The Brides Best Wedding Planners of 2022

As one of the busiest years in the world of weddings comes to a close, we'd be remiss not to acknowledge the hardworking professionals behind the scenes: wedding planners. The too-often unsung heroes of the celebrations, wedding planners regularly invest hundreds of hours of work on each event—and that's before the big day even arrives. From designing reception tablescapes to curating vendor teams to executing the logistics of getting wedding parties down the aisle, these creatives make sure no detail is ever forgotten. What's more, they always do it with style. The weddings that took place over the course of the last 12 months were some of the most spectacular celebrations we've seen to date.

We're pleased to present our Best Planners of 2022. To create this list, our editorial team reviewed overall portfolios of professionals who submitted real weddings or were nominated by colleagues and clients. Narrowing our list down to just 50 professionals out of the thousands who craft stunning weddings was no easy task, which is a credit to all of the amazing work happening in the industry today.

A Charming Fête

Led by Lisa Costin and Somer Khouri, the team at A Charming Fête designs and produces luxury weddings and events. They work collaboratively with clients to create memorable, tailored full-scale design experiences with seamless execution. The team is best known for their highly personalized design approach, creative ideas, impeccable attention to detail, and dedication to exceeding clients' expectations.

The Wedding Style: "We design collaboratively with our clients to not only compliment their personal style, but to enhance the existing environment and setting. Regardless of the style, we always strive to elevate and refine the overall look. Our signature strength as a company is our ability to transform or enhance an existing space into something magical and fresh. We love to leave our clients and guests wowed and blown away by weekend events."

We Work in Weddings Because: "We are truly passionate about weddings and events. We love what we do. We love to bring happiness and joy to our clients on milestone occasions. We are passionate about thinking outside of the box and transforming spaces to create a one-of-a-kind experience."

Amorology

Based in San Diego but working globally, Heather Balliet describes Amorology events as "classic modern romance with a touch of whimsy and playfulness that remains timeless." Balliet's journey in wedding planning began 20 years ago alongside her husband, Troy, after their own wedding; they quickly became recognized for creating events that were storytelling and detail driven. With a love for interior design and color, each event is thoughtfully curated to her couples' personalities.

The Wedding Style: "Understated elegance that is dreamy, intimate, and warm, no matter the quantity of guests. Our signature look and style, although never duplicated and unique to each of our couples, is layered with color, texture, and unexpected surprises."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I am passionate about people, families, and celebrating all things love. Working alongside other creatives in our industry, it feels like the greatest gift to be able to be a part of people's most memorable moments. It allows me to combine all of my passions into one outlet."

Amy Abbott Events

Amy Abbott and her exceptionally talented team based in Los Cabos, Mexico, have been creating unique and curated experiences for over 15 years. Pairing innovative design with flawless execution. Amy Abbott Events creates moving and stylish celebrations which allow guests to savor each perfect moment. Amy and her team enjoy the "human connection" aspect of event planning and relish the countless relationships they have developed with their clients over the years.

This world-renowned team of planners knows that strong connections with clients aren’t just good for business—they are essential to the planning process. Every event should have a personality and a vibe. Amy’s team prides themselves on their ability to make sure their clients’ tastes are perfectly blended and showcased in every detail, creating memories to last a lifetime.

The Wedding Style: "At Amy Abbott Events, we are wedding planning chameleons. We create one-of-a-kind experiences inspired by your vision. Our style is your style, procured by a personalized blueprint for each event. Built step-by-step, we bring your ideas and inspiration to fruition in the most spectacular ways."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I believe that dreams come true. I love celebrating with luxurious abandon, and I believe that from weddings come powerful and loving experiences, with the ability to change and enrich lives in a remarkable way. Weddings are often a culmination of bringing people together from all chapters of the family’s lives. I have seen intense love in our weddings, and it is not just the bride and groom. It can be an uncle who has not seen his family in years or a grandma who has recently recovered from cancer who insisted on making the international journey to watch her granddaughter walk down the aisle."

"The sense of love in the air is simply electric. Once you have been a part of an occasion as intimate and love-filled as a wedding, you are forever connected to your precious clients. The rewards are endless, and our hearts are always full. I work on weddings because it is simply my life’s joy."

Ashley Smith Events

Ashley Smith Events is a San Francisco-based planning and design team, but their creatives largely plan destination weddings and celebrations. Their approach is infused with a bit of creativity and fun. The team loves a great dance party as much as a beautiful ceremony. Ashley Smith and her colleagues care deeply about their clients and guest experience.

The Wedding Style: "We have a modern and fresh approach to design. We listen to our couples and we steer them in a direction that will yield the results they are seeking. Our signature wedding style is modern, a touch of whimsy, fun, engaging, and upbeat. We love to let peoples’ personalities shine, which is often done through touches big and small."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I work in weddings because I love them. Yet, weddings are a unique space with its own pillars. We get to work across all realms, such as design, travel, hospitality, entertainment, food and beverage, travel, and sometimes things we cannot make up! But, mostly on a deeply personal level, we love the human connection it grants us."

B. Astonished Events

At her Washington, D.C.-based company B. Astonished Events, owner Melissa Williams believes that strong relationships are the cornerstone of trust with clients and vendors. She runs her company with this value so much that it shines through in every wedding the team plans—whether it's a glamorous, large-scale event or a timeless, classic affair. She truly enjoys bringing her clients' vision to reality through her innovative designs, creation of unique experiences, and memorable moments for her clients and guests to talk about for years to come. Melissa and her team are so honored to be a part of each couple's love story and see the fabulous "wow" moments unfold on the wedding day, whether it is an experience or something visual.

