If you have ever met Jazmin, then you have been lucky to be in the presence of a true paragon. She is our fearless leader, our teacher, a friend and a business powerhouse.  She is the CEO and Creative Director of Anyvent Event Planning, a devoted wife and a loving mother.  When she is not designing extraordinary weddings, she is planning birthday parties and holiday traditions for her family, date nights with her husband, and awesome get-togethers with her team. She loves traveling, Halloween, EVERYTHING spooky and of course bringing a couple’s dream wedding to life. She is the shining example of a working mother…truly a dynamic woman.

Recently Jazmin was recognized in DC Modern Luxury Magazine’s Dynamic Women Issue. The magazine highlights spectacular women who embody success, focusing on such characteristics as tenacity, empathy and confidence.  The series of articles highlights “dynamic women” who are visionaries and leaders helping to shape the futures of young female entrepreneurs. We think Jazmin is a superstar and she is truly a role model for all of her associates, friends, clients and even her competitors too!  We got to sit down with Jazmin recently to find out how she became such a dynamo.  Read on to find out all about our amazing boss lady, the ultimate wedding planner and the queen of a show stopping tablescape…Jazmin Portnow.

Tell our readers how your business, Anyvent Event Planning, got you to where you are today…a DC Modern Luxury Dynamic Woman recipient.

Well… it all started one fateful day when I was 7 years old (just kidding!). In all honesty, I did always have a passion for creativity, organization, and pretty details from a very young age. Never in a million years did I think that those things could culminate to a thriving career and business. I started the business 10 years ago as somewhat of a side hustle when I moved to Charlottesville and the demands of my career in Property Management became far less demanding than they were in NYC. The first several years were spent mostly figuring things out through trial and error about an industry that I knew very little about and about business in general. About 3 years into the business, there came a moment when the scale needed to tip one way or the other… keep the business as something on the side, or take a risk and leave my full time job to pursue Anyvent as a career. I decided on the latter and here we are celebrating 10 years! I think that the amazing relationships that I’ve built and maintained over the years have definitely been the key to success.

What has been the inspiration for your success in the wedding industry?

So this is super cheesy, but it’s definitely been my family! Some of my fondest memories in high school and when I came home from college are climbing into bed with my grandmother on Sundays to binge bridal TV. We watched “Say Yes to the Dress” and anything having to do with David Tutera and commented about dresses, decor, and what my hypothetical wedding would be like one day. I have a picture of her and I in my office so that when days in the office get rough, I remember who I’m pushing forward for. 

My parents and husband have also been my biggest cheerleaders through this whole entrepreneurial journey. On my worst days when I’m ready to burn everything down, their faith in me provides the push I need to get back on track. I couldn’t be more thankful for them!

What was one specific moment during your career that made you feel like all of your efforts thus far had made you successful?

I think that generally, being recognized by other industry professionals fuels my fire! I distinctly remember one time when I was at an event and another Planner walked up to me and said that she admired my work and that my team had such a great reputation for being kind to other vendors. That was the best compliment that I’ve ever received and was really that “Oh wow, people see us and we are truly living up to our core values” moment. Sometimes when you’re “in it” you lose sight of how others perceive you and this was such a great reminder to keep going. 

What were some of the biggest hurdles in building your own business in the wedding industry?

I think that when I first started, there weren’t a ton of business resources for the creative community. I can plan a wedding in my sleep, but learning how to run an actual business was the most difficult piece of the puzzle. I learned through trial and error, but I’d urge other business owners to use the resources out there and learn from the mistakes of others.

What advice would you give to someone who is looking to become an entrepreneur?

Just keep going and don’t focus on perfection…perfection does NOT exist. There are definitely going to be people who don’t see your vision and that’s OK. If they are not living the life that you want to live, then respectfully refrain from taking their advice. Lastly, it’s OK to change your mind. You might be a different person in 3 years and it’s OK for your business to evolve with you and change direction. Giving up the original vision doesn’t make you a failure, it makes you adaptable. 

What are some of your favorite “perks” of being a business owner?

Time flexibility and being able to be selective about who we work with. I love having the flexibility to be able to be with my family whenever I need to be. I will say that it took a lot of time and sacrifice to get to this point, but now I’m much better at setting business boundaries so that I can be fully present for personal things. I have to say, we are so fortunate to have so many wonderful couples that we’ve worked with over the years and being an entrepreneur means controlling what you put out there to attract a certain type of client who aligns with your core values.

Were there ever moments that made you feel like you wanted to quit?  How did you overcome those feelings?

These moments happen on a monthly basis! OK… maybe not that often ha! Typically around the end of the season, you can hit the point of burnout and start to question your existence! Pushing forward requires a lot of caffeine, post wedding day wine, lots of snuggles from my kids… and honestly, the moment that you get at the end of the night with a couple when they thank you and say that they couldn’t have had such a great wedding without you, is truly why I do what I do and refuels my fire!

How do you feel about being chosen as a Dynamic Woman? What does this mean for you?

It’s honestly super surreal! Being included amongst so many powerful women who I look up to, has been a real “pinch me” life moment. Going through the mental catalog of cringeworthy moments, literal blood, sweat and tears, and moments that I’ve stumbled, all led me to this awesome place. Recognition like this makes me want to take over the world one event at a time and I feel empowered to help other women on their entrepreneurial journey. I couldn’t be more grateful!

A dynamic woman, a fearless leader, a devoted wife and mother and a dear friend…Jazmin is all of those things and more.  She brightens up a room with her contagious energy and her joyful smile.  She is not your average business woman, she embraces her competition, learns from them and is always willing to lend a hand or some of her expertise.  She turns wedding vendors into wedding “friendors”; she learns from mistakes and puts her all into every wedding she plans.  She empowers her employees to learn and in turn wants to see them succeed. A fierce businesswoman…yes, but not in the way you would expect. She is a bright light, a helping hand and a role model for so many young budding entrepreneurs.

Want to read the full feature on our Dynamic Woman? Check it out here.