Meet Gina Wade: Owner of Gina Wade Creative: Event Design & Production, Venue Sales & Marketing

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

Hi Gina, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The main reason I started my own business was because I kept growing out of my full time jobs. I started to feel hindered by the limitations of those positions and wanted to see what opportunities I could create for myself. It was exciting to be on my own, creating my own path and connecting with brands and clients that wanted to work with me in new and exciting ways.

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?
My business is a unique, boutique firm called Gina Wade Creative. We specialize in event design and production but also represent venues (hotels, restaurants, blank spaces, etc) to increase their sales & revenue in the special event market. What sets us aside from others is our knowledge of hospitality & the inner workings of venues, our creative design ideas and our ability to make the process fun. I am very proud of the way the company (and our team) have grown over the 15 years we have been in business. We started out doing small events, trying to convince people to give us a try….and last year we produced the “Parasite” Oscar Party, a three day experience for the premiere Netflix’s “Stranger Things”, gorgeous influencer events for Givenchy Beauty, and many other events for our long list of clients. We got to this point because of hard work. It wasn’t always easy…it took a lot of discipline and dedication but because I love what I do and am surrounded with an amazing team, the journey has been incredible. The lessons I have learned along the way are to surround yourself with great people that share your work ethic. I pride myself on being solution oriented, so I need my team and my vendors to be the same. Kindness and respect are the pillars in our company culture. Events are fun…so we want our team to work in an environment that is comfortable and encourages their creativity.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love living in LA so it’s always tough for me to narrow down my favorite places because I have so many! Please keep in mind…many of these options are pre-Covid and I can’t wait to go back when things open up again. Restaurants: Dinner at BOA on Sunset is always a must. The Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel is a classic and embodies quintessential hollywood glamour. Madeo has the best Italian food ever! (My husband and I had our first Valentine’s Day date there when we were dating so it’s extra special to us). Casa Vega is a must for incredible Mexican Food. La Scala is one of my favorite lunch spots because the chopped salads are the best in the city. I love brunch so I have a long list of my favorite brunch spots…but I am always excited to try something new. Hotels: Some of my staples are the London West Hollywood, the Proper Hotel in Santa Monica, the Hotel Bel Air, the La Peer and the Beverly Hills Hotel. The recently opened Cara Hotel is a new favorite for me. I am very excited that the Pendry is about to open on Sunset Boulevard. I love hotels so it’s exciting to live in a town with so many amazing ones. Attractions: Venice Canals, Huntington Gardens, Carbon Beach in Malibu, Getty Villa, Malibu Country Mart, Abbott Kinney, comedy nights at the Comedy Store or improv shows at The Groundlings, hiking to the Hollywood sign, and going to a great spa for a day of relaxation. I love a theme park so I am always down for a Disney, Universal, Knott’s or Universal trip. Other: I get a Starbucks Latte daily and love to get my coffee and take little walks around the city. Melrose, Montana Avenue, Ocean Ave are all great little areas to get a coffee and take in the scenery and the city. 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?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my husband, BJ Ford, who has been an amazing partner and friend throughout the journey of my career.

Instagram: @ginawadecreative

Linkedin: Gina Wade

Twitter: @ginawcreative

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ginawadecreative

Other: Tik Tok: @ginawadecreative

Image Credits
Susanna Capra Elizabeth Baker