Risa James Events

Sacramento, Yolo, Solano, Placer, and Napa counties

About This Vendor

Type-A Wedding Planner for Couples in Love

Picture your wedding day…do you want to be relaxed, sipping Champagne while enjoying time with your friends and family while someone else does all the work? Or do you want to be frazzled from answering a million questions, trying to figure out where the cake table is going to go, and constantly checking your phone to make sure you’re still on time? It’s probably option A! Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and you deserve the best. A wedding planner takes the stress off of you and your family so that everyone gets to enjoy the day. Risa James Events is based in Sacramento, CA. We handle weddings throughout the metropolitan Sacramento area. We love working with couples to execute the vision they have for their big day, or help them create a vision from scratch! It's stressful to host a wedding. The months leading up to the big day are a flurry of details and decision-making. When your wedding day finally arrives, you really only want to have one job: have fun! That's where we come in. We worry about everything so you don't have to. We offer wedding design, full-service planning, and wedding coordination. We refuse to call it "day-of" coordination because there's no such thing. No one can show up on your wedding day and make it run smoothly without lots of prep work beforehand. Our coordination package begins about three months before your wedding, but you can hire us at any point in the planning process. If you're interested in design or full-service planning, we prefer to have at least a year to work with you. We accept a limited number of design and full planning clients each year because of the amount of time and attention we like to dedicate to each couple. We only book one wedding per weekend so that each couple gets the full attention they deserve. Owner and chief wedding planner Risa works on every event and will always be the lead planner on-site for your wedding. We are LGBTQ+ friendly because we believe every couple deserves a beautiful wedding. We love working with clients from all backgrounds and learning about different religious and cultural wedding traditions. In addition to our work throughout the Sacramento Valley, we have planned events in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Details

Business Attributes

Woman-owned Business

Planning

A la Carte Wedding Planning, Day-Of Coordination, Full Service Wedding Planning, Wedding Design

Wedding Activities

Getting Engaged, Engagement Party, Rehearsals & Parties, Rehearsal Dinner, Wedding, Ceremony, Cocktail Hour, Day After Brunch, Reception, Rehearsal

Awards and Affiliations

Pricing for Risa James Events

Curious to learn more?

Risa James Events Reviews

5 out of 5.0

13 reviews

5 Star

100%

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1 Star

Reviewed On 10/23/2022 by Michelle N

We feel so lucky that we happened to stumble upon Risa as a wedding coordinator, and I remember feeling immediately relieved that she was on our team and would be helping us with the daunting task of planning our wedding. We're generally organ...

ized people, but we'd never done this before! Risa helped us anticipate and plan for all the big things we were already thinking about, and all the small details we never considered. She gave us recommendations for vendors when we ran into dead ends. She was a sounding board for our many questions and ideas, and I consulted her written guide many times as we worked on one aspect of the wedding after another. Risa also worked to clearly communicate all the details and our timeline with us and all our vendors, and our vendors and family/friends helping with the wedding commented on how organized she was. She is direct, straightforward, and good natured about all of it! Risa is a true professional, and we would recommend her 10/10 to anyone planning a wedding. Thank you for everything, Risa!

Response from the Vendor on 10/24/2022

Thank you so much, Michelle! You and Matt were a dream to work with! I especially loved all the personal touches you incorporated into your wedding day - your seating chart/table names will go down in history as one of my all-time faves. I'm so...

glad you found me and that we were able to make your wedding a success!

Reviewed On 8/23/2022 by Mark E

Risa is a true gem! We utilized her day-of-event coordinator services and couldn’t have been more pleased! Her attention to detail and fine-tuning helped elevate our event beyond our expectations! She was instrumental in assuring that even m...

inor items that we would have missed, weren’t. We would not have had such an amazing wedding and reception without her! Thank you so much for sharing in our vision and partnering with us to make our day so special!!

Response from the Vendor on 08/23/2022

Thank you, Mark! I loved working with you and Greg, and your wedding is going to go in the books as one of my favorites because of all the awesome personal touches! I wish you many years of happiness together!

Reviewed On 2/20/2022 by Madison J

I highly recommend Risa’s wedding coordination services! She was absolutely amazing and made sure everything went smoothly, from the rehearsal, coordinating with the rest of the vendors, and her detailed timeline for the wedding day. She was av...

ailable to answer so many of our questions and is a huge wealth of knowledge. She is a true professional and made our wedding day truly magical!

Response from the Vendor on 02/21/2022

Thanks so much, Madison! It was a joy to work with you and Eric, and your citrus centerpieces are always going to be one of my favorites. I wish you two a long and happy life together!

Any questions?

Reviewed On 12/15/2021 by Courtney C

As a lawyer, I am very organized, rather particular and some might say a “control freak” and so, when I got engaged in 2019, my parents, then-fiancé and I were all convinced that I could totally DIY our wedding. If you want something done right...