The Wedding Style: "Detail-oriented. The style is where modern meets timeless."

I Work in Weddings Because: "Weddings represent a very special day full of love and memories that last a lifetime. I am passionate about working in the wedding industry because of my ability to bring my clients' vision—a critical component of weddings—to reality. I thrive in working through challenging tasks and ensuring even the smallest detail has been checked and ready. The happiness expressed by my clients on their special day is uniquely satisfying to me and encourages me to continue to work even harder to design and create new memories for these joyful occasions."

Bash Please

California-based Bash Please is a wedding planning and event design firm specializing in customized multi-day celebrations. Their goal is to blend refinement and originality, but with approachability and a strong foundation in the principles of hospitality. Bash Please celebrations reflect their clients fully—their shared history, style, and energy. Their company’s approach to wedding and event planning is collaborative, thoughtful, detailed, and honest.

The Wedding Style: "Refined."

I Work in Weddings Because: "It allows us to meet and work alongside amazing people that allow us the space to bring in our creative forces and seasoned production skills to create the perfect orchestration of our client’s celebrations."

Beth Helmstetter Events

Beth Helmstetter Events is a full-service event design and planning firm specializing in multi-day destination weddings around the world. They work with their clients to create celebrations that are both guest-focused and authentic to the region they're working in, all while reflecting the personality of the couples we represent.

The Wedding Style: "Refined, elevated, intentional, and intimate with just the right amount of playfulness."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I love creating lifelong memories with my clients all over the globe."

Birds of a Feather Events

Birds of a Feather is a Dallas-based wedding planning firm with a focus on creative design and offering their clients a concierge-level planning experience. Along with their creative partners, their hope is to guide couples through the wedding planning process to cultivate a design that speaks to who they are and ensure that the wedding weekend runs seamlessly.

Guiding their clients through phase-based wedding planning with a focus on limiting the number of meetings their clients need to attend is a priority. Founder Wendy Kay believes the planning experience is just as important as the day itself.

The Wedding Style: "Birds of a Feather specializes in approachable, detail-oriented design with artfully captivating color palettes that have become our signature."

I Work in Weddings Because: "Planning and designing weddings fulfills both sides of my brain. The Type-A side wants to check tasks off of lists, meticulously build budgets, and drive the bus so my couples don't have to. Weddings also keep my Type-B side happy, by allowing me to explore creativity in new and different ways for every client that decides to partner with us."

Calluna Events

Calluna Events is a nationally celebrated event planning and design firm producing weddings, social, and corporate events in the Colorado region and beyond since 2004. Recognized for their elevated design aesthetic and a collaborative, high-touch approach to planning, the firm led by Heather Dwight channels nearly two decades of expertise to achieve iconic events rooted in a deep sense of authenticity to honor clients' more celebrated occasions.

The Wedding Style: "Our wedding style marries an intentional and elevated design aesthetic, a collaborative, high-touch approach to planning, a deep sense of authenticity, and our love of organic and natural settings. We are also known for the calm demeanor of our team, who combined have decades of experience, and who put our clients’ story at the forefront of our design and planning process. After 19 seasons, we have a deep and strong relationship with our creative partners and they are the backbone of all our successful events."

I Work in Weddings Because: "Planning a wedding is very personal. We often develop such a close bond with our couples that when we get to the wedding day, it’s like watching friends get married. The emotional connection and intimacy we have with our couples is one of my favorite parts of the wedding planning process. The trust we develop with them fills my soul and heart! I love that each and every one of our couples is different and relish the challenge of planning a wedding that is uniquely them. I feel truly grateful that our clients entrust us with the biggest day of their lives."

"I’m also inspired by the collaboration we have with our creative partners and love that I have inspiring friends colleagues who I look up to adore our industry I’ve been so fortunate to work with and meet throughout the years! There’s no industry I’d rather be in!"

Cassy Rose Events

Cassy Anderson has almost two decades of event production experience and began her career managing private estates for social and corporate events. Since opening Michigan-based Cassy Rose Events in 2013, she continues to produce distinct events and holds a soft spot for those thrown at private homes and unique, non-traditional venues. Her experience in logistical management and creative direction ensures every Cassy Rose event is distinguished by its fresh, understated elegance and flawless execution.

The Wedding Style: "Playful, fresh, and grounded."

I Work in Weddings Because: "It's this unexpectedly perfect balance of my professional skillsets and my personal passions. I love the project management aspects of this work and the creative outlets it provides. But, more than anything, I absolutely love getting to know my clients and their families. It's truly such an honor to be welcomed into such an intimate family experience and I'm so humbled to be entrusted with the process. It brings me so much joy!"

Chanda Daniels Planning and Design

Chanda Daniels, owner and creative director of Chanda Daniels Planning and Design, has been planning and designing weddings in the Oakland and San Francisco Bay area for over 25 years. Chanda is an advocate for celebrating all kinds of love equally. Chanda's specialty is creating a wedding weekend experience that looks and feels like her clients' unique love story. Through an in-depth acquainting session, Chanda will learn all about the lifetime milestones that brought her couples to the day of their engagement, then, she will make cohesive connections to their love story throughout the design and flow of their wedding weekend experience.

