In the world of wedding planning where every detail counts, Lust for Life Event Planning + Wedding Design offers a unique touch that sets celebrations apart. Led by Owner and Creative Director, Alison Smith, the company specializes in curating once-in-a-lifetime experiences for couples who dare to dream differently.
Alison's journey into the wedding industry was born out of a love for connecting with people and crafting memorable events. Her diverse educational background - spanning from art history to public relations - brings a unique perspective to each wedding she plans. With a modern mindset and a deep love for travel, Alison approaches planning alongside couples who crave the non-traditional, ensuring that each event is a true reflection of their unique love story. We sat down with Alison to learn more about her and her company
NWD: Tell us about your company's background and what inspired you to start a career in wedding planning.
AS: After exploring multiple majors during my college career I landed in Event Management. I had the opportunity to take invaluable courses that broadened my skill set. Some of my favorites included floral design, food safety, wine, spirits and mixology, global tourism, and, of course, wedding planning. This led to finding my passion in event planning with a special focus on weddings. Along the way, I studied art history, fashion, interior design and public relations which all contribute to my versatile viewpoint and continue to inspire me today. After completing a required internship and graduating with my degree, I made the decision to create my own company and have been in love with the wedding industry ever since.
NWD: What services does Lust for Life Event Planning + Wedding Design offer, and what types of weddings do you specialize in?
AS: We offer Full Service, Partial Planning and Wedding Day Management. We specialize in custom wedding planning through intentional design. We can step in at any point and guide you to the wedding day. Our wedding planners provide planning, coordination, designing and styling services based on the needs of each couple.
NWD: Can you describe the typical process couples go through when they hire your services?
AS: We have all of our potential couples fill out our inquiry form, which is immediately followed up with a more in-depth questionnaire. Setting aside time to meet the couple is key to ensuring we’re the best match for each other. We work very closely together over long periods of time so we want to feel like we’re able to collaborate and build trust within that working relationship. From there, we move forward with picking the perfect package for them and providing pricing. Once they’re officially a client, the process looks a little bit different depending on the service, but overall we use seamless systems that provide a clear idea of next steps. We start by gathering vendor information or by providing recommendations. We then schedule planning meetings throughout the planning process to discuss key items and go over any updates along the way.
Grace Photo
NWD: What sets your wedding planning services apart from others in the industry?
AS: Our personalized process balances professional expertise with authentic relationships. As we get to know you, we begin to intertwine pieces of your personality into your wedding day leading us to create an organically intimate feel. Our open mindset shows couples that it’s okay if they think the cookie cutter plans are out and custom ideas are in. We are all for whatever it is that they want their day to be about. We genuinely just want to make this an enjoyable experience.
NWD: How do you work with couples to bring their unique wedding visions to life?
AS: Creating exclusively for couples who crave the non-traditional allows us to express our abilities as designers and gives us a chance for couples to place their trust in us. By exchanging ideas and coming up with solutions we’re able to plan, design, organize and produce weddings that are a representation of the couple. We’re very transparent during the planning process and provide progress updates along the way so that any changes can be made in advance. We cover all aspects of their day so that nothing is forgotten. We work alongside the other vendors so that everyone is on the same page and that our ultimate goal is always about the couple and meeting their expectations. We want this to feel as unique as possible so that it matches them.
NWD: What are some of the most memorable weddings you've planned, and what made them stand out?
AS: Looking back, a few honorable mentions for most memorable weddings would have to include: 80’s Prom Theme, Gatsby Glam, NYE Cocktails, Airplane Hangar and a Private Party overlooking the Platte. Besides the gorgeous designs and unique locations these names hint at, the weddings that stick with us forever are the ones we connect to emotionally. We bond with our couples, meet their people, hear the stories, and witness some truly unforgettable moments. Those are the core memories we reminisce about.
NWD: What tips or advice do you have for couples who are just starting their wedding planning journey?
AS: Set aside time to talk strictly about the wedding itself before planning anything. Figure out a realistic budget and know that your guest count impacts that budget the most. Decide on your venue style once you have a general guest count and go from there. Tour the venues in person and don’t hesitate to ask questions. Obviously our biggest piece of advice is to hire a wedding planner to help you navigate it all from the beginning. There is an overload of information out there and a lot of it isn’t accurate or helpful. So whether you decide to hire a full service wedding planner or book wedding day management we are there to sift through the suggestions and provide you with useful guidance that is up to date.
Jennifer Mercier Photo
NWD: How do you handle unexpected challenges that may arise during the wedding planning process or on the wedding day itself?
