chattanooga city scope profile
It was such an honor to be featured in the 2025 CityScope Magazine wedding edition! I’ve always been a fan of this publication and loved reading about all of the people and places that make Chattanooga so special, and being featured along other incredible wedding vendors makes it even better.
Of course, I love to yap and how to make your wedding planning experience special and unique is one of my favorite topics, so of course there’s a ton more that couldn’t fit in the profile! Check out my full survey below along with the full profile. Thanks again to CityScope for the opportunity, and to Lindem Photo, Alexis Dimmer, and Peyton Nichole for their photos!
How many years have you been in business?
~2 years on my own, 5 years in weddings, 8 years planning events
What gives your business credibility (certifications, schooling, etc.)?
There’s no experience like what you get on the job! I started planning large scale events while working in politics and nonprofit fundraising after college, but made the jump into weddings when moving back to Chattanooga from Seattle, Washington, in 2020. I began managing a private event venue on Lookout Mountain and soon became the in-house coordinator/planner for couples there. This experience allowed me to oversee dozens and dozens of weddings of all sizes, styles, and priorities. I especially saw the difference in the wedding day experience of those who had professional planners/coordinators and those who did not.
After about two years there, I founded HG Events and I have helped more than 20 couples host their dream wedding day since then.
What got you interested in your business?
Aside from my background in fundraising, I also worked in restaurants for several years, both in the front and back of house. I genuinely love people and the craft of hospitality, and think there’s a lot of power in serving others. This, combined with a natural proclivity for hosting and an independent streak that makes the entrepreneur life all the more appealing, makes owning my own wedding planning business a perfect fit.
While managing a venue I saw again and again how much more relaxed couples who had professional help were. They knew what to expect, they had a plan, and they had someone looking out for them, both day of and through the planning process. The truth is that the Wedding Industry has grown and changed a lot over the years, and it’s natural to not be familiar with how things work until it’s time to start planning! Having someone to help you navigate it while focusing on you, your wants, and your overall experience is invaluable. I had not only the skills to do that, but a perspective on the work that I didn’t see being offered enough, and I think that pays off for clients in a really big way.
Why are you passionate about your business?
Any wedding professional featured here will attest that wedding days can really feel magical. There is just something so beautiful about two people who love each other choosing to gather everyone they love for a party in celebration of that love. Being able to make that planning process smooth and simple, reflective of who they are and what makes their love unique is a really special role. Plus, I’m able to ensure that they’re able to be present and enjoy the day instead of being worried about the details. It’s a powerful act of service.
As the great Ferris Bueller once said, “life moves pretty fast; if you don’t stop and look around every once in a while, you could miss it.” I think weddings are the perfect time to stop and look around, and doing so now, when the world feels scary and the future seems uncertain, is more important than ever. It’s an honor to help people give themselves and their loved ones that gift.
What services do you offer? Please be as detailed as possible!
I offer three different levels of involvement: Full Service Planning, Partial Planning, and Coordination.
Full Service planning puts you in the driver's seat without all the leg work. I work with clients to develop a mood board that captures their vision, and then help source vendors to execute the plan. I map out a plan of month by month tasks, and then meet with clients regularly to check in on that progress. I help manage the budget, payment schedule for vendors, really every component of the planning process while the client is involved in all decision making. It’s wedding planning on easy mode, and all of the coordination/day-of management tasks are included as well. Full service planning takes you through the whole process, start to finish.
On the other end of the spectrum is coordination (which I think all weddings outside of elopements need at minimum!) In my version, the client does the leg work of planning, and I come in 60-45 days out to pull things together into a cohesive timeline, layout, and general plan, and then I execute that plan on the wedding day. You may notice that I don’t call this option “day of” or even “month-of” coordination, because I am on your team from the moment of booking to give advice, help with vendor recommendations or connections, or offer other support along the way. This option works well for Type-A, or DIY couples who want to tackle the planning themselves, but still be able to enjoy their efforts on the big day. Coordination also includes access to a decor lending library I manage as well as an emergency kit full of any items you may need on the big day, like lint rollers, mints, a sewing kit, etc., Both planning options also include all coordination services, too!
And finally, right in the middle is my newest most popular offering, Partial Planning. This is a great middle ground, a meet-you-where-you-are planning option where I build clients a custom map of how to make their vision a reality, and then check in on that progress while they do the leg work. This is great for couples who feel up to the task but aren’t sure where to start, or maybe couples who jumped into planning with two feet but then got overwhelmed or otherwise busy and need help to get back on track. And of course, I’ll be there on the big day to help make sure it’s all executed just like you envisioned.
Additionally, I offer event design services as well as a limited number of sliding scale coordination services a year. I really do believe that a coordinator is necessary for almost all celebrations, and I think everyone deserves the peace of mind that comes with hiring a wedding pro. This is a great option for clients with small budgets, nontraditional celebrations, or microweddings.
What makes your business unique?
I’ve built HG Events around the ideas of intentionality, inclusivity, and the spirit of hospitality.
As the Wedding Industry has grown, it can often feel like the idea of what a wedding looks like has narrowed. I don’t want to help couples plan a wedding for their families, or for social media, or even for me! I want to help craft a thoughtful celebration that’s authentic to them, which means scrapping the framework of what I think they need, and asking what they want for their celebration instead. This then makes every choice intentional, and leads to a more personal, unique wedding experience.
Inclusivity to me means that I am open to celebrations of all love, in every form that that may take. Regardless of sexual orientation, gender, religion, willingness to adhere to tradition, or even budget to an extent, if you’re hoping to plan an event in celebration of love, I’d love the opportunity to chat to see how I can help make it happen.
The spirit of hospitality to me is one of service. How can we go above and beyond to make others feel welcome? How can I do that for my clients, and how can we work together so that their guests also feel it? On a wedding day that may mean that I am doing things outside of my typical job description simply because they need to be done–I’ve bussed tables, filled drinks, hauled trash, you name it. But that same spirit can extend to guests as well: what extra, maybe unexpected steps can we take so that they feel cared for, recognized, and seen? This could be as simple as a seating chart or as time consuming as hand written notes at place settings, but if the spirit of hospitality and service is centered through your planning process, I think it can create some really beautiful experiences.
What is something you always recommend to your clients?
Focus on your mission statement! Work with your partner to create a couple of sentences summarizing your ideal wedding day and planning process. Focus on how you want to feel, what you want your guests to feel, and what they should take away. Something like “We want to create a memorable experience for our guests and to provide a backdrop for people to connect and to have a good time. The day should be all about celebrating our love and shared values of family, community, and light-heartedness. We want the planning process to be stress-free, and to be truly present in each moment” can be really helpful when stuck with a planning decision. Does what you’re considering vibe with your mission statement? How does it help you achieve those goals? It’s a centering tool that also helps create a cohesive day.
What are your top three tips for a successful wedding day?
You + your spouse set the tone for the day–bring the energy and spirit you want to see and I promise your guests will match it!
Never book a vendor without signing a contract. It protects yourself and the business, and if they’re not offering one it’s a red flag!
Choose your vendors wisely! You spend a lot of time with the people helping execute your day, it’s okay to check your gut and pass if they seem great on paper but don’t feel like a good fit otherwise.
