After organizing her best friend’s wedding, Elisa Nascimento discovered her purpose in life. With a vast experience in organizing events resulting from 12 years of experience, Elisa specialized in holding events for the LGBT community so that she could offer them “a safe and welcoming service.” She explains to ‘Correio dos Açores’ what led her to develop this business and some of the unusual events she’s encountered. She says: “Fortunately, there’s less and less prejudice and, little by little, weddings for the LGBT community are starting to be seen as just another happy moment in the life of a couple who love each other.”
Correio dos Açores – What has your journey been like?
Elisa Nascimento—Over the last 12 years, my journey as an entrepreneur and Wedding Planner at Elisa Eventos has been full of learning, challenges, and achievements. Believing in what we do and having a passion for creating unique and special moments has made me understand that every detail is essential to making an event unforgettable.
One of the most rewarding milestones in my career was being invited to be a sales representative for the prestigious I LOVE Brides magazine and later contributing to the creation of the I LOVE Brides WeddingCommunity in the Azores, which includes local partners in various areas of the wedding sector. Since 2022, we have produced two editorials to promote the region and two events, one aimed at brides and grooms and the other at professionals, to showcase the community and services in different ways and at the target audience. The next achievement is to have Azorean Tourism allied with the Community because we believe that we are an asset, an important sector to be considered and because we represent a good percentage of the Region’s economy in the area of Tourism.
In May 2022, after receiving training, I became an advisor in the Azores for the A Maleta Vermelha brand, an initiative women in mainland Portugal have run for over 15 years. The goal was to innovate, encourage entrepreneurship, and empower women.
As a result, we now offer another type of event in the region through the A Maleta Vermelha by Elisa Eventos service, such as get-togethers with friends or bachelorette parties.
I know that I still have a long way to go to learn and innovate, so these 12 years of Elisa Eventos become a benchmark, a legacy that I can leave to my children, who are already interested in the area.


How did you decide to become a Wedding Planner?
Ever since I was a little girl, I would come up with themes for home parties, in addition to the obligatory ones such as birthdays, Carnivals, Halloween, etc. I’ve always loved having a full house and celebrating the gift that is life.
In 2001, I left for the city of Guarda, where I lived for five years and graduated in Communication and Public Relations, finishing my final project of creating an events company. In 2006, I returned to São Miguel and started working in Marketing, organizing corporate events. Four years later, together with a friend, I set up 5ª Diversão, a company dedicated to organizing and animating events for children, and in 2012, I organized my best friend’s first wedding. From then on, I was sure I wanted to follow my destiny as an Event Organizer and Wedding Planner. I began the training available at the time in the area of weddings.
Elisa Eventos was founded in 2013 and has grown and gained notoriety in the market. Every day, I feel that my path was made for me, and I couldn’t feel happier and more fulfilled. My involvement is fundamental so everyone who hires us can enjoy their events fully. Making dreams come true is my mission and ambition!


Is it difficult to be an entrepreneur in the Azores?
Being an entrepreneur in the Azores can present specific challenges, but it also offers unique opportunities. The local market is relatively small, which can hinder the desired growth of certain businesses, and support for entrepreneurship is still very limited and for very specific niches.
Another challenge is the so-called “competition,” who, from my point of view, are partners with whom I learn and get on very well. I believe there is a market for everyone, that each one has its own essence, and that’s what couples identify with when they choose a professional to accompany them through such an important process in their lives.
However, being an entrepreneur in the Azores also has its advantages. There is enormous tourist and natural potential, which is one of the great advantages for tourism-oriented businesses. People are highly valued for their authenticity and quality of service, which opens doors for entrepreneurs who know how to offer something different and unique.
So, while there are challenges, the opportunities are also vast, and with the right approach, it is possible to succeed and grow in the island environment.
What are the biggest difficulties in planning a wedding?
The two biggest difficulties I feel are the lack of more venues for events (with capacity for more than 80 people) and the fact that weddings are mostly concentrated in June, July, August and September, which means we have few Saturdays to meet expectations. Fortunately, more and more weddings occur during the week, leading to a greater supply of dates in the high season.
I would challenge anyone who wants to set up a venue to do so with a sense of what they need and to listen to us, as we can get a broader perception of general difficulties than, for example, isolated cases.

