Visit Napa Valley is proud to celebrate the diversity of our tourism business community. In this installment of our Pride series, meet Nicol Turner, Founder and Owner of Little Blue Box Weddings. We sat down with Nicol to find out what inspired her to live and work in Napa Valley, her favorite places to explore, and more. 

Visit Napa Valley
Can you tell us about what inspired you to live and work in Napa Valley?

Nicol
Napa Valley has always held a special place in my heart, from the first time I visited. When I founded Little Blue Box back in 2005, most of my weddings and many of my other client events were taking place at gorgeous wineries, stunning estates and world-famous resorts up and down the Valley. I was enchanted and my desire to live here was born. In 2010, I became pregnant, and my husband and I both agreed that Napa was at the top of our shortlist of places to settle and raise a family. The desire to live and work in a beautiful, peaceful and welcoming community is what brought me here. That is also why I opened an office in downtown Napa.

Visit Napa Valley
How does being a member of the BlPOC community impact or inspire your work?

Nicol
Being a member of the BIPOC community inspires my work in a multitude of ways, but the primary way is, as a Black woman, I don’t have the luxury of being average and/or providing my clients with mediocre service. Little Blue Box would not have lasted two years, much less 15, if it were not for my commitment to ensuring that my clients have an unparalleled event planning experience. Our reputation and reviews are 5-star because we provide each client with “white glove” client service, meticulous attention-to-detail, expert coordination and flawless execution. I promise each client that all they will have to do is “show up” at their event and the Little Blue Box team will take care of the rest.

Visit Napa Valley
What are some of your favorite things to do in Napa Valley?

Nicol
Of course, enjoying the plethora of amazing wineries and restaurants is close to the top of my list of favorite things to do here. First and foremost, however, is I absolutely love the abundance of outdoor beauty, recreation and activities that Napa offers. Biking along the River Trail, hiking in Skyline Park, strolling alongside the vineyards in Yountville, going to the Farmers’ Market and visiting Old Faithful Geyser are all things that make me happy and that are great for my body, mind and spirit. I love introducing these parts of our Valley to family and friends.

Visit Napa Valley
Anything else you would like visitors to Napa Valley to know about Little Blue Box, or Napa Valley in general?

Nicol
I recently began painting canvases and one of the things that immediately struck me are the parallels between this hobby and the way I approach planning weddings and events. With each event, I start with a “blank canvas” and the client is entrusting me and my team with turning that canvas into more than just another painting. Clients trust us to create their own one-of-a-kind masterpiece. That is a huge responsibility, and with every client I relish the chance to craft a masterpiece that exceeds their wildest expectations. Napa Valley is also a place that tends to exceed visitors’ expectations. Ultimately, that is why I live and work here.