Leila James Events

t Sarah's amazing attention to detail, honest and compassionate expert eye, and overall fun and warm attitude made the process a breeze. She will forever hold a very special place in my and my family's hearts, and we will absolutely be keeping in touch. I would recommend Sarah to anyone as she is truly the best in this industry!

markable. She gave us honest recommendations, worked tirelessly behind the scenes with all of our vendors shielding us from the chaos of creating our custom designs, and ultimately made our wedding weekend everything we could have dreamed of. I genuinely enjoyed the planning process and I owe that entirely to Sarah!! She went above and beyond for our rehearsal dinner and welcome party at the Tennis Hall of Fame so special. I truly do not have enough positive things to say about how delightful it is to work with Sarah her ability to truly bring your wildest dreams to life!

g process. She provided guidance on wedding vendors while letting us make the ultimate decisions. She was able to bring our vision to life when we had trouble articulating what we were looking for. No detail was too small. She seamlessly tied together the rehearsal dinner, welcome party, and wedding, making each event feel cohesive but unique. When rain was predicted for our wedding, Sarah was a calming guide and provided excellent recommendations on how to proceed. When we needed tent siding last minute and a carpet to cover a patch of mud, Sarah delivered without us even knowing. Sarah was amazing and we would definitely recommend!!

-connected, never said no, always pleasant, soooo easy to work with are just a few that come to mind. She does it all, from the moment you hire her until the wedding weekend concludes (and even beyond that!!) From storing many, many wedding and after party items, to helping out with every last minute detail. We came from out of town for my daughter's wedding in Newport and when we arrived the weekend of, every single thing was taken care of and perfect. Sarah is extremely professional and I think she has a relationship with every wedding vendor in the area. I can't recommend her enough--Sarah went above and beyond to make our daughter's wedding absolutely perfect!!!

kend without her. Sarah is extremely organized, reliable, easily available, responsive, thoughtful and kind! Sarah provides a stress free,collaborative experience. Sarah was absolutely instrumental in the seamless planning and unparalleled attention to detail at all the events we held over the weekend! She covered all the bases implementing back up plans for every scenario while maintaining her calm equanimity! It would be an honor to work with her again!

rricane. Sarah had many backup plans for every scenario. Hire Leila James!

rah's creativity and her excellent vision. I loved all the vendors that Sarah had recommended. We had a beautiful, fun and personal wedding in Newport! The day of the wedding, there was a hurricane forecasted and Sarah coordinated the entire backup plan and she kept everyone calm and organized. Thank you!!

as off of her and it was an extremely collaborative experience. All of the vendors she recommended and set up meetings with, were spectacular. Sarah played a huge part in bringing our dream wedding to life. From the welcome party, wedding day, send off brunch, and everything in between, Sarah was on top of everything. We didn't have to worry about any logistics and could just enjoy ourselves. Our friends and family had an amazing time and we will all be talking about this wedding for a while!

process. Their knowledge of all vendors and venues in Newport was apparent for Day 1 and was even more important when the big day finally came. They made our vision come to life at Castle Hill Inn and the wedding day surpassed our wildest dreams! Book Leila Ryan for all weddings in Rhode Island or anywhere!! Thank you, Sarah and Katie!!

se and relationships with local vendors are fantastic, and they definitely think of things that I wouldn’t have ever thought of. They are detailed and keep timelines of everything which keeps the organization easy. They are top of the line 10 out of 10, I interviewed a few planners in the beginning but I knew immediately after talking with Sarah, that I would be in good hands and I was right!

essionals to work with. These ladies had every aspect of my wedding planned to perfection, and they carried out every detail effortlessly. Not only did they keep myself and my husband on top of everything so we didn’t fall behind, they also took the stress off of our shoulders and literally handled everything - and I mean everything! Throughout the planning process my husband and I would often think how we could not have done this without them. Every idea we had these two made happen, and on the wedding day, all of our guests (and of course my husband and I) were so impressed with how smooth everything went! Everything we needed on the day of they had on hand, they went above and beyond to make sure everyone at the wedding was happy and comfortable, and they literally made my wedding day dreams come true! If you are contemplating hiring a wedding planner, do it, and you have to hire Leila Ryan Events. Sarah and Katie are wedding experts, their recommendations, expertise, and eye for design is unmatched and I would not have had the wedding I had without them!

