Weddings, birthdays, baby showers… taxes. Taxes?! You may not think those things are related, but they are all in a week’s work for Ivette Chao. Ivette has worked in the Tax Collector’s office in Tavernier for nearly 20 years, but she has also made a name for herself as the Florida Keys Day-Of Coordinator.
Transitioning from taxes to celebrations started several years ago when Ivette tried her hand at catering as a side hustle. During one wedding she was catering, she was working behind the scenes when she noticed another worker carrying a clipboard in the midst of the celebration.
“What’s her job?” she asked a colleague, as she peered around the corner. Her friend responded that she was a day-of coordinator, and a light bulb went off in Ivette’s mind. She had gotten into catering because she wanted to play an important role in people’s big days, but now she knew of an even better way to accomplish that.
“I simply love weddings and celebrating big occasions, like baby showers and anniversaries,” Ivette says, “and until that moment, I hadn’t considered that I could help others coordinate those celebrations.”
Ivette really wanted to be the one holding the clipboard and making sure the big day went seamlessly, but she downplayed the idea when she mentioned it to her husband. He immediately encouraged her to go for it, realizing she would be the perfect woman for the job, just as she knew deep down inside she would be, too.
Ivette has been coordinating 30-50 events every year since, and that’s on top of her management position at the Tax Collector’s office. People ask her in awe how she does it, receiving 5-star after 5-star review, and she has a simple answer:
“I absolutely love it. There is nothing better than taking the stress off my clients so they can actually enjoy their big days. The saying about ‘Love your job, and you’ll never work a day’ rings so true for me.”
For celebrations, Ivette is typically hired once a date and venue are secured. She ensures everything is in order leading up to the date, and then she and her team ensure everything runs smoothly the day of.
“Many day-of coordinators won’t talk to their clients until 30 days before the event,” Ivette says, “but to me, that’s just asking for last-minute problems. I start talking and planning with my clients the day they sign with me. I’m always just a phone call or text away.”
Ivette’s business model is straightforward and extremely effective: treat each client like they’re family. To Ivette, there is no higher standard since family is everything to her. She has been married to her high school sweetheart for 33 years, and they have 4 kids and 7 grandkids. Having such a happy family life feeds her passion for her job even more.
Ivette will be planning her own retirement party from the Tax Collector’s office in a few short years, but she never plans to retire from her real passion. She will continue to help her clients plan their big days for as long as possible.
“I have many repeat clients, and it’s such a joy to help them celebrate the next milestone. I’ve already planned a few baby showers for previous brides, and one family has me on speed dial for all of their events!”
To see her long list of 5-star reviews, search ‘Florida Keys Day Of Coordinator’ on WeddingWire.com. To learn more about how Ivette will make your big day a stress-free day, call or text (305)393-2457.
–Jerrica Mah is a writer, Army wife, and freelance book editor, who loves to travel with her family
