Meet Laura Lyn Coody: Wedding Planner & Social Marketer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Lyn Coody and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura Lyn, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
As a kid, I was always interested in art and creating. I started at UGA as an art major, but quickly realized that while I was covered in charcoal in the dorm stairwell, my friends were out building relationships and memories. I wanted to be a part of those memories too! Soon after, I started collecting wedding magazines because I’m a hopeless romantic and love all things pretty. I had clear totes full of gorgeous wedding editorials before I finished college and started organizing tear-outs in a whopping 4-inch binder for my “future designs.” After college, I worked in corporate Atlanta for a great company where I loved the people, but I had zero underlying interest in that industry. I planned events for the company and loved creating joy for the employees. Then, after leaving Atlanta, I managed someone else’s business and was putting all my energy into making that business better while also stomaching all the stress and anxiety when things weren’t lining up. In that moment, I realized if I was going to carry that much stress, it should be for MY own business–where I can control the legacy and business mission and total operations. In 2015, I launched LLC Events full-time so that I could spend all my time, creativity, devotion, (and yes, sometimes stress) creating joy for couples in picture-perfectly designed wedding days.

What should our readers know about your business?
I built LLC Events out of a desire to utilize my creativity and organization to create extraordinary joy for others in life’s special moments. I think every couple deserves a wedding day full of joy and void of stress. I bring a unique set of experience to my role as wedding planner after working in almost every angle of the wedding industry…makeup artist, floral/design assistant, catering intern, venue manager, wedding singer (ha!)…I’ve done a lot! I haven’t officiated a wedding, but I’m not counting it out if the need arises! I believe this experience across the industry helps me to have a great rapport and working relationships with other vendors on events because I understand the roles they play too. Like so many industries, the pandemic hit the events/wedding industry with force. It’s been a challenging year, and I think we’ve all evolved however we can. I see the energy for weddings coming back, which excites me because I haven’t lost the passion for what I do. I’ve spent time focusing on how I can better meet clients and brides where they are, and I’m excited to be launching some new services to fill those needs this year. Along with expanding my team to service different areas of Georgia, we’ll be offering VIP bride days, for brides looking for partial assistance or conceptual services instead of full-service planning. We’re also introducing specialized tableware rentals and in-home entertaining services for clients that are eager to start entertaining and hosting in their homes again, which is something that I love doing so much.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Spending time in Atlanta is such a treat! We have family that lives in Middle Georgia and family that lives North of Atlanta, so meeting in the city is a wonderful central location for special gatherings. I love going to Ponce City Market for outdoor fun, shopping, dining, drinking—just a really fun day! I also love getting to Fox Theatre any opportunity I can to see a great show. It’s such a beautiful and historic facility. You can throw a dart at the map for great food, but some of my favorite spots are Seven Lamps, Le Colonial Atlanta, True Food Kitchen (for lunch) and Tin Lizzy’s (for queso, margs and nostalgia of my post-college days!). Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Most definitely my family! My mom has worked in her family’s business my entire life, and my Dad owns and operates a business too. I’d say they certainly instilled the possibility of going out and “crafting” the perfect job and business for myself. Both of my grandmothers were superb-entertainers while I was growing up, and I attribute my love for hospitality and even fellowship in my home to them. My mom is still one of the best Event Assistants that I have. She’s amazing. In the early days of LLC Events, I said to her, “Mom, I want to pay you for helping me.” She said, “Absolutely not! You’re building a business and you need that money.” That kind of support and love is invaluable! Honestly, in every business and internship that I worked with early in my career, there was someone in a leadership position that influenced how I do certain things from a CEO perspective and operating my business. I’m thankful for how those people shaped me.

Website: www.llcevents.com

Instagram: @llcevents

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralyncoody/

Facebook: @LLCeventsllc

Image Credits
Leigh Wolfe Photography, Britt Croft Photography