MARI • DC | NY Wedding + Event Planner

FOUR WORDS: LISTEN 👏🏽 TO 👏🏽 YOUR 👏🏽 PLANNER. 👏🏽 Hiring a strong planner that gets you, brings excellence and vision to your event is a guaranteed source of calm, ease and enjoyment. You hire pros for their expertise— Listen to them. . . . #ElleEventsDC #DCWeddingPlanner #DCWedding #MDWeddingPlanner #MDWedding #VAWeddingPlanner #VAWedding #DMVWedding #weddingadvice #weddingplanning

The Art of Play ✨ This styled shoot is a coming-of-age for me as a wedding planner and designer… a chance to show just how much my skillset and vision has grown as I’ve evolved my work.  When planning these looks, I thought of the clients who I most love to serve: diverse couples who are head-over-heels in love, living in the city, well-dressed, bold personalities, who love having friends over for a dinner party and who work too hard during the week NOT to have some playfulness in their special moments. (Psst… that sound like you? DM me, I want to work together!) This styled shoot was an ode to them, full of cheerful details, bold pattern mixing, romantic moments, and an overall playful, whimsical feel. Planning + Design: @elleevents.dc Photography: @shair_photography Venue: @swannhousebb managed by @fathomgallery Floral: @isis_floral Content Creation: @prettywildcontentco Hair: @b.evanshair Makeup: @masonlopezmakeup Cake + Desserts: @frostandflourishdmv Jewelry: @lpriorijewelry Stationery: @zelenikadesignco Rentals: @smthingvintage Bridal Attire: @hokbridal Custom Menswear: @wear_threadbury Models: @sttef_szn + @damuscubasteve #ElleEventsDC #DCWeddingPlanner #MDWeddingPlanner #DCWeddings #DMVWeddings #MDWeddings #VAWeddings #LatinaWeddingPlanner #2025wedding #2026bride #2026groom #2026wedding #2027wedding #weddingdesign #microwedding #weddingdesigner

✨ Hello, beautiful souls! ✨ Our 2024 wedding season is officially in the books and there was so much to celebrate from the past year. 🎉🎉🎉 For those who are newer to my community, I'm Mari, owner and lead planner at Elle Events-- your go-to event planning firm for all things celebrations and gatherings. From intimate weddings to vibrant corporate events, we turn your visions into unforgettable realities. 💖 What to expect? Gorgeous inspiration, laugh out loud collaborative sessions (because planning should NEVER be a drag), and expert support to elevate your next event. We believe every occasion deserves to be your unique form of magic, and we love to help our clients achieve that ::chef's kiss:: level of quality and joy. ✨ Let’s connect and create something amazing together! Drop a 🌟 in the comments if you’re ready to celebrate life’s beautiful moments in 2025 and beyond! If you need an expert hand, we are here to take your vision to the next level. XO, Mari [📸 credit: @shair_branding ]

At Elle Events, we design every celebration with one VIP in mind: your guests 💫 (and yes, that absolutely includes you two!). Here’s how we center guest experience in every event we plan: ✨ Flow over fuss From ceremony timing to when dessert is served, we map out the day so guests never wonder where to go or what’s happening next. Clear signage, thoughtful transitions, and intentional moments keep everything feeling effortless. ✨ Comfort is a design choice We think through things like shade, seating, hydration, and traffic flow just as carefully as color palettes and florals. Happy feet + full glasses = happy guests. 🥂 ✨ Inclusive details Multicultural, multilingual, or mixed traditions? We make sure everyone feels seen and included—with clear program notes and respectful timing for cultural elements. ✨ Engaging touchpoints From interactive escort displays to personalized favors and memorable send-offs, we build tiny moments of delight that guests talk about long after the last song. 🎶 Because when your guests feel cared for, you get to fully relax and savor every second. 🫶 #ElleEventsDC #GuestExperience #WeddingPlanning #MulticulturalWedding #DCWeddingPlanner

Still hunting for your 2026 or 2027 wedding date? Now is the time to lock it in—especially if you’re dreaming of a vibrant, personalized celebration in DC, Maryland, Virginia, or NYC. 🗓️ Venues and top vendors are already booking up for prime spring + fall weekends (yes, even 2027!). If you’re thinking, “We should probably start planning soon…” this is your sign. 😉 📩 Send a DM or inquire via the link in bio to get started. #DCWeddingPlanner #DMVWeddings #WeddingPlanning #2026wedding #ElleEventsDC

