Hello! My name is Lori Osborne and I have been a wedding planner in Dayton, Ohio for just over two years. Before that, I was an executive level administrative assistant for over 30 years in various fields, including banking, human resources, public transportation, and with a local city government. I planned numerous events for my employers over the years; the most recent before branching out as a wedding planner was a community gala to help the Mayor of the city where I was employed raise funds to help feed children through after-school programs.
I planned my own wedding in 2002 and fell in love with everything about it! I also realized on my wedding day that I wished I could have had my own planner to make sure things ran smoothly. Little things went wrong -- nothing that affected the overall outcome of the day -- but even those little things could have been avoided! (For instance, the best man started down the aisle during the first song, even though we rehearsed the day before and he was supposed to wait until the second song. A planner would have been right there to cue everyone for the processional.)
I have successfully planned and executed four weddings since July 2017, and already have some weddings booked for 2019. I am still building my business by networking with local wedding professionals and building my clientele. I also planned and executed a styled photo shoot (photos can be found on the Portfolio page of my website). Additionally, I planned and organized a small bridal show this past summer at a local venue that included 12 vendors and hands-on demonstrations for the attendees.
My family and friends mean the world to me, and there's nothing I enjoy more than bringing people together to share a meal and have fun. I have a 26-year-old daughter, Rachel, who was adopted at birth. Rachel has made centerpieces and decor for one of my weddings, as well as everything I use in my bridal show booths. I also have a stepson and 2 adorable grandsons (5 and 3) who all live in Florida. My husband and I visit them as often as we can, but it's truly never enough time with them!
Our favorite place on earth is the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. We try to vacation there for a few days every year. It is truly where we reconnect with each other, rejuvenate our spirits, and find absolute peace.
My Most Recent Wedding
The wedding I most recently completed was a very challenging one indeed! It was a full planning client -- which means I needed to locate all of the vendors, organize the timeline, create a floor plan for the tent, and handle all of the "day of" setups, coordination, and tear-down.
What made this wedding such a challenge was ... I did it in 12 weeks! The couple's lives had just gotten in the way and they suddenly realized they needed to plan their wedding, so they reached out for help.
Another major challenge was that this wedding took place at a hunting lodge on the Ohio River which was two hours from my location (Dayton, Ohio) and one hour from Cincinnati -- AND it was taking place on the first Saturday in October, which is a very popular date for weddings in our area!
Full planning normally takes 12 to 18 months (or more), so I certainly had to fast track my normal planning timeline! Everything worked out very well in the end, the guests had a wonderful time, the ceremony was emotional and beautiful, and the bride & groom were very happy at the end of the night!
If nothing else, this wedding proved to me that I have what it takes to handle difficult situations and the organizational skills to bring it all together into one beautiful and successful event! The photos included with this article are from that wedding! I hope you enjoy them!
My Dreams as a Planner
Planning events is my passion, and I find tremendous joy in seeing the smiles on the faces of my clients. My dream is to help anyone who wants to celebrate their love to have the wedding of their dreams -- and give them a day that can be truly all about them. A day that they can truly relax and have fun, and remember fondly for a lifetime.
I also endeavor to plan small social events such as birthday or retirement parties, bridal or baby showers, high school reunions, or small corporate events or parties. Life should be celebrated and celebrations should be fun and beautiful!
My dream is to plan no more than 5 or 6 weddings or events each year. I want to be able to give very personal attention to each client, and I believe I can do that by only taking on a small number of events. My true love lies in the full planning package that I offer, as it affords me the opportunity to help my clients determine their color scheme and theme, and to fully design the look and feel of their wedding/event.
My constant promise to every client is that I will plan their dream wedding or event ....
With Tender Loving Care!
Lori J. Osborne
TLC Events & Weddings
Dayton, Ohio
937-660-5216
www.tlceventsandweddings.com