I’m Maria Martinez, a professional event planner and businesswoman owner of Blue Parties & Events LLC. My career started right after my sister’s wedding when accompanied by my friend Laura, I discovered the passion I have for the weddings and events industry. Soon after studying different graduate programs, I obtained a Master's in International Weddings, which was approximately 10 years ago. In the same way, I have continued studying different graduate programs that have led me to obtain various certificates that have potentialized my abilities and knowledge as an event planner. Some of these certificates are: 

• Wedding & Event Planner, Instituto Iberoamericano Wedding & Event Planner, 2016

• Ceremonial Etiqueta y Protocolo en Bodas y Eventos, Instituto Iberoamericano Wedding & Event Planner, 2016

• Técnicas y Tendencias en Montaje y Ambientación en Bodas y Eventos, Instituto Iberoamericano Wedding & Event Planner, 2016

• The Floral Master Experience, Instituto Iberoamericano Wedding & Event Planner, 2016

• Gay Wedding Planner LGBT, Instituto Iberoamericano Wedding & Event Planner, 2016

• Destination Wedding & Honeymoon, Instituto Iberoamericano Wedding & Event Planner, 2017

• International Certification Wedding & Event Planner, Atlantis University, 2017

• Professional Event Designer - Decoración en Bodas y Eventos, Instituto Iberoamericano Wedding & Event Planner, 2018

• Certificación Internacional Bodas y Eventos Judíos, Instituto Iberoamericano Wedding & Event Planner, 2018

• Master Private Course Preston Bailey, Instituto Iberoamericano Wedding & Event Planner, 2018

The places where I have completed my different graduate programs related to event planning are Colombia, México, Dominican Republic, and others. 

I’m a woman who puts the maximum effort into obtaining the results that are wished for, and that’s why I have dedicated and continue dedicating time to my professional growth. All of this with my study house INIBEP, and my mentor and friend Ana Laura Morales whom I acknowledge and thank for the love, dedication, and determination that she has inspired in me as an event planner.  I have also had the opportunity to learn much more about this world by working with some of the most outstanding leaders of this job: Preston Bailey, Karen Tran, Cesar Ugarte, Lewis Miller, Carmen Laborin, Maria Carmen Obregon, and others. 

Currently, I live in the United States and my passion for event planning has led me to focus on new and innovative projects here. The purpose of this blog is to promote “Let’s get married!” internationally, or as everyone knows it: destination weddings. My purpose is to make the nearlywed experience unique emotions, as well as every other person around them during such a special moment in their lives. This can finally lead to occupying a special place in the hearts of all of those people. I do this with the help of my passion for design, art, the magic of colors, weddings and trips; my communication skills; my experience in event coordination, planning and execution; and many other facets of this business like details and personalization. 

During the last decade destination weddings have become a trend for being the perfect combination of romance, adventure, and celebration. This type of wedding is distinguished from the others because they are celebrated in a different place where the nearlywed live. Popular celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian & Travis Barker; Behati Prinsloo & Adam Levin; among other celebrities have set high standards for everyone who aspires to have a destination wedding leading to having wrong concepts of them. Contrary to what many believe, destination weddings are not just about traveling outside of your country and being 6 hours on a plane, they can also be a 1-hour car ride. Destination weddings are about getting married on a new horizon where you and your partner can imagine the new life you’ll be living soon outside of the normality in your city of residence. From a trip to a small town near our city to one across an ocean; all of that can be your destination wedding. 

Be attentive for our next blog entry about locations for your destination wedding in the United States. Write a comment with the flag of your country of residence to take into account for future entries. See you soon!