The Wedding Style: "Refined and classic with elevated details and an epic guest experience."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I love having the opportunity to connect with my couples and learn about their families and what brought them together. During the planning journey, we get to connect, and I learn so much about them in the side conversations, driving to venue visits, and laughing during cake tastings. All of that goes into how I craft their wedding weekend. Getting to set the stage for them to enjoy their family and friends is an important task that I don’t take lightly. I get one shot at making this milestone event an amazing one."

"Also, I value the relationship and trust of my creative partners. I want them to be excited when I call. All of those relationships are important to me and that is why I work in weddings. It truly makes me happy to see everyone happy and excited!"

Chic by Nicole

From intimate gatherings to larger scale weddings and events, the Chic by Nicole team is committed to working with couples to bring their visions to life and ensure their events run flawlessly. With their design focused, fashion-forward approach, Toronto-based Chic by Nicole seeks to infuse both a couple's love story and personal style into even the smallest details on the wedding day.

Founded in 2017, this firm offers bridal styling and high-end and high-touch full planning for events in Toronto, Paris, Napa Valley, and destinations worldwide. "We're a small bespoke planning and design firm," founder Nicole-Natassha Goulding explains. "We take on a limited number of projects per year to provide our clients with a memorable white-glove experience."

The Wedding Style: "Our weddings have a European-inspired garden aesthetic. We aim for our designs to be timeless, romantic, and approachable. We've self-labelled our style 'modernized fine art.'"

I Work in Weddings Because: "They encompass everything I love including gastronomy, fashion, and interior design."

Erica Estrada Design

Based in California, Erica Estrada Design is a full-service event, wedding planning, and design company that caters to clients who value a timeless and elegant aesthetic. Founder Erica Estrada has been planning luxury weddings around the U.S. and abroad since 2017. “I love working with clients to create a memorable experience that truly reflects who they are as individuals and as a couple,” says Estrada. She considers herself a "forever student," and strives to stay up to date with the ever-evolving trends of the wedding industry by constantly expanding her network.

The Wedding Style: "I believe in timeless design while utilizing modern elements. We like to curate weddings for our clients to ensure no two look alike."

I Work in Weddings Because: "They are truly so special, and bringing family and friends to celebrate love is so beautiful to witness."

Estera Events

Since 2010, Estera Events has taken the wedding industry by storm thanks to their creativity, exacting standards, and incredibly high expectations. The duo pride themselves on creating bespoke events that are overwhelmingly creative and unique to each couple they work with. Co-owners Bianca Hall and Erica Vanco's ability to immerse themselves in a vision that suits their client's personal tastes and hone in on what design direction to take them is truly what they are known for—all while providing a seamless and stress-free planning experience from initial consultation until the last guests leave your event.

The Wedding Style: "Estera Events operates under one principle rule: for weddings, there are no rules! We love customizing the guest experience of each wedding to truly reflect the couple and who they are."

We Work in Weddings Because: "We get to work both creatively and logistically—which are skillsets we both pride ourselves on! We also get to form incredible relationships and bonds with our clients all while creating the most incredible day of their lives. There is truly no other career like this!"

Eva Clark Events

Eva Clark, founder of Eva Clark Events, first began her obsession with weddings on vacation in Europe when she was 10 years old. "While in Spain, I witnessed a wedding that was being held at a 17th-century palace-turned-hotel—the glasses of fresh sangria, intricate lace, and celebratory dancing made a huge impression on me. As a girl from modest Southern roots, I'd never seen anything like it. Little did I know that experience was the beginning of a journey that would lead me across the country and around the world in the pursuits of once in a lifetime event experiences."

Clark founded her Atlanta-based events company in 2003. As a designer and planner, Clark admits that she is thrilled to see the emphasis on personalized weddings that has emerged in the past decade. "I want the couple to feel that their wedding is a true expression of who they are so that their story is the essence of the event," she says. "I want our guests to know precisely whose wedding they are at, from their first impression upon arrival to the send-off. There are no cookie-cutter events here."

The Wedding Style: "Thoughtfully curated and enchanted weddings in the most alluring parts of the globe."

I Work in Weddings Because: "To my knowledge, there's no other platform in which design can have such an impact on one of the most special days in someone's life. Seeing your client's eyes well up with tears makes all of the intense challenges of the job worth it."

Fallon Carter Events

Fallon Carter is the founder and creative director of Fallon Carter Events. Finding joy in adventure, travel, and al fresco dining, Fallon leaned into global events and experiences. Fallon and her team connect Southern hospitality with international luxury. They explore various destinations and design concepts to create a distinctive experience that balances comfort and splendor for an unforgettable moment in time.

The Wedding Style: "Refined classic."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I value and understand the importance of ceremony, tradition, and a spectacular guest experience. And, I love any reason to host a party!"

Fête

For two decades, Fête by Jung Lee has carved out a unique place in the wedding industry. As event architects, they tailor one-of-a-kind experiences to each couple in a completely bespoke manner. They are one of the few companies that conceptualizes, designs, plans, and oversees all key elements in-house with the emphasis on making dreams come true. Fête's approach is to completely immerse themselves in the couples life together so the team can create the wedding they didn’t even know they wanted.

The Wedding Style: "Chic and fabulous! It is hard to define our style as it morphes with each couple we work with. There is no book with options to go through to pick a wedding. We threw out the book! Instead, we listen to what matters most to you. We have experience in every style imaginable and can deliver. We are very proud of our extremely high level of workmanship and attention to detail."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I felt there was a misunderstood blank space and I felt called to fix it! Part of our brand DNA is the ability to discover your needs and connect the dots. Our team is diverse and that drives innovation. Each wedding I do still feeds my creativity and sense of ultimate fantasy. My goal is for you to feel super-duper special not only on your wedding day, but for each anniversary that follows."