. I cannot say enough about Sarah and Leila Ryan Events , we could not have done it without her . Her knowledge of local vendors and negotiating contracts were so helpful to us. We had 3 days of events , church wedding with dinner after , welcome sail , rehearsal and dinner , welcome party and then the big event on the final day! The logistics of all these events , plus being from out of state was a daunting task . But Sarahs planning and organization kept everything on schedule and moving seamlessly! Wedding day we had both Sarah and Katie with us they were both fantastic. They were friendly , fun and professional. Everything was perfect it was my daughters dream wedding !! My friends and family haven’t stopped talking about it . I highly recommend Leila Ryan Design.

very end. Sarah snd Katy were above and beyond in professionalism , punctuality and service . Their knowledge of quality local vendors was invaluable !!!! The reception venue was an epic event which could not have happened without Leila Ryan Events. I have nothing but positive accolades regarding this organization. Very happy and thankful to the entire team for making this wedding a dream come true !!!!

d collaborations for a living. I’ve got this, right?! I kept telling myself that. But let me be very clear for all brides: YOU DON’T GOT THIS. No matter how capable and how determined you are, you need guidance and you need support. I was hashtag humbled real quick on the process of managing vendors, negotiations, details, etc. I spoke to multiple wedding planners, but I swear fate brought me to Sarah and Leila Ryan Events. (Just kidding, it was deep research. But also, yes, it was also the stars). I wholeheartedly mean this: every bride needs Sarah—not “a Sarah”—this Sarah, in their life. I first connected with LRE in Winter 2019. Sarah was with me in 2019, 2020, 2021 and ultimately in 2022. And oh my goodness, did she ever show up for me, for us. As you can likely tell, I have zero chill. It’s a gift and it’s a fault all in one. But Sarah has chill, she has calm. Why? Because SHE’S GOT THIS. She’s that good. When she tells you she does, she does. She is an inhuman dichotomy, I swear. She is calm, but confident. She is organized, but flexible. She dreams big, but she follows your budget. She can ideate, but also execute. How is she even real?! When my wedding week finally came around after years and years of planning, years and years of details, I felt something I had never really felt before—all thanks to Sarah. I was calm. I had full confidence, full faith that she would have us covered. I wasn’t stressing over details—which is incredibly atypical of me—as I knew that she had our backs. She did. I will never have enough thank yous for Sarah. If there is one piece of advice I can tell future New England brides, it’s this: hire Sarah. She’s the one for you. Sure, your future husband/wife/partner is too. But it’s Sarah. It’s the best money you’ll spend on your wedding. I promise you.

d were my biggest advocate in making our vision come to life. Cannot recommend LRE highly enough.

world. If you’re looking for a wedding planner drop what you’re doing right this second and make that call — these ladies are the ultimate duo and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Extremely friendly, professional, experienced, detail oriented and highly organized are how I’d best describe them. These ladies will go to bat for you and make sure you have your DREAM wedding. Due to Covid and the postponement of our original wedding date, I had the pleasure of working with Sarah for TWO years! From the very beginning she was my biggest cheerleader and helped us transition everything over to our new date. She was always on her game sending me new ideas, handling all communications with vendors, thinking of design elements, attending all our vendor meetings — I mean she did it all and always with a smile on her face! I especially loved how connected she was with the local RI vendors which made everything that much more seamless and enjoyable. On our wedding day Katie jumped in and instantly became a member of the family. These women were at my wedding day making sure everything was seamless from the very start to finish. I’m not sure other wedding planning services offer that. These two ladies are who you want planning your wedding and by your side on wedding day. It truly brings me so much joy to know that future brides will get to experience the magic of working with LRE.

to have the expert services of Leila Ryan to make sure every aspect of my day went smoothly. They handle all the glitches and bumps with grace and professionalism, and you can tell they care deeply about their clients. I've also had the opportunity to work with Katie and Sarah for shared wedding clients where I get to see them work their magic behind the scenes. I could go on, but bottom line is if you're looking for the best in the business, it's hands down Katie and Sarah!

