If you’ve been following us on Instragam, you may know that Amber Events has made changes in personnel. Some of our core team members have moved on to other ventures, even out-of-state. And that’s life! With that being said, we are so happy to have added a wonderful individual to our company by the name of Debby Bohunita. As a new lead planner, she’s hit the ground running–booking clients and sharing ideas to further improve what we do. The future’s bright with this one! Read on to learn more.
Paul Simon Photo | @paulsimonwed
Tell us about your background in wedding planning.
Well, just like J.Lo said in the wedding planner, “Those who can’t do, teach; those who can’t wed, plan!” I always laugh when I say it, and even though it’s only a little bit true, I think wedding planning has always been a dream career of mine I never knew I could have. I’ve been around brides my whole life. My dad is a tailor and growing up, we would visit him at work at his tailor shop. I remember being a little girl and always admiring the brides that came in, helping them in their dresses, and reading the latest wedding or fashion magazine in my downtime at the shop. As I got older, I pursued other interests, but a few years ago, my sister told me about an event planning program at her school. After giving it a lot of thought, I knew I had to do it. I signed up, got certified in meeting and event planning, and coordinated my first wedding a month later. It was 500-person wedding in Chicago, Illinois. I knew that after I did that wedding, I could do anything!
Why Amber Events? What are you looking forward to most as a lead planner with us?
I can’t pinpoint the exact time I discovered Amber Events on Instagram, but I just remember being so inspired by the work and loving the team of women behind the brand that executed such fun and amazing weddings. I knew this was a company I would love to work for after meeting Nira and working my first wedding–I felt like I was home! I think I’m most looking forward to seeing where the company goes and what weddings will come our way in the next few years. We have so many fun ideas and plans always brewing, that seeing them come together will be a very exciting thing.
Jessica Chole Photography | @jessicacholephotography
Tell us a little about your family and your upbringing.
There’s so much to say! As I mentioned earlier, my dad is a tailor. When he was 25, he escaped Communist Romania, along with all the persecution and sorrow that he grew up with, so he could one day come to America, get married and build the beautiful life he always dreamed of as a little boy in a tiny village on the outskirts of town. He loved my mom from the moment he met her, but didn’t pursue her until he was settled in California. Sure enough, miracles do happen, and my mom was granted a fiancée visa; they got married shortly after she arrived. Of course, they were the best dressed and had the most extravagant wedding the Romanian church had seen at the time (it was also the third wedding that the newly established Romanian church had seen, but we’re not keeping track). So you see, I was destined to be a wedding planner! I have two younger sisters, both married, and two little nephews that I am completely obsessed with. They’re all spunk and it’s because they take after their favorite auntie!
What other endeavors are you currently involved in?
What am I not involved in?! I used to be a Sunday School teacher at the Romanian church, and that took up a lot of my time, but I’ve recently promoted myself to fairy godmother after 12 years. I still help run the ministry and plan events, so that’s a lot of fun. I also help my mom run our family business. We have residential care homes for the elderly and we take care of and help the sweetest people during the last few years of their life. Combining all of my worlds has been overwhelming at times, but I’ve had years of practice. And if I can do a 500-person wedding on my first run, I can do it all!
What do you like to do in your down time?
This is something I don’t have a lot of lately, but when I do get to relax, I love trying new places to eat all over LA and OC, traveling to see my nephews in Texas, and watching the latest Marvel movie… or whatever trilogy my boyfriend makes me watch! Don’t worry though, I’m making sure that he’s about to get very familiar with Audrey Hepburn REAL soon.
Silvius James | @silviusjames
What’s your favorite part about Los Angeles?
Honestly, the DTLA skyline. I drive up to LA a lot, and even before I worked with Amber Events, I always connected to the skyline. It felt like a breath of fresh air and this feeling of “I made it. I’m here.” Now, it really does still mean that, and so much more.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Yikes! This question is always super hard for me, because sometimes I honestly don’t even know where I’ll be in five hours. In five years, I’ll be 34 (I’m 29 now), so I hope I’ll be married to the love of my life (maybe a baby on the way?!), and still planning the coolest weddings. Or I’ll become that aunt that you read about in memes that travels the world, plans lavish events, and stops by home every few months to bring presents! Either way, I’ve learned that life doesn’t always give you what you want, it gives you what you need. So wherever my life takes me, it’ll be exactly where I need to be.
You can see more of Debby on our Instagram, particularly our Insta-stories! Give us a follow, won’t ya?
