Many planners would think it too extreme to create a winter wonderland at a Florida reception by shipping in several hundred pounds of ice. Some event planners would shy away from having an airplane fly over an event with a bride’s “love message” to the groom (who was also an amateur pilot). And many more would flat out reject the idea of having a “flower ferret” instead of a flower girl. But not Ana Cruz. Nothing is too excessive for Cruz, one of the Style Network’s renowned event planners featured on the hit television show, “Whose Wedding is it Anyway?”.

“I love doing events that are not the norm,” said Cruz. “I really enjoy working for people that other events planners would consider too ‘different.’ I love a good challenge.”

It is this zest for creative and innovative ideas that makes her one of the most sought-after event planners and party trend experts in South Florida today. In fact, Cruz’s unexpected accents and faithful attention to the very last detail makes her a coveted addition to the party-planning process for modern-day individuals, couples, and high profile corporations both here and beyond—having planned events in over 10 states and as far as Chile.

Becoming a Star

This Miami-born planner has been an arbiter of style and innovation in event planning for almost 13 years—with Ana Cruz Event Planning launching in 2001. But her roots as a former Citibank employee are a far cry from the creative field she is in now. “The day that I left corporate America, I swore that I would never compromise my way of having to please anyone and that I would never again wear pantyhose,” said Cruz in her blog.

It is this devotion to doing things her own way that, in 2005, landed Cruz a role on the Style Network’s reality wedding series “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?” and “Married Away,” which features wedding planning at exotic locations.

Cruz was initially concerned about the producers and cameras following her around, and she was nervous that she would humiliate herself by making a serious mistake. “Luckily, I haven’t and the production team turned out to be really nice,” Cruz said.

And, while she was always confident in her skills, she wasn’t sure if she would be a fit for reality TV. “I thought of myself as just a local Miami event planner who started her own business to bend some rules and spend more time with family,” she said. “[But] that’s when it hit me: My clients, and what I do for them, would make great TV!”

One example of that great TV includes an “off the beaten path” Miami wedding that combined two strikingly different elements – Asian design and disco flair. To do so, she incorporated an Asian influence in the food and the decor (think Cherry Blossom centerpieces and Foo Dogs at the venue entrance). To incorporate disco, the bride and groom took dancing lessons and duplicated a “Saturday Night Fever” disco, complete with outfits, for the first dance. “The themes clashed but were a reflection of the bride and groom’s unique style,” said Cruz. “Just like the couple, they ended up blending beautifully.”

It’s this distinctive style, along with Cruz’s sense of humor, down-to-earth demeanor, resourcefulness, and ability to bond with her clients that quickly won the confidence of the viewers. All it took were few episodes to make her a crowd favorite and earn her the title of the “Latina Carrie Bradshaw.”

Focused On Her Clients

Despite her success, Cruz remains intent on giving her clients what they want, whatever it takes. To do so, she encourages her clients to “own” the day through unexpected touches—whether using very bold colors or the latest in intelligent lighting or an Eiffel tower made of flowers to remind everyone where the groom proposed.

According to Cruz, her perfect client is an adventurous one who is looking to surprise their guests. “They want people to leave the wedding saying, ‘I never saw that before,’” said Cruz. “My job is to help them do that—and get that reaction in a positive way.”

Figuring out how to make the event what the bride and groom want comes down to a give-and-take between Cruz and her clients. But according to Michelle Griley-Badillo, Cruz’s former client turned friend/stylist, it’s also something that is simply innate to Cruz. “Ana has this ability to immediately sense what kind of person a bride is,” she said. “She simply feels the bride and knows exactly what kind of things she wants even with just one meeting.”

Looking Toward the Future

A true trailblazer in the event planning world, Cruz also appears regularly as a popular event-planning consultant on local radio, television and news media outlets. In addition, she provides “Boot Camp” seminars around the country for individuals and brides who need her services but are short on time or funding. In these seminars, she teaches clients things like how to interview vendors and ask them the right questions. “It is important to me that clients don’t get ripped off because they don’t know how things work,” said Cruz.

She is also developing a line of celebration products for brides and grooms that will include everything from his-and-hers planners to bamboo underwear. In addition, she is launching an exclusive custom handbag line, featuring bold colors that “are perfect for the risk-taking bride,” according to Cruz.

Though Ana’s forte is weddings, she also handles social soirees, contemporary Quinces and corporate events. Among her local company clients are Citibank, The March of Dimes, Miami Coalition for the Homeless, Samantha’s Purpose, Quirch Foods and many others.

Cruz has been happily married to husband Omar for almost 11 years, and they have two gorgeous sons, Jake and Collin.

Starting in the next issue of South Florida Party Planner Magazine, Ana Cruz will be writing a column. If you have questions or interesting events to share with her, you may email her at anacruz@sflppmagazine.com