Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Rasmussen.
Molly, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in a small, rural Michigan town, there were no “luxury” stores, and the fanciest restaurant in town was something like a Chili’s. Like all young girls, I loved watching all of the wedding television shows, I remember telling my mom one day – “I want to work for him” – one of the celebrity planners on a TLC show. I had no idea what a luxury wedding looked like, and my best work involved Christmas lights hanging from the ceiling in my high school gymnasium for homecoming. I think I’ve always had a knack for planning events, and really problem solving, I just didn’t know at the time that I could make it a career.
Fast forward a year or two and it was time to start searching for colleges, I was enrolled to go to Michigan State University, where I would pursue a hospitality degree. My senior year spring break trip brought me to Texas to visit friends and immediately I felt at home. Once I returned, I immediately starting applying for Texas-based schools, and luckily, acceptance was still open. My sophomore year I landed I job through with the planner I mentioned above as an intern – talk about dreams coming true! I then worked for 2 more years at that firm while in school and graduated from The University of North Texas with a Hospitality Management Degree.
One thing I love so much about our industry is the endless networking opportunities and the people I’ve had the pleasure to meet along the way. After I graduated, it was time to move on to new roles within the industry. With 2 years of planning, and floral sales experience, I ended up managing two of Dallas premier venues in the Dallas Design District. There, I was able to oversee our venue coordination, staffing schedules and food and beverage department for approximately 150 events per year.
Five years went by, and I really loved my time there with a great team, but it was time to move on. I’d always dreamed of opening my own planning company, and for my age, experience level, and where I was at personally, it just felt right to make the leap. Pop Parties has been in business for two full years, going on a third, and I am so grateful for the clients who have followed me, and trusted me over the years to produce wonderful celebrations for their businesses and families.
Has it been a smooth road?
Absolutely not! There’s been disappointment, backstabbing, doubt and financial ups and downs throughout the whole process. I lost my dad to a heart attack the year I opened my own company. He was a small business owner as well, and that made for a very difficult time, but it also drove me to do more to make him proud. As for the juicy gossip, I could tell stories for days, but I don’t want to throw other event professionals under the bus either.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Pop Parties story. Tell us more about the business.
Pop Parties is a turn key event production company that specializes in all things social. We like to have fun, and produce events that have flair and style. The “pop” is something I came up with while I was at work one night. A huge confetti cannon shot off for a couple’s send off and I had been racking my brain over what I wanted to call my new company, and what I wanted us to stand for. Immediately I knew that it would be “Pop Parties” since we don’t handle only weddings, like many of our competitors. Due to my venue background, I’ve had the pleasure to produce all sorts of events ranging from weddings, to galas – Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and more. Our company handles those same things because I enjoy variety in my life. We also like to have fun and I am a total sucker for a good theme.
What sets us apart I think is our ability to have a good time, and see value in the products we produce. We are not a fancy, high-end planning company, and because of that, we offer prices that reflect our services and what our team brings to the table. Our team specializes in the everyday client who wants a nice, beautiful, fun party, but who doesn’t want to break the bank and spend upwards of six figures either. Of course, we do produce events like that also, but only for the non-stuffy clients that really fit our company profile.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Digital. It’s happening to industries all around us and I am excited to see where the next 5-10 years goes in this aspect for the special event industry as well. Although you will never be able to truly replicate great customer service via the internet, I think there will be digital platforms that will provide more event resources for potential buyers than just for event inspiration.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3824 Cedar Springs Rd
#1095 - Website: www.popparties.com
- Phone: 2149012220
- Email: molly@popparties.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/pop_parties
- Facebook: facebook.com/poppartiesdfw
- Other: https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/pop-parties-dallas/5b0f44f427d262fe.html
Image Credits:
Anna Smith Photography
Dyan Kethley Photography
Madeline Shea Photography
Allen Tsai Photography
Brett Matthews Photography
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