About us
Your event aficionados
We're a focused team of experienced event professionals, with over 20 years of experience between us. We have planned weddings in North Carolina, Virginia, California, Maine, New York, and South Carolina. We love to travel!
As wedding planners, diversity, sustainability and inclusion are very important to us, and so we showcase venues and vendors that reflect those values. We celebrate love in all forms!
Our lead planning team
Emily Izakowitz
Owner, Designer & lead wedding planner
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Hi! I'm Emily, lead planner, designer and owner of Events by Emily, LLC. I work closely with all of our Full Service couples, and create the design presentations for our Partial Planning clients.
A little about me: I graduated from Wesleyan University in 2007. After college in the Northeast, I worked in New York City for ten years, before moving to North Carolina to start my own company. I began my career in restaurant management, where I developed my palate for food and wine. (Italian whites are my favorite!) In my 20s, I was maitre’d at Union Square Café and the General Manager of brucie restaurant in Cobble Hill.
After working private events over the years, I quickly realized that event planning was my passion. While serving as the Event Director at two downtown Manhattan venues, I started producing weddings and other events for friends, family, and independent clients. Over the years, I have planned weddings in New York, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maine and California.
I'm originally from Charlottesville, Virginia, and grew up surrounded by the greenery and beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The South's lush landscape inspires my event design work. I focus on a colorful, high-end, clean design style. I have an ongoing interest in marrying luxury events and sustainable practices, and you’ll see that reflected in our work. When I'm not busy planning my next big event (hint: doing this most of the time!), I can be found at home in Durham with my husband Stuart, my son Julian and our dog Levi. I’m passionate about creating a meaningful and valued experience for all of my clients, and I love to travel! Let’s chat!
Rebecca Gonzalez
LEAD WEDDING PLANNER & COORDINATOR
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Hi! I'm Rebecca. I'm the lead planner for all of our event management couples, and I also work with our partial planning clients. I work with Emily on our full service wedding coordination as well.
Originally from Maryland, I first moved to North Carolina to attend UNC Chapel Hill, and have been living in the Triangle region ever since. I discovered my passion for events unexpectedly while working as a server for a local catering company. What I thought might just be a “side hustle” quickly turned into much more; I couldn’t get enough of weddings! I soon became the company’s Event Logistics Coordinator. I have experience working in a variety of vendor roles, so I have a strong understanding of how all of the pieces can fit together for your event.
What I love most about working in weddings & events is building strong relationships with all of our clients and seeing how our wonderful couples bring their unique and personal touches to their wedding day. I love watching all of our planning and hard work come to life, and witnessing our couples enjoying their day surrounded by the people they love most. It’s truly an honor getting to be a part of one of the most special and memorable days of your life. I look forward to working with you!