Conversations with Kate Ryan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Ryan. She and her team share their story with us below:

Kate Ryan, owner of Gold Leaf Event Design & Production, specializes in luxury destination weddings and event management. Kate was born and raised in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. After college Kate made her way to Aspen, Colorado where Gold Leaf Events was born, followed years later by the opening of a second office in New York City. Kate is often described as having a sophisticated eye for design and is a creative but rational thinker. She’s a strong advocate for her clients and her all-inclusive attitude to working with a multitude of creative partners warrants the unsurpassed innovation you’ll see in every event produced. Kate’s attentiveness and professionalism are testament to the success of each wedding and the Gold Leaf company as a whole.

Today the Gold Leaf team is being recognized for their dedication, creativity and fun-loving approach to every event. Named a “top planner” by Martha Stewart Weddings, BRIDES and VOGUE. GLE has executed over 100 weddings, social events and executive-level corporate programs for Fortune 500 companies.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Initially, I entered the event industry because I am organized, diligent, qualified and I love creating a beautiful event space. Soon after, I was contributing to celebrations of love, unity, and togetherness. I feel honored when a couple selects our team not only to produce their wedding but we’re also being asked to be present for one of the most memorable days of their lives. Serving our client’s experiences is rewarding and in doing so we’ve built long-lasting relationships with our couples and their families over the years, which is truly now what I cherish most. However, (like most) in 2020 we ran into some unforeseen challenges.

Flexibility and resources became extremely important while orchestrating weddings with COVID-related restrictions. Many of our clients opted to host an intimate wedding this year when restrictions lifted in certain cities. In most cases, we weren’t given more than a couple of weeks’ notice to produce each event. Our relationships with creative partners allowed us to accommodate the last-minute requests and execute each event beautifully (as if it were the original plan). These smaller engagements were followed by larger celebrations on one-year anniversaries in 2021 (of which we were able to secure previously contracted vendors on future dates with minimal to no financial repercussions). The year 2021 then turned into one of our busiest ever due to accommodating past clients’ postponed event dates and our newly engaged couples all in one year — instead of spread out over two. By the end of 2021, our team was burned out, however as we navigated our way through the overload of events last year, 2022 felt more at ease having finally completed all of our last COVID postponements. It was a true test of patience and conflict resolution.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Producing weddings and events provides me the opportunity to be consistently working on something new. Each couple we work with is very different, and I love learning about their relationship journey. They inspire me to create an event reflecting who they are as a couple, where they’ve been and where they’re going. It’s not lost on me what an important and meaningful position I’m in to contribute to each celebration commemorating their next chapter.

Since we’re truly fortunate to be surrounded by such beautiful landscapes, each Gold Leaf event represents untouched beauty accented by our take on modern, innovative and thoughtful design.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
It’s a family affair! My mom works in interior design and I’ve always found her aesthetic to be something I draw inspiration from. I was fortunate to grow up watching her curate the most beautiful tablescapes for holidays, and her homes have always been decorated to perfection. More than anything, my mom taught me by example how to create the most welcoming and inviting atmosphere. Additionally, my sister, Claire works on my team and she is also an inspiration, from her personal style to “quality checks” at our events, her presence allows me to be in multiple places at once.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.goldleafevent.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldleafevent/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoldLeafEvent/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe58tmgWj-zGl-37F56owiw
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/gold-leaf-event-design-and-production-aspen 

Image Credits
Jacqui Cole Photography Valorie Darling Photography Nirav Patel Photography Rachel Havel Photography