we would have and took all the stress out of the weekend. Sarah kept us on track with every part of the wedding planning process and helped us book vendors that we never would have gotten without her help. For example, Sarah reached out to us about booking a wedding band when we thought it was way too early. With her suggestion and time frame, we were able to book literally the best wedding band we have ever heard. Our guests agreed. Every vendor we had, we loved, and it's because of Sarah's expertise and knowledge of the Newport area. Planning a wedding during covid was particularly stressful, but Sarah and Katie took care of everything, kept us up to date, and kept us relaxed. They helped plan our rehearsal dinner/welcome drinks, wedding day and post-wedding brunch. All went so smoothly. Our wedding vendors even mentioned to us that they knew it was all in good hands because Sarah and Katie were involved. For example, when our photographer and videographer arrived on the wedding day, the dresses, invitations and everything had been set up perfectly for them. Sarah also let us drop our stuff (150 welcome bags, signage, decor, etc.) for the wedding off at her house earlier that week — and drove it all to the hotels and venues for us, so we wouldn't have to worry about it when the weekend came. Oh and she even offered to assemble all of our welcome bags, which I can confirm is A LOT of work lol. Plus, they're both awesome, nice, fun people who feel like family to us now. I can't recommend Leila Ryan Events enough!

ad great suggestions and ideas and never let me feel anxious or nervous about the big day because she took care of all the details! Even with the small bumps that came up day of, they were quickly taken care of to assure that we had the best day ever! The best part was that even though I had used them for the day/month of coordination, I never felt like they didn't pay the most attention to my wedding as they would for a full wedding! I would recommend them for your wedding 100x more!!

d it to perfection. My husband was a little unsure about hiring a day-of coordinator at the beginning but he now fully agrees with me that hiring Leila Ryan Events was hands down the BEST decision we made throughout the entire wedding planning process! I am normally an anxious person but I can say I truly enjoyed every minute of our wedding weekend without any hint of anxiety because Sarah & Katie took care of every single little detail. Not only were they attentive and helpful to my husband and I but our entire family and bridal party echoed that the wedding would not have been the same without them. No matter how much you plan, things always come up last minute and it was a true luxury to be able to sit back and enjoy the moment because I knew Sarah and Katie were in charge and in control. The zipper on two of my bridesmaids dresses broke an hour before we had to be at the church and Sarah fixed them within minutes while Katie was busy steaming my brothers tuxedo while it was on him because he was running super late after his daughter took a longer nap than usual! These are only two small instances where they silently made sure everything was perfect in tandem with running absolutely everything else!! I promise you that hiring them is the best possible investment you can make for your wedding day. As a bride who planned most of her wedding, I cannot stress enough how seamlessly Sarah and Katie stepped in and made our wedding better than I ever imagined. If I could do the wedding all over again, Leila Ryan Events would be the absolute first vendor I would hire without question!! We cannot thank Sarah and Katie enough for making our wedding flawless!

y and kept us on track the whole year (I always looked forward to email updates from Sarah!). They recommended incredible vendors (who they had great relationships with already) whose work blew us away. It was always so comforting to know I could run anything by them throughout the planning process. Our wedding weekend ran so smoothly- I truly got to relax and spend time with family and friends because I knew Sarah and Katie were taking care of all the details! These ladies are incredible and so easy to work with! Thanks again for everything Sarah and Katie!

ck in December 2017 and worked with them all the way up to our wedding in August 2019, so over a year and a half. Every step of the way they were on top of everything, provided invaluable guidance and recommendations, were responsive and professional, listened to exactly what we wanted, and were simply the best to work with in every way imaginable. When we finally got to the wedding weekend everything was executed perfectly, there was no stress thanks to them, and we had multiple guests and vendors tell us how incredible they were. The bottom line is that Katie and Sarah exceeded our high expectations and we couldn't have asked for anything more. They made our dream wedding happen without a hitch, took all of the stress out of planning and executing (they actually made even the most tedious parts of planing fun), and were always a pleasure to work with and be around. I simply can't recommend them enough. Thank you Katie and Sarah, we love you guys!