Gold Leaf Event Design & Production

Kate Ryan, owner of Gold Leaf Event Design & Production, is ambitious, loyal, and a connector of like-minded people. The Gold Leaf Event team produces custom wedding experiences, collaborating with carefully selected creative partners and showcasing innovative design and seamless planning and logistics. Kate splits her professional time primarily between New York City and Aspen, Colorado, where Gold Leaf Events was founded. The team travels worldwide to keep the seasons of their work original, while breaking into new markets.

The Wedding Style: "The Gold Leaf team approaches each celebration with the intention to leave a unique, inspired, and memorable mark on those who attend. Fortunate to be surrounded by so much natural beauty, our personal style leans towards organic and whimsical elements. More importantly, we navigate the design process with our clients ensuring their personal style as couple shines through."

I Work in Weddings Because: "The event industry is constantly evolving! This gives us the opportunity to consistently be connecting with new creative partners (there’s amazing fresh talent out there!) and results in original and beautifully curated events for our clients."

Greenwood Events

Darci and Arden Greenwood, a mother/daughter duo, specialize in celebrations all over the United States. They are based on the principal that luxurious weddings do not always mean showy and pretentious, but rather meaningful and tasteful. Greenwood Events approach weddings with a warm gesture that every guest and, of course, their couples feel completely comfortable and well taken care of throughout the event experience.

The Wedding Style: "Bold but timeless. Colorful but thoughtful. Always considering 'place,' and designing and producing to capture exactly that!"

We Work in Weddings Because: "Guiding our clients to be the best host to their guests is an extension of us actually being the best hosts—and hosting is our love language!"

Gregory Blake Sams Events

Gregory Blake Sams Events strives to be intentional with every bespoke detail. These personal touches to each wedding makes the experience feel effortless, authentic, and reflective of the couple and the event’s setting. The Charleston and New York-based firm approaches every wedding with an exacting attention to detail and standard for perfection, no matter the size or complexity. GBSE is dedicated to offering clients a unique and one-of-a-kind experience that is reflective of their taste and personalities—giving them and their guests a feeling of intimacy no matter how grand the affair might be.

The Wedding Style: "Classic, handsome, moody, and lush."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I am passionate about hospitality and residential design, and love drawing on that inspiration when designing weddings. I love nothing more than to interpret a timeless tradition into a unique experience filled with bespoke and intentional details—from the smallest to the more over-the-top—that is a true reflection of the bride and groom."

Grit & Grace

Grit & Grace has a background in fashion, catering, project management, and hotels with a total understanding for incredibly unexpected, logistically sound events. As an envelope pusher, make-it-happen captain, and details diva, the event design team, led by Laura Ritchie, Christie Yerks, and Brittany Hagaman, strive for completely unique experiences that reflect their clients individuality. No wedding is the same, and with clients leaving as dear friends, Grit & Grace truly lives up to their namesake.

The Wedding Style: "Unexpectedly chic with tangible memory making moments."

I Work in Weddings Because: "Designing an event that is truly reflective and personal to a client is a true joy."

Guerdy Design

When asked where she is based, Guerdy Abraira's answer is “Out of an airplane!“ As a globe-trotter, Abraira of Guerdy Design quickly fell in love with the art of hosting and event décor. Living and traveling throughout the world as she grew up expanded her palette of various global cultures. Her usual opening remark to her clients is that “she speaks a lot of languages—but doesn’t speak basic.” It is with this intentional impression that she approaches her events. She is keen on innovating versus just note-taking, and her event turnouts reflects this unique and bold approach.

The Wedding Style: "Living and traveling throughout the world as I grew up expanded my palette of various global cultures. It is with this experience that I approach events with a 'traditional with a twist' style, which ensures timelessness with modern or unique touches to solidify my client’s personal styles and aesthetic. It is for this reason that I call myself an 'event stylist.'"

I Work in Weddings Because: "I was born to!"

Jason Mitchell Kahn & Co.

Jason Mitchell Kahn comes from the theatre, both in terms of his education and early career as a playwright. He used his love and understanding of how to craft a show as he evolved into creating weddings. Jason also published the first wedding planning book for gay grooms, Getting Groomed, so his clientele tends to be couples in the performing arts and many LGBTQ+ people. He and his team focus on collaborating with couples to tell their story with creativity, compassion, and organization.

The Wedding Style: "Each one is different, as they reflect the couple, but common words used are non-traditional, intentional, inclusive, atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking, theatrical, and campy."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I love the rush of an opening night. I love learning from my couples why they are marrying and seeing how that informs our decisions in planning. It's so incredibly gratifying to be a part of an event so emotionally charged with love and happiness. And, because I've accrued a massive collection of suits and tuxedos and need someplace to wear them!"

Jove Meyer

Jove Meyer is a true visionary of joy. Meyer crafts vivid, colorful celebrations of love inspired by couples who dare to be different. Ever since he began designing weddings in 2008, he’s prided himself on fostering a relaxed, stress-free planning process while nurturing personal relationships with his clients, as their unique stories lay the groundwork for the beautiful, one-of-a-kind weddings that Meyer and his team manifest. His approach encourages authenticity, celebrates diversity, and empowers marginalized communities—all reflective in an Ally Pledge that he requires all creative partners to sign, vowing them to choose love over hate.

