Lakeland Vows: Behind the Veil
Kista, owner and lead planner of Something Blue Events
Tell us about yourself, where you are from, and how your background or hometown has shaped who you are today.
I’m Kista, the owner and lead planner behind Something Blue Events. I’m a born-and-raised Florida girl, and growing up in Central Florida has truly shaped both who I am personally and how I run my business. It taught me the importance of hospitality, building genuine relationships, and always making people feel welcomed, comfortable, and cared for. Before entering the wedding industry full-time, I worked in direct patient care, marketing, and corporate events, so serving others has always been at the heart of who I am and the foundation of my business. I’ve always been passionate about supporting people in meaningful ways, and those experiences helped shape my calm-under-pressure mindset, strong communication skills, and heart for caring for others well. Being from a close-knit family and community here in Polk County also reinforced my belief in community over competition. One of my favorite parts of this industry is the relationships we build, not only with our couples, but with fellow vendors as well. I truly love celebrating alongside our clients and helping create wedding days that feel joyful, intentional, and authentically them.
What inspired you to pursue this career?
I have been in love with events, and especially weddings, for as long as I can remember. It honestly started in the second grade when I did a school report on Princess Diana and her wedding. I was completely fascinated by the beauty, emotion, and magic of it all. Then, the following year, my own parents got married, and I still remember being so in awe as I watched my mom try on her dress and saw how much joy that season brought to our family. Those memories stayed with me all these years. Over time, that love for weddings never really faded. After planning my own wedding, I finally decided to take the leap and pursue this professionally. I’m not sure if it was the confidence that comes with age or finally realizing life is too short not to go after what you truly love, but I decided to go for it, and I’m so glad I did. This industry, this community, and the incredible couples I’ve had the honor of working with have blessed me beyond belief. Being trusted with such an important chapter in someone’s life is something I never take lightly, and I truly feel so lucky to do what I do.
How would you describe your style or approach, and what sets you apart from other professionals in your field?
I would describe my approach as hands-on, supportive, and relationship-focused. I never want my couples to feel like they are navigating the planning process alone. From the moment someone books with Something Blue Events, my goal is to make them feel cared for, organized, and confident throughout the entire process. What sets me apart is the level of personal investment I pour into my clients. I’m very involved behind the scenes through communication, timeline building, vendor collaboration, and problem-solving, so our couples can truly be present and enjoy their wedding day knowing everything is handled.
Walk us through what couples can expect when working with you.
From the moment my clients sign with me to long after the wedding day, my goal is to make them feel supported every step of the way. While many coordination services begin only 4–6 weeks before the wedding, I personally don’t believe that gives couples the level of support and guidance they truly need during such an important season. My intensive coordination work officially begins 16 weeks before the wedding, but I start reviewing vendor contracts shortly after clients sign with me. The sooner we can identify potential roadblocks and correct them, the more streamlined and stress-free the planning process and wedding day will be. We have monthly check-ins, up to five in-person or virtual meetings, and I’m always available via email throughout the planning process. Beyond logistics and timelines, I help guide couples through decisions that align not only with their vision but also with their budget and priorities. At the end of the day, most couples have never planned a large event before, while we as planners have done this many times. You truly don’t know what you don’t know, and that guidance, support, and reassurance are such an important part of the experience.
What is a common misconception couples have about your role or service?
One common misconception is that a planner or coordinator can completely fix poor vendor choices or replace missing vendors on the wedding day. We absolutely can manage timelines, logistics, communication, and problem-solve when issues arise, but we cannot magically undo the effects of a vendor showing up late, unprepared, or acting unprofessionally. The same goes for choosing not to hire certain vendors and expecting other vendors or the planning team to absorb those responsibilities. While we will always do everything we can to keep the day running smoothly, there are limits to what one person or team can realistically take on. That’s a huge reason why we provide trusted vendor recommendations and approved vendor lists. We’ve seen firsthand how much stress poor vendor choices can create, and our goal is always to help our couples build a professional, reliable team that allows them to truly enjoy their wedding day.
