Top Dallas Event Planners

Great things come in 10s—or at least they do at DFW Events, where a team of 10 talented women orchestrate some of Dallas and Fort Worth’s finest weddings, parties and special events. Founder and CEO Mary-Frances Hurt has carefully curated a group of energetic leading ladies who find no shortage of ways to brand, create, and coordinate celebrations that are truly once in a lifetime experiences. Whether it’s a perfectly planned corporate event, a luxuriously over-the-top wedding, or a destination affair set afar, DFW Events delivers superior service and teamwork that results in a perfect ten.

Everything that wedding planner and event designer Emily Clarke produces is one of her masterful originals. She draws inspiration from so many things in the world around her, be it a pretty piece of jewelry or the sight of a very pink flamingo. It’s one of the unique things brides love about Emily Clarke Events—not to mention The Detail Department, which touts an in-house graphic designer and artist. This enables the team to produce, say, a logo for the client’s big day to uniquely personal save-the-dates, invitations and even favors. It also ensures a consistency from start to finish for the look and feel of every event, to which Clarke is passionately dedicated.

She’s known for her artistic and unique tabletop designs as much as she is for planning and orchestrating incredible weddings of all kinds. Whether it’s a destination day in Tahiti or a grand entrance atop an elephant, Jordan Payne regularly transforms venues into dreamy wedding scenes and delivers jaw-dropping results! A beautiful studio in Uptown—complete with gorgeous metallic accents, chandeliers and fresh florals-—serves as the headquarters for Payne parties. There, the planner extraordinaire begins the creative process with each of her brides-to-be, from complete planning and production to fabulous decor.

With great care and expert precision, Once Events has become a complete one-stop-shop for events of all kinds. And it’s not just about the party. While Once Events certainly assists clients with themes, decor, entertainment and venue selection for charity functions, weddings, launch events and more, they also see to the details. These are the things that take their events from great to outstanding, whether it’s an invitation design to specific lighting needs and budget management to registration services.

The talented team at Refined Romance is dedicated to weddings and passionate about all the infinite details that result in a perfect day. Its three main packages—month-of coordination, partial planning and full planning—give brides just the options they need to select the right support for their big day bash. And now, their attention to detail has grown thanks to their own line of decor rentals, like glitzy linens, golden antique candlesticks, oversized lanterns and more.

Mini citrus tree centerpieces; golden sugar-rimmed Champagne glasses; chevron sequin table runners. Each of these details were just a small (pretty) party of a big picture wedding, orchestrated by Creative Director Shannon Schultz and her team at Shannon Schultz Events. They are careful to never take on too many clients at one time so they’re better able to give them the unlimited attention and care needed to produce the best event possible—and cultivate meaningful friendships along the way! The Fort Worth-based biz also works closely with area vendors and venues, giving brides a very local experience from start to finish.

A self-proclaimed love for pretty little details is one of the many things that keeps Southern Affairs’ Principal Planner and Designer Robyne Swink passionate about her work—which she produces alongside business partner and husband, Jeremy Swink. Together, the dynamic duo maintain a completely full-scale event and wedding planning firm that uniquely looks at client’s fetes as a collaboration rather than a package deal. Gorgeous nuptials are one of their specialties, from the very beginning with bridal showers and brunches to the rehearsal dinner, big day and even afterward like anniversary parties and vow renewal ceremonies.  Birthdays, baby showers, corporate gigs and other Texas-sized occasions are also on their talent roster, as well as non-profit events. The latter was Robyn’s initial calling into event planning and design, and one she’s excelled at every pretty little detailed-second.

Wedding designer and planner Stefanie Miles is a firm believer in celebrating love—and that celebrating, in itself, is an art form of the purest kind. Her curated gallery of gracefully executed nuptial events capture the joy of her clients with thoughtful design sensibility. Based in the heart of Dallas in Highland Park, she leads her team in creating personal, intentional celebrations both locally and in destinations around the world.

When sass and class is on the menu, Steve Kemble tops the list. Always in the know—after all, he dishes the latest on his “Dose of Sass” live radio segment on 103.7 fm every weekday morning—Steve wears many hats when it comes to luxury entertaining. He’s earned countless awards for his memorable bashes over the years, from the Special Event Industry Lifetime Achievement Award to the being inducted into the Event Industry Hall of Fame. Whether it’s an extravagant soiree at home or a grand and opulent event for hundreds, count on Steve to bring it all together perfectly.

For more than three decades, Sue Kelson has been producing events of all kinds in Dallas and Houston. But it’s weddings that give her the greatest sense of accomplishment because she is able to take a bride’s dream and turn into a beautiful reality. It’s more than just ensuring the flowers are pretty and the candles are lit. Kelson and her team encourage brides to think outside the box and thrive on providing dedicated inspiration to produce weddings that go above and beyond.