Elana Events is a distinguished wedding and event planning and design company headquartered in the heart of Raleigh, North Carolina. Our visionary founder, Elana Walker, CWP, is a certified wedding planner with over 16 years of unwavering commitment to crafting exceptional experiences. At Elana Events, we possess a unique talent for infusing personalized luxury into every event we touch, blending our wealth of experience, organizational prowess, creative ingenuity, and an unwavering passion for crafting emotionally captivating celebrations.
ABOUT Us
Servicing the Southeast, California and destination weddings
One of the most rewarding aspects of my profession is meeting clients at the height of their excitement, whether it’s a couple envisioning their dream wedding, a company preparing to celebrate a milestone, or a family planning a meaningful celebration. Witnessing the spark of anticipation in their eyes as they share their vision fills me with profound joy. Listening to clients describe what a perfect event looks like to them inspires me to turn those dreams into reality.
My journey into the world of event planning began with a degree in fashion design at the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago, where I developed a keen eye for style, aesthetics, and creativity. Over time, my passion evolved into event design and coordination, where I now bring together form and function to craft memorable experiences. Becoming a certified event planner has equipped me with the skills to anticipate challenges, negotiate contracts to protect my clients, and design events that are both cost-effective and seamless.
As an event planner, I am not just a coordinator—I am a creator of meaningful moments. Whether it's a wedding, corporate gathering, or social celebration, I work tirelessly to ensure every detail is thoughtfully curated to surpass expectations. My mission is to transform visions into unforgettable experiences that reflect the unique story of each client while delivering style, precision, and lasting memories.
Lea Rhynhardt
Lead wedding coordinator
Valentina
EVent Support Specialist
meet the team
Hi, I’m Ebony King, IWEP, an Internationally Certified Event and Wedding Planning professional with a true passion for crafting splendid and unforgettable occasions.
Originally from the charming state of Virginia, I made North Carolina my home to further pursue my 7+ year career in the dynamic world of event management within the hospitality industry. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of planning, coordinating, and supporting a wide range of events—including weddings, conferences, galas, corporate and government meetings, venue open houses, and wedding shows.
As a Planning Specialist at Elana Events, I provide behind-the-scenes support across all of our signature collections—Signature Luxe, Gracefully Wed, Wanderlust, Heritage, and Milestone—helping bring every couple’s vision to life with seamless execution, thoughtful details, and calm, professional coordination.
I thrive on the joy that comes from seeing a client’s vision come to life—the excitement that fills a beautifully designed space, the reactions of guests as they walk in, and the bliss that radiates from a happy couple. For me, event planning is more than a career; it’s my calling, my passion, and my way of spreading joy.
Hi, I'm Lea! Since 2018, I've been bringing weddings to life with a blend of creativity, organization, and a genuine love for the planning process. With strong roots here in North Carolina, I bring meaningful local insight, trusted vendor relationships, and a calm, thoughtful presence to every celebration I help create.
At Elana Events, I support our team in delivering seamless, heartfelt weddings—coordinating vendors, managing timelines, and handling all the behind-the-scenes details so our couples feel supported, confident, and fully present on their special day. I’m passionate about making the planning journey feel comfortable, clear, and joy-filled, ensuring that even the smallest moments are handled with intention and care.
I’m proud to specialize across all four of our signature planning collections, each designed to meet couples at different stages of their journey:
✨ The Signature Collection — offering white-glove service, elevated design, and concierge-style planning for couples seeking a luxurious, editorial experience.
✨ The Gracefully Wed Collection — guiding couples who want structured support, expert direction, and collaborative planning from a trusted professional.
✨ Elopement Collection – curating intimate, personalized celebrations that are full of meaningful moments and attention to every detail.
✨ The Wanderlust Collection — assisting couples who dream of destination celebrations, bringing clarity, coordination, and calm to weddings anywhere in the world.
Whether I’m organizing logistics, supporting design execution, or ensuring the wedding day flows flawlessly, my goal is always the same: to help create a celebration that feels effortless, beautiful, and completely authentic to each couple’s love story.
Lea Rynehardt
Lead Wedding Coordinator
Hi, I’m Thembelani Marshall! I’ve had the pleasure of working with Elana Events since 2018, and in that time, my problem-solving skills, collaborative mindset, and leadership abilities have allowed me to be a valuable member of the team.
Event planning has been a joy for me since I was young, beginning with coordinating events at my home church in Seattle, continuing through high school and college within student organizations, and now extending into my professional career supporting Employee Resource Groups. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in International Public Relations from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and event planning has provided the perfect outlet to combine my creativity, customer service skills, and passion for people into one seamless experience.
