Vendor Spotlight | Lauren with Lauren Bliss Events
Meet Lauren Jones, Owner, Lead Planner + Designer with Lauren Bliss Events. Lauren is the newest member of Richmond Weddings™ and we are thrilled to have her on board! Get to know her more, here!
How did you get to where you are now?
I’m not sure there has ever been a time in my life I was not involved in planning events, whether it was for UNC Dance Marathon in undergrad, during my time working for the Charlotte Hornets marketing department, or planning corporate events by day and weddings by weekend when I relocated to Richmond. While not all of these roles were solely as an event planner, I was able to get a lot of experience with marketing, client relations, and business operations that are so incredibly helpful as a business owner! There is certainly no one or right way to reach the destinations you set for yourself, and I feel like I’m a great example of the idea that as long as you keep walking, you’ll eventually find your way to exactly where you’re supposed to be!
What makes you or your business stand out and why should a couple hire you?
I believe what allows LBE to have a unique perspective is how much we value the human experience and the importance of creating opportunities and spaces for connection. We approach each wedding seeking to capture the personality and values of our couple through thoughtful, curated design that evokes strong feelings. Our goal is for each wedding to be high touch and to feel luxe and experiential. We believe that all people, no matter what they look like, who they love, or where they are from, deserve to see their wedding vision come to fruition – and that is our “why.”
What’s your favorite thing about working in the wedding industry?
Friendors, of course! I’m so grateful to know and work with some of the absolute best creative talent there is in pursuit of creating magic for our clients. Without them, my designer spirit would not be able to run as far and as fast as it does.
What’s your best piece of advice for couples planning a wedding?
I’d be remiss not to lead with “hire a planner!” But after that there are actually two things I truly believe are crucial when planning a wedding. The first is to make (and keep) it personal – remember that your marriage is the mission and your wedding should be a series of opportunities to reinforce who are you as a couple. Second, maximize your dollars – prioritize a few things upfront and let your planner (!) help you make the rest work.
What’s your favorite moment during a wedding?
My favorite thing about my job is getting to know each of my couples in a way that allows me to manifest who they are and what’s most important to them on one of the most memorable days they’ll have together. The absolute best moment is when a couple sees their untouched reception design in real life for the first time – the emotions are often overwhelming (on both sides!) and it’s always a sign of a really beautiful night to come.
What are your favorite wedding trends right now?
This is a tough one but I’m a huge fan of non-traditional colors right now (s/o to you, color theory class!) I’m also secretly hoping smaller guest counts stick around because some of these opulent intimate weddings are truly #weddinggoals.
How do you de-stress?
Like the rest of the world, I found myself walking a LOT the last year so now it’s become my favorite way to de-stress. I often balance this with my other favorite de-stressor – Gelati Celesti.
What’s your favorite food/dish/cuisine?
We’re big fans of trying food from different cultures in our household and we’ve found ourselves in a curry phase – highly recommend paying attention to the heat levels!
If you were to meet any celebrity, who would it be?
BEYONCE!
What would your perfect Saturday be like?
My perfect non-wedding Saturday would include a trip to the farmer’s market, an outing with friends, and either a movie night in or a date night at a restaurant we haven’t been to before.
What are your top three favorite movies (or books)?
As an avid reader (I read 40+ books in 2020) this question is truly unanswerable. There are SO many good reads out there.
What’s the coolest thing you’re working on now?
I’m working on creating an annual event to gather some wedding industries pros to allow them to show off their skills for a great cause – stay tuned!
What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?
Beyoncé at Coachella counts, right?
Do you love to travel? If so, what are some must-see destinations?
Travel is a cornerstone in my life – I can’t wait to explore more of Europe and visit the land down under!
Do you have a pet? If so, what’s their name and what are they like?
We have two dogs – Milo and Hudson. Yes, I am a ridiculous dog mom.
What is your most used emoji?
Either the smiley face with excited hands or the crying laughing emoji – chronically overused.
What is your favorite season of the year and why?
Fall, although it may sound basic, truly has some of the greatest weather, seasonal flavors and scents, and activities of all the seasons.
What’s your favorite family tradition?
My family has always done a huge Christmas day brunch featuring fried oysters and an ugly sweater contest – to this day it’s the thing I look forward to most during the holidays.
Anything else you want our followers to know?
LBE has three elements that we like to include for all of our planning clients: the personal touch, the 15 minute set, and the ta-da moment. We can’t wait to explain more about what these are and why we chose these three things to make our events truly special!
Reach out to Lauren to learn more! She’s excited to work with all of you!
Email: lauren@laurenblissevents.com
Website: http://laurenblissevents.com
Instagram: @laurenblissevents