Planning Spotlight: Coastal Coordinating

Featured: Owner & Event Planner, Katy Martin

When we first opened The West Events, one of our #1 priorities was for us to team up with the best vendors in the Tampa Bay Area. Over the last couple years since we opened in 2020, we have cultivated and dialed in a list that we’re extremely proud to share to our clients. Through the end of the year, we will be featuring some of our favorites, so you can get to know them even better!

1.  What is your favorite feature of The West Events and what do you feel sets the venue apart from the rest?

I think hands-down my favorite feature is the exposed brick or the bar area. Both are unique to our area for sure.  The Bar has its own unique feel and style.  I have seen some of the most stunning couple shots photography ever in the bar area.  I love the edginess of the space for sure! The brick is a wow factor but even better it is a more natural color palate which is a planner's dream because it goes with all decor.  

2.  What sets your planning services apart from the others?

Coastal Coordinating is not a cookie-cutter company.  We want to do different things and showcase different styles.  We want people to feel comfortable coming to us with whatever they want in their wedding. We want them to know that we won't say no. We try our best to make it happen if it can.

We are also a team. There is a team of us that works so well together. It almost feels like a family. And we care so much about our couples that they become family and friends.  We really get to know them and make them feel comfortable and we get comfortable with them as well. That way on the day of the event we can tell if something is bothering them and we help them through it.  We want them to feel comfortable coming to us with anything and we want them to know we will help them with anything. The wedding is a one time event and we wanna make it perfect at all time and make it the most memorable event of their life.

3.  Why did you get into event planning and what do you love most about being in the industry?

Honestly when I got into a event and wedding planning it was an accident.  Which ended up being a blessing.  I was in school for hospitality management and I wanted to be a Human Resources Director in Hotels but during my college internship I was in Events and Weddings.  And at that moment I found my passion.  I’ve never left Weddings since then and I truly believe it’s my calling.  I love this industry so much because it’s always changing and we can use our creativity. We Help dreams come true and make visions come to life. We’re  celebrating fun and Love what’s not to love about it!!

4. What is the best advice you can offer your client when it comes to picking a venue? 

When picking a venue make sure that it speaks to you.  You have to love it and love the vibe that it’s giving. Make sure that it’s unique to your personality and that you can do everything you want there. I also think it’s super important to think about the flow of your event and the space.  If the space has multiple areas make sure you’re creating a timeline to make it flow well for the guests and the overall event.

5.  If your client asks for your advice when it comes to enhancements to make their big day extra special, what would you recommend?  What do you think makes the biggest impact?    

There are so many different enhancements nowadays to make an event special. But I always say what is gonna get your dance floor going the most and what will showcase the couples personality the most is the most important!!  The one thing most of my couples always want is a good party and dancing. Most people are always looking for the bride and groom so keeping the bride and groom on the dance floor will keep that dance floor full.  One of my newest favorite trends is Fusion music.  This is where you add some live musicians to the DJ.  I've seen guitarist and saxophones and drummers. It is so much fun and people want to see it and get on the dance floor for sure.

This one is a lot less expensive and very common lately.  The LED foam sticks make everyone get so excited and handing them out the last hour of the event is a sure way to get people excited.  I've even seen people add so many different things to this and we call it the hora Loca.  In the Spanish culture it's called the crazy hour.  Have your coordinator get a big basket of fun things to pass out on the dance floor and it's a hit.  The more light up and glow in the dark things the better.  

Also I love when couples incorporate their pets. Making them your signature drinks or have them come to the ceremony.  So cute and memorable!

6.  Aside from planning, do you have any other services that you offer your clients? 

Aside from Wedding Planning we offer Party Planning, Remote Planning, Photobooths, Planning for Showers, Quinceriaras, bar mitzvah, Corporate Planning, Christmas Parties, and Christmas Decorating.  Wedding Planning is for sure our Favorite, but doing these different events for sure make it special and exciting.

7 . What or who is your spirit animal and why?

My spirit animal is my favorite childhood zoo animal- the Otter.  Kind of silly but I was always drawn to them. The meaning behind the otter is Playful, Helpful, Curious and Nurturing.  This is me to a T.  I always love being helpful and lending a hand.  I’m always curious and I want to find a solution and a new way to do things. I want to create new things out of curiosity.  My personality is very playful and fun. I like to add playful and fun aspects to every day to lighten the mood and have fun in general.  I think my clients love this for sure!!  I am very nurturing as well I wanna make sure that everyone is happy.  People say I’m always so calm and Nurturing.   Go figure this is why I love otter as a young child.

8. When you are in a stressful situation at an event how do you overcome it and stay calm during the situation?

The first thing you need to do it and situation like this just make sure everyone else is calm and if you can show them that you're calm and confident in a solution it helps the entire situation.  I'm able to think on my feet and give several unique options to overcome any obstacle. I think having creativity and seeing everything around you can create a really good solution.  I always tell my staff to stay 100% calm because if you're not come it creates chaos. Being confident that there's always an answer and a way to do something is the best way to move forward and stressful situations.Staying calm and thinking on your on your feet and thinking fast and smart is helpful for sure.

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Contact Coastal Coordinating: events@coastalcoordinating.com OR Insta @coastalcoordinating OR 904-463-0423