AS: Working in weddings you have to learn that nothing ever fully goes as planned no matter how prepared you are. There are many things that are simply just out of our control. During the planning process we typically pivot and have plans A, B, and C. As wedding planners, we might be known mostly for being organized, but we’re also creatives. On wedding days we think on our feet and come up with a solution that is efficient, does the job and can go unnoticed, to the best of our abilities, with any resources we have on hand.
NWD: Do you offer any eco-friendly or sustainable wedding planning options for couples who are environmentally conscious?
AS: When a couple has a specific request or something that they value, we will absolutely prioritize it and research it so that they know what their options are. We know vendors in the industry right now that are working towards eco-friendly practices and sustainable services.
NWD: What do you love most about being a wedding planner, and what keeps you passionate about your work?
AS: My absolute favorite thing about weddings is how intimately meaningful yet wildly fun they can be, all at once. The couples that give us the honor of playing a small role in their day mean so much to us. I stay passionate by continuing my education, spending time creating for myself, and bouncing ideas off of other vendors. The wedding industry is a great place for growth and there are so many resources available to lean into the areas of wedding planning that I love and expand my expertise.
NWD: What are your goals and aspirations for Lust for Life Event Planning + Wedding Design in the future?
AS: I aspire to continue connecting with couples who fuel my fire. I have a goal to build a team of planners and am working on expanding my services too. There are many exciting plans in my future.
In a world where weddings are often seen through a conventional lens, Lust for Life Event Planning + Wedding Design dares to defy the norm, crafting bespoke celebrations that resonate deeply with each couple's story and spirit. Delve into a few firsthand experiences from their delighted clients!
Jennifer Mercier Photo
“HIGHLY highly recommend Alison and Lust for Life Events !! Truly the kindest, most genuine, thoughtful, organized, hilarious, and FUN wedding day-of-coordinator! I was planning my Omaha wedding from Detroit and truly had no idea what I was doing. My mom and I were so overwhelmed prior to hiring Alison, and after our first zoom call I felt 100% better. Alison has a thorough and organized process to ensure no detail goes overlooked, and communicates SO well! She was my go-to for the whole 2 months leading up to the event, and allowed me to genuinely be excited for my big day rather than stressed. I truly had THE most fun wedding weekend from the rehearsal that Alison directed, all the way to the "getting ready day-of", and until our wedding night was over. I can honestly say that I was not stressed for any part of it because I knew I was in good hands with Alison! She truly feels like a good friend at this point, as I will forever be so grateful for her huge role in making our big day so so special!” ~ Haley + Steven
“I don’t even know where to begin with describing how instrumental Alison was in making our wedding day so special. From the very first meeting, she was organized, knowledgeable, and so easy to talk to. She always makes you feel like your wedding is her top priority and responds so quickly to emails and texts. Alison went above and beyond with in-person meetings, finding vendors for rentals we needed at the reception, and putting together a detailed day-of timeline. Not only does she coordinate with your existing vendors to make sure everyone is on the same page, she also has a list of vendors she recommends and has worked with before. We hired a DJ, florist, and cake baker specifically from her vendor list and each of them were incredible. She is so friendly and professional and has the most calming presence on your wedding day. I truly had nothing to worry about the whole day because I knew we were in great hands. I am forever thankful to Alison for all the work she put into our wedding, the way she communicated every step of the way, and her sweet personality that made it feel like we were celebrating with a dear friend. If you’re going to hire a wedding coordinator, go with Alison Smith! You will not be disappointed.” ~ Emily + Craig
“Hiring Alison was probably the best money we spent on our wedding. I was a little on the fence about hiring a coordinator, since I already consider myself a pretty organized planner and our venue came with an event manager, but if you're on the fence too, just book her! Even as a "day of" coordinator, Alison was soooo helpful with the planning, starting when we booked her almost 8 months out. She provided us with lots of planning tools, attended venue walk-throughs, and once we got closer to the date, she was super hands-on and handled a lot of the last-minute communication with the rest of our vendors. The detailed timeline she made for us, honestly kept me sane in our last month. She even came to our rehearsal and ran through the process with us to make sure we were comfortable with everything! I can honestly say I didn't deal with a single phone call or email on the day of the wedding. I still don't know if there were even any problems to deal with, which is saying something, and I really owe that to Alison!!! If you are considering hiring a day of coordinator, I literally can't recommend Alison enough!” ~ Meagan + Christopher
Ready to start planning your dream wedding? Get in touch with Lust for Life Event Planning + Wedding Design today by heading to their website and begin your planning journey with Alison!
Main Photo: Emily Elizabeth Photography
