How Grief, Glitter, and Grit Built a Business You’ve Never Seen Before

I’m a rainbow baby — an unexpected miracle after five miscarriages — and my family never let me forget how much of a gift that was. Every birthday and holiday was a grand celebration. There were themes, balloon bouquets, taco salad bars, and bottomless bowls of rainbow punch. Celebration wasn’t just something we did — it was my first love language.

My mom was my best friend and my biggest influence. She had a natural gift for hospitality, and she passed it on to me through every party we hosted together. At just 12 years old, I helped her plan my brother’s wedding, and I fell head-over-heels for every part of it — from the checklist to the chaos to the final, unforgettable moments.

By my teens, we had become the unofficial event planners for our family and friends. People kept telling us we should go professional, but we honestly didn’t think we were doing anything special — we just loved making people feel celebrated.

Years later, I dreamed up my first Video Scavenger Hunt — a wildly creative, laugh-until-you-snort kind of experience. By then, my mom’s health had declined, and she couldn’t join in like she used to. When she passed in 2015, I stepped away from event planning for a while.

But grief has a strange way of guiding us. A local charity asked me to create a Scavenger Hunt for their fundraiser, and I said yes. The event was a hit — so much so that it became a cherished annual tradition. It reminded me that I wasn’t done.

In 2018, my cousin’s fiancée was overwhelmed trying to plan their wedding from Jacksonville. I offered to help. Over the next four months, I drove up from Miami again and again — crafting centerpieces, organizing vendors, talking her through tough decisions. At the wedding, guests raved about how seamless and personal it all felt. For the first time, I let myself wonder… Could I really do this professionally?

I enrolled in the New York Institute of Art & Design, diving into their Event and Wedding Planning programs. I poured my heart into it, and by May 2020 — the same week my COVID stimulus check hit — I graduated with certifications in both.

I used that check to launch Weddings & Events by Heather, not knowing when another opportunity might come. Starting an event business during a pandemic wasn’t ideal, but once restrictions lifted, I was able to coordinate a few birthday parties and proudly add my second wedding to the books.

Then came 2022 — the year everything shifted. My father’s health declined rapidly. At the same time, I was quietly battling my own: a diagnosis of uterine cancer, surgery, and months of physical and emotional recovery. I closed the business and focused on what mattered most — healing and family.

After my father passed, my husband and I made the decision to relocate from Miami to Jacksonville. As we settled into our new life, I felt a pull back to event planning — but I didn’t want to be just another planner. I wanted to create something that felt different… something that made space for people like me.

People who love parties, but sometimes feel awkward as a guest.

People who crave connection, but don’t always know how to start.

People who want to laugh, play, and celebrate — but in ways that feel easy, natural, and fun.

That’s when I remembered my Video Scavenger Hunts — the way they brought people together, broke the ice, and sparked pure joy. I did some research and realized that, while there were scavenger hunts in the area, no one was offering the kind of interactive, host-led, memory-making experience I could bring to life.

I also noticed how popular murder mystery parties still were — but I didn’t want costumes or awkward roleplay. I wanted fast-paced gameplay that encouraged real interaction, real laughs, and real connection. From that vision, the Sabotage Mystery Party was born.

On January 1, 2024, I officially launched Events With A Twist, bringing these two signature experiences to life in a way that felt entirely authentic — fun, offbeat, unexpected, and built for people of all ages who are young at heart.

Since then, we’ve hosted birthdays, bachelorettes, holidays, team building events, and charity fundraisers across Jacksonville and beyond. Every event feels like a celebration of not just my guests — but the journey it took to get here.

And now, I’m building something even deeper:

💜 Introducing #GoLoveYourself: A Celebration with Purpose

This November, I’m hosting the #GoLoveYourself Event— a women’s empowerment brunch and fundraiser benefiting Hubbard House, our local certified domestic violence center. It’s more than a networking event. It’s a space for community, for healing, and for self-worth to be seen, honored, and amplified.

This event is deeply personal to me. I know what it’s like to feel invisible. I know what it’s like to fight for your voice, your dreams, your safety. And I know how powerful it is when women stand together — not to compete, but to lift one another up.

I hope you’ll join me — whether as a guest, a sponsor, or a cheerleader on the sidelines — because when women gather with intention, incredible things happen.

Thank you for being part of my story — and for letting me be a part of yours.

Let’s keep twisting up the fun,

Heather Burkett-Ocasio

Founder & Creative Director

Events With A Twist | Jacksonville, FL