Meet Melissa Robinson | Event Planner & Entrepenuer

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

Hi Melissa, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
One of my favorite quotes of all time is this one by Rob Siltanen: “Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

I interpret this to mean that in life it’s great to be a little different and embrace your unique self. It means that life is so much more than work, traffic and chores. Life is about making a change, being the change and leaving an impact. This quote reminds me to constantly push myself to be my best self.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Villa Veintiséis is a 1937 estate sitting on over 2 acres of lush botanical gardens tucked away in Homestead, Florida. The grounds overflow with tropical greenery with palm trees reaching over 80-ft tall. The second you enter the garden you’re transported to a secluded and private oasis away from the city’s congestion. We want to share this magical space with the world through retreats, agritourism, special events, weddings, photoshoots, commercial production and more. Our hope is for Villa Veintiséis to be a source of inspiration and a gathering place for our community.

Villa Veintiséis has been built through passion, love and determination to leave a lasting impression with our guests. Walking into our garden instantly transports you to a secret oasis. The grounds will take your breath away, and the staff will treat you like family. We consider it our responsibility to make you happy, take away your stress, and ensure your experience is flawless. We want you to feel forever connected to our brand and our family.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
David and I are both from Miami, born and raised. We love South Florida for not just the weather, but for the culture, the environment, the people, the energy, and the lifestyle.

David and I both love the ocean and the beach. Salt water runs in our veins. I would definitely take visiting friends on a boat tour through Downtown Miami and along the coast, ending up at The Cleat, a locals bar in Key Biscayne. We can dig our toes into the sand and enjoy live music while we watch the sunset. It’s absolutely one of my favorite things to do in Miami.

After getting our fill of ocean and sand, I would take our guests to Homestead, a lesser-known part of South Florida filled with hidden gems you won’t find anywhere else in Miami (including our venue, Villa Veintiséis). Homestead is home to strawberry farms, orchid nurseries, local wineries and amazing food options. From the delicious cinnamon rolls of Knauss Berry Farms to the world-famous milkshakes of Robert is Here, you can’t go wrong eating your way through Homestead. I would also make sure to swing by our favorite orchid nurseries like R.F. Orchids and Motes Orchids. There are so many amazing businesses in the area that are devoted to their craft, making Homestead a truly unique destination in and of itself.

We’ve seen the ocean and sand, and experienced the Homestead farm lands, but you can’t visit Miami without experiencing the center of the Cuban community – Calle Ocho. This is Miami’s capital for Cuban food options. You can smell the Carne Asada and Pan con Lechon from every corner. I would treat my guests to mojitos at Café La Trova, named one of the worlds 50 best bars. And lastly, I wouldn’t be a true Cuban-American without ensuring my friends leave with plenty of croquettas, pastelitos and bocaditos from the area’s best Cuban bakeries.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I always want to give a shoutout to my amazing and talented husband, David. David is the Ying to my Yang. In many ways, we are very alike; two peas in a pod, but in business, we are complete opposites and it works in our favor. David is incredibly talented and stops at nothing to craft whatever we dreamed up for an event. He’s a creative-thinker, problem-solver, and my number one hype man too. I wish everyone could have a partner like mine; someone who believes in me, who knows we can accomplish anything as long as we are together, and endlessly encourages all my fantastical ideas. Many in life will contentedly watch you fail, but if I tell David I’m jumping in, he’s holding my hand as we fly.

Website: villaveintiseis.com

Instagram: @villaveintiseis

Other: tiktok @villaveintiseis

Image Credits
Rob And Ale Photography & Provoke Photography