Following their own Island wedding, newlyweds Jenna and Zach Sylvia got an idea: they should start an event coordination and electrical power business. As born-and-raised Islanders, they recognized that Martha’s Vineyard is a popular destination for weddings and events in need of planners, and that many of the venues here lack the electrical capacity necessary for such gatherings.
“One roadblock I would constantly run into as an event coordinator was power,” said Jenna. “I happened to marry an electrician, so we collaborated to figure out how to integrate two of the most crucial elements of hosting an event.”
In January of 2025, the couple founded Coastal Events MV. “The business became a marriage of our two loves,” she explained.
Jenna’s experience in hospitality began at a young age. Growing up, she often accompanied her father to work when he was a chef at Papa’s Pizza in Oak Bluffs. As she grew older, Jenna worked as a server and bartender at events and restaurants during the summer. When she moved to Boston after college, she found her way into event coordination. She moved back to the Island in 2016 and continued to work in restaurants and at events.
Zach’s fascination with electricity started in the vocational program as a student at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. “I was one of the first people allowed to leave school…and would go work with Powers Electric,” he said. Now a licensed electrician, Zach loves the electrical industry because it presents something new every day. “You have to really think about things and make it look neat. Ultimately, I love being able to turn lights on and see people’s reactions.”
Island natives Jenna Sylvia (left) and her husband Zach (right) started Coastal Events MV in January 2025, following their own Island wedding. Photographs: Daniel Rodriguez
Because they are both passionate about their respective careers, the couple frequently talks shop. “Zach is kind of an electrical nerd,” Jenna said. “He is someone who comes home and talks about the science of electricity for at least an hour every single day. I am in a field I have a deep love for too.”
Before a couple hires the Sylvias – either with the full event coordination and power bundle or separately – they receive a free consultation to discuss their goals, timeframe, and budget. The coordination packages range in size depending on how much help a couple wants – from one, three, or six months of planning to a complete coordination where the client can be entirely hands-off. Power distribution packages are available on their own and begin with an evaluation concerning the clients’ needs. Packages can include cords, cables, distribution boxes, generators, fuel, and other services, with Zach on hand throughout the event.
For couples that select the Complete Coordination & Design Package, Jenna will handle booking and corresponding with all the necessary vendors, such as catering, music (whether a live band or DJ), tents, chairs, tables, florals, and any interactive components, such as a photobooth.
They recently added a new member to the team to help with the overall look and vibe of the day. “We have brought on a design consultant, Emily Lowe, who works at integrating a higher level of aesthetics,” Jenna explained. Lowe focuses on bringing the client’s stylistic elements to life.
“Right now, Emily and I are working on a September wedding at the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club. While I’m attending to the logistics…Emily is taking care of the details the client desires for a down-Island nautical theme with a touch of classic elegance.”
For the supplemental power component of the package, Zach will determine and obtain any necessary permits, which can vary by town, ensuring the setup passes a safety inspection. He brings a mobile generator to run cords to the proper location, such as outlets for items needed by the entertainment or catering team. “We like to put it safely out of sight, out of mind, and where you don’t hear or see it,” he said.
For a recent backyard wedding at a classic West Tisbury home, Zach acquired the permits to bring in a mobile generator to power the reception tent lighting, catering tent, restroom trailers, photobooth, and live music. This level of detail for a backyard wedding is necessary because you can’t often connect to a home’s electrical grid. As always, Zach remained onsite to ensure a smooth event and to provide Jenna with an extra pair of hands. Jenna and Emily created an elegant backyard barbeque ambience with an early summer coastal color palette – pinks and whites and lush greens. The Island couple had met in elementary school, and Jenna said decorations included a framed photo from their high school yearbook. They were voted “most likely to get married.”
“Building a special day for couples is an amazing feeling,” said Jenna. “It’s high emotion when you do weddings, bringing all the components together and seeing it happen on the big day. It feels like magic.”
For more information about Coastal Events MV, visit coastaleventsmv.com.
