CMG Weddings & Events is an award-winning team of planners that all share one thing in common: a passion for our clients. From ideas unique to each couple to flawless execution, Owner, Designer, and Lead Planner, Christine Garrison, is known for her personal touches, attention to detail, and warm and fun-loving attitude. After starting CMG Events in Los Angeles, she expanded the company and moved to Northern California in 2017, with planners in Napa Valley, SF Bay Area, and Los Angeles, the team has grown to serve all of California giving them a unique edge in the industry. Outside of events, Christine loves doing life with her husband Robert, and her two English Bulldogs, Theodore and Eleanor. She loves what she does and that's obvious to every client she meets. Learn more about Christine and her memorable events for the lovers, the storytellers, the adventurers, the creatives, the passionate, and the ones who love to have fun!
What inspired you to enter the wedding industry?
I started in corporate event planning where I worked on the Santa Monica Pier working on large events for companies like Google, Hulu, Snapchat, Nickelodeon, and more! I loved it for years, but I had seen an old friend from college who had been working for a wedding planning firm and I thought it looked incredible. I reached out to learn more and they invited me to come out and start assisting at weddings. After my first wedding, I was hooked! I spent several years working my way up in that company and also continued in corporate events, but I had found my passion in the wedding world. I instantly fell in love with the excitement and passion of wedding days. To be a part of all of these different couple’s special day was truly an honor and I still view it as one!
Why did you start CMG Weddings & Events?
I started CMG Events because I knew without a doubt that this was my calling (as cliché as it sounds!). I knew my corporate background had set me up logistically to excel in planning, but I also knew that my passion for people and their relationships and stories was the extra special component of what would make our business successful and rewarding for me.
If you could change one thing about the weddings and special events industry, what would it be?
If I could change one thing it would be vendor lists and working with the same few vendors for every single event. I understand wanting to work with vendors you trust, but I also know not every couple is the same and there are so many incredibly talented vendors in our industry. We really pride ourselves on not using a set vendor list and really matchmaking clients with the right vendor teams based not only on budget and style, but also on personality!
How does using Aisle Planner help you deliver the client experience you want to?
Aisle Planner delivers the most incredible experience for our clients by giving them a centralized location for all things wedding planning! The sleek interface and organization gives them confidence that their wedding is in great hands and also lets them feel included and that their input is being heard through the process. I can’t tell you how many of my clients gush about how much they love AP—especially when building their seating chart so effortlessly.
What's your favorite Aisle Planner feature?
We love the design studio! It's the perfect place for collaboration with clients and to make sure we're on the same page design-wise throughout the process. The seating chart is also a favorite feature for both us and the clients as it completely simplifies the process and keeps everything organized for wedding day logistics, not only for our team, but also catering!
If you weren't the Owner, Designer, and Lead Planner of CMG Weddings & Events what would you be doing instead, or what would your life be like?
If I never started CMG Events, I would've opened up a small flower shop. It was my dream when I was in college and even had a business plan drawn up. I've always been drawn to the beauty of florals!
As a business owner, what are some of the challenges you’ve overcome and the benefits you’ve experienced?
As a business owner, there are challenges every step of the way—it's never easy. Being my own boss I've worked harder and longer hours than I've ever worked for someone else, but at the same time, the benefit is setting your hours and creating the schedule and life you want. Some challenges include building a team and worrying that your brand is being represented perfectly, even when you're not on site. That takes immense training and really building a support team you believe in and trust, and that takes time. Benefits come when you succeed in doing this. I'm currently on maternity leave and our lead planner Maggie stepped in seamlessly and is handling all of our clients while I'm out and I trust her fully.
What are three things you never show up without on event day?
- Walkie Talkies – Always essential so the team can stay in touch during setup and to coordinate all of the moving pieces.
- Belt Bag – It houses pens, lighters, safety pins, scissors, bandaids, tide to go, tic tacs, and all the other small items I always want on hand. We have a larger emergency kit on site as well, but this mini emergency kit is always on me!
- Clipboard – It has all the paperwork, timeline, diagrams, photo shot list, and rental orders for the day and the holy grail for execution!
What’s your personal philosophy on becoming a great wedding and event planner?
You really do need to care about people, connections, and building relationships with clients. That's my main focus because as I develop relationships with my couples we build trust that's so invaluable throughout the planning process and allows us to really guide them without having any guards up. Obviously you need the experience in logistics and execution of events and management of timelines, but what separates a good planner from a great planner is the connections they can build with clients (and vendor teams!).
Is there anything you're particularly excited about working on this year?
This year is definitely a strange year given everything, but we're most excited about hopefully executing a few of our remaining fall weddings and then revisiting all of our weddings and designs that have pushed to 2021 and getting our clients excited and back in the planning mood.
Just for fun
What’s the most used tool in your emergency kit?
Lighters!
What’s one trend you hope to see more of?
Mismatched bridesmaid dresses—different patterns, textures, silhouettes. I love when they all come together effortlessly and it can really add to the overall design and color palette.
Your favorite shoes to wear on event day?
Rothys! I first wore them four years ago and have never looked back!
If you could go back in time, what’s one thing you would change about your wedding?
I would've opted for a cathedral veil and also a more subdued bridesmaid dress palette.
What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever created for a wedding or event?
One of the most fun elements we've had at one of our weddings is a Puppy Love station during cocktail hours where guests could play and snuggle with puppies who had been brought in from the shelter that the couple worked at. The best part was that all of those puppies got adopted at the wedding!
Want to see more from Christine? Check out her website eventsbycmg.com!
Hero photo courtesy: Lucas Rossi Photography
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