(especially something as important as your wedding), do it yourself, right? However, trained in thinking of worst-case scenarios and plagued by “what-ifs,” I casually looked into hiring a month of coordinator. When I met Risa, I knew that I had found my person. Risa is a former lawyer and as such, she planned and executed the wedding with the organization and perfectionism that exceeded my own standards and with the talent and expertise that I could never have provided myself. Though we engaged her for “month of” coordination, that month turned into two years due to two pandemic-related wedding postponements. During that time, Risa was my coordinator, sounding board, therapist and cheerleader. She’s knowledgeable and responsive, answering even the silliest of my questions with patience. The wedding day itself ran flawlessly; though I am a naturally anxious person, guests kept commenting how calm I seemed and I owe it all to Risa. In fact, I found myself thinking to myself throughout the night, “How could we have done this without Risa?” My parents, husband and I are all converts and believe hiring Risa is a must! Best decision! P.S. She also managed to publish a book in the midst of all of 2021’s wildness. You can buy a copy on Amazon!

Response from the Vendor on 12/15/2021

Courtney - you're just the best ever! You and Jimmy were such a delight to work with, even as your wedding stretched further and further into the future. I am beyond happy that we were finally able to give you the wedding you wanted and deserve...

d! I still laugh about how in sync our lawyer brains were, and I can't believe you managed to work my book into your review! Don't be surprised if I still text you from time to time when something makes me think of you!

Reviewed On 7/09/2021 by Colleen S

We carefully chose Risa as our day of coordinator for our June 2021 wedding in St. Helena, California. After researching many day of coordinators we decided to go with Risa James Events because of her comprehensive blog, clear communication and...

excellent reviews. Risa also has a helpful email series with a wealth of helpful tips and information. Our wedding was originally scheduled for June of 2020 and Risa helped guide us through one of the trickiest situations, canceling and replanning a wedding with ease. When our big day finally arrived she was incredibly professional, organized and thorough. She gracefully coordinated so many moving parts and navigated a big team of vendors. Risa’s attention to detail, care for her clients and incredibly organized timeline made the entire process much easier. She even stayed late the night of the wedding to make sure everything was packed up and ready to go! I would without a doubt recommend Risa’s services to anyone in the Napa or Sacramento regions and beyond to help plan or coordinate their wedding. She was an incredible part of making our day perfect and my husband and I are incredibly grateful for her! Thank you, Risa!

Response from the Vendor on 07/15/2021

Thank you so much, Colleen! It was a true delight to work with you and Christian, and I'm thrilled that we were able to have a wedding that was as close as possible to your pre-Covid plans. I wish you all the best in married life and beyond!

Reviewed On 6/25/2021 by Ashlee R

Risa was a godsend for my wedding. The day is so overwhelming so having her there with everything planned down to the minute was exactly what I needed to relax and be in the moment. It couldn't have gone smoother. Super happy with the whole exp...

erience.

Response from the Vendor on 06/27/2021

Thank you so much, Ashlee! I'm delighted that you and Neil had a beautiful wedding day and that you and your families were able to relax and enjoy everything. That's why I do what I do! I wish you all the best in married life!

Reviewed On 6/09/2021 by Jennifer B

We used Risa’s coordination services for our May 2021 wedding at Park Winters. Risa has so many helpful resources like her blog, checklist, and budget planner that even just with the coordination package, you get her expertise early on in your ...

planning process. A month or so before the wedding Risa got right into the details and created an incredibly thorough timeline. She was very knowledgeable and flexible to our needs especially when there was a random heat wave the day of our wedding. Every little thing was taken care of by Risa including the wedding rehearsal, vendor communication, and more. I had brought many many things to set up on the day of the wedding and Risa had no problem keeping track of everything and setting it up perfectly! Everyone was commenting about how relaxed I looked on our wedding day and it was largely due to Risa’s amazing services. It shows that she really loves helping couples get married. Thank you, Risa!

Response from the Vendor on 06/09/2021

Thank you, Jennifer! Working with you was a true delight, and I'm thrilled that everything turned out so well, despite the heat. I wish you and Arman many years of happiness together!

Reviewed On 5/05/2021 by Treasure W

Risa was such a life saver! She was such a dream to work with in so many ways. I had decided to find a wedding coordinator because I didn't want to be "working" on my wedding day and I didn't want to be stressed out trying to delegate tasks to ...

my friends and family at an event I wanted them to be able to truly relax and enjoy themselves. For this reason exactly, Risa's services was some of the best money spent for our whole event! Risa offered a very fair rate because we had an extremely small wedding due to covid. From our first phone call to our last dance, Risa supported our wedding vision and helped it come to life within our budget. I chose an option that allowed me to do all the DIY and special touches I wanted, but Risa took over the set up and coordination. She is highly organized and gave me a lot of great tips. One thing to keep in mind is that as a soon-to-be-spouse, you probably have hosted very few weddings in your life. Risa knows what she is doing and knows everything from the logistics to the fine and fun details. I didn't have to help any vendors upon arrival or hunt anyone down to give them tips. Instead my spouse's and I's time was spent enjoying the moment of our wedding day and visiting family. If I had the opportunity to hire Risa again I would go back and get her full coordination package because I now understand how much stress a wedding coordinator alleviates. I think a wedding coordinator is more crucial now than ever. I think Risa is the right choice for all types of couples, no matter how Type-A or completely laid back you may be, Risa is very professional and knows how to meet your needs and make your wedding the day you have been dreaming of!

