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Indira De Fodor is a Latin American woman, Luxury Event Planner, wedding destination expert, and Academic Director of the Florida Events Academy. In her home country, she was the first ever wedding planner beginning her journey when a celebrity in her area needed help with her wedding. She took this experience and ran with it.
“I decided to start my brand as a wedding planner, becoming the first Wedding Planner in my native Venezuela. After several years, we managed to organize luxury weddings in three continents, and today with more than 800 weddings, I have worked hard for the growth of the industry in Latin America and the Caribbean, being a reference point in the education and training of Wedding Planners and members of the wedding and events industry.” Indira recounts.
Indira had to start from scratch in a new country and leave everything that she had done in her native country behind. This has been the most difficult test she has been through. The political turmoil in Venezuela has affected everyone from all different walks of life. Even wedding planners have had to move on to some place new because of the dictatorship.
“I started in a new country, leaving behind everything that was built in my native country, part of my family and so many memories as a result of the dictatorship. Fortunately, in the United States we have been welcomed with open arms, and we have found a great community that welcomes us in the best way. Saying goodbye at a distance to the people who could not accompany us in this change of country, and who now do not live with me, is without a doubt one of the most difficult tests.” Indira explains.
Making people understand the need for a wedding planner was also a challenge as she points out. For many people, either affording a wedding planner or deciding that you need one can be a difficult decision. Many families rely on past weddings or family traditions to guide their planning. However, those who want something different, actually need a good wedding planner.
“I think the biggest challenge I had at the beginning was making people understand what a wedding planner does and why they are necessary. Most people did not see wedding planners as needed, and the only reference that existed in their minds was JLo and her famous movie ‘The Wedding Planner.’” Indira states. “I was certainly far from being a JLo. However, I took the essence and made this business a priority in the country, to the point I started planning weddings in different countries, while having the responsibility of raising a family and learning to be a mother.”
Indira’s wedding planning company started 19 years ago. For the longest time, Indira thought her main goal was just being a good wife, but she realized that she had already achieved that goal and wanted something more to do. She wanted to do something big and productive.
“I decided to start the business 19 years ago when I started my life as a wife and at the same time I needed to dedicate myself to something productive, and my plan to be a wife had been achieved, and now my next goal was to achieve a project. I was not clear what it would be, but destiny told me that this was it, and here I am.” Indira remarks.
Today, they have diversified her business with the Florida Events Academy, which revolutionized the old way of being a wedding planner. At her academy, Indira bases her training on real experiences from the more than 800 weddings she has planned.
Indira’s next projects include growing her business further into the United States. She has helped numerous others in the bridal industry and now wants to do this big move for herself and her company. To Indira, effectively moving into the United States’ market is the next marker of success for her.
“I hope to grow throughout the United States with my Florida Events Academy, providing training to the entire Hispanic community in the event industry in the United States. Reaching the US market and maximizing and at the same time, the launch of my IF BRIDAL TEA line of bridal teas, the first tea dedicated to each of the moments the bride experiences during the process.” Indira says.
Indira wants to bring IF Bridal Tea to the offices of all the wedding planners in the world so they can live the experience together.
If you want to find out more about Indira, click here.
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