The Wedding Style: "Our wedding style is bold, colorful, intentional, and authentic to our couples and their unique love stories!"

I Work in Weddings Because: "I love LOVE and enjoy bringing a couples love story to life through their wedding!"

JZ Events

A self-proclaimed perfectionist with an exquisite eye and attention for detail, Jennifer Zabinski brings a flawless and collaborative approach and an innovative and joyful spirit to every job she takes on—no matter the size. Jennifer and her multi-tasking, high-functioning team at JZ Events have planned, designed, and executed hundreds of successful events in some of the most exciting and breathtaking locales around the world: Necker Island, St. Barts, Ravello, Cap Ferrat, Amalfi Coast, Aspen, Paris, Florence, and San Francisco, just to name a few. Her reputation as a professional, kind, and conscientious planner and business woman has earned her well-deserved respect among her peers and clients.

The Wedding Style: "My wedding style begins with fostering a sense of trust and a real partnership with my clients. Creating a space where everyone is comfortable speaking their minds sets us apart and fosters a sense of comfort and ease during the planning and design process. We truly listen to our clients' wishes and our main goal is to provide the clearest and most beautiful expression of our client’s vision. This approach has guided our success over the years and it sets us apart. From napkin treatments to custom-designed dance floors, we own the process of planning every event and every detail, from beginning to end."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I love what I do and for whom I do it. The vendors and clients I work with inspire me to continue to grow and learn within the industry. Every interaction is different, and connecting with people and seeing their vision become a reality has always been a passion of mine. I also adore when clients become more like friends and family. That trust you build as a planner can sometimes lead to a true and meaningful friendship, which is such a gift."

Kia Marie Events

Kia Marie is a Chicago-based wedding planner who plans wedding around the world for extraordinary people. Kia Marie Events has established a reputation for creating remarkable destination weddings, trustworthy event management, and the ability to introduce fresh ideas to their clients. Marie has worked with a large number of clients from many different backgrounds, tailoring each event to meet their specific needs and desires. Her team strives to meet and exceed the needs of everyone involved. They understand the importance of working with (not just for) their clients in order to make their events unforgettable.

The Wedding Style: "Our motto is class, elegance, and style. It's the KME way. We enjoy timeless and effortless weddings."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I love a great celebration, love, beauty, and family. Those are major aspects in a wedding and I get to witness that."

Laurie Arons Special Events

Making a name for herself as a society wedding planner in San Francisco, Laurie Arons is now best known for producing complex, immersive destination wedding experiences for couples and their guests. Laurie and her team thrive in the details, with bespoke welcome gifts, individualized activities and guest itineraries, high-touch weekend events with creative surprises, and a seamlessly-executed wedding day down to the minute. Laurie counts among her clients some of Silicon Valley’s top innovators, society families, entertainment moguls, and investment professionals.

The Wedding Style: "My style seeks to honor what is timeless about the tradition of weddings, reimagined for each couple and setting with a fresh and very personal perspective. I strive to design a space with considerable attention to the surroundings so it seems seamless with the existing locale."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I work in weddings because I love getting to know my clients and giving them the best possible experience—both during the planning process and through executing a wedding weekend that creates incredible lifelong memories with their family and friends."

Lea Stafford Events

When it comes to Lea Stafford Events, these modern storytellers are known for celebrating in culturally-rich locations with clients who do not play by the rules and are up to challenge the norm. The cookie-cutter approach isn't what you will find here. Each production is owned by the client's story and lifestyle, and no story is exactly the same.

Led by their experienced founder and creative Lea Stafford, who constantly has fun with her out-of-the-box approach to experience, this firm concentrates on eight weddings a season. The California-based event planning, production, and design house thrive on destination events and experiences covering tailored details by pouring back into the community and practicing sustainability, driving the team to partner with local artisans, all while planning with intention and ethics.

The Wedding Style: "Timeless, chill, and organic with a touch of boldness."

I Work in Wedding Because: "It's a world in which I won't get judged for partying too hard."

Luxe Fête

Nathalie Cadet-James practiced law for eight years before she found her true passion of designing and planning events. She soon realized, however, that her work was much more than that. Luxe Fête is an event planning and design agency that creates “best of” memories for clients as they celebrate life’s most special moments. Luxe Fête is proud to be recognized as an “industry innovator” and “event guru” because of their timeless yet fresh design approach.

The Wedding Style: "Timeless yet fresh."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I love love."

The Lynden Lane Co.

The Lynden Lane Co. is a multi-generational event design and interior house based in Southern California, known for creating transformative spaces that transcend trends. They believe in unpretentious luxury and spaces that awaken the senses. With a thoughtful approach, they take the time to understand their clients' lifestyles, allowing them to make decisions that exceed their desires and needs. Their team of industry experts rely heavily on their decade-long experience to bring together the best artists to execute the day, to allow their clients to fully enjoy the experience.

The Wedding Style: "We value art, culture, aesthetic, and dream to push the boundaries. We would describe our style as unassuming, elevated, and curated."

We Work in Weddings Because: "We love the sound of our favorite bands performing live, the vibration of a perfectly planned party, thoughtful lighting, being served appetizers and dessert, and traveling."

