Luxury wedding planner and designer from Ahmedabad, Purva Patel found herself on a tough spot mid-way through her career. After working with a family member for 15 years, she had to quit due to financial conflicts, even though it was her network, creativity and hard work that made the company substantial. The night she quit, she was full of introspection. In such tough times, her family had been her constant support. They too decided that it was a wise decision to let go of everything, including the money, to continue respecting the family and relationships. Lo and behold, they came up with something of their own and Pristine Paige Events was established. Today, Purva successfully leads Pristine Paige and has designed and planned over 100 weddings thanks to her impeccable expertise. In an interview with ELLE, she shares her story about building a 1-million Dollar company from the ground up.
ELLE: Tell us about the struggle you faced while setting up your business once again.
Purva Patel (PP): Thanks to my experience and hands on work ethic with the same team, it was easier to establish my new business and I had to struggle less. But let ting people change their idea of business from an earlier brand took some time. With constant work, that conflict was resolved too.
ELLE: We see few women who lead the team in your industry. Do you experience any such conflicts between clients and society?
PP: I have been in the industry since 15 years. When I start ed Pristine Paige, people who had associated with me in the past were aware that I know how to carry a business. When we meet people for the first time, some are confused initially, but our portfolio, workspace and capabilities speak for ourselves and it helps foster trust in us over other wed ding companies.
Women helming wedding or event companies was a problem earlier, but times have changed now. We see women working shoulder to shoulder with men. Our team is highly organised, making it easier for people to trust us with their special days.
ELLE: What was your ‘Aha Moment of life’ in these five years of leading Pristine Paige events?
PP: As I said, it is difficult to leave a hefty amount to save a family relationship. So when I began afresh, I never thought that Pristine Paige would have a 1 million Dollar turnover in such a short time, despite the two years of the pandemic. It shows the society too, that a woman founder can achieve great success. And this ‘Aha moment’ to experience wouldn’t have been possible without my supportive family and everyone’s blessings.
I believe that if you are talented and hardworking, nothing can stop you from building what you want to create for yourself, and the brand. And, of course, money will follow. I have never chased money, and I only believe in creating unforgettable experiences and beautiful memories.
ELLE: What role did your family play in your journey?
PP: My family was my rock-solid support, right from the be ginning and they’ve played an essential role for me to reach where I am today. The way they managed family, my child Prayan, home and everything else. They knew it was a crucial time for me, so they wholeheartedly supported us (my team and I). They’re our biggest cheerleaders; without them, what ever Pristine Paige and I are today, wouldn’t be possible.
ELLE: And your message to young event companies?
PP: To them I would say, there’s only one thing to do— work hard and wait for your time. Upgrade yourself to everything new and trendy. It took me 15 years to talk about my struggle and my journey. Nothing comes easy, so make sure you work hard with your team and create something unique for your clients.
