Ricki Lewis
Founder and Lead Designer
Ricki had a vision of creating an event planning company that redefined what was possible. With event planning in her DNA, she assembled an all-star team that will bring all your wedding dreams to life.
Wedding Planner in Los Angeles, California
Elegant weddings as unique as your love story
Ricki Lewis Events plans and designs full-service weddings across Los Angeles and Southern California. One wedding per weekend, so our attention is fully focused on you.
500+weddings planned
20+years in business
173reviews, five platforms
$2Mliability insurance
The Site Plan App
See your wedding before it happens
Ricki developed a unique app that shows you what your event is going to look like before it happens. Full-color, to-scale site plans for your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. We are the only event planners to have this app.
Full-color, to-scale site plans are included with Full Planning and with Wedding Day Management. The plan above is a live sample: change the layout or the guest count and the drawing updates.
Meet Ricki
Creative planner. Wife. Boss.
Ricki had a vision of creating an event planning company that redefined what was possible. With event planning in her DNA, she assembled an all-star team that will bring all your wedding dreams to life. Today, she has built one of the most sought-after enterprises in the industry.
Her mom was a wedding planner in New York and her mentor. Ricki began assisting her as a teenager. She holds a design degree from Drexel University and is a certified wedding planner through the American Bridal Association. She was brought up on a farm, she skis, and she is a gourmet dessert chef.
My passion is planning weddings, perfecting details and creating your extraordinary day. Our clients depend on us to make their process stress-free and their day uniquely yours.
Design degreeDrexel University, BS Design, Fashion Design and Merchandising, 1972 to 1976
Business of fashionOtis College of Art and Design, certificate, 2011
Certified plannerWedding Planner Course, American Bridal Association
Planning Genie patentUS patent filed Jan 2, 2012, for the Planning Genie app
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish, French, and a little Mandarin Chinese (her LinkedIn profile). WeddingWire lists Hebrew in place of Mandarin.
Giving backOrganizer, Veterans Event, VA Hospital Grounds Westwood, 2007 to 2014
Ricki Lewis is a delight to work with. She pays close attention to detail, not only as it relates to the couple, but for the other vendors as well. She has everyone's back.
Ricki communicated every detail clearly throughout the planning process, which made the entire day feel easy. Her passion for creating the best vision for her clients really shines through.
Ricki never pushed to the more expensive way. I found her to always be on top of her game. Details were covered, and she was always in regular contact with me. Ricki has become a friend, and I highly recommend her services.
Ricki created a fully designed floor plan, to scale, that included intricate details that we would have never thought to include. Ricki Lewis Events deserves more than 5 stars.
The Dream Team
Nine people, one wedding at a time
Ricki accepts only one wedding per weekend, so the whole team is focused on your day.
Chanit Trabulsi
Planning Assistant
Chanit combines wedding expertise, design instincts, social media, documentation, and exceptional assistance to capture and support every meaningful detail.
Chelsea Langlie
Planning Assistant
Dedicated event planner specializing in full planning services. With meticulous attention to detail and a passion for perfection, she orchestrates unforgettable experiences.
Jamie Dodd
Site Plan Assistant
The master of site plans and logistics, orchestrating seamless events with precision. A seasoned expert ensuring every detail aligns flawlessly for unforgettable experiences.
Brenda Green
Event Assistant
Brenda brings dependable wedding-day assistance, attention to decor, and thoughtful support, making sure important details come together beautifully behind the scenes.
Kat Walsh
Decor Assistant
Kat combines wedding expertise with a strong understanding of music, decor, and setup to create beautiful, well-orchestrated celebrations.
Angela Feco
Planner Coordinator
Angela has 12 years of expertise. Master of decor details, transforming events into unforgettable experiences. A visionary orchestrating moments that dazzle.
Maria Silva
Language Ambassador
Language ambassador ensuring comfort for bilingual guests at events. With us for five years, doubles as a beauty expert for day-of touch-ups, making brides feel at ease in front of the camera.