Mae&Co Creative

Mae&Co Creative has been designing and producing one-of-a-kind weddings across the globe for almost a decade, and with each season that passes, they grow more and more passionate about pushing boundaries and breaking the mold of your “typical” luxury wedding planning approach. Led by owner and creative director Manda Worthington, Mae&Co strives to connect with their clients and their vendors on a deeper and more authentic level, taking a very holistic approach to the team they build for each wedding. While believing deeply that no wedding should be the same, Mae&Co Creative designs every single detail of the day as a unique reflection of the couple it’s produced for.

The Wedding Style: "Romantic, extravagant, and unique."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I truly love getting to know my clients in such a way where I can understand their styles, priorities, hopes, and dreams and without them having to lift a finger. Bringing it all to life (plus some)—there is no better feeling."

Michelle Leo Events

Michelle Leo Events is an award-winning event design and planning firm specializing in local and destination events. Michelle Leo Cousins and her team offer a one-on-one planning and custom design process that is both intentional and tailored to the unique and individual needs of each client they serve. Michelle's event designs have been recognized and sought out by a global audience and the team as a whole is known for their exquisite event execution combined with Michelle's classic, romantic, and timeless approach to event aesthetics.

The Wedding Style: "Classic, romantic, chic, timeless, organized, smooth, and successful."

We Work in Weddings Because: "We love to be a part of creating, executing, and celebrating life's most important events."

Michelle Norwood Events

Michelle Norwood is an internationally recognized award-winning destination wedding planner, event designer, and world-class hospitality advisor for luxury hotels and resorts. With more than 20 years in the industry, Michelle is highly sought after for her seamless execution, unique eye for design, and warm gregarious spirit. Although Michelle Norwood Events is based in her home city of New Orleans, she services the globe for a diverse and eclectic clientele. From intimate bespoke affairs in remote locations to boisterous stylish celebrations in NOLA, Michelle and her team create experiences that feed the soul.

The Wedding Style: "While my personal touch is seen and felt in every detail, each wedding and event is completely bespoke. The design is carefully curated to tell a story unique to the couple. I assure the story is told in a way that is sophisticated, effortless, and timeless. My style is classic and intimate—no matter how large the guest count."

I Work in Weddings Because: "There’s a quote by Hamilton Wright Mabie I like to defer to. He says, 'Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.' I work in weddings because I am not limited to seasons to engage in such thoughtful celebration. I live in love. It is the joy of my career to connect with couples from all over the world and conjure the perfect setting and style to tell their stories while creating new ones. For me, this is the nectar of life. It’s the best life has to offer—to travel, explore, connect with the local culture and each other all while experiencing local cuisines over sentimental toasts. Really, what could be better?"

Michelle Rago Destinations

Michelle Rago’s greatest strength lies in interpreting her client’s preferences, assessing the possibilities, and translating them into a well-planned and well-designed affair. Her years of hands-on experience, superb sense of design, and mastery of logistics have served her well as she has navigated the complicated landscape of producing destination events. Michelle’s keen curiosity about the world and how aesthetics, cultures, and hospitality intertwine makes her weddings and events something to talk about.

The Wedding Style: "Our style is clean and classic with a modern flair and many personal details."

I Work in Weddings Because: "It is a place where I can express all that I love—design, logistics, personalization, entertaining, and the love of a great party!"

Mindy Weiss Party Consultants

Mindy Weiss is known as one of the most creative minds in the event world—a party and wedding planner who truly brings the unimaginable to life with guest experience, style, and celebration at the heart. No two events are alike when Mindy is behind the scenes; she draws from creativity that reflect the couple and embeds memories for all in attendance. Whether a high-profile wedding at home or an overseas destination experience, Mindy leads with a calming kindness over all else, and that’s what she credits her longevity to.

The Wedding Style: "I love taking all the inspiration my couples express they would love on their wedding day and adding in interesting details and romantic surprises. Whether traditional, modern, vintage, or other, I love transforming a wedding filled with personal style to create memories not only for the couple, but also for the families and guests."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I often think about why I've chosen to work in this unique, ever-changing emotional job of weddings... Why? Because creating memories for others and making their dreams come true is a gift I can give, and I guess I love giving gifts."

Pineapple Productions

Pineapple Productions founder Allison Jackson's earliest influences—a birthplace in San Francisco paired with a childhood spent in the South—bring her approach to weddings to a unique intersection. Allison’s work involves innovative techniques and outside the box thinking as well as a respect for tradition, particularly family and cultural traditions. When it comes to design, she draws from her personal style origins in art, nature, history and travel abroad. Allison's goal is to bring a resilient poise to a new era of American weddings, which above all else she believes should be inclusive, joyful, and deeply personal.

The Wedding Style: "Classic, with a bit of edge."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I believe in the importance of gathering friends and family from across time and place to support a couple’s decision to marry. Personally, I love how weddings call attention to and celebrate life and its different stages in such a joyful way. Each wedding tells a story of where a couple has been and where that couple is going. I find this aspect of my work to be so meaningful and rewarding."

Posh Parties

Heather Lowenthal, founder of Posh Parties, has been passionately planning luxury weddings in Palm Beach for almost 16 years. She got her start in 2003 when she launched Posh Paper, a high- end custom invitation and stationery business. Her creativity, style, and attention to detail was such a success with her South Florida clients, that it paved the way for the launch of Posh Parties in 2006. She believes in quality versus quantity and treats each wedding as if it is her own. Her philosophy is to make each wedding personal and she always makes sure no detail goes unnoticed.

The Wedding Style: "Classic, detailed, and personalized."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I truly love creating memorable wedding weekends and seeing couples' visions come to life."

