Meet Chris Weinberg | Wedding and Event Producer

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

Hi Chris, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Having worked since the age of 15, I understand how demanding a fulfilling and good paying career can be on a family. With 3 young children at home my desire to go back into the workforce was strong, however I wanted to be there to take them to school, pick them up and be an involved and active participant in their daily lives. The simple solution for me was to find something that I could do that would also allow me the flexibility to be present in the daily lives of my children.

My skill set and experience included both hospitality, effective communication and a strong background in working for small businesses. It made sense for me to utilize my business acumen in the running of my own home-based business. Producing events was a natural fit and something that I could successful do. The idea came to me in an instant while attending a bat mitzvah (coming of age celebration in the jewish culture) for a dear friend who I saw struggling to manage her daughter’s celebration.

From contacts in my community I quickly built up a sustainable business. Once my children were teenagers and able to drive I moved the business out of my home and and began to educate myself on hiring a team and scaling for growth.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Chris Weinberg Events is a luxury wedding and event planning, design and consulting firm. We assist our clients in thoughtfully planning, crafting, and producing bespoke, memorable experiences in South Florida and worldwide. Our “guest-centric” approach ensures an unforgettable and fun experience for all. We wholeheartedly value our clientele and are known for always delivering a superior level of service, professionalism, and flexibility. Our breadth of services, expertise, and experience enable us to combine talented creative partners, the finest event production, and latest technology to bring our clients’ vision to life. Our experienced team manages the entire life cycle of our clients’ events to ensure continuity and success. Aside from our unparalleled level of service, what also sets us apart is our commitment to transparency and honesty with our clients.

My business has evolved drastically since it was an at-home-business in 2003. I went from a team of just me to a current team of five event producers with an office. Having a physical office has allowed me to expand in many ways. I have also invested in the development of my business through coaching, conferences, and courses such as the Goldman Sachs 10KSB program and have shared the knowledge I have gained with my team, vendor partners and colleagues in my market.

Things I have learned along my business journey are that it takes a village and Chris Weinberg Events wouldn’t be what it is without an amazing, passionate team, that being professional in a creative world is very important, that nurturing relationships with vendor partners helps me grow my business, without clear processes my team and I would be lost, and that we our hired because our clients trust that we are the experts. A few additional key things I have learned as a business owner are that knowledge is power, to assume nothing, that anything is possible, that effective communication is key, and the importance of authenticity.

As a business that also celebrates life, we strongly believe in giving back and paying it forward. We support a variety of charitable organizations, offering our clients the option to direct a donation from our planning fee to the non-profit charity of their choice.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve composed a little 7-day itinerary for all the must-do things in Miami.

Day 1: Spa Day and pool to relax after traveling, then grab drinks at Watr at 1 Hotel or Broken Shaker and head to dinner at Mila.

Day 2: Check out the galleries, shopping, bars, breweries and food in Wynwood! Some of my favorite places are The Oasis, Wynwood Walls, Mojito Bar, Boxelder Craft Beer, Veza Sur, 1-800-Lucky, Zak the Baker, Uchi, Kyu, Salty Donut and Cerveceria La Tropical. Also stop by the famous Enriquita’s Sandwich Shop for a famous Cuban Sandwich!

Day 3: Tour of South Beach – check out Lincoln Road and its shops and restaurants, Espanola Way, Ocean Drive with the beach, Versace Mansion and the Art Deco District and make your way to South Point Park where you can grab a nice bite at Smith & Wollensky or rent bikes and ride around Miami Beach.

Day 4: Take a day trip to Homestead and the Keys. Some of my favorite spots are Robert is Here – a fruit stand and farm with amazing milkshakes, Knaus Berry Farm for their famous sticky buns (be sure to arrive early before they sell out), Lorelei Restaurant & Cabana Bar, Alabama Jack’s and Gilbert’s for fresh fish and frozen daiquiris!

Day 5: Check out some of our favorite Museums! First stop at Perez Art Museum (PAMM), then hit up Vizcaya, the Rubell Museum and the brand new Superblue Miami. Grab a bite at either Verde at PAMM where you have amazing views of Biscayne Bay or Leku in Rubell Museum.

Day 6: Boat-day around Biscayne Bay with a stop at Seaspice on the Miami River for lunch or drinks, then grab dinner at one of my recommendations below.

Day 7: Beach-day and shopping at Bal Harbour Shops. Finish the day off with dinner at Makoto, Carpaccio or Le Zoo

Some more of my favorite restaurants and places to check out for dinner and drinks are the legendary Joe’s Stone Crab, Joia Beach, Komodo, La Mar, Riverside, Zuma, Sugar, Mandolin, Swan, Kiki on the River, the Wharf, Amara, and Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Brittany Hanslip Winiarski – Vice President of Rock With U
Julia Rohde – Owner of Julia Rohde Designs
Alan Newman – Event Director at PAMM

Website: https://chrisweinbergevents.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chris-weinberg-events

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chriswevents?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisWeinbergEvents

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chris-weinberg-events-miami

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxInwEGFmnbIE9QKbRK1KLQ

Image Credits
Domino Arts Photography