Dooley Noted Style: Let's Get Local - Event Planning & Design

Morning everyone! I am back with a new Let's Get Local post featuring another lovely lady I met back at a networking event last winter. This beauties outgoing personality and extraordinary sense of humor are only two reasons why you would adore her to pieces but today is all about her incredible eye for style when it comes to planning a celebration start to finish. Her own wedding and rehearsal dinner was a major dose of pretty and she puts that same energy into every event she puts her personal touch on. I was thrilled when she agreed to participate in this series and share a little about herself with us!

Check out all the goodness below and enjoy!

Tell us a little about Lauren, the gal behind the pretty planning, i.e. what you like to do on your free time, personal style in fashion or home decor, guilty pleasures etc. ?

I am pretty easy to please - give me my husband (Matty), a picnic blanket (Pendleton) and a good book (the paper kind), and that would be a perfect afternoon. Yoga, french fries and dance parties are three of my favorite things, and I have a serious love affair with local coffee shops (iced with whole milk, please). J.Crew, Madewell and Anthro leave me with an empty wallet, a crowded closet and so many delightful outfits. I believe a dip in the ocean can cure just about anything, and I am my absolute happiest when I am outside - anywhere outside. I'd wear flowers in my hair every day if I could, and hugs from loved ones are what life is all about.

What made you want to start Lauren Wells Events and what are some of the services you provide?

While planning and designing our own wedding in October of last year, I loved every single moment of it. Growing up, my mom (the greatest woman ever), was a party planner/designer who crafted all sorts of magical things. She was creating marquee lights and glitter dipped centerpieces way before Pinterest was around. I have also spent the past 6 years in the advertising industry, with lots of experience in planning and management. Once we got back from our honeymoon, I continued to toy around with the idea of doing this "for real," but always the planner, I made a long list of things I needed to do in order to succeed (i.e. a website). In February of this year, up all night with a cold, Matt convinced me to just go for it - so I made a Facebook page and put myself out there. Seven months later, I have nine clients, a styled shoot, The Flower Potluck, and five published events under my belt. My website is almost complete, and each day brings something new and exciting. I have met extremely talented people and have made new and lasting friendships, and I continue to love every, single moment of it.

How would you describe your design aesthetic when it comes to executing an event start to finish?

When developing a design proposal, I feel it is important to have the decor and design elements complement a venue, not compete with it. My aesthetic leans towards the organic, the textured and the simple, whether the event is modern and industrial, vintage and romantic or rustic and natural. Details are important to me, and I believe that personal touches are what guests remember most. I like to spend time with my couples and really get to know them so I am able to incorporate these little details into their day. Flowers and event design go hand in hand, so I also like to work closely with the floral designer on each event and really collaborate from start to finish. At the end of the day, I aim to have an event that is not only beautiful, but truly reflective of the couple and their love for one another.

What is your favorite aspect of planning peoples special days?

I think my favorite part of planning a couple's special day is seeing everything come to life on the actual day. There is a moment before the bride walks down the aisle, when my job is basically done, that I can take a deep breath and just soak in their love and excitement. Seeing them relaxed (and married!), having the time of their lives after months of anticipation, and knowing I helped create that moment - it is an amazing feeling, and I feel so grateful that they have allowed me to be a part of it.

Knowing you are a new englander, what are some of your favorite spots to dine & or visit?

This is a tricky one, as I love to dine and visit just about everywhere in New England! - so I will stick with just Boston :) We are huge Barbara Lynch, Ken Oringer and Joanne Chang fans. Butcher Shop, B&G Oysters, Drink, Toro, Flour, Myers + Chang... the list certainly goes on. Island Creek Oyster Bar is another favorite, and Picco is one of our most-loved date spots. Border Cafe (in Harvard Square) has been a favorite for years, and if we are home on a Sunday night, we will most likely be there feasting on chips and empanadas. There is no breakfast sandwich like a tequila sunrise from Pavement, and I get my iced coffee each morning from the Buttery on Clarendon - so good with a blueberry scone!

In terms of local shops and places to visit, Charles Street has some of my favorite boutiques, while the new Restoration Hardware is more museum than furniture store. I love local shops like Olives & Grace in the South End, and we are constantly stopping by SoWa on Sundays. The MFA and ICA are my two favorite museums in town, and a fall day at the Arboretum makes you feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland. Finally, I think my all time favorite spot to relax in the city is our own little backyard, aptly titled The Foxhole.