Rain. A four letter word that when mentioned in the event space packs a big punch.

The truth is when you think of a wedding planner you may not think about rain, but over the past 15 years I have noticed that it has been the one thing that has the ability to cripple any event if not taken into consideration.

Today we are jumping way back in to the archives. To the first wedding I was a part of that the rain plan mattered. We weren’t moving from a church to an indoor venue where the transportation plan is key, we were outside. Not just on any beautiful lawn, the lawn was the brides childhood home at the lake. In a beautiful cove filled with trees, lush greenery and hilly, rocky, uneven landscape.

When designing it was important for guests to feel at home and for the tent not to feel out of place. The beautiful details were intentional and mattered, but it was equally important to have a rain plan. Being in the cove in the spring rain showers were known to pop up unexpectedly.

We planned for tents to cover everyone, if needed, but situated the tables overflowing from the tent to give the space a beautiful organic feel. Needless to say the ceremony was perfect, but as the night went on the chance of rain shifted, and there it was. Lighting. Not just a small, single bolt, sprawling lighting wrapping around the cove. We knew the rain was coming and that it was time to get to work.

The obvious thing might be to move the tables under the tents, which we did, but there were other things to consider. It was important to touch base with catering and entertainment. To check in with transportation and key guests that may need additional assistance.

One might not think of things like the feet of the giant harvest tables on their wedding night. The base of the legs weren’t sealed and had to be covered to avoid water soaking up the legs and cracking the tables. We bagged all of the legs so that the bride wouldn’t have an unexpected bill from the rental company.

Once the guests were taken care of we took inventory and pre-packed as many things as we could before the rain hit. It’s not often a good wedding planner starts picking up the reception before you’re done, but in moments a planner needs to make a call this one can help significantly.

The creative teams at pickup were grateful they didn’t have votives full of water or heavy linens that had been sitting out in the rain. In addition, the mother of the bride was thrilled to know her patio furniture and cushions were put away before the storm hit.

There were so many more things that happened that night, but while we were taking care of the event from the logistics side the rain made the guests even closer (physically) and in return created a much more intimate atmosphere than planned. It was the perfect night for the couple dancing the night away with friends and family.

It is our greatest joy when our brides and couples trust us with their days. We make it the highest priority to know about preferences and to make plans so that we can do the heavy lifting when needed.

Not related to the couple that night, I also learned the importance of footwear and now carry a minimum of three pairs of shoes on any given event day!

Brides, we know you don’t want to think about the rain, but would encourage you to ask your potential creative teams how they manage the rain on an event day. It might just give you insight in to their process, or how they work, more than you might know.

Next time remind me to tell you about the time my rain boots were filled with rain so the guests could stay dry inside the tent. 🙂

Cheers, Christina

Welcome to 2024

2024 has arrived and we are so excited for our very first Wedding Wednesday of the year! After a year of behind the scenes fun, we are jumping back into sharing more of our day to day!

From celebrating our couples and clients (what you see most often) at their events, to the design and planning that happens behind the scenes! We have so many fun Wedding Wednesday posts ahead to help with registries, planning and more, but would love to hear what tips and tricks you would like to hear more about!

Leave us a comment below with your questions – we can’t wait to answer them this year! Stay tuned next week of our list of what’s in and what’s out in 2024!

xo Christina and Team CLE

1 decade. 10 years. 120 months. 521 weeks. 3,652 days.

The girl in this picture is equal parts the same as she is different. It only took me one wedding to learn that you can’t wear heels all day (even when you are 25), and that serving couples and families on a marriage day is truly the best job anyone could ask for.

I had been planning weddings for 2.5 years, but on November 11, 2011 (yes, the planner in me picked 11-11-11 intentionally) I officially re-organized my business into the LLC that is Christina Leigh Events.

I told my mom for years I wanted to be a wedding planner. I had a binder with my logo, sketch of my desk and office decor inspiration (hello pink gerbera daisies). I don’t know how many times she said to me, “go to college and we’ll talk about this later.” I majored in Communications and my senior year an opportunity to work an event for a planner in town surfaced. From there came an internship, then my first “real job.” That job taught me more than I could ever write on paper and lead to the business you see today.