entire wedding planning process (maybe my entire wedding? Sorry, Dan! :).) They are the most professional, responsive, talented, organized, down-to-earth, calming, fun, well-connected duo who made our day carefree, flawless and fun from start to finish. I even had other vendors coming up to me telling me what a joy it is when they get to work with them. For those interested in their services, I HIGHLY recommend going with their full planning package. I did not heed my own advice, and as organized as I am, it was easily the biggest regret I had in this entire process. It is definitely a worthwhile investment, at will allow you to enjoy everything so much more. Either way, if you're recently engaged, and looking for planning services, go ahead and book LRE now. You will be so unbelievably glad you did!

d Katie are truly the most hardworking and trustworthy people. Planning a wedding in and of itself is a hard task, but due to the fact that both my husband and I were living out of state came with its unique challenges. We spent almost an entire year with these ladies and they not only made me feel comfortable, but they also made me feel heard. They wanted the best for me and that’s exactly what they provided! Along with their amazing support they also provided a list of trusted vendors, which helped immensely when it came time to making decisions. Any questions that came up along the way, they were quick to respond with an answer and always kept me in the loop when it came to their own personal schedules. I honestly do not think that I could have gotten a better team. To say that I am extremely happy with how everything turned out is an understatement. They helped us plan not one, but TWO wedding ceremonies and I am forever grateful for knowing them!

south Indian and my wife is an east coast caucasian american.) My wife and I wanted both an Indian Wedding and an American Styled one. We ended up picking Castle Hill Inn for the american ceremony and the Newport Marriott for the indian one. When we first enlisted their help, we lived in the Midwest. So communication over phone/email/text with our vendors was of paramount importance. We primarily worked with Sarah and she was phenomenal on that front. She never let our nerves get to us. She always had our back and was working to save us money while still giving us the best experience that our heart could desire. Sarah had a ton of vendors she already worked with whom she recommended throughout the process and they all came through exceeding our expectations. Everything from the band, to the string quartet, to the catering staff for the indian wedding, to the donut vendors, etc. I would highly recommend Sarah and her business partner Katie for any couple in the east coast area. Key aspects about our wedding & lead up to it: - 2 wedding ceremonies in the same weekend. - 1 American ceremony & 1 Indian Ceremony. - We did not physically live in the East coast at the time of planning so Sarah was of great help when it came to meeting vendors on our behalf. - Keeping us on track with a timeline they created just for our special day came in handy. - Payment reminders were handy when we had double the normal vendors as a 1 ceremony couple. - Responsiveness of Sarah was great. - Confirmation and clarification questions from vendors was handled by Sarah. You will not regret picking Sarah & team for your wedding planning needs.

stance. From the first phone call Sarah and Katie were excellent and helpful! Even though they were hired as day of coordinator they were available for my millions of questions throughout the year! The weeks before the wedding they took over and THANK GOD they did! They coordinated, checked in with everyone, problem shooted and stayed on top of everything. On the day of the wedding they were a godsend! They kept everyone happy but on time, they worked together as a team to make sure my vision came together! We had a spontaneous thunderstorm and Katie and Sarah did everything to make sure I still got my outdoor wedding! I cannot say enough amazing things about the 2 of them except that everyone LOVED them, my parents, my mother-in-law, our bridal party, and our vendors! Our wedding would not have gone off so amazing if it weren’t for them! I can’t recommend them enough to anyone who wants their wedding to be a relaxing and fun experience. I didn’t worry about having to do a single thing, they were always one step ahead of me! They are truly a professional, efficient and friendly team! Thank you Sarah and Katie for all of your hard work!

needed a planner or not. After much discussion together and with Sarah, we thought it would be a good idea since our wedding would be out of state. Without a doubt, this was the best decision. Sarah and Katie are professional, kind, generous with their time and just lovely to work with. They managed vendors, emotions, kids, and the tiniest details for us. They were a HUGE part of our day's success. I cannot recommend Leila Ryan Events highly enough...if you're thinking about it, just do it. You will not regret the decision. They are wonderful women. who know their business and will make sure your day is what you envisioned!