Response from the Vendor on 05/10/2021

Thank you SO much, Treasure! You were such a joy to work with, and your intimate Covid-safe wedding will go down as one of my all-time favorites! I'm beyond thrilled that I was able to make the day such a delight for you, Keith, and your guests...

. I know the future holds great things for you and Keith, and I wish you all the best!

Reviewed On 3/18/2021 by Kristin E

As a bride in general, there are 1,000 things that come up when planning a wedding that you would never anticipate or even think of, throw in COVID-19 and it is a completely different ball game. Having to go back and forth multiple times on if ...

we would be able to proceed with our big white wedding as planned, or come up with a plan A, B, or C. Risa was by my side through it all supporting every decision made ensuring me that everything would be perfect even if it wasn't what I originally imagined. In the end, my husband and I got married on 2/26/2021 in my moms backyard and I could not imagine Risa not being part of our day. We survived being a COVID couple because of her and I have no doubt our day ran smoothly because of her.

Response from the Vendor on 03/18/2021

Thank you SO much, Kristin! Despite everything Covid threw our way, I'm thrilled that we were able to pull together a memorable and beautiful wedding for you and Derek. I had a great time working with you both, and I wish you much love and happ...

iness (and Disneyland) in the years to come!

Reviewed On 10/27/2020 by Lauren B

Risa was a godsend, particularly in a pandemic wedding. She was so helpful and always very responsive to all of our questions. Planning a wedding is a lot of work, but Risa made things much easier for us and took a lot of weight off of our shou...

lders. At the very least, I would highly recommend hiring her for the day-of coordination. We ended up having the reception at my in-law's house because of the pandemic and she took care of all the decorations on the day of our wedding. With her help, the wedding was seamless and turned out beautifully.

Response from the Vendor on 10/27/2020

Thanks so much, Lauren! We sure did have a curveball thrown at us with Covid, but I'm so happy we were able to put together a safe and fun wedding for you and Tim! Working with you was a joy, and I'm glad I'll be able to stay connected with you...

over Instagram. I wish you and Tim many years of happiness together!

Reviewed On 2/03/2020 by Frank T

Risa is fabulous. We met her via a referral and were very fortunate to have her expertise available on relatively short notice. Risa possessed the perfect combination experience, poise and presence to guide my bride - and everyone else - throu...

gh the details and stress of a long day. She is thorough and meticulous about making sure everything, and everyone, are on script, but also charming and gracious toward family and guests. I had complete faith that everything was going to run smoothly because of her. You're in good hands with Risa!

Response from the Vendor on 02/03/2020

Thanks so much, Frank! I had a fabulous time working with you, Chelsea, and your families. Your kind words mean so much to me. I wish you and Chelsea many happy years together!

Reviewed On 1/26/2020 by Chelsea R

Risa is absolutely amazing! We were incredibly fortunate to find her though a referral and hiring her was by far the best decision we made. I was not an easy bride, planning on short notice and crazy busy at work. Risa's humor, follow-up, and...

attention to detail literally saved the day! My family and all our guests LOVED her. Risa is smart, has fabulous taste and no matter what your vision will give you great advice and make sure you have a day that is 100 percent you. Risa's rate is very reasonable and worth every penny. Truly, my only regret is I did not leave enough room in my budget to employee her full service option. If anyone tells you that you don't need a planner, please do not believe them. Hiring Risa ensured we had the stress free day of our dreams. I could not be more grateful. Thank you Risa!

Response from the Vendor on 01/27/2020

Thank you so much, Chelsea! You and Frank and your families were a delight to work with. Your dad and I felt like old buddies by the end of the night! I'm so happy you were able to have the wedding of your dreams, and I wish you and Frank many ...

years of happiness together!

Reviewed On 11/21/2019 by Chelaine K

Risa was absolutely necessary for my wedding day. I was one of those thrifty brides, and didn’t want to spend the money on a wedding planner, but ended up deciding on it when I found out I wouldn’t be able to set up my venue in time for the wed...

ding. Risa is detail oriented, efficient, and knowledgeable. She handled more than I actually paid her for. Hire her- you won’t regret it! Her presence made my wedding as stress free as possible.

Response from the Vendor on 11/21/2019

Thanks so much, Chelaine! You were a delight to work with, and one of the most organized clients I've ever had. I'm so happy you and Ron had a beautiful wedding day, and I wish you much happiness in your married life!

Contact Info for Risa James Events

Sacramento, Yolo, Solano, Placer, and Napa counties

(424) 225-1415

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