Gabby Hernandez
Detail Coordinator
Gabby provides warm Spanish-language support for couples, families, and vendors, making communication clear, comfortable, and inclusive throughout the celebration.
On the day, the team is 2 to 10 people depending on your wedding size, about one team member per 50 guests. Every package includes one Production Assistant.
Services and pricing
Three ways to work with Ricki
Pricing is mid-range for Southern California wedding planners, tailored to each couple and event. There is no hourly rate, and pricing does not change based on length of planning period.
Full Planning
$7,500 to $12,000
For couples who want an extraordinary, deeply personal wedding without making planning it their second full-time job.
- Venue and vendor team, design, logistics, every detail
- Custom full-color, to-scale site plans
- Engagement party, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception, post-wedding brunch
- One Production Assistant included on the day
Select Planning
$5,500 to $7,250
For couples who have found the perfect venue and want guidance on everything after.
- Vendor team, design, logistics, details
- Partial planning that picks up after the venue is set
- One Production Assistant included on the day
Wedding Day Management
$3,500 to $5,250
You created it. Now it is your turn to experience it. Begins no less than 3 months before the wedding.
- Timeline, site plans, rehearsal, logistics
- Starts at least 90 days before the wedding
- One Production Assistant included on the day
01. Complimentary ConsultationOne hour, free. We talk through your wedding, your venue, and what you need.
02. Agreement and DepositWe agree the package and the date, then your date is reserved.
03. Seamless ProcessDesign, vendors, site plans, and timeline, handled step by step.
04. Wedding DayOur team runs the day so you can walk down the aisle and say I do.
Planning fees generally range from $3,250 to $8,500 across platforms, and couples usually spend around $7,500. Your quote depends on event scope, location, design, and guest count. Every couple deserves a planner or manager for a stress-free experience.
What couples say
173 reviews across five platforms
Counts are the sum of the reviews listed on each platform. Zola notes its figure includes Google reviews, so the total is a sum of listed counts, not unique reviewers.
5.0★★★★★Zola28 reviews
4.9★★★★★The Knot51 reviews
4.9★★★★★WeddingWire76 reviews
5.0★★★★★Wedding Chicks16 reviews
5.0★★★★★EVOL LGBT2 reviews
★★★★★
Ricki's impeccable taste and design skills transformed our wedding venue into a breathtakingly beautiful space. Her professionalism, responsiveness, and genuine compassion made the entire planning experience enjoyable and our wedding day even better than we dreamed.
★★★★★
Ricki found our venue and created vibrant, to-scale site plans that let us envision our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception in advance. Her vendor relationships also brought savings that kept us on budget.
★★★★★
Ricki created realistic renderings and detailed full-color site plans that brought my daughter's wedding vision to life. Her creativity, thoughtful guidance, and personal attention gave us confidence.
★★★★★
Ricki Lewis Events turned our wedding day into an absolute fairy tale, blending our personal tastes with creative ideas and exceptional professionalism. Their dedication allowed us to enjoy every moment, completely free from stress.
★★★★★
Working with Ricki for our parents' golden wedding anniversary was one of the best decisions we made. From the very beginning, she shared her experience, ideas, and thoughtful guidance in a way that made the entire planning process feel manageable and even enjoyable.
★★★★★
With our hectic jobs and busy lives, hiring Ricki Lewis Events was the best decision. Her creative ideas, quick responses, and attention to detail made planning easy and gave us complete confidence.
Read 9 more reviews
★★★★★
Ricki procured the amazing ice sculpture artist and the great DJ who played all of our favorite songs. She did an amazing setup of the flowers and party favors. Ricki Lewis made everything easy.
★★★★★
I wasn't sure it was necessary to have the expense of a wedding planner, but after it was all over, I am happy I did. Ricki never pushed to the more expensive way. Ricki has become a friend, and I highly recommend her services.