What advice would you give to couples who are just starting the wedding planning process?
My biggest piece of advice is to slow down and focus on what truly matters to you as a couple before diving into planning. There is so much inspiration online and so many opinions from others that it can quickly become overwhelming. Sit down together early on and talk about your priorities, guest experience, budget, and what you want your wedding day to actually feel like. I also strongly encourage couples to hire their planner or coordinator early in the process, ideally before booking most vendors. We can help guide venue and vendor selections that truly align with your priorities, vision, and overall budget, while also helping you avoid common mistakes and unnecessary stress. Building the right vendor team from the beginning makes such a difference in the overall experience. Most importantly, remember that you do not have to know everything right away. You’ve likely never planned an event of this scale before, and that’s okay. Ask questions, trust the professionals you hire, and try to enjoy the process because this season goes by so quickly.
What does your ideal client look like, and how do couples know if you're the right fit for them?
My ideal client is someone who trusts me, values the planning process, and wants a planner who will truly advocate for them from the very beginning. More than anything, I want to work with couples I genuinely connect with, the kind of people I’d want to grab coffee with outside of wedding planning. I always tell couples that when hiring vendors, especially your planner/coordinator and photo team, you need to truly vibe with them. We spend so much time together leading up to the wedding and throughout the wedding day itself, so there has to be a level of comfort, trust, and connection there. I pour a lot of heart into what I do and truly care about my couples beyond just the logistics of the wedding day. I encourage them, support them, pray for them, and celebrate alongside them throughout the process. By the end of it all, I genuinely leave a little piece of my heart with every couple I work with, and I hope they feel that long after their wedding day.
What is a core value or life belief that influences the way you run your business?
One of the biggest core values that influences the way I run my business is service. Serving others has always been at the heart of who I am. I truly believe wedding planning is about so much more than timelines, décor, and logistics. It’s about caring for people well, supporting them through a meaningful season of life, and helping create an experience where they feel celebrated, valued, and fully present. At the end of the day, I want every couple to feel like they were deeply cared for throughout the entire process, not just as clients, but as people.
What do you love to do when you're not working? Any hobbies or hidden talents your clients might be surprised to know about?
If I’m not working, you’ll usually find me on the boat with my husband and our dogs, chasing sunsets or fishing. We spend a lot of time on the Chain of Lakes and in Englewood, which are some of our favorite places to unplug and recharge.
Family, friends, pets- who or what is your biggest support system behind the scenes?
My biggest support system behind the scenes is definitely my family, along with my husband, our dogs, and an incredible group of friends. I’m a huge family person, and one of my favorite ways to recharge is simply spending time with the people I love most. I’m also a proud bully mom. We have three bullies: Drake Edward, an American Bully, Betty Ann, also an American Bully, and Gertrude Rae, our French Bully. Drake and Gertrude were rescues, and Betty came from next door. I fell in love with her immediately, so there was never any question about where she would end up. I’m incredibly blessed to have such a strong support system. At any given time, there are several people I know I could call, and they would be there for me without hesitation. I know that kind of friendship and support is rare, so I make it a priority to pour back into those relationships as well, even in the middle of our busy lives. Their love and encouragement are a huge part of what keeps me grounded and allows me to do what I love.
Is there anything else that you'd like to share?
At the end of the day, I truly believe weddings are about so much more than pretty details and perfectly timed events. They are about people, connection, and creating memories that will be talked about for generations. I never take for granted that couples are trusting me with one of the most important seasons of their lives. My goal is always to make them feel supported, celebrated, and able to fully soak in the joy of the day they worked so hard to create. I feel incredibly grateful to do what I love, serve amazing couples, and be part of such a supportive community here in Polk County and beyond.
You deserve a wedding day where you can be fully present, soak in every moment, and leave the details to someone who truly cares. Kista is ready to be your biggest advocate from day one!
Contact Something Blue Events today and let's start planning the wedding you've always dreamed of!