Another Testimonial
We couldn’t have imagined a better wedding planner than Erin. Planning a wedding in a remote location in eastern Oregon came with unique challenges, including limited access to local resources and vendors.
From the start, Erin’s exceptional responsiveness set her apart. In an area where quick replies are rare, Erin's timely communication provided the reassurance we needed to juggle timelines and projects with confidence.
Erin’s professionalism and adaptability truly shined throughout the process. She skillfully balanced taking charge in moments that required decisive action while respecting and executing our specific visions when we had them. Her patience and grace made us feel supported every step of the way.
What stood out most was Erin’s ability to handle both the logistical complexities of a multi-day destination wedding and the interpersonal dynamics that came with it. From managing well-meaning but sometimes distracting guests to bridging the gap between our wedding party and vendors, Erin handled it all with poise. Her ability to demystify the planning process and alleviate stress was invaluable during what could have been an overwhelming time.
Erin's calm and proactive approach extended to unforeseen challenges, including venue and catering issues. She smoothed things over seamlessly, ensuring the event ran as planned. Her presence was not just a relief—it was essential.
In short, working with Erin was easy and enjoyable. She brought organization, reliability, and professionalism to every interaction. If you're looking for a planner who will make your wedding day stress-free and unforgettable, Erin is the one to call..
- Daniel Reinhard
About Erin
A little bit about me, Erin Rice
A quick, short history for you, so you know a little bit about who I am! I was born in southern California and moved to Oregon when I was 10. I've been here ever since! It never fails to amaze me how I can drive 15 minutes out of town and be in the gorgeous countryside. It gets me every time (California is NOT like that!). I went to college at Western Oregon University, to become a teacher, but I didn't end up doing that. I worked for two years at a restaurant before working for a park and recreation district. There, I helped with child care for ALL ages, I was part of lots of teams and committees for various things, I purchased a LOT of supplies for a lot of different programs and made some really great friends. I also completed a Master's degree while working full time! After 14 years, and a pandemic, I felt like I was ready to move on to something new. So I put in my two weeks notice... and a few months later, this business was born. I've made it through the first two years, so I think I'm doing pretty good so far!
How long have you been planning events?
I have been planning events for the last 20 years, on the side of whatever full-time work I was doing. I have always loved hosting people, and I've done a few bridal and baby showers. I helped with my younger sister's wedding. At my previous job, I helped plan several employee luncheons and holiday parties, with about 100-150 employees attending. I was the lead for planning those employee events a few times, as well! I also helped plan, setup and run several community events with a committee, where thousands of people would be in attendance. Those kinds of large events taught me how to prioritize planning, create and maintain timelines and checklists, and to stay organized! In the summers of 2021 and 2022, I became an on-site wedding coordinator for a local venue, with 5 weddings each summer. In 2023, the first full year of my business, I had 11 weddings, one gala, one fundraiser, one memorial service and one surprise birthday party! In 2024, I scaled into 17 weddings around the state of Oregon, plus one fundraiser and one memorial service. For 2025, so far, I have 14 weddings booked already!
What is your philosophy on event planning?
I love being able to make your event go smoothly! When I'm on site, I'm "on." That just means I keep in mind that I'm working for you, to make an extraordinary event go well! Granted, things go wrong with events all the time, but that's part of why you hired me - to problem solve those issues so you don't have to!
I want to get to know you, and anyone joining you in the planning process, so I can help with realistic, but still dreamy, goals for your event. Whether you want a wedding that feels like a comfy backyard party, a formal gala with a fundraising aspect, or anything in-between, I want you to feel heard. I want to be the one to lighten your load, lessen the stress and help you be a little excited while drafting your event!
I believe in strategic planning with attention to details - what your guests are going to notice, and what they aren't. We gotta keep them talking about how awesome your wedding or event was! Organization, flexibility and communication are cornerstones to designing an event and working with all vendors that are brought in.
Why did you get into event planning?
I have really always loved event planning. I am extremely organized, have a great attention to detail , an eye for what matters, and I love helping people. I was the kid who organized my mom's kitchen cupboards for "fun." Part of my last job was keeping an entire storage room organized (ask me for pics!).
This translates so well into wedding planning and event planning - staying organized with all the different aspects that go into an event, connecting and collaborating with lots of different personalities, making sure details aren't missed (but neither is the big picture) and making sure my clients feel like their wedding or event was successful with my help!
Helping people is in my nature and part of my personality. I know that my help is invaluable at times. I love that I get to help you on a big day, and that makes me feel useful and needed. This business helps me feel like I am doing something real, something that matters to people.
I've done the 9 to 5 thing (well, it was more like 8:30 to 5:30). I've worked for other people, like small business owners, and large organizations. I got real exhausted with the rat race. It may be okay for some, but I'm done with it - I want freedom!
To me, freedom means I can work for myself, by myself, with clients that I want to work with, and coworkers, or business owners that I want to work with. I make my own schedule, which leaves me time for coffee on the couch, lunch with a friend, time with family, and vacations and travel! My goal is to make this business work around my life, so I can have more fun in the second half of my life than I did in my first!
