Urban Dictionary defines Girl Friday as “a female you can rely on when you are in need of extra assistance; a female who acts as a ‘jack of all trades’ and is capable of doing almost anything,” whichisexactlywhatAdrienneLopezisto her clients. And her Fredericksburg-based business, Girl Friday & Co. Events, has the service portfolio to show for it.
“We plan all aspects of the event from beginning to end,” Lopez explains. “Our cli- ents count on us to plan and execute every detail of their event. We work from a client’s idea of what they are envisioning to create an event they love.”
Some clients know what they want and which vendors they want to work with, but need Lopez and her team to bring it all together. Other clients rely on Girl Friday & Co. to handle the online registration for attendees, whether it’s for a meeting, train- ing or special event. “We create an easy online form to capture any type of data per- tinent to the event,” she says.
Transportation and accommodations can also be part of the package. “We have a great relationship with local hotels and work closely with them to provide our clients with room blocks and anything else they may need, to ensure they have a great experience in Fredericksburg,” Lopez says.
Catering, of course, is something Lopez can coordinate by tapping into her deep knowledge of the area and local vendors.
Lastly, there is venue management and on-site coordination. “We handle site visits, site selection, setup and we work with the venue manager to create layouts for the event space. We are hands-on during the entire day.”
Before launching her company in 2012, Lopez worked for a corporate event com- pany for seven years. With the growth of Fredericksburg as a special event destina- tion, Lopez saw a need for dedicated event planners.
“Fredericksburg has become a top tourist destination in Texas,” she says. “We have so many great restaurants, more than 30 winer- ies, great festivals and so much more. We are also home to Enchanted Rock State Park.”
Lopez says she has a few special offerings clients love, including the use of fresh fruit, especially for beverage stations.
“People love healthy options when they go to events, and that can include fruit- infused water,” Lopez says.
Lastly, she says, motivation and energy are key factors in creating a memorable and successful event: “Before an event, I tell my team, ‘Keep smiling! Have fun! We can handle anything!’”
