READING TIME: 3 min 57 sec
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/25/2025
UPDATED: 02/25/2025
Weddings are a reflection of love, creativity, and personal storytelling. At the heart of many unforgettable celebrations stands Lauryn Prattes, the visionary behind Lauryn Prattes Events. With over 15 years of experience, Lauryn has perfected the art of transforming wedding dreams into breathtaking realities. We had the pleasure of speaking with her about her journey, philosophy, and passion for designing once-in-a-lifetime events.
Lauryn’s path to wedding planning was anything but conventional. Initially pursuing interior design and architecture, she later switched to public relations. However, her love for design never wavered.
"Design has always been a source of inspiration to me, so I thought one day I would move to New York and work for Vogue."
While in school, she secured an internship at a bridal magazine—the closest opportunity she could find to the fashion industry. That experience was transformative.
"By the time I graduated, I was in love with everything weddings. I primarily loved the design side of weddings, however, at the time there weren’t any wedding 'designers'—so I decided to be a wedding planner, with a focus on the design. 15 years later, here we are."
Lauryn’s approach to wedding planning is deeply rooted in collaboration and creativity.
"I love putting together a strong vendor team of like-minded, talented, and strong creatives. There is something so exciting about knowing you have a strong vendor team going into an event."
Beyond teamwork, it’s the artistry of designing weddings that keeps her inspired.
"I love that each wedding is different and unique, and I love the research, time, and inspiration we put into each event. Even when working with big production and design partners, we are still very involved in the vision and direction for each event."
At Lauryn Prattes Events, the guiding philosophy is simple yet powerful.
"We have a new motto that I actually got from a client—which is—Anything worth doing is worth overdoing."
While Lauryn and her team design a variety of events, she has a special passion for tented weddings.
"I could talk tenting all day long—I love all of the different types of tents, the unique challenges they present, and the ability to dream up a design from the ground up. Nothing allows you to personalize an event more than a tented event."
With a portfolio of extraordinary weddings, selecting a favorite is no easy task. However, one wedding on the Amalfi Coast holds a special place in Lauryn’s heart.
"First, it was a unique challenge to find the perfect venue. The bride is vegan and wanted the full wedding weekend to be vegan, so finding locations that could do that and do it well presented a challenge."
This wedding, initially set for June 2020, was the first one Lauryn had to postpone due to COVID. Despite multiple reschedules, the bride remained patient and trusting.
"The client was an absolute dream client, the kindest and most thoughtful human I have ever met. She was always thinking of her family, guests, vendors—everyone."
Finally, after three years of planning and unexpected delays, the wedding took place in September 2021.
"JUST as the Delta variant started to pop up, and they were threatening more travel restrictions. Fortunately, the wedding ran seamlessly and despite having a few guest drop-offs, it still created memories of a lifetime for everyone involved."
This wedding remains an inspiration within the industry, as Lauryn often sees elements from that celebration recreated in Amalfi each year.
Like any wedding planner, Lauryn has faced challenges, and for her, weather is always a significant factor.
"Because we specialize in tented and destination events (the latter of which are often al fresco outdoors)—weather is always one of the biggest challenges we face! It’s not just rain, it can also be temperature."
Each couple is different, and Lauryn believes in tailoring her planning process to fit their needs.
"Every client relationship is unique and different. We understand that different people have different approaches or nuances and although we have a specific way of doing things, we do adapt and tailor to our client’s needs."
To bring their vision to life, Lauryn and her team prioritize getting to know the couple on a personal level.
"Some calls are productive, but some are just to learn more about the two of them so we can create a personal event."
Lauryn’s advice for couples trying to stay on budget is strategic.
"Focus on the three most important areas and invest in those—we recommend at least two of those three areas be memorable things that guests are going to remember."
She also reminds couples to keep things in perspective.
"It’s not that serious. I know it feels like it, this is the first major life event most couples are experiencing together, and it feels like the MOST IMPORTANT day of their lives—and up to this point, it probably is. But self-imposed stress and pressure is what is going to ruin the experience for you—not whatever may or may not go wrong or not be exactly perfect."
For those entering the industry, Lauryn offers a crucial piece of advice:
"Get experience and make friends with other planners—they will be your support system, help you work through problems, answer questions, etc."
When asked about her dream wedding venue, Lauryn’s response is clear.
"Any private estate where we can build a dream tent!"
Lauryn Prattes Events is about more than just planning weddings—it’s about crafting once-in-a-lifetime experiences. From exquisite tented celebrations to breathtaking destination weddings, Lauryn and her team bring unparalleled vision, dedication, and passion to every event they design. With a commitment to creativity and excellence, Lauryn continues to inspire couples and industry professionals alike, one unforgettable wedding at a time.