Rafanelli Events

Rafanelli Events has one of the best team in the business, with more than 40 experienced event directors, producers, production managers, and designers. Each of their clients are assigned one team member from each area of expertise to support the 360-degree concepting, design, and execution of their wedding. Founder Bryan Rafanelli shares, "The highest compliment we can receive from a client at the end of their wedding evening is 'Wow, you really got us.'"

The Wedding Style: "The core of our philosophy is to provide the highest quality of service and value combined with a carefully curated design that reflects the style and vision of the client. We always aim for all of our designs to be sophisticated and distinctive, memorable and special. However, I am proud that guests don’t walk into our events and immediately say, 'This is a Rafanelli wedding.' We pay the closest of attention to our clients and how they want their story told and style reflected, from timeless and understated—like my own wedding—to elegant and lavish and everything in between."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I’m a storyteller at heart and love celebrating families unique stories. The best weddings reflect the couple, their story, and their family story!"

Shannon Leahy Events

As a full service planning, design, and production company with its own in-house floral department, the team at Shannon Leahy Events masterfully executes wildly creative, sophisticated affairs. A SLE wedding is characterized by clean line design, a carefully orchestrated flow, and an incredible attention to every detail.

The Wedding Style: "Outside the box, immersive, elegant, and timeless."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I love to bring a client's unique vision to life and exceed their wildest dreams."

Simply Troy Lifestyle + Events

Troy Williams is a 360-degree designer and planner who works from his emotional connection to a couple, and thinks about every angle of a wedding and how it will be seen and felt by all. Simply Troy is an immersive storyteller who loves designing any size wedding—from super intimate to lavishly large—to feel incredibly personal to the couple, while adding an element of surprise to the night for them, too.

Williams has a strong background in handling PR and media relations for the scope of any high-profile wedding. Working events in Hollywood for the majority of his career and now as an event designer for a range of celebrity, charity, social, and corporate clients, Williams is always thinking outside of the box and going to see a wedding from a different vantage point than others. Simply Troy appreciates tradition, but is never afraid to modernize it.

The Wedding Style: "Simply timeless, tasteful, and thoughtful design. Luxury with heart, a splash of whimsy, and an authentic attention to emotional detail."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I love creating a heartfelt story that is both seen and felt for a couple and their loved ones."

smith + james

Located in Southern California, smith + james is a full-service planning and event design studio led by creative director and owner Tory Smith. The smith + james team’s approach to weddings is both heavily curated and experiential with a focus on fun—their clients are always looking to have a blast in the most incredible places around the world. They attribute their success to the fact that they don't take themselves too seriously. They’ll be your ultimate hype girls and keep you laughing the whole time.

The Wedding Style: "Effortless, cool, intentional, and unexpected. We love things to feel really elevated, but nothing should feel stuffy or forced."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I love the challenge of bringing fresh ideas into the wedding space, mostly inspired by fashion, interior design, or architecture. For me, it’s all about producing creative moments in creative places. Also, our clients are incredible. We always become dear friends with them, which is the best part."

So Happi Together

So Happi Together is a full planning and event design firm that specializes in producing timeless celebrations of love, infused with unique details that reflect each couple and their story. Nancy Park and Paean Wang work together on every single event to ensure a customized, stress-free planning process and perfectly polished event day. Their limited roster of clients allows them to offer a truly bespoke experience for each couple and event. Purposeful planning that focuses on the joy of your engagement results in their experiential and immersive design that works well for all of their destination weddings and events.

The Wedding Style: "Timeless romance meets contemporary elegance."

I Work in Weddings Because: "We find joy in being a part of such a unique and special period (from engagement to wedding day!) of a couple’s love story. We are ultimately people pleasing perfectionists who thrive under pressure and find happiness in fostering the happiness of others. Plus, weddings provide the ideal space to marry our love of gorgeous design and logistical details!"

Sonal J. Shah

Sonal J. Shah is the founder and creative force of Sonal J. Shah Event Consultants, LLC. A renowned, premiere celebrity expert on South Asian and cross-cultural weddings, Sonal J. Shah and her firm has built a stellar reputation for conceiving, designing, and coordinating an extensive roster of meticulously choreographed, luxury South Asian weddings. Shah and her team maintain the highest level of service as they strive to have each celebration surpass every bride’s expectations.

The Wedding Style: "Glamorous and luxurious with a lot of attention to detail."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I love to make our couple's dreams come true for one of the most important days of their lives."

Southern Affairs Weddings & Events

Led by lead designer Robyne Swink and principal planner Brittany McKinney, Southern Affairs Weddings & Events is a full-service planning and design firm based in Dallas, Texas. Their mission is to provide their clientele with perfection in planning with a splash of southern hospitality. To accomplish this, Swink and team aims to curate meaningful, authentic occasions that feel natural and un-forced while staying true to the nature of the couples being celebrated.

The Wedding Style: "Approachable luxury."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I am a hopeless romantic, who also happens to be a creative with a keen eye for details!"

Summer Newman Events

At Summer Newman Events, the notion of gracious hosting informs all that they do. They plan with an eye toward perfecting every last guest touch point and work to craft experience-rich celebrations that inspire, enchant, and entertain. Newman and her team embraces romantic, refined, and sustainable design—working to freshen up a classic aesthetic with thought-provoking event elements and artfully-crafted experiences that awe. A full-service wedding planning and design company based in Southern California, Summer Newman Events plans timeless celebrations both in their home state and beyond.

