A Q&A WITH PRISCILLA STEWART
Born in Port Chester, New York, with a few years in Maryland, Priscilla’s family made their way to Nashville during her teenage years. She later attended the University of Tennessee - Chattanooga where she received her bachelor’s in psychology.
After college, Priscilla taught pre-school for three years at The Goddard School, where she was awarded Teacher of the Year in 2020. After moving from teaching, she worked for a year in administration at NHC Place Sumner and was then looking for a change.
So what got her into event planning? “I’ve always been the party planner in my family and my friend group,” Priscilla shared with us. When the opportunity at Infinity presented itself, she applied for the event coordinator position and “took a leap of faith!” She is so excited to be a part of the team and loves both the people she works with and the variety of events.
In her spare time, Priscilla enjoys spending time with her musician husband and watching him play around town, most notably at the Grande Ole Opry. She loves going to the driving range, supporting the Nashville Preds, and traveling the world— especially visiting her family in El Salvador and Puerto Rico. She says if you ever need a dance partner, she is your girl! Salsa, bachata, and hip-hop are her specialties.
How long have you been in the hospitality industry? How long have you been a planner?
I’ve been in the hospitality industry for about a year now, and at the end of May, that marked my 1 year anniversary with Infinity Hospitality!
Where do you draw inspiration from?
I’m always on social media and Pinterest keeping up with new trends and ideas. I love to read my clients’ personalities because that guides me in what they may like or not like.
How do you stay on top of everything? Any organizational tips or tricks?
I take lots and lots and lots of notes! We have a master Google Doc for each event and that’s where we take notes. Even during vendor meetings, when a vendor is leading the meeting, I still take notes so I have a paper trail of what was discussed. I usually abbreviate in the Google Doc during the meeting, and then after the meeting I go back and go more in detail since it’s fresh on my mind.
What themes or unique details were your favorite from one of your events?
I’m a huge fan of color! A lot of my favorite events have been the ones who weren’t afraid to add some personality to their event with color. I think it’s a fun and creative way to make your event stand out from the rest.
If you could give one piece of advice to couples planning a wedding what would it be?
I would tell couples to trust their planners during the process. Our job is to plan your wedding from start to finish.
What are some of the challenges you face when planning an event and how do you overcome them?
Sometimes it’s difficult to explain certain aspects of a client’s event when they live out of state. We always try our best to explain everything to the best of our ability through emails, phone calls, and virtual meetings. Sometimes things are explained better when it’s in person! Whenever it’s time to schedule a design meeting or a venue walkthrough, we always suggest that our clients come in town for those. It’s beneficial and more fun to pick out linen colors in person rather than through a screen!
What is one of your favorite memories from one of your events?
One of my favorite memories was from an event at The Estate at Cherokee Dock. My couple got married during COVID and we hosted their wedding celebration. The celebration was just a giant party! We had a scotch tasting bar, a boat ride, a golf driving range, a custom menu, romantic lighting, beautiful florals, and multiple lounge arrangements. It was such a beautiful and fun event!
What’s your favorite part about your job?
I love getting to meet new people and making relationships with my clients. Every client is different and unique. I am also a newlywed as of a year and a half ago and I love getting to share my personal experiences with other couples since I know exactly what my clients are currently going through.
