I'd like to begin a weekly feature spotlighting Seattle's most talented wedding professionals. I'm introducing them here on my blog!

She's profiled on Junebug weddings and mySeattleWedding.com.

Please welcome:

LISA Yamasaki from MONA LISA EVENTS!

First let's start off with some cute images through Lisa's planning efforts: Photo credits to Paul Joseph Brown, Red Fish Blue Fish, and lisa's assistants...

THE SCOOP ON MONA LISA EVENTS

Lisa's introduction to the wedding industry:
The wedding bug bit me when I was 19 and worked during the summer as an assistant for a wedding photographer. I loved that I was helping to make the bride and groom enjoy their day. After college, I started my career in event planning with nonprofit organizations, planning their fundraising auctions, 5K walks, etc. Woodland Park Zoo allowed me to coordinate their 100+ yearly weddings in their gardens and venues and I assisted friends and family with their weddings. Weddings are my passion!

Why wedding planning??
This might seem crazy to some people, but if given the choice, I’d rather be planning and/or hosting the party or celebration, than attending one! Event planning is something that comes naturally to me and I believe you should do what you love – and I feel so blessed that I’ve been able to do just that.

What is Mona Lisa Events to be exact?
I launched Mona Lisa Events in September of 2005. I provide complete, custom and day-of planning services for couples. My goal with each client is to make the planning process as stress free and fun as possible. I think a couple’s engagement should be an exciting and blissful time, so my services allow clients to make all the fun and big decisions, while I handle all the legwork that it takes to make it happen.

They say "roll with the punches, but what can you bring to the table?"

I’ve been called Grace Under Fire! When the pressure is on, I can remain calm and get the job done with a smile on my face – and that’s a must-have trait in this business! You’ve got to be an active listener and communicator – you need to get an understanding of your client’s style and personality so that you can help them along the way with ideas they’ll love and to match them with other wedding professionals they’ll feel comfortable with and excited about, i.e. photographers, DJ’s, etc.

Your expert opinion about our industry's ever-changing trends:

I’m noticing more and more that Seattle is becoming a hot spot for destination weddings. I’m currently working with several couples from out of state and out of the country who are coming to Seattle and tying the knot with a large guest count in tow. I think this is really exciting because I think Seattle and it’s surrounding areas have so much to offer: gorgeous venues, temperate weather, and talented wedding professionals who are on the cutting edge of wedding trends.

For brides out there who need to get their mind on the honeymoon: Visit Lisa's website: www.monalisaevents.biz

email her for more info at lisa@monalisaevents.biz

sidenote: I worked with Lisa in June of 2006 at a very classy home-styled wedding in Redmond. I was very impressed with her ability to accomodate my assistant and I with meals exactly as the bride & groom were eating. She set a high standard of professionalism and smiled the entire way through. It was the hottest day you can imagine, seriously it was a hot day with little shade, anything could've gone wrong. But everything was PERFECT. Lisa was a DOLL to work with! The guests and the bride & groom ENJOYED their wedding. It was a pinnacle moment when everything just clicked!