★★★★★
Ricki, we don't even know where to begin. Thank you doesn't feel like enough, but we'll try. From the very start, you've been calm, creative, thoughtful, organized, and somehow always one step ahead of us. You gave us a space to dream, then somehow you turned those dreams into reality.
★★★★★
My now husband, Ken and I recently got married at our home in West Hollywood. We had a bad experience with our first wedding planner but were blessed to have discovered Ricki Lewis, who thankfully became our wedding planner extraordinaire.
★★★★★
Ricki was a force of nature and got lots done for us. I especially appreciated that she went above and beyond her duties in any and every way. For example she even shipped all my items to my new home after the wedding.
★★★★★
Ricki and her team were very professional and punctual on the day of the event. Ricki is very easy to communicate with and had a good set of vendor list and contacts within each category. She also got us an amazing Bollywood DJ and photographer.
★★★★★
Ricki Lewis Events was a true professional to work with throughout our wedding planning process. Their communication style was direct and to-the-point, which we appreciated as it helped keep us on track. The quality of their work was exceptional.
★★★★★
Ricki brought our wedding vision to life with personalized signage, creative ideas, and excellent vendor recommendations. She listened to what we wanted, attended to every detail, and made our wedding day absolutely amazing.
★★★★★
We were pleased with Ricki's services, particularly the day of our wedding. Leading up to the big day, Ricki had excellent vendor recommendations and we used everyone she suggested. On the day of, Ricki and her team were very organized and efficient.
Award-winning, year after year
Six-time Best of Weddings winner and Hall of Fame member. The awards come from the couples who reviewed the work, not from us.
- 6-Time Best of Weddings, The Knot, 2026, 2025, 2024 and three more
- The Knot Hall of Fame, for winning Best of Weddings four or more times
- Best of Zola 2026 Winner
Join 173 happy couples. Book a free consultation
Real weddings
Work we are proud of
Fifteen albums on PartySlate and ten couples in the gallery, from garden estates to the Natural History Museum.
PartySlate albums
- A Timeless Wedding at La Venta Inn , Palos Verdes Estates, 29 photos
- Sophisticated Long Beach Wedding , Long Beach, 26 photos
- A Sun-Drenched Wedding , Santa Susana, 30 photos
- Dinosaur-Themed Wedding at the Natural History Museum of LA , Los Angeles, 24 photos
- Spanish Hills Country Club Wedding , Camarillo, 32 photos
- Macy and Andrew's Private Estate Wedding , Malibu, 14 photos
- Nine more albums on PartySlate, 15 in total
From the gallery
Ten couples with their own gallery pages on the Ricki Lewis Events site.
Bailey and Avery
Mushaira and Jesus
Lara and Brian
Mindy and Wendy
Macy and Andrew
Kelly and Neils
Emma and Taylor
Gina and Hernan
Farah and Ali
Decor Designs
Recent weddings include Erin and Iago at Spanish Hills Club, Camarillo; Priscilla and Danny, October 2026; and Karina and Patrick, December 2025.
Questions, answered
What couples ask us
How many weddings have you planned?
More than 500.
How can I determine what package I need?
Setting up a phone chat is always a good idea. We will clear it up with a call.
How long do you work with clients?
Usually 10 to 14 months, but we have done over two years, and as short as 90 days. We are up for anything. We do not change pricing based on length of planning period.
Will you work with vendors you do not know?
Absolutely. We love meeting new people. However, a huge advantage to having a planner is access to their tried-and-true vendors.
Why hire a wedding planner?
Statistics claim planning a wedding consumes over 250 hours. Hiring a pro wedding planner not only saves time but also money. We know the ropes, inside out. While it may be your first rodeo, we do this year-round. We have the top vendors, budget tricks, design magic, and event mastery down pat. We ensure your day runs seamlessly, so you, your family, and friends can savor every moment.
What is the difference between wedding coordination and wedding planning?
Wedding planning requires thorough preparation, not last-minute management. Our team works with you months in advance to take care of every detail. Our Wedding Day Management package will start at least 90 days before to ensure all final details are met, providing you peace of mind before your wedding.