I specialize in all three of Elana Events’ signature collections:
✨ Signature Luxe – providing white-glove, concierge-level planning and elevated design for couples seeking a truly refined and luxurious wedding experience.
✨ Heritage Collection – honoring tradition and culture with personalized, thoughtful planning that celebrates family, heritage, and meaningful customs.
✨ Wanderlust Collection – bringing expertise and calm coordination to destination weddings, ensuring celebrations near or far unfold flawlessly.
✨ Milestone Collection – planning anniversary celebrations, vow renewals, and other significant life moments that deserve thoughtful design and seamless execution.
Whether I’m supporting design execution, managing vendors, or orchestrating the wedding day, my goal is always the same: to create celebrations that feel intentional, memorable, and fully authentic to each couple’s unique love story.
Hi! I’m Valentina Galindo. I spent years coordinating executive, social, and holiday events experiences that strengthened my eye for detail, sharpened my organizational skills, and taught me how to create experiences where people feel truly celebrated.
I bring that same calm, creative, and solutions-driven energy into wedding coordination. My approach blends fresh ideas with structured support, allowing clients to feel guided, understood, and excited every step of the way. I’m also fluent in Spanish, making it easy for me to support bilingual families and culturally blended celebrations with comfort and clarity. I genuinely love working with couples from all backgrounds and honoring their traditions, personalities, and stories.
I specialize in Elana Events’ signature collections, including:
✨ Gracefully Wed Collection – Guiding couples through a full planning experience with structure, expertise, and collaborative support to bring their vision to life.
✨ Elopement Collection – Curating intimate, detail-driven celebrations focused on meaningful moments and deeply personal touches.
✨ Milestone Collection – Planning anniversaries, vow renewals, and life’s most cherished milestones with the same creativity, care, and intention as a full wedding.
My goal is to support your joy-filled experience from the very first moment, one that feels beautiful, seamless, and allows couples to be fully present, confident, and free to celebrate their love with ease.
Ebony King, IEWP
Wedding planning specialist
Elana Walker, CWP
CEO & Lead Wedding Planner
Award winning, Pubished, & Certified
wedding and event planning company
Elana Events is a premier luxury wedding and event planning atelier devoted to curating exquisitely refined, culturally nuanced, and flawlessly executed celebrations. Under the direction of certified wedding planner Elana Walker, the firm is known for delivering elevated, concierge-level experiences tailored for discerning clients who appreciate intention, precision, and uncompromising excellence. From comprehensive full-service planning to meticulous high-level coordination, each event is thoughtfully orchestrated through a seamless blend of strategic expertise and artful design—resulting in celebrations that are both effortless and unforgettable.
Esteemed for its signature approach, Elana Events has been featured in Brides Magazine, Essence, Munaluchi, Black Bride, Style Me Pretty, and Vogue, earning recognition for exceptional design, production, and an unparalleled client experience. With dedicated teams across the DMV, California, and Tampa, Elana Events proudly serves clients throughout the Southeast, California, and destinations worldwide.
Elevated Experiences. Intentional Design. Effortless Execution.
Abby
EVent Support Specialist
Thembelani Marshall
Lead Event Support Specialist
Abbie
EVent Support Specialist
Even with all our requests, our over extended budget which sometimes directly and indirectly affected her, and all the times we texted/called her on the weekend, she was extremely patient, straight forward, and worked with us every step of the way. Her professionalism is one thing, but her kindness is out of this world.
love notes
Vicki A
At Elana Events, we hold a deep respect for all forms of love, irrespective of race, gender, or orientation.
Our commitment to our clients is unwavering, and we always act in their best interests, never prioritizing anything that solely benefits us.
We operate with transparent & integrity, we refraining from accepting commissions or finder's fees from vendors as Your satisfaction and trust are our top priorities.
We understand the importance of staying within your comfort zone financially and will never push you to spend beyond your means.
We value open and transparent communication, and we are here to listen to your ideas, address your concerns, answer your questions, and discuss any matters that are important to you.
Your privacy and confidentiality are of the utmost importance to us, and we treat your personal information with the utmost respect and discretion.
In our dedication to exceptional service, we commit to responding to our clients within 24 hours during our office hours, ensuring that you always receive timely and attentive support.
We maintain licenses and insurance for all of our business and our events
Code of ethics
elana events
We hold ourselves to the highest standard of values when it comes to every event we have the privilege to be a part of. Drawing upon our experience, knowledge, and deep understanding of this industry, we have meticulously crafted a code of ethics that serves as the guiding principles by which we conduct our business. These values are the bedrock of our commitment to excellence in every aspect of our work.
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