Meet Sarah Quinlivan of Quintessential Events

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Quinlivan.

Sarah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
From when I was a child, I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. Even though I had no idea what that meant at that time, but I knew I wanted to be my own boss. The trick was figuring out at what. Out of college, I did PR and advertising for about 10 years, and came to find that wasn’t my passion. On the side, I started helping an event planner, and realized the chaotic world of events is where I belonged.

I created Quintessential Events in 2015 with the goal of creating events that told stories. Never a believer in the word no, I live to push boundaries, create moments and go beyond what is expected. For a decade now, our energetic can-do attitude has made the impossible possible and our clients’ wildest dreams a beautiful reality. No copy paste here, only cool shit!

Our name is now synonymous with elegance, edge, attention to detail, and intuitive service. Quintessential Events is not just event planners, but also event designers. With our events there is no detail to small, and the vibe matters more than anything. Creating this takes a special blend of truly understanding the couple/client, and pulling out elements of their story that will not only resonate with their guests, but also allow them to fully immerse themselves in the moment. We don’t want people just to attend the event. We want them to experience something different. Something better.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Any entrepreneur or small business owner who says it’s been a smooth road, is lying to you. It’s a roller coaster. Some days you are at the highest of highs and other days you are at the lowest of lows. It’s on you to figure out not only how to survive, but thrive.

I could discuss the obvious challenges our business has seen – making it through Covid when events were in essence canceled for a year or going through any of the economic downturns we have experienced. Instead, I think my biggest struggle was learning to be comfortable in my own brand.

When I started Quintessential Events, the wedding landscape and vendors involved had a lot of similarities, especially when it came to planners. There was a huge focus on the love story, the marriage and the traditions. Lots of whites, pinks, and script fonts. While I 100 percent agree with the importance of tradition and the timeless nature of weddings, I also knew I wanted to be different. I wanted to create weddings and events that broke tradition, and were an experience. I wanted to create days that really left the guests talking. Like who doesn’t want someone to come up to them years later and say, ‘man, I still think about your wedding or party?!’

Being different is not always comfortable. I struggled initially with ‘should I be like everyone else to get my business really going?’ After all, these other amazing planners, are doing it and crushing it! I tried it for a bit, and my business didn’t click or take off. When I finally took a step back and realized I am not thriving because I am not being me, it all clicked. Our people started to hire us. Cool was created. The work we were doing felt less like work, but more like creation! Now not only planning, but designing all our events is exactly where we want to be. We know how to create an epic wedding and experience, and we do it all while having a great time and providing a high-level service.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
If you crave original, enthralling, iconic moments that your guests will remember for a lifetime, you need Quintessential
Events. For a decade, our energetic can-do attitude has made the impossible possible and our clients’ wildest dreams a beautiful reality.

Our insider knowledge is unmatched, and our reputation precedes us. Ask Kansas City’s top venues, vendors, and planners, and you’ll find our name is synonymous with elegance, edge, attention to detail, and intuitive service. As a powerhouse planning and design company that executes events of all sizes, our bespoke strategic planning sessions keeps our couples and clients informed and inspired every step of the way. We have access to best-in-class resources and an esteemed team of the most innovative and artistic minds ready to make magic happen.

The Quintessential Events team plans and designs any and all wedding related events as well as social parties including birthdays, anniversaries and, yes even, celebrations of life. We also plan and design corporate events including employee celebrations, holiday parties, anniversaries and incentive trips. Basically, if you or your organization wants to create cool shit, we are in.

Quintessential Events’ highly specialized event planning and design team consistently thinks beyond the box and pushes boundaries to give our clients incredible results. We never stay static, we’re always honing our craft so we can wow you with ultra-creative concepts you won’t find anywhere else. We’re not scared of color, of trying something new, or of going really, really BIG. No copy paste here!

To do this we focus on really getting to know our clients and figuring out how to create an event, an experience that not only tells their story, but resonates with their guests. After all, one of the hardest part of hosting is an event, is getting people to come. Once they are there, why not wow them with something different, something personal, something they will never forget?

In our more than 10 years of planning weddings and events, we have developed a proven approach to planning that leaves no stoned unturned. Our team excels at thinking through all the logistics as well as educating our clients on what is and is not possible. Quintessential Events is known in the industry for our organization, commitment to detail, total transparency, and polished professionalism. With us at the helm, our clients feel cared for and catered to every step of the way – and you’ll never utter the dreaded phrase,“Oh, if only I would’ve known…” Trust me, they know.

Outside of the logistics, what I am most proud of is our design capabilities and the events we produce. If you look at our work, you will notice no two weddings are the same. Because no two couples are the same. I live for creating events that are a vibe! I live for spicing up our industry and our city with new concepts. Too often people are okay with the status quo, well I am not.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me when it comes to our work is two-fold. First, I never take for granted that people are hiring us to be a part of one of the biggest, and most important days of their lives. Some event professionals make the mistake of thinking each wedding or event, is just not another job. Not me. Not team QE. The expectations and emotions surrounding, in particular, weddings are really high. This can lead a lot of people to be stressed during the process, and that I have never understood. This time of life should be enjoyed.

The way to enjoy is to first hire tenured professionals to assist you on your journey. Don’t just read online reviews. Talk to vendors. Talk to past clients. Ask for examples of their work. Weddings and events are large investments, and should be treated as such. Hire people you trust with every fiber of your gut, and don’t cut corners on items that matter to you. The wedding industry is truly you get what you pay for.

That’s why it’s more than a job for us. For me, there is no greater feeling than watching our clients be fully present in their days. They are not worried about if a vendor has shown up or the flowers look right, they are focused on their family, their friends and each other. They are able to simply enjoy. Creating the space for this to happen is not easy. It takes hundreds of hours of work to create a seamless day that flows. But if done right, it is sheer magic! Knowing we are part of this, and are able to let our clients create memories they will carry with them for a lifetime is truly all that matters. They might not remember us in 20 years, but they will remember how they felt that day.

Second, it matters greatly to me to create days that reflect our clients. If you show me a Pinterest board, and say do exactly this, we are not your planners. We want to dig into who you are. What’s your love story? Who is your tribe? What do you like? Where do you go to eat, hang out? What is your style aesthetic? From there, we take this information and look for ways, both big and small, to bring all this to life. We create layers of textures and designs, and dream up experiences for your guests so that your day is a true reflection of you. It’s not just another wedding. It’s your wedding. And trust me, when you do this. When you go deeper, it hits.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kcweddingplanner.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quintessentialeventskc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quintessentialeventskc
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/quintessential-events
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@quintessentialevents
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@quintessentialevents