What makes Ricki Lewis Events unique?
At Ricki Lewis Events, we combine wedding planning, personalized wedding design, and detailed wedding day management to create celebrations that are uniquely yours. Our custom site plans, visual design presentations, and over 20 years of experience ensure a seamless, stress-free planning experience.
Is Ricki Lewis Events LGBTQ+ inclusive?
Ricki Lewis Events is inclusive and celebrates all love stories. All love is welcome here, and our goal is always to make our couples feel loved, comfortable, and like a priority no matter what race, sexuality, gender, ethnicity, religions or traditions.
My venue already has a coordinator. Do I still need a wedding planner?
Absolutely. Venue coordinators prioritize the venue's interests, focusing on guidelines and setup. They may not manage your specific details or timeline. As your wedding planner, we prioritize your needs, coordinating with all vendors for flawless execution. Both roles are crucial, serving different purposes.
What is your pricing for each package?
Our pricing is mid-range for Southern California wedding planners, tailored to each couple and event. Factors like event scope, location, design, and guest count influence our quotes. Our pricing reflects our expertise, education, and luxury service. Full Planning runs $7,500 to $12,000, Select Planning $5,500 to $7,250, and Wedding Day Management $3,500 to $5,250.
Will you be working alone or with an assistant on my wedding day?
We will always be your go-to point person on your wedding day, and all our packages include one Production Assistant to ensure your day unfolds flawlessly. Our professional assistants for your big day will be well informed about your wedding details prior to starting and will be knowledgeable about your timeline and any special requests or circumstances. We also require additional assistants for larger guest counts, multiple venue locations, and more intricate design or production assistance.
Do you have liability insurance?
Most Southern California wedding venues require that vendors working on property have liability insurance. Ricki Lewis Events is fully insured with two-million-dollar professional liability insurance and workers compensation.
What is your secret for staying calm under pressure, and how do you deal with day-of disasters?
As your wedding planner, we anticipate and resolve any unexpected issues, ensuring a seamless event. We are vigilant about logistics, ready with backup plans if needed. With detailed plans and a trusted team, we stay ahead of the timeline, allowing you to enjoy your day stress-free. Our calmness stems from prepared assistants, vendor communication, and your trust in our decision making.
Still have a question? Ask it on your free one-hour consultation. Book a free consultation
Book a consultation
Your first hour is complimentary
Ricki offers a one-hour complimentary consultation for both advance planning and day-of management. Tell us about your wedding and pick a time that works, and we will confirm by phone or email. She responds within 24 hours.
Before you book
- One wedding per weekend, so dates go fast. Taking requests for November 2026 and beyond.
- Planning usually runs 10 to 14 months, and as short as 90 days.
- Service area: Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, and Santa Barbara counties, and beyond. From Santa Barbara to San Diego, from the ocean to Riverside.
- Travel range up to 100 miles.
Contact
Talk to Ricki
Call or text, email, or find her on social. She responds within 24 hours.
Call or text
Where
Redwood Avenue, Marina del Rey, CA 90292. Serving Los Angeles and Southern California.
Hours
Mon, Wed, Fri 9 AM to 9 PM. Tue, Thu 11 AM to 9:30 PM. Sat, Sun 8 AM to midnight.
Who we serve
For the bold and fearless. Open-minded, adventurous, fun-loving, audacious. All love is welcome here.
Insured
Fully insured with $2,000,000 professional liability insurance and workers compensation. Woman-owned and diverse-owned.
Sister brand
Not a wedding? Meet Special Event Genie
For everything that is not a wedding, Ricki runs Special Event Genie: corporate events, Quinceanera, Bar and Bat Mitzvah, bridal showers, fundraisers, and full-service coordination, with the same team and the same to-scale site plans.
A+BBB rating
2015BBB accredited since Nov 24
12BBB customer reviews
0complaints in the last 3 years
Same phone, (310) 729-6561. Email specialeventgenie@me.com. BBB profile under the Special Event Genie name.
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