Rising Stars: Meet Natalie Zotto

Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Zotto.

Hi Natalie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Hello, my name is Natalie Zotto. I grew up in a family that loved to gather and celebrate every occasion. This inspired me to become an event planner and from a young age I loved gathering and creating special memories. When I first graduated college (with a double major in Entrepreneurship and Marketing) I took an incredible opportunity in Dallas, Texas as an event manager at a new wedding facility.

This was a catalyst in my growth as a young planner and gave me more experience than I could dream would come to someone my age. I lived a very different life from my peers (planning the most important day of someone’s life is no easy task!) and worked every weekend… but this taught me discipline and lessons that I carry with me today.

After Dallas, I followed my dream and returned to Chicago, Illinois. I had my sights set on one job – and guess what? Landed it! I’d been following an event design and planning company in Chicago and reached out every few months – guess what? On the DAY I moved to Chicago I received an email response from the owner… serendipity? I think so! Or I wore them down with my persistence… either way, this role brought me into a new area of expertise.

After living out my Chicago dream, life pulled me to Denver, Colorado. If you’re guessing you’re probably right… I moved for a boy… who is now my fiancé. Denver has been my home for three years now and I have loved every minute of it. Since living in Denver, I have expanded into planning corporate events. This has been my biggest time of growth as I’ve been able to dive into my business knowledge while pulling from my previous experiences.

Denver has inspired me to pursue another passion of mine – starting my own company as an event planner and event designer. I decided to take the jump and launch my event planning and design company – To Us Events. The name is symbolic of toasting to friends, gathering, and happiness. I have thoroughly enjoyed the creative process and am currently launching my business in the Denver area. My services include but are not limited to, event coordination, event design, florals, and event styling.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
My journey has been met with a few obstacles… mainly a few bad apples along the way, but I’ve always maintained my perseverance and never given up on myself or my goals. The bad apples have made me appreciate the goodness in others who have supported and inspired me.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am known for adding special, creative elements to events that I plan. Sometimes the small, surprise moments make the whole event! I think I also really connect with my clients – I want them to feel that we have a total partnership when we create an event together.

I am an environmental planner – I start with the space. It has to have the right vibe, smell, lighting, staff, and set-up before I dive into creating an event there. The environment sets the stage to ensure we can have fun and add our unique style to the space.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I am a planner by nature. I’ve kept agendas with daily tasks and goals since I was in middle school… in fact, I kept such detailed notes that my teachers used to ask for my school agenda so that they could build out their teaching plans! True story.

I also believe that my intentions set me apart and have helped in my success. When I meet a client, I truly strive to create the most memorable and lovely event for them. I also love to have FUN – if we are not having fun, what is the point?

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @tousevents