TOP 10: MARINA LURI EVENTS, NEW YORK CITY



We’re in the business of making people happy with important celebrations, so I always keep that in the back of my mind. I try my best to be hospitable, kind, and understanding. If things get too stressful, I try to walk away for a moment to take a deep breath or a nap! The day I stop loving what I do, that day I will walk away, but for now, I am still mesmerised, surprised, excited, and enthusiastic about every event we produce, every guest we meet, and every creative partner that we work with!”

Marina Luri-Clark

MARINA LURI-CLARK, the visionary founder and creative director of Marina Luri Events, leads her dynamic company, based in NYC, to craft extraordinary experiences across the US and Europe. With a passion for excellence, Marina and her team plan, design, and produce both social and corporate events that transform ordinary moments into unforgettable memories. From intimate dinner parties for 25 guests to grand corporate gatherings for up to 1000, each event is a testament to her dedication and creativity. Here we discuss Marina’s background in fashion, her inspirations and challenges along the way…



C&B: “Marina, you’ve had a long and celebrated career in events and are known as one of the figureheads in the industry in NYC – when did you start out and what first prompted you to go into this area of business?”

ML-C: “I’ve been in the event industry for about 18 years. Prior to that, I worked in fashion PR and, as such, was responsible for producing fashion shows, in-store events, and marketing pop-ups. Creative energy has been a part of me since my teenage years. One specific event that I worked on at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC prompted me to focus all my energy and enthusiasm on events. It was complicated from a logistical point of view, but I loved every minute of it!”



C&B: “Following your career in fashion did you have to study or work with someone to gain experience in event design or did you refine your skills on the job?”

ML-C: “My studies in fashion design, merchandising, and business, gave me a good background for my current career. However, the best experience most definitely came from working with other creatives and ultimately making my own mistakes. While working in the fashion industry, I was mentored by the best, and I learned a lot. Having said that, I am still learning!”



Most of our events welcome around 200 – 300 guests, where every detail is meticulously curated by us to inspire and delight…”

Marina Luri-Clark

“Every event and every creative partner help me refine my craft, learn new things, and become more inspired. We always debrief after an event to understand what worked and what didn’t. We’re always looking for new and creative ways to do things – and I’m a huge believer in collaborations because this is when you produce your best work. I always say that you’re better together, and teamwork truly does make the dream work!”

C&B: “Having a background in fashion is always going to give a brand the leading edge when it comes to style – besides that, what is your USP?”

ML-C: “In addition to being one of the first on the destination event scene, every member of my team speaks several languages and is familiar with different cultures. I also have a long-term partnership throughout Europe and Africa…”



On a personal note, I think our clients and creative partners find us to be cool under pressure, incredibly resourceful, and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Style, elegance, and sophistication are an integral part of everything we do!”

Marina Luri-Clark

C&B: “Do you have a preference for where you stage events? Any special locations around the world?”

ML-C: “We work wherever our clients want us to! We’ve worked on private islands, in homes, in castles, and exclusive hotels and resorts – from NYC to the Hamptons, upstate NY, Palm Beach, Tuscany, Rome, Naples, Madrid, and beyond…”



C&B: “It must be wonderful working in those amazing locations; do you ever experience any challenges such as adverse weather conditions?”

ML-C: “Weather is almost always the biggest challenge because, even if you can predict it and plan for it, you can’t always control it! Location can almost always be managed if the client has the right budget, but no amount of money can tell Mother Nature to change her plans! We’ve been in the event industry for a long time, so we like to have plans A, B, C, D, and E. We like to go into a project feeling confident and ready to face anything…”



C&B: “Absolutely! It’s hard to enjoy the organisation of any production unless all is firmly under control and every eventuality catered for! Do you find working on your projects stressful, or not? How do you generally relax?”

ML-C: “At times it’s stressful; if we have numerous deadlines, events, and multiple changes, it can be very stressful, but I always surround myself with good partners, and I’m very resourceful, so I rarely panic. Everything can be figured out; you just need to have the right resources…”

“To relax, I like to be in nature, whether that’s walking, hiking, running, or skiing. Running is very rhythmic, so it can be meditative for me; I also just love to read a good book!”



Our favourite thing to do is create priceless memories for our clients while working with some of the most talented people in the industry…”

Marina Luri-Clark

C&B: “When you talk of partners, do you have any formal collaborations with others in the lifestyle business?”

ML-C: “Not formal collaborations – but I do have an incredible network of friends in the industry that I love working with. We share ideas, best practices, successes, and failures. We also help each other connect with clients, other creatives, and the business community…”



C&B: “Is there anyone that you’d most like to collaborate with or a specific project you’d love to work on?”

ML-C: “There are many people that I admire in the industry, but I would really love to create an event and work with an installation artist. Last year, while in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, I came across the work of an artist named Michael Benisty, and I would love to do something really large-scale with him! My entire life has been built on the combination of fashion, design, and art, so the opportunity to create an event that mixes all of them is my dream project…”

C&B: “We totally appreciate that – there’s nothing as satisfying as being able to push boundaries and use every skill in your book! What about consultancy projects – do you ever offer that as a service?”

ML-C: “I do occasionally consult on large-scale events – and we also have a part of the company that provides consulting services for wedding clients and corporate clients. It’s a fixed price for specific services and includes a set number of consulting hours. I wanted to provide our expertise and network of top vendors to clients who weren’t in a position to make a large investment or didn’t need full-service planning or design. I love that we can help guide people with this service!”



C&B: “Yes, it’s great to provide inspiration when required and these clients also benefit from the expert Marina Luri-Clark touch! What would you say are your biggest personal and professional accomplishments to date?”

ML-C: “My biggest accomplishments are having a family and finishing the NY marathon! Professionally, I set out to rise from the ashes of the pandemic and feel that we are on our way to exciting new projects!”


WEBSITE: http://www.marinalurievents.com



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