Meet Larissa Marple | Educator, Entrepreneur, & Event Planner

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

Hi Larissa, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
There were a lot of considerations that went into starting my own business, but ultimately the reasoning stemmed from two main factors. Primarily, I was looking to make more money. I work full time in education, and while I truly love my job, the pay does not match the lifestyle I want to provide for myself and my family. So, instead of leaving a job I am passionate about to work in a different industry full time solely to make more money, I decided to start a company that I have full control and autonomy over, while also making some extra cash! I am able to control how much time I put into Fete Fort Worth, and having two jobs I love sounded like a much better gig than having one I wasn’t excited about.

The second reason I started my own business is that I find so much joy in celebrating and supporting others through event planning! Planning weddings and events allows me to use creative parts of my brain I do not always get to utilize, provides an avenue for me to build and pour into relationships, and gives me the opportunity to serve others through some of life’s most memorable moments. These are all things I genuinely find happiness in, and makes running Fete never truly feel like a job. I jokingly call starting a business my “passion project,” but I really do mean that.

I also think it is important to share that I did not randomly sit down one day and say “I’m going to start my own business.” This idea grew organically over time from the combination of personal desires (to make more money) and genuine passion (event planning). Everyone’s journey is different, but I think it is valuable to share for anyone that might have an idea but aren’t sure if they have the “credentials.” You do. If you are willing to learn new skills, put in the time and effort needed, and not be afraid to fail & learn from your mistakes, you have the credentials.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
In some ways, I think my career path makes no sense at all. In other ways, it all fits together perfectly. I have a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising and Political Science and a Master of Education in Higher Education and Student Affairs. Upon first glance, none of these might appear to be related, and in some ways they aren’t. However, they all led me to where I am today and are more related than one might think.

About halfway through my undergraduate career, I knew I was going to get my master’s degree to work in higher education. I realized I have a true passion for education, and wanted to work in a collegiate setting to support students. As my career advanced and progressed in higher education, I ended up working at my alma mater in the admissions office, which is my current full time job. This position includes recruiting prospective students to my university, and also planning and executing events for high school students once they are admitted to college, but before they have enrolled. Even though this type of event planning is in an educational setting, it uses the same skill set needed for weddings and other events. Knowing I had this skills set, plus knowing I wanted to increase my income, plus having a true love for event planning, all contributed to me starting my own company.

Additionally, when I think back to college, my Fashion Merchandising degree set me up for significant success in event planning, despite not working in the fashion industry directly. I learned to think creatively, enhanced my artistic abilities, and understand how patterns, textures, and colors work together, all of which play into weddings and event design. I do still have some questions about how the Political Science major plays into all of this, but challenging myself to double major in college certainly contributed to the work ethic I have today.

I am giving all of this context to show that on the surface, my educational progression and professional career may have little correlation. However, when I look at the full picture and dig a little deeper than simply the title of my jobs or degrees, I can see that everything I did professionally ultimately led me to open my own event planning business.

There has certainly been fear in opening my own company because of these factors. One of my main fears has been that “no one will hire me because they won’t think I am qualified to do this work based on my credentials.” Basically, I was scared to be a wedding planner because I haven’t been a wedding planner in the past. But, I have to recognize that degrees and job titles are not skill sets, and that it is my job to articulate how my seemingly unconnected experiences all contribute to my abilities as a planner.

The other great fear in starting a business is the level of vulnerability that comes along with it. I view Fete Fort Worth as an extension and reflection of myself. As a planner I am selling a service that is based on my own skills, abilities, and personality. If someone doesn’t hire Fete, it feels very personal. That fear is always in the back of my mind, but I am continuously reminding myself of what I do have to offer, and that my worth is not tied to the number of clients I book.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A week long trip?! As an event planner, keeping this concise is going to be hard…. I’m going to stick with a long weekend for time’s sake.

Friday

Morning: Ampersand for coffee and a walk around TCU’s campus (after all, I do work there… and got married there… and got engaged there… and went to school there… and it is where my grandparents met… so let’s just say it is one of my favorite places!)

Afternoon: lunch at Tre Mogli, afternoon wine at The Holly, and explore South Main

Evening: walk around Sundance Square, have dinner on Reata’s rooftop, see an improv show at Four Day Weekend, and hit up Thompson’s for a nightcap

Saturday

Morning: walk along the Trinity River and snag coffee and brunch at Press Cafe

Afternoon: explore The Stockyards and see the live cattle drive

Evening: happy hour at 97 West Kitchen & Bar at Hotel Drover, dinner at Joe T Garcia’s, a show at Billy Bob’s or Tannahill’s, and head to Second Rodeo to keep the party going

Sunday

Morning: sleep in and brunch at Yogi’s Cafe

Afternoon: a visit to the Modern Art Museum or Kimbell Art Museum and if the weather is nice, a picnic on the lawn afterwards

Evening: takeout from Prima’s Pizza & Pasta and chill

Narrowing down my favorite places to put on this itinerary took way longer than it should have, but I think if you are trying to show off Fort Worth to anyone, this schedule would do the trick!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people I could dedicate this shoutout to, but I think the most obvious (and important), would have to be my husband. He has been my greatest encourager, all the way back to when we were dating in college and I was the social chair of my sorority. It was then I realized how much I enjoyed event planning, but never could have imagined that a decade later I would start my own business doing just that. He has been the greatest constant in my life, and I would have never dreamt of starting Fete Fort Worth without his support.

Website: www.fetefw.com

Instagram: @fete.fw

Linkedin: linkedin.com/fête-fort-worth

Facebook: facebook.com/fete.fw

Other: WeddingWire: https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/fete-fort-worth/15fe0b9963f68e36.html The Knot: https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/fete-fort-worth-fort-worth-tx-2071540

Image Credits
Mackenzie Reiter (headshot) Trish Dove | Beatbox Portraits (wedding)