Meet Tessa Brand | Entrepreneur and Philanthropist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tessa Brand and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tessa, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have always wanted to have a career where my work allows me the freedom to have a work/life balance. I wanted to choose only the projects that inspired me, and more importantly those that enabled me to work with kind and smart people. Entrepreneurship allows you to pick and choose where to focus your efforts and time.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
When I founded Tessa Lyn Events 13 years ago, I walked away from my career in film production. I am proud that I took that risk even though I had no idea if I would fail or succeed. I threw myself into a new venture with absolutely no experience, it was truly a ‘fake it ’til you make it’ moment. Within a year of starting the business, I knew Tessa Lyn Events would succeed because I had the work ethic to make me stand apart, an entrepreneurial upbringing, as well as a decade of experience working 16-hour days. I also came from a unique background that potential clients were interested in, especially those in Hollywood.

When I think of the role of a wedding planner, so many responsibilities come to mind, but ultimately we are selling an experience. Being engaged is a little slice of someone’s life and planning a wedding is usually once in a lifetime. I want my clients look back on that time as enjoyable and stress-free. I listen to my clients, their families, and my creative partners and come up with a plan to please all of them. If we do our job well, we will always hold a place in their hearts during that special time.

If I could pass along advice to the younger generation, I’d tell them to work hard without an ego. Work harder than everyone else around you. Arrive early and leave last. Over prepare for every situation and you’ll have the best chance of success. Nowadays I see a lot of young women that enter their careers feeling entitled or I see them doing the bare minimum and missing opportunities to stand apart.

Our biggest challenge was Covid in 2020 and 2021 completely shutting down gatherings. We postponed nearly 40 weddings and in many case we had to re-plan a wedding from scratch at a new location. We learned that there are things we cannot control, but we can adapt and pivot, and face the challenge with integrity, and that is what we did.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I always take people to the beach…. Malibu Farm for sunset cocktails, Nobu for dinner. I also love roaming around Beverly Hills for the people watching and great shopping

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
You are only as strong as the team that supports you. I am so thankful to have had my senior coordinators Kathryn and Alicia by my side for the last 9 years. They work so hard to ensure our clients are cared for and are always raising the bar for me and the brand.

Website: https://www.tessa.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessalynevents

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessa-brand-a57774161/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063701242713

Image Credits
Christine Skari, Jodee Debes, Valorie Darling, David Mendoza