Meet Alexandra Bowman | CEO & Lead Planner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alexandra Bowman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexandra, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have always loved being able to help others by taking away burdens, but I didn’t know a way to do it professionally. Wedding planning has given me the opportunity to do just that. My interest in planning began with my own wedding. I already had experience in event planning so I figured I could very easily handle my own wedding and I was right! I had so much fun during the entire planning process. Other brides had told me how stressed they were and how they wish they had help planning because it was so overwhelming. I knew then I wanted to get into the wedding planning business, but coming from a mathematics background, I had no idea where to begin. I reached out to a well established wedding planner in Cincinnati, and she gladly took me on as a member of her team. I worked with her a few years and was able to learn everything that I felt I needed to start a wedding planning business of my own!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Avi Luxe Events is a black-owned, woman owned Cincinnati based full-service Wedding and Event Planning Company specializing in highly sophisticated, smart, and elegant events. Whether it is a small intimate party, or an extravagant affair, we will work within every budget. we celebrate all religions, races, sexual orientation, gender identities, abilities, and ethnicities. From the couples we serve to the teams we build; we are committed to making room for everyone at the table.

Avi Luxe Events exists today because of education, hands-on experience, and networking. It certainly wasn’t an easy road especially with an infant, but I was determined to make Avi Luxe Events a reality.

I have learned a lot of lessons along the way. Communication is the absolute most important lesson I learned that to be successful in this business you must have clear and open communication with clients, vendors, and your team to ensure everyone is on the same page. Flexibility is another huge lesson. The wedding industry is dynamic and being able to adapt to last-minute adjustments or unexpected situations is essential. Lastly, the importance of continuous learning is another major lesson. Trends and technology are changing every day and it is important to stay on top of them to be able to always offer fresh and innovative ideas to clients. These lessons have been instrumental in the success of my wedding planning business.

I want the world to know that my brand is founded on celebrating love in all its beautiful forms. Diversity is at the core of my business, and I am dedicated to creating weddings that honor the unique backgrounds and traditions of each couple. I want to ensure that every couple feels seen, heard, and valued throughout their wedding planning journey. Every love story is worthy of a celebration.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting the area for a week, We would plan to eat at various restaurants such as Teak OTR, Cloud9 Sushi, Soul Secrets, Conscious Kitchen, Losanti, Sotto and Taglio. We would get coffee at Black Coffee Lounge. Wine from Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge, Cocktails at Ghost Baby, Comfort Station, Somerset and OTR Stillhouse and Beers from Rhinegeist and Urban Artifact Brewery. We would visit the Freedom Center, Findlay Market and The Cincinnati museum. We would also have to make a special trip to Devou park because the views of the skyline are absolutely gorgeous.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Dana with Dana Renae Designs has been a huge part of my success. She allowed me to become a member of her team a few years ago and I was able to expand on my knowledge of wedding planning. She has motivated me to try new things and has helped strengthen areas that I was weak in. She continues to offer me guidance and praise to this day. I wouldn’t be where I am now without her kindness, trust, and expertise. Avi Luxe Events would not be where it is now without Dana!

Website: https://aviluxeevents.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aviluxeevents/

Other: Zola: https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/wedding-planners/avi-luxe-events

Image Credits
Courtney Carney Photography Sekoprince Studios