We started working in the Marriott hotels my brother Raul Cornejo and your humble servant Lourdes Cornejo in 1993 and we loved our job. We were trained in every aspect of customer service, attention to detail, decoration, food, drink, how to property set a table, the correct way to pick up trays and serve food. I loved learning; every day was something different from the various way to fold dinner napkins to proper display of food. I felt so elegant dressed with our impeccable penguin uniforms. My brother had to return to Mexico but I continued working with my co-workers in the hotel, until for personal reason I had to leave my employer

We started looking for work elsewhere, working with the waiter unions and various agencies. We worked in many hotels and for conventions, always learning from my fellow co-workers. I enjoyed learning everything from like decoration buffet tables, receptions halls and serving with trays. At that time I started cleaning housekeeping to supplement my income so I could purchase my first van with the help of my sister Veronica. My clients started recommending me and hiring to work for their private functions, and that’s where I would have an opportunity to display my knowledge of event planning and proper etiquette in regards to wine and champagne. Each day I would get more and more calls and even had to give some of my event to fellow friends in the industry. One day I didn’t have enough money to cover my cost since I have two children a boy and a girl, so my friend Martha Gamino got me a job in a kitchen helping prepare and cook different type of food. I didn’t stay to long with her but the knowledge that I acquired in the culinary art of Mexican cuisine is something that would help me out very much in future years. Eventually I left because my service was solicited in a previous agency which I worked for, I even had the privilege of taking charge and managing the famous agency “Waiters on Call.”

I got the brilliant idea to start my own company since I could have as much time and space as I needed. Soon my children’s friends started turning 15 therefore starting having Quinceañeras and their parents knowing the type of work I did started calling and hiring me to do their events. They wanted me to do their cooking, setting up and bring my team of waiters. Thus my true calling and career was born. Around that time my daughter Claudia was also turning 15 and I decided I would personally do all the cooking for her party, but I wanted to enjoy it so I hired a company to come and do all the decoration of the reception hall. Unfortunately it did not turn out to be what I wanted as far as their service. I was not able to enjoy my day, I was completely exhausted. I asked myself why it had to be this way? Event like these were suppose to be happy events, time to share with family and friends not to be stressing about details. I knew I could be of so much help to future Quinceaneras and brides. I got my savings together and started on my mission to start helping, with the help of my friend Inez Alvizar who is an amazing seamstress we started purchasing and making all the linen for events, chair covers and favors, we started purchasing equipment for floral arrangements and catering supplies. My first events were not too successful since I am very hard on myself and pay great attention to detail, but as I got busier I got better. My bigger pride and joy is hearing the happiness in my client’s comments and hearing from other entertainers how happy they were with my services. I treat every event like it was my own and never give less that what is expected of my time or staff. My goal is that every event stay in your mind as something spectacular thanks to the taste, look and attention of Cornejos Event Planners.