Have you ever had an unusual moment that you can share?
I can’t share the most unusual of all, but I can share these:
We’re waiting for the bride at the church, and she hasn’t arrived. When we get a call, she says she’s late because her dress has come off. Everyone is in a panic. The situation is resolved thanks to the creativity of one of the guests who was with the bride. Despite the delay, the bride looks beautiful, and the last-minute alteration to her dress is not noticeable. Since then, we’ve always kept a sewing kit in our magic box.
The groom made his entrance into the church, followed by the bride. Everything went according to plan, and during the ceremony, the best man remembered that he had left the rings at home and had to leave the ceremony to go home to collect them. The bride and groom didn’t notice, and everything went as smoothly as possible.
How did the year 2024 go?
The year 2024 exceeded our initial expectations regarding the number of events held, and the quality of the compliments received. In addition to weddings, Elisa Eventos has other events, including birthdays, christenings, communions, and corporate events. In the low season, demand for get-togethers between friends and bachelorette parties has increased greatly through our themed and unique services.
What are your prospects for 2025?
Fortunately, there is a lot of work. Our agenda is practically full this year, and we’re already working on events for 2026.
Are the Azoreans very demanding when it comes to their weddings?
They’re sweethearts, and it’s lovely to see the relationship of friendship and affection that remains after planning such an important day for them. I’m very happy that more and more couples are open to using our services to make the most of such an important day.
I also work with Destination Weddings, couples from abroad who come to get married in the Azores, but my focus from the start has always been to prioritize our own with what is ours—because we’re as good as or better!

You’ve done a lot of weddings for the LGBT community. Why is that?
I know many people from the LGBT community, and I felt it was important for them to have someone without prejudice who would listen to them, represent them, and make them feel that they have the same right to have a dream wedding with all the details that a straight couple has. So, I specialized in this niche, offering a safe and welcoming service to the LGBT community.
I feel there is some reluctance on the part of couples in the community, especially when publicizing the moment. In other words, I’ve carried out marriage proposals and weddings, but few allow them to be publicized, and I’m still afraid of criticism, provocation, and possible retaliation at work. Fortunately, there is less and less prejudice, and little by little, weddings in the LGBT community are beginning to be seen as just another happy moment in the life of a couple who love each other.
I want the LGBT community to know that they can trust me at Elisa Eventos and that I will do everything I can to make them feel supported, happy, and fulfilled.

How long does it usually take to plan a wedding?
Generally, it takes around 12 months, depending on the event and the services you want. We always ask people to contact us 18 to 24 months in advance to increase the number of venues and partners available. This allows adequate time for all wishes to be fulfilled and for everyone to have the final product they envisioned.
What kind of requests do your clients usually make of you?
In addition to the usual requests, I’ve had cakes that were completely out of the ordinary, i.e., very colorful and with macarons; a visit with a photo and video shoot after the wedding ceremony with donkeys, this was a very specific request from one of the brides, as she had already worked with these super cute animals; scheduling surprise tattoos was also a funny and different request, among many others.
Do you have any messages you’d like to leave to those reading this interview?
I’d like to thank my children and David for understanding the constraints and believing in and supporting my project. I’d like to thank all the couples who have already put their trust in Elisa Eventos and those who are doing so, as well as all the partners, collaborators, my right-hand man, and my friend Clara for the enthusiasm, professionalism, and affection they share, which contribute to the satisfaction of our clients and to making Elisa Eventos even better.
To those couples who don’t yet have a WeddingPlanner for their wedding or those planning to organize an event, I would like to say that you should contact us promptly so that we can guarantee our availability and that of our local partners. We have extensive experience in the market, and our main goal is to minimize all the worries of such a special day and ensure that our clients enjoy an unforgettable day.
Visit Elisa Eventos’ social networks (Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok) and website, http://www.elisaeventos.pt, to see some of our services and testimonials from couples who have already hired us. You can also contact us with any questions.
Last but not least…Be happy and have lots of light in your hearts!


Frederico Figueiredo is a journalist for Correio dos Açores, natalino Viveiros-director

Photos from: https://www.elisaeventos.pt/home

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.