Hidden Gems: Meet Lisa Nelson of Just For The Occasion, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Nelson. 

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have always had a passion for entertaining. From food to decor, to everything in between, you name it, I’ve done it! 

Growing up I was always surrounded by fabulous cooks and chefs. Dinner parties filled with laughter, amazing food, and beautiful tablescapes were the norm. Working with an uncle who was an executive chef provided just the right skills and confidence needed to launch my catering business – Just For The Occasion. Soon after launching, I developed a love for floral design. At that time, faux flowers were my specialty. As the years progressed, designing with fresh florals became a goal. 

As an avid learner, reading books, studying tutorials, and attending workshops were a must to master the art of fresh floral design. Having an opportunity to attend a luxury floral and event design workshop in Chicago in 2017 was a life-altering moment indeed. I left the workshop with extreme confidence and a zeal to create beautiful works of art for clients. 

Planning, organizing, and critical thinking are a few of my strengths. Equipped with a background in Information Technology, it only made sense to glean from my managerial and project management experience and incorporate event planning into my business as well. 

Becoming an LLC several years ago and most recently working with an amazing brand strategist, Just For The Occasion has definitely evolved from its early beginnings as “just” a catering company. Many lessons have been learned along the way – some good and a few painful ones. The good far outweigh the bad. The Just For The Occasion journey has been a great one and I wouldn’t trade the journey for anything in the world! 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely Not! Today there are so many free resources available to small businesses who are just starting out. When I started down the catering path many years ago, I researched everything that I could about food licensing, food safety, commercial kitchens, etc. It was a struggle gathering good information. Trying to find a commercial kitchen to partner with was a challenge as well. Eventually, my church was gracious enough to partner with me to license and operate out of their kitchen. The partnership definitely set me up for success during my startup. 

Pricing proved to be a challenge at times. It definitely took some time to perfect pricing when it came to catering and floral design. Studying best practices, documenting lessons learned, and applying those lessons to new projects proved beneficial in the successful planning and execution of events. 

Although not always a smooth road, quitting was never an option. After all, it’s the rough spots in the road that catapults you to greatness! 

As you know, we’re big fans of Just For The Occasion, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Just For The Occasion, LLC is a Columbus, Ohio-based full-service catering, planning, and design company dedicated to providing impeccable cuisine, meticulous planning, and distinctive designs for life’s most celebrated occasions. 

From menu planning to décor, to vendor and event management, our goal is to create experiences that leave both clients and guests with memories they will forever treasure. 

What sets us apart from others is a spirit of excellence that underlines everything that we do. We pride ourselves on excellence in service, presentation, attention to detail, and going the extra mile to deliver a wow factor for our clients. I believe operating as such has allowed us to build a clientele that calls upon us often and refers us highly to others. 

What makes you happy?
There are a lot of things that make me happy. Happy clients make me happy for sure! Bringing a client’s vision to life for their special day and seeing their reaction to what we’ve created for them is priceless. 

I get joy out of seeing clients and guests enjoying culinary dishes that we have meticulously crafted for their special events. After months of planning an event, when a client gives you the biggest bear hug for taking the planning burden off of their shoulders so that they can be a guest at their own event, that makes me smile. 

Every time I see a client’s eyes light up as they enter a lavishly decorated room filled with beautiful florals that we have designed for their day; I am completely over the moon! 

Contact Info:

• Email: contactus@justfortheoccasion.net
• Website: www.justfortheoccasion.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jusfortheoccasion
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jusfortheoccasion/

Image Credits
Purple Star Photography
Vision & Style Photography
Starling Studio