I Am a Wedding Planner. I Am a Writer. I Am an Attorney.
With Color Pop Events, you get a wedding planner as multifaceted as you are.
From start to finish, I will help you plan a wedding that you and your guests will never forget. It’s not often in life that you get to gather your favorite people on the planet and bring them together in one room to celebrate you. Just picture yourself on the dance floor at the end of the night, surrounded by your nearest and dearest. Can you see it? I know you can! So, let’s make sure you enjoy the experience, actually relax on your wedding day, and create a party that everyone will be talking about for years to come.
Also, weird sh*t happens when you plan a wedding, and at some point during the planning process, you might find yourself not recognizing the behavior of those around you, or you might even be confused by how you and your partner are acting. Believe me, I’ve seen it all (and I’ve even written a book about it!), so let me guide you through the planning process in a way that will help you maintain healthy relationships with everyone around you, including your partner, AND create a positive mindset for yourself.
I’m also an idea alchemist. Sounds fancy, right? Are you feeling overwhelmed with all of the options out there for your wedding? Are you confused at how to pick a photographer when there are literally hundreds of amazing options in New York City? Do you have a dozen Pinterest boards that all seem to be going in different aesthetic directions? It’s ok! I’ve got you! I’ll help you figure out where to start and how to streamline the vendor selection process, and I’m a pro at taking jumbled Pinterest boards, finding the connecting themes, and producing a cohesive event.
I Am a Wedding Planner.
Early in my legal career, it became clear that I was destined to be my own boss. Constantly brainstorming business ideas (I came dangerously close to enrolling in pastry school so I could open a bakery), it wasn’t until I planned my own wedding in 2012—which I found to be enjoyable and pretty easy (not the normal reaction, I know)—that I knew I’d found my calling. Wedding planning combined my passion for spreadsheets with my need for a creative outlet with my love of seeing people relax, smile and laugh. In 2013, I launched Color Pop Events to bring my eye for detail, style, and flawless event execution to couples in and around New York City.
I Am a Writer.
My silver lining from 2020 was that I had the time and space to write the book I’ve been thinking about for years. Helping my clients navigate the ups and down of planning a wedding along with preserving their mental health and relationships with everyone around them has become a specialty of mine. One day it occurred to me, why not write a book about it? I had put pen to paper pre-2020 but it wasn’t until that year that the book truly took shape. Pop over here to read more about The Wedding Roller Coaster.
I Am an Attorney.
I practiced commercial real estate law for just over 10 years and in two cities – Atlanta and New York City. During that time, I had co-workers and clients describe me as “unflappable,” “calm under (extreme) pressure,” and “keeps her cool—with her sense of humor intact.” Those are the same qualities I carry with me as a wedding planner, and while I didn’t enjoy much of my time as an attorney, I wouldn’t be as good of a wedding planner as I am without the skills I perfected during that time – project management, attention to detail, client service, troubleshooting and so much more. I apply an attorney’s meticulousness to all of my weddings. I forecast multiple steps ahead of the game, navigating complexities and steering clear of (or quickly resolving) any problems with limitless energy and resourcefulness.
What Matters to Me
I support Black Lives Matter.
I believe that Love Is Love.
It’s important to me that I build and maintain a company, a brand, and a space that is inclusive and safe for all humans with shared values.
I believe that entrepreneurship is political and weddings are political, so you won’t find me “keeping politics out of it” too often.
I donate monthly and annually to organizations like Project Q, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Planned Parenthood, ACLU, and Animal Haven. I support the work of multiple Black women through Patreon. And I contribute when I can to GoFundMe campaigns to get money directly to individuals.
And because all of this is just words on a website and people can say whatever they want online, I encourage you any time to ask me what classes I am taking, what books I am reading, what financial contributions I am making, and what uncomfortable conversations I am having, so that I continue to be accountable in this work.
Photo by: Erica Reade Photography
Photo by: Anna Zajac
“Leah was actually the only wedding planner we met with. But that is all you need with her. Planning a wedding is probably the most daunting task I could have ever imagined and within weeks of hiring her we felt not only felt organized but calm. Leah will send you all the information, plan meetings, lead phone calls — she does everything that a planner should do on paper — BUT some of her greatest assets are not things you can find in a portfolio. She listens and is thoughtful. She is totally honest when you need it most. And she’s creative! She contributes to your ideas and completely transforms about 2874 thoughts in your head and creates a tangible reality. Above all, planning a wedding with Leah is FUN! I will never forget the nights we spent laughing with her and the warmth she gave us. I mean, she truly is just the best. She was an amazing planner. But in the end she became our friend. Hire Leah, because weddings are insanely overwhelming and making friends in NYC is hard. If you’re as lucky as we are you will have had the greatest night of your adult life & a new best friend.”
– Alex & Dave
