre
Echo:
Which events do you enjoy planning, exotic or royal weddings?
Deirdre:
I enjoy both, but exotic weddings leave more room for design, creativity, and more room to be distinguished. You're not taking on a traditional site. And an exotic wedding is like getting married under the Brooklyn Bridge.
Echo: My son got married in Jamaica, which was pretty exotic. Have you planned wedding events under the Brooklyn Bridge?
Divine Elegance by Deirdre
Deirdra:
Yes, we had a wedding event on New Year's Eve under the Brooklyn Bridge in New York at midnight. Also, we've done prom night events under the Brooklyn Bridge. Let me tell you, people get creative nowadays when it comes to their weddings, and it adds a twist and takes you away more from the traditional. But even our royal weddings have a few twists of opportunity for design and creativity, your exotic weddings go far left, and it becomes a fantastic signature event.
Divine Elegance by Deirdre
Echo:
How can people contact you? And why should they select Divine Elegance by Deirdre as their event and wedding planner?
Deirdra:
You can contact me at info@elegance.com. I bring 15+ years of experience planning exquisite weddings, festive celebrations, and creative corporate events. I work with each client individually, from vision to implementation, to create their unique event. I have worked all over the Tri-State area, including destination events in the Caribbean and South America. Moreover, I have collaborated with industry icons, including celebrity wedding planner Preston Bailey, and produced celebrity events for supermodel Christie Brinkley, Real Housewife of New York Jill Zarin, and many others. I am an expert wedding planner with a trusted service and customer satisfaction track record. I conduct unique and luxurious bridal networking showcases that help brides-to-be choose vendors to achieve the joy-filled wedding of their dreams.
Super Model Christie Brinkley (L)
Echo:
With that said, treat yourself to the Divine Elegance by Deirdre Event on January 29, 2023, at The Bradford Estate in Hainesport, New Jersey. And if your going to get married or want a unique event? Make it a Divine Elegance by Deirdre Event. Thank you in advance for supporting Black business.
From The Echo NJ's Oldest Black-owned Newspaper est. 1904