Designing Weddings That Feel Intentional, Personal, and Uniquely Yours
At Laki Events + Design, we invest wholeheartedly in every celebration we oversee — because we believe the planning experience should be as meaningful as the wedding day itself.
Our Approach to Wedding Planning + Design
team photos by Larissa Jean Photography
We believe that every wedding should be thoughtfully curated, seamlessly executed, and uniquely reflective of the couple at its core. From intimate gatherings to multi-day celebrations, our team combines strategic planning, meticulous coordination, and expert guidance to create experiences that are effortless, elevated, and memorable.
Laki Events + Design was born out of a shared passion for creating extraordinary experiences. Lara and her partner Ken first crossed paths in 2012 at the W Hotel in Scottsdale, where they discovered a mutual love for the craft of hospitality. Through years of working across some of the top hotels in the Phoenix area, they joined forces and individual talents to build a company where there are no boundaries.
Planning a wedding can be complex and overwhelming, which is why our approach focuses on support, structure, and clarity.
We guide our couples through each step of the process, providing thoughtful recommendations, vendor expertise, and organizational systems that allow them to make confident decisions while enjoying the journey.
Lara founded Laki Events + Design in 2016, bringing with her a Bachelor's degree in Interior Design and years of experience in catering and conference services management across some of the top hotels in the Phoenix area. That background, equal parts design and hospitality, shapes everything about how Laki works.
She specializes in creating intentional, design-forward events for clients who value meaning as much as beauty. From the first conversation to the final farewell, she guides, curates, and produces every detail — ensuring a seamless, elevated celebration that feels uniquely theirs.
Meet the Owner + Lead Planner
Lara Jacobs
- Born in Cape Town, South Africa
- Has a Bachelor's degree in Interior Design
- Has the best twin brother
- Favorite trip was backpacking Southeast Asia with Ken for 3 months
- Other than designing, Auntie is her favorite role
- Started in catering + event management in 2011
Fun Facts about lara:
Taylor Oda
Jaclyn VanHaaren
- Started with Laki in August of 2021
- Specializes in funky + organic wedding design trends
- Favorite place she ever visited was Yosemite National Park
- Will never turn down a brown sugar shaken espresso
- Favorite part about planning a wedding is choosing the linens!
- Mama to a fur baby and two tiny humans
- When she was little she wanted to be a wedding dress designer
- Born and raised in the Valley
- Loves ice cream more than just about anything in the world
- Loves watching old movies — Breakfast at Tiffany's is always a go to
Evin Wald
- Dogs are her first love
- Ran a marathon… and finished it
- Never met a martini she didn't like
- Was a competitive horseback rider
- Cheese is her favorite food group
Meet the Team
Jordan Chodorow
Shaedyn Read
Kassidy Sheedy
- Originally from San Diego, California
- Currently a Phoenix Suns Dancer! Go Suns!!
- Traveled to all 50 States in the U.S.
- Danced for over 20 years and have danced competitively at the studio, collegiate, and now professional level
- Favorite food is tacos and drink of choice is a Hugo Spritz!
- Moved to Arizona from Kansas City, Missouri in 2020
- Married my high school sweetheart
- Swam competitively for 13 years
- Her favorite hobbies are reading, crocheting and baking
- Certified Wedding Planner through the New York Institute of Art + Design
- Has a twin brother
- Love being a mama to my sweet baby girl.
- Always down for a spicy margarita (or tequila shot).
- Wants to make it to every continent, visiting as many countries as I can along the way
- Certified as a rescue scuba diver
What Guides Our Work
Every detail is considered — not just how it looks, but how it feels. We create weddings that are intentional and guest-centered, where nothing falls through the cracks and every element reflects who you are.
Refined. Intentional. Elevated.
We value the couples we work with and take the partnership seriously. Our process is organized and enjoyable, leaving couples free to fully immerse themselves in the excitement and emotion of their wedding.
Personalized. Professional.
From the first conversation to the final farewell, we invest wholeheartedly in every celebration we oversee — because the planning experience should be as meaningful as the day itself.
