Hello, I’m Lisa
(she/her/hers)
Your Down-to-Earth Wedding & Event Planner
I’ve lived in the Howard Street area of Rogers Park and Evanston for most of the last thirty-five years. I’ve been a wedding planner in Chicago since 2006, although I have been managing productions for a lot longer than that. My background and first loves are live theater and large outdoor events, and I am a card-carrying stage manager member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers. When I’m not working or volunteering, you can usually find me riding my bicycle or tending my garden.
Other things you don’t know about me yet:
- I make tatted lace.
- I earned my bachelor’s degree in Latin from Bryn Mawr College.
- I enjoy solving cryptograms.
- I know a great local piano tuner, if you happen to be looking.
- The first wedding I planned was my own. I love the emotional arc of planning a meaningful experience for others, and I have been doing it ever since with my trademark calm, down-to-earth, and non-judgmental approach.
- I look for something positive in every situation.
- Mornings are hard; let’s not talk about them.
But what you most need to know about me is
I believe very strongly in community. I volunteer with the Green Wedding Alliance and am a board member for my neighborhood food co-operative, Wild Onion Market. These are my core philosophies:
I believe in…
Inclusivity
Lisa Gordon Events was founded on the idea that weddings are for absolutely everyone (and not only the thin cis/het white women in white dresses that the wedding industry reveres). Even if you don’t see yourself in the cookie-cutter fashion magazines and blogs, please know that I recognize you. I strive to be inclusive and welcoming to everyone. It is my privilege to help you create your own amazing wedding, the celebration of love that you want.
Sustainability
I am committed to environmental sustainability, both in my own daily life and business practices, and in the knowledge that I apply to creating eco-friendly events. If building a sustainable life together is a value you share, let’s begin by making your wedding reflect your eco-conscious values by composting, sending paperless invitations, getting creative with favors, or going a little more minimalist in decorations.
Integrity
When I recommend a vendor, it is always because I believe that they deliver quality services at reasonable prices. If a vendor offers a discount, I pass it along to you. I do not accept kickbacks from vendors–because I work for you, not for them.