The Wedding Style: "Summer Newman Events’ wedding style is a combination of focusing on romance and timelessness. Hospitality and a well-planned event are paramount! Designs are distinctively meaningful to clients, adding touches that are fun and art-focused, and more recently all designs incorporate some element that makes them more sustainable and eco-friendlier."

I Work in Weddings Because: "My journey working in events started with the entertainment industry. I specifically wanted to work corporate events only. When I got engaged and started planning my wedding, it was then that I realize I wanted to switch to using my talents to helping others experience the love and beauty I experienced on my wedding day. Today, I continue to work in weddings for these same reasons, only now I’ve added educating myself and future clients on all things combining eco-friendly, sustainable, and luxury-focused designs."

Tara Guérard Soirée

Based in Charleston and New York City, Tara Guérard is a planner and a designer, operating a full production company that travels the country creating the most fun and detailed beautiful weddings. Guérard and team begin by determining what inspires you—from the interiors that you love to your sense of style. Armed with this information, it's then time to design every detail of your wedding with your unique taste in mind. She also owns a letterpress stationer, Lettered Olive, to accompany her magical affairs.

The Wedding Style: "Simple, elegant, tailored, timeless, and dreamy."

I Work in Weddings Because: "I love creating a day for special people that is the best day ever."

The Nouveau Romantics

As destination wedding planners, Elizabeth McKellar and her team source inspiration from the smallest moments found in art, architecture, environments, and stories, creating weddings that eschew what is seen on social media and are something entirely new. Pulling from her background in architecture, McKellar transforms often disparate inspiration into destination weddings that feel both natural and unexpected, while honing in on all those small details that elevate the entire guest experience to a once-in-a-lifetime. The Nouveau Romantics have mastered the art of digital collaboration as their busy clientele and team work, live, and travel around the world—embracing the reality of a global world and building an incredibly close working relationship no matter the time zone.

The Wedding Style: "Toeing the line between undeniably bold and absolutely timeless."

I Work in Weddings Because: "There is little more gratifying than seeing a couple, their families, and friends unite into a new baby family, and have a raging party to celebrate."

Tracy Taylor Ward Design

With a flagship office in New York City, satellite office in South Florida, and team of destination specialists working worldwide, Tracy Taylor Ward Design is an award-winning event planning and design production firm recognized for conceptualizing one-of-a-kind, meticulously designed, ridiculously-fun weddings and events, where guests dance until dawn because no one wants the night to end!

To support a cohesive and truly seamless experience for their clients, Tracy Taylor Ward Design offers a range of in-house services including event planning and design, floral and décor production, as well as invitations and reception stationery. Known for their exceptional eye, organizational prowess, warmth, and time-saving proprietary planning tools, “Team TTWD” takes pleasure in going above and beyond to ensure that their clients’ planning process and wedding days exceed all expectations.

The Wedding Style: "Tracy Taylor Ward Design is known for 'effortlessly elegant' events, which can best be described as understated luxury that is chic, clean, and refined. That said, the foundation of our design work is based upon getting to know what our clients’ love, so that we can elevate and translate their wishes into a cohesive event (or events). This ensures that they will be proud of the end result and that their event will beautifully reflect who they are."

I Work in Weddings Because: "Bringing joy to our clients (and their loved ones) with personalized, meaningful experiences is what we live for. There‘s nothing that makes my team and me happier than seeing people smile so hard that their cheeks hurt. We love what we do and, ultimately, care so much about every little detail—not only with regard to producing beautiful designs but also with each step of the planning process—to ensure our clients’ journeys are stress-free and celebratory from start to finish!"

Whim Events

Whim Events is a full-service event planning firm specializing in planning, event design, and floral design for luxury weddings and corporate events in New England and beyond. Led by Natalie Pinney and Moira Thompson, Whim’s celebrations are individually tailored around building meaningful experiences, allowing couples and guests to feel distinctively treated, incredibly well taken care of and blissfully lost in the moment.

Each celebration is designed collaboratively, drawing inspiration from the client’s lifestyles and nature to create unforgettable moments that awaken the senses and elevate the guest experience from start to finish. As one of the only planning firms in New England to offer planning, design, and floral under one roof, Whim is highly focused on providing impeccable guest hospitality and sound logistics, while designing deeply personal events that tell a cohesive and beautiful story.

The Wedding Style: "Whim Events is known for its natural and organic wedding style—elevated and sophisticated, yet always approachable, magical, and whimsical."

Why We Work in Weddings: "It’s not building a stunning tablescape or an Instagram-worthy moment that inspires us to work in weddings. It’s the feeling we get when our couples and their loved ones feel when they take their seat at the table at a venue we’ve built from the ground up. It’s the stories that people share as they come together. It is the deep relationships we build with couples to create such an important day in their lives. But mostly, we work in weddings because we adore seeing our couples completely lost in the moment, surrounded by their loved ones—a feeling they will treasure forever."

Wild Heart Events

Jaime Kostechko, founder of Wild Heart Events, has a unique approach to weddings, looking at her events through a hospitality lens that stimulates the senses. Growing up immersed in interior design and with a background in hospitality management, Jaime layers color, pattern, and texture with experiential moments to create unforgettable celebrations full of trend-setting details.

The Wedding Style: "Our events are heavily style-centric, creating memorable designs that are experiential, inclusive, approachable, and revolve around top-notch hospitality. Our design range is broad and tailored to each of our couples to create a look and feel that is authentic to them."

I Work in Weddings Because: "It is an absolute dream to create the best moments of peoples lives."