n Newport 5/4/19 and Sarah and Katie were absolutely integral in our day going off without a hitch. They helped me with vendor details, recommendations and and coordination that absolutely eased my nerves (and I am not at all an anxious person, but planning a wedding is another level). On the day of the wedding they showed up promptly to steam the bridesmaids and my wedding dress, Immediately my bridesmaids were impressed(and relieved to not have to do it themselves!) and I had immediate peace of mind. We had slightly inclement weather the morning of our wedding but the adversity brought out just how truly wonderful Sarah and Katie are. My favorite part of the day was when I noticed it was still raining out and we were off to do our outdoor first look shortly after: Me-Hey Sarah do you think we can still do the outdoor first look in this weather? Sarah-It will stop raining in 5-7 minutes so we will be good for first look in an hour. We also have towels to put under your dress train if the ground is wet. Like I said, beyond words in making our day wonderful! So if you want arguably the most important day of your life to be as special as you always dreamed, work with Leila Ryan! Your wedding day only happens once. You can read all the blogs, scroll through all the wedding help websites, and ask friends and family for help, but it pales in comparison to having the experience and professional assistance of these two. They were both absolutely spectacular and well worth having and I would highly recommend!

event is not easy; however, Sarah and Katie made the entire process relaxing and exciting. Their organization and attention to detail is astounding, as they were always steps ahead of what needed to be accomplished. Their execution is flawless, as both events were the two best days of our lives! There were many moving parts, vendors and personalities to manage, which Sarah and Katie handled with the utmost professionalism and grace. Both ladies are exceeding creative and passionate about their job and I would not recommend anyone else but them. Thank you, Sarah and Katie for making our wedding perfect!

ackage, but after our first meeting that all changed! Not only did I change my package option to the year-long planning, but they are now planning my bridal shower, rehearsal dinner and day after brunch!! These two ladies are truly amazing in every sense. The planning process is fun, exciting and hysterical because of them! If you are a newly engaged girl or guy and don’t know if wedding planners are for you, please take my word for it, Leila Ryan Events is the way to go!

ganized, and timely, and are just an absolute pleasure to be around. They are very well connected in the RI wedding scene, especially in Newport, and helped make our planning process as seamless as possible! THANK YOU LRE! We miss you already. xo Nicole & Jack

ry little detail. They handled everything magnificently. Nothing was left undone. IF you are lucky enough to hire them, let me say this, your wedding will definitely be one for the history books! I can not wait to get my younger Daughter married just so we can work with them again. They worked so well with all of our other vendors too, it was truly amazing. Sarah & Katie, I applaud you, thank you so much for everything!

arah and Katie provided excellent service and well organized coordination of various stages of the event.

and Katie, and all my wedding worries went "poof" and were gone. I had talked to a few wedding day-of planners, but Sarah and Katie went above and beyond what the others were offering in terms of hands-on services. They met with me and my now husband a few times prior to the wedding to make sure our day was what we wanted. They also answered all types of emails at all times of the day from the small details to the big questions. I had a lot of fun planning all the stuff leading up to the big day, but it was such a relief that in the weeks leading up to the wedding, Sarah and Katie handled all the logistics from confirming all the vendors, to steaming all our dresses, and making sure our event space was exactly how we wanted it. I knew they had thought about everything before I even had a chance to worry. I had people at the wedding come up to me later to tell me how awesome Sarah and Katie were. On our wedding day, all I had to do was have a wonderful time. I didn't have to worry about any detail. I would totally hire them again in a heartbeat for any event and give them my highest recommendation.

ers of Leila Ryan Events was amazing. They were organized and always had a solution to any problem that we encountered. I cannot imagine having a wedding without a wedding planner and we had the best!

