Laurie Arons Special Events was established in 1994 and is a prestigious full service event planning company located in San Francisco. Specializing in ultra luxury weddings and events, LASE is known for their exceptional attention to detail and flawless execution. With a portfolio that includes celebrity weddings and society events, LASE is at the forefront of luxury event planning in the Bay Area.

This is a full-time Event Manager position at Laurie Arons Special Events in San Francisco, CA. The Event Manager will be responsible for working closely with Laurie and clients on planning, coordinating, and executing high-end complex wedding weekends. Daily tasks include liaising with clients, vendors, and venues, creating event timelines, reviewing contracts, managing guest lists & RSVPs, managing budgets, overseeing event weekend staff, event setup and breakdown, client mailings, and ensuring seamless event operations. The ideal candidate has experience working in the luxury wedding industry.

Responsibilities

• Venue & Vendor Procurement: Conduct comprehensive, time-sensitive research to identify suitable venues and vendors that align with the event’s objectives, budget, and theme, sourcing options from a diverse range of properties and vendors that align with the priorities of our clientele 

• Vendor Evaluation and communication: Identify and evaluate vendors for essential services, such as catering, entertainment, audio-visual, florists, décor, and transportation, ensuring all specialized needs are met. Lead all key communication with these vendors during the planning and execution process. Ensure clear and consistent updates on the event timeline, setup, and logistics. Coordinate delivery schedules, event setup, and tear-down with all third-party vendors, including caterers, A/V teams, florists, decorators, transportation providers, and security personnel

• Venue & Vendor Contracting & Negotiations: Lead contract negotiations with venues and vendors to secure favorable terms, including pricing, services, and cancellation policy. Review and clarify terms and conditions to avoid misunderstandings and manage any potential contract modifications or amendments

• Financial Oversight & Budget Tracking: Oversee financial aspects related to venues and vendors. Track and monitor all related costs, ensuring that event budgets are adhered to. Collaborate with the finance team to ensure accurate recording of expenditures and to resolve any discrepancies

• Monitor and regularly update actual spending against the budget throughout the planning process, making adjustments as needed to stay within financial limits and communicating those to clients 

• Event Planning & Logistics: Full fledged project management and coordination with the support of our studio manager 

• Client / Guest Concierge: Management of the client and guest relations from every touchpoint

Qualifications

• 6-8 years of direct experience working in high end weddings and private events, hospitality, yachting or travel, client service and client relations / event management in Private Equity, Financial Services 

• San Francisco / Bay Area position with office presence strongly preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, event management, business administration or a related focus area. English speaking is preferred

• 4+ years of leading and managing teams. Comfortable in a dynamic environment, overseeing a team of 2-3 team members and a wide bench of event weekend staff, creative vendors and outside partners

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and motivate a boutique team to achieve success, no matter the scale or complexity of the project

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and establish trust with clients, vendor partners and team members 

• Strategic thinker with the ability to triage, problem solve and seek solutions

• A passion for aesthetics, weddings and social celebrations, design-forward gatherings

• Strong time management and ability to multitask, monitor and manage multiple priorities, and meet timelines

• Confidence in spoken and written language, as well as seasoned with client service for ultra high net worth individuals

• Passion for the wedding industry and a genuine desire to create memorable experiences for clients. A knowledge and passion for the luxury marketplace and an understanding of luxury consumer and design brands 

• A proven track record of keeping complex operations organized and running smoothly under pressure

• Composure in fast-moving situations and the ability to manage competing priorities without losing the thread

• Familiarity with Asana, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Canva, and Dropbox

• An eye for detail that extends to mailing etiquette, presentation formatting, and the small things others overlook

• A service-first mindset — you understand instinctively what it means to anticipate a client's needs before they voice them

• Comfort in a small, close-knit studio where the work is varied, meaningful, and consistently high-stakes

• Ability to lift 30 lbs with mobility to assist in event load in and strike as required by the job

Additional Details

• Bay Area candidates are highly preferred

• This is a full time role, with the expectation of in office collaboration

• Availability for up to nine event weekends

• Salary ranges between $120,000-$150,000, commensurate with experience, plus event rates applied to all on-site productions

Serious candidates are encouraged to apply with a clear cover letter and resume by emailing: laurie@lauriearons.com