Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle Nyingcho.
Hi Gabrielle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m originally from Miami, Fl and after graduating from Florida State University with my BS in Hospitality Management, I moved to Maryland for a job in hotel management. I was a manager in the hotel Event Operations and Food & Beverage department for a few years. But to be quite honest, the hospitality industry will burn you out very quickly. I needed a change but still wanted to use my event operations background so I transitioned into a trade show/meeting planning role at a nonprofit in DC.
My goal when I got my first corporate job was always to become an event planner whether that be me working for a company or working for myself. Entrepreneurship kind of just fell in my lap. Honestly, I was tired of the corporate world politics and I started to question what the heck I was doing with my life until I got pregnant with my first child. My spouse and I decided that I would take some time off and focus on being a new mother and raising our daughter. It was also a time for me to reconsider my career path. With the support of my husband, I made the decision to start my own event planning company and embark on the journey of opening my own event space.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
A smooth road? Heck no! I started looking for my event space in November 2019 and we just opened our doors in October 2021. Event space deals falling through, a pandemic, me questioning if I was making a smart decision on this type of business, more space deals falling through, a 2nd baby (with an 18-month-old at the time), and just life itself. Sometimes it felt like an uphill battle.
Some of my struggles with my journey, in general, is the fact that I am not from the area. So, the network and the support I may have had doing something like this in my hometown doesn’t necessarily exist here. It’s a small challenge because I am literally building a network and customer base from the ground up.
We’ve been impressed with Alcove Event Studio, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Alcove Event Studio is an intimate private event venue located in Severna Park, Maryland offering hourly space rentals and decor packages for special celebrations, corporate events, birthday parties, micro-weddings, and more. Like an alcove in a home, Alcove Event Studio is your personal nook to be transformed for intimate events.
We want to be the first choice in venue options for private events and community events in our area. Our space has its own unique character that makes it perfect to use in its existing state, but also still leaves room for event planners and creatives to really transform the space for any and every occasion.
From a cozy dinner party to an upscale micro-wedding, to a business networking event or an executive board meeting, Alcove can be used for any type of event. Our tagline ‘Transform. Execute. Relax and Enjoy!’ truly embodies the creative opportunity our venue setting provides.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I’m a middle child. And like most middle children, I kind of did my own thing. I was typically to myself and my small circle of friends. I had a tomboy phase that I eventually grew out of. I graduated high school from The Miami Northwestern Senior High Community School (Go Bulls! lol). I was in the Performing and Visual Arts Center’s (PAVAC) visual arts magnet program. A little-known fact about me is that I was recognized for one of my artwork pieces in elementary school and went on to art magnet programs for both middle and high school.
For the most part, I kept busy and always participated in extracurricular activities at school. I was a majorette in high school (baton twirler), played basketball, softball and was even on the bowling team (yes, bowling).
Pricing:
- Monday- Thursday $100/hr, 2hr minimum
- Friday & Sunday $175/hr, 4hr minimum
- Saturday $1200 for 6hrs, 10am-4pm or 6pm-12am
Contact Info:
- Email: info@alcoveeventstudio.com
- Website: https://www.alcoveeventstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alcoveeventstudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlcoveEventStudioMD
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/alcove-event-studio-severna-park
Image Credits
Antonio Spann