It’s not lost on me that I have the most amazing job because of the incredible humans I get to work for and alongside every day. To the hundreds of clients who have trusted CLE with your weddings and events thank you. It’s not only a joy to design a beautiful experience for your guests, but to get to know you and welcome you into the CLE family.

To my brides who have called just to chat.
To moms who have trusted me with more than one special wedding or event.
To the fathers who call your Fronk to add in a surprise father daughter dance on your little girls marriage night.
To the grooms who allow us to manage the logistics so that you can be fully present.
To the clients who give us full creative control and allow us to put fourth our best work.
To the couples who welcome us into your home, and on private property, to create your dream wedding.
To clients who allow us to celebrate your businesses and employees.
Thank you for your trust, love and referrals CLE is what it is because of you!

To the countless creatives and creative teams (we don’t work with “vendors” around here – your event is more important than the county fair) we’ve been able to work alongside as we serve our amazing couples and clients, thank you. Working with experts in so many fields creates a beautiful finished product that is unique and special in its own way, every single time.
Thank you for putting you best foot forward for our shared couples, and teaching me a thing or two along the way.

I’ve had countless moms ask me to write a book. Maybe someday I’ll put a pen to paper about the fallen cakes, burst water mains, torrential downpours, no catering staff that lead to my cleaning dishes for 300 people, red wine spills on wedding gowns, dry cleaner ruined gowns (yes, before the wedding) and even the time I had to be a bouncer. I haven’t written those stories yet because it seems unfair for those stories to outshine the first looks, Father of the bride speeches, helicopter exits, epic bands, one-of-a-kind designs and all of the walks up the aisle as Mr. and Mrs. All of the nights that turn into mornings and the clocks that don’t slow down. That time is where memories are made, where love is the most tangible and the start of a brand new chapter.

To say the past decade has been the honor of a lifetime would be an understatement. It is truly a joy to celebrate love, and I can’t wait to see what the next decade holds.

Cheers to allowing CLE to serve you for your special celebrations!
xo, Christina

Thank you Nellie Sparkman for zhuzhing up the CLE logo for a decade of celebrations!

If you are not a fan of my business Facebook page then you may have missed the excitement yesterday. 🙂

I could not be more humbled to have received the amazing blessing of being named the Best Wedding planner in the ENTIRE STATE of OKLAHOMA and Best New Wedding Planner in HOUSTON, TEXAS by the Wedding Industry Experts!

If you know me you know I was born and raised in Oklahoma and recently moved to Houston when I married my handsome husband. However, this move and life change didn’t stop me from keeping my home office in Tulsa, OK and opening a new office in Houston, TX. This way I get to keep the best of both worlds. Spend time with my family and friends in Tulsa and expand my business to my new home state. This also allows me to do what I love ten-fold where my heart is!

While Oklahoma is big, and Houston is much larger than Tulsa I know that Christina Leigh Events is just a small part of the wedding and event industry. I consider what I get to call a “job” the biggest blessing and thank the Lord every single day for allowing me to work with brides and clients who are in love with love and celebrating life’s greatest moments! I get to use the talents that God gave me to serve others! Life is about giving, serving and sharing God’s love with others; I get to do that on a daily basis!

So, for Wedding Wednesday I wanted to share with you a little part of me – my love for serving others. Every wedding, baby shower, bridal luncheon, rehearsal dinner, bar/bat mitzvah, anniversary and much more I get to serve. Not only do I get to serve the bride, groom, mother, father, guest of honor or happy couple but I get to serve their guests, their creative teams and every single one that is there to make their event the absolute best and most memorable.

My husband gives me a hard time for not being able to make a decision on my own about what to make for dinner, but as I explained to him I love to make others happy. I can’t make him happy if I cook something he doesn’t like… So there you have it. Whether work or at home I love to serve others and am so thankful I was made for such a time as this! (Esther 4:14)

In Him,
Christina