DC wedding magic is a whole vibe ✨⁠Elegant enough for black-tie — electrifying enough that no one leaves the dance floor. Think: a timeless ceremony with clean lines and classic details, followed by a reception that feels like the best night out in the city you love. Candlelight + skyline views. Signature cocktails named after your love story. A packed dance floor that never slows down. 🥂✨⁠ At Elle Events, we live for that balance where refined design meets “we’ll be talking about this night for YEARS” energy. From inclusive celebrations, curated playlists, and thoughtful design moments, we make sure your DC wedding feels like you in every language, every tradition, every song. 🌆 If you’re dreaming of a wedding that’s elegant on the outside and electric at its core, let’s start planning your unforgettable night.⁠ 📩 Ready to vibe? Inquire via the link in bio. #ElleEventsDC #DCWeddingPlanner #DMVCouples #WeddingInspo #2027wedding

DC couples, we need your must-play song 🎶 What track absolutely PACKS the dance floor at every wedding you’ve been to? 👀 Drop your go-to hype song in the comments so we can build the ultimate DMV wedding playlist ✨ #ElleEventsDC #DCWeddingPlanner #DCCouples #weddingdj #Dance

Elle Events is lucky 7️⃣ today! ✨ Seven years ago, I sat in a Blue Bottle Coffee shop in Oakland, and refused to leave until I stopped giving up on my wild ideas and just tried. I sat and wrote a business plan— a terrible one, friends— but it got done and the rest is truly history. I have grown this business beyond my wildest imagination and the best is truly yet to come. Brick by brick, we are building a monument to joy, freedom and community. As we kick off year 8, we are leading with people at the center. It is and will always be the heartbeat of Elle Events- the people that make every moment worth celebrating. 💜 #elleeventsdc #entrepreneurlife #anniversary #smallbusiness #dceventplanner

Just a sample of the wild family wedding requests that have actually landed in my inbox as a planner. Here’s the thing: every family has its characters, and when emotions (and champagne) are flowing, the requests get…creative. My job? To smile, say “We can work with that,” and quietly build a plan that keeps the peace, protects your vision, and still lets Tía, Nana, and the besties feel included. 💕 Tell me your wildest family wedding request in the comments (no names, we’re protecting the innocent 😜). #ElleEventsDC #WeddingPlannerLife #DMVWeddings #NYCWeddings #WeddingHumor

Family drama on the guest list? We’ve seen it all 😅 Here are 3 ways we keep the peace: 1️⃣ Clear roles + expectations from day one 2️⃣ Neutral mediator at tough convos (your planner is a great resource) 3️⃣ A rock-solid timeline so everyone shines ✨ You focus on love, we’ll handle the “other stuff.” 💐 #ElleEventsDC #WeddingPlanner #NYCWedding #DMVWedding #WeddingTips

What a time at @cbaa1976 50th. We’ve experienced a lot of galas, but this one set the bar high with elegance, Black excellence, and purpose. A beautiful night that raised real support for a powerful cause. For us, it was simple. Make sure the after party matched the moment and left nothing on the table. Energy all the way through. Planning + Design: @elleevents.dc Venue/Catering: @westindcdowntown Photography: @shair_photography Videography: @unchartedmedia_ Content Creation: @butlerscontentco Violinist: @marvillousbeats Band: @toomuchtalentband Production/Signage: @zelenikadesignco Floral Design: @isisfloral A/V: @rayne_events Photobooth: @the.phototique Rentals: @partyrentalltd + @selecteventgroup #blackellexence #cbaa #toomuchtalentband #nighttoremember #afterpartyvibes

Before the music starts and the aisle is lined with petals, there’s one event that quietly sets the tone for your entire wedding weekend: the welcome party. ✨⁠ ⁠ For our multicultural couples, this is where the magic of blending worlds really begins. Imagine…⁠ 🌍 A mezcal + chai tasting bar that nods to both of your heritages⁠ 🎶 A DJ who moves effortlessly from Afrobeat to bachata to Bollywood⁠ 🍱 Food stations featuring your favorite comfort dishes from both families⁠ 📝 A bilingual welcome toast so everyone feels seen, included, and celebrated⁠ ⁠ Your welcome party doesn’t have to be an “extra”—it can be the warm, joyful bridge that brings two families, two cultures, and many languages together before day one even starts. 💛⁠ ⁠ We help you dream it up, design it beautifully, and manage every moving part so you can actually enjoy the moment (and not worry about the timeline). Ready to wow your guests from the very first hello? Let’s start planning your welcome party. 🥂✨⁠ #ElleEventsDC #MulticulturalWeddings #WelcomeParty #DCWeddingPlanner #InclusiveWeddings