t after having Sarah & Katie do our wedding, I do not know how people have a wedding without hiring a wedding planner and we had the pleasure of having the best. Katie & Sarah were always 10 steps ahead of me and my husband. I honestly never at one point had to worry. In the morning Sarah started off with bring me coffee, they made sure we were on time for hair & makeup, they delivered waters to my room, they streamed our dresses, they made sure I got the pictures taken that I wanted, they setup the entire cocktail hour room and made sure it was perfect, they helped the guys get ready and they made sure I had everything I needed before walking down the aisle. What I am describing doesn't even come to close to everything that they helped with on our big day, this is just pure highlights. What was amazing is they thought of everything that a bride would never think of, but that is so important for your big day. My husband and I walked away from our wedding saying wow.... I do not know what we would have done without the! Every Bride & Groom should invest in the owners of Leila Ryan Events (Sarah & Katie) because I promise they are worth it. When your wedding is over you want to feel that everything went according to plan and that you have no regrets, well that's what Katie & Sarah will give you. I do not want to forget to mention. Not only did they help on my wedding day, but they helped me communicate with all my vendors prior to the wedding and made sure that every vendor was following our plan and that everyone was on the same page. Its not just a day investment they help you with your wedding planning from the day you book them until the day after your wedding. You only get married once, so hire the best to make sure its a day you will always remember with no regrets. Thank you Sarah & Katie!

experience. All of my local vendors knew Sarah and it was clear she had trusted relationships with each of them which offered one less layer of coordination I had to worry about. Because of Sarah, my wedding party and I (and most importantly my mom!) were able to enjoy every moment. Because of her attention to detail, everything was exactly how we had planned - flowers, signage, décor, toasts. And while I didn't see Sarah much throughout the night, her presence was always felt and noticed - I never once had an empty glass!! I would recommend Sarah for any party or event. She is organized, thoughtful, creative and very passionate about her business and her clients.

all those small, minute details. My fiancé and I were having an intimate wedding at our house followed by a reception at a restaurant in Newport. Even with the total of 12 people in attendance, I started to realize that the day-of, I would be doing everything & would be more focused on getting those small details in order rather than focusing on the important piece, marrying the love of my life. Enter Leila Ryan Events. From the moment I contacted Sarah and Katie, I immediately felt at ease. The 2 of them listened to me and did not pass judgment on my nontraditional wedding feel. The 2 jumped right into my ideas & even expanded upon them, fully embracing my vision and adding to it. They were genuinely excited for my big day, even though this is their job. I hired them for day-of coordination and worked with Sarah. She was with me the entire day and put my nerves at ease. As my wedding was super small, we opted for no bridal party. Sarah offered to come with me to my hair appointment, so I wouldn’t be alone; she was extremely fun to spend the time with. She even had a picture of my hair on her phone & politely monitored the hairdresser to make sure it was heading in the right direction, and reassured me that my hairstyle was looking great. Sarah brought champagne to the apt. which was fun- this is above and beyond the call of “setting up a wedding”. She came with me to pick up my flowers & when we arrived, she saw the disappointment on my face as the flowers looked nothing like the picture I had sent them. Since Sarah took the time to listen and meet with me before the day of coordination, she knew this bouquet was unacceptable & politely had the florists remake the bouquet on the spot. Without her, I would have left with the bouquet as it was & would have been disappointed with them in my pictures. Thanks to Sarah, I got my dream bouquet. She then accompanied me back to the house to set up the ceremony. Since she had already met with me, she knew every detail and exactly what needed to be executed when. I didn’t have to think about when to light the fire, the candles, when to pop or serve champagne, when to play or stop music, when to tell the guests to take a seat, etc. Sarah also helped me wrangle in my fiancé, who was running late. She flawlessly got him back on schedule (which she crafted for me to have and give to all my vendors) so we wouldn’t miss our first look or pictures before the ceremony. I didn’t find out until after we were married that Sarah did this for our timeline, as she was calm the entire time with me. She then accompanied us with our photographer around Newport taking photos and helping the photographer, which is 100% above and beyond her job. I was not expecting this much service or fun from her running my wedding. She called the restaurant and said we would be late as we spontaneously decided to stay for a bit at the house after the ceremony for a toast and to celebrate a little with family as newlyweds. I didn’t even have to think about this or ask her to do that – she just did it. Her attention to detail and ability to make things run smoothly and on time is amazing. Clearly, my experience with Leila Ryan Events was above and beyond my expectations & I would 100% recommend them no matter how big or small the wedding.