Top 5 Event Planners in Baltimore
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Content Marketing Manager -
Editor & Publisher
- September 10, 2026
- 14 min read
- Events
Source: Peerspace
Charm City throws a great party, and the best ones rarely happen by accident. Behind every seamless Baltimore celebration, from a Fell’s Point rooftop reception to a Mount Vernon gala, there’s usually a planner quietly working magic. The right one turns a blank room and a big idea into an evening people actually remember.
Baltimore brings its own quirks to the table, too. Historic rowhouse venues, waterfront weather that changes its mind, and a permit process worth knowing about all reward local know-how. A planner who’s fluent in the city can steer you around the headaches before they start.
So we’ve rounded up five Baltimore event planners worth your attention, each with real credentials and a distinct point of view. Read on for what makes each one special, then start dreaming up the right Baltimore event venue to match.
How we curate our list
We want this list to earn your trust, so here’s how we build it. Our goal is a mix of established names and fresh talent, not a popularity contest.
- We read client feedback across public review platforms, looking for consistent themes rather than one-off raves.
- We study each planner’s portfolio for range, polish, and a clear creative signature.
- We verify professional credentials, active business details, and membership in recognized industry associations.
Best event planners in Baltimore
These five planners each bring something different to a Baltimore celebration. This is a curated set, not a ranking, so read each profile and see who fits your vibe.
Setting the Scene Events & Rental Decor
Company name and founder/lead planner: Setting the Scene Events & Rental Decor / Diane Jones
Specialty/niche: Setting the Scene pairs full styling and planning support with a deep rental decor collection, serving couples and hosts across the greater Baltimore metro. Diane leans into high-quality faux florals as a lower-cost, lower-waste alternative to fresh. That makes her a natural fit for weddings, showers, tea parties, and luxury picnics.
Notable projects or signature style: Diane, a molecular biologist before she found events, brings that same precision to her work. She’s staged whimsical carnival-themed weddings, designed custom signage, styled welcome events and Mehendi celebrations, and built faux arrangements guests swear are real. She’ll even hand a day-of coordinator a detailed decor plan so setup runs clean. Her rental library also stretches beyond weddings. Backdrops, props, and tableware dress up bridal showers, tea parties, and boho luxury picnics, and you’d never guess the pieces were shared.
Pricing: They offer several different packages tailored toward different event types and levels of planning support. For weddings, partial planning and day-of coordination starts at $1,200. Full-planning services start at $3,500. The Tea Party-in-a-Box package costs $499. Baby and bridal shower packages start at $499. They also offer floral and decor rentals. Inquire through their website to request a custom quote.
Why we love them: Diane stays calm when the day throws a curveball. Couples describe her quietly handling a last-minute construction snag at a micro wedding without breaking stride, then setting up and tearing down the rentals herself. That mix of warmth and follow-through is rare. She’s also refreshingly honest about where to save and where to spend. That makes her a smart partner for hosts who care about both style and value.
Connect with them: Follow @setting_the_scene_decor on Instagram for a peek into their creative process and recent events.
The Otherside Creatives
Company name and founder/lead planner: The Otherside Creatives / Anna & Jordan
Specialty/niche: Based in the Woodberry neighborhood, The Otherside Creatives is a full-service planning team that loves to break the rulebook. They’re trendsetters who turn small personal details into a whole cohesive theme. They’re also a genuinely inclusive choice, with real experience guiding queer couples through their celebrations.
Notable projects or signature style: The duo offers Full Planning, Partial Planning, and Month-of Coordination, plus a la carte help like design consulting and day-of support. They handle local celebrations and destination weddings alike, and they’ve steered couples through pandemic-era postponements and last-minute weather pivots with a steady hand. Expect floor plans, minute-by-minute timelines, budget outlines, and vendor referrals, all delivered with a playful, design-forward sensibility that keeps a celebration feeling personal.
Pricing: Styling and design starts at $2,500; event management starts at $6,500; partial planning starts at $8,500; and full planning starts at $9,500.
Why we love them: Their Baltimore vendor network runs deep, and they use it to build couples a dream team. Clients keep describing the same thing. They’re two pros who stay two steps ahead, defuse stress before it lands, and make planning feel like a party you’re throwing with friends. They’re also a genuinely safe, celebratory choice for couples who want a planner that gets their story rather than forcing it into a template.
Connect with them: Follow @theothersidecreatives on Instagram for a peek into their creative process and recent events.
Feyisayo Events
Company name and founder/lead planner: Feyisayo Events / Feyisayo Omotoso
Specialty/niche: Feyisayo Events is a Baltimore-based luxury planning and design studio for weddings, social gatherings, and corporate events. Feyisayo blends a logistics-first mindset with a strong design eye, and the team is happy to travel worldwide for the right celebration.
Notable projects or signature style: The signature all-inclusive package is a favorite. It walks couples from vision to execution with custom design boards, floor plans, and color palettes tailored to their style. From lighting and entertainment to catered menus and vendor coordination, Feyisayo’s team sweats every detail so hosts can enjoy the room. The studio also offers partial and day-of coordination. If you’ve already done the heavy lifting, you can hand off the final stretch without surrendering your vision.
Pricing: Contact Feyisayo Events through their website to request a customized quote.
Why we love them: This is a planner for anyone who wants a polished, design-forward event without the stress of managing it. Feyisayo interprets a half-formed idea and returns something beautiful, then executes it with quiet precision on the day. The team’s close partnerships with top vendors mean the flowers, food, and finishing touches all arrive on the same elevated wavelength.
Connect with them: Follow @feyisayoevents on Instagram for a peek into their creative process and recent events.
2 Hands Studios
Company name and founder/lead planner: 2 Hands Studios / Ally Tierney & Jen Nyland
Specialty/niche: 2 Hands Studios is a luxury boutique planning and design studio rooted in Annapolis and serving Baltimore and the Eastern Shore. Beyond planning, the team offers one-of-a-kind rental decor and custom invitations. That makes it a one-stop shop for couples who want their whole aesthetic under one roof.
Notable projects or signature style: The team pulls from decades of combined experience and has produced everything from intimate ten-person micro weddings to large-scale galas. Consultations are free, and their design-studio model means the look, paper goods, and logistics all speak the same visual language. That close-knit, collaborative approach lets couples borrow a whole creative team’s instincts, not just a single planner’s.
Pricing: Get in touch with 2 Hands Studios through their website to request a custom quote based on your needs.
Why we love them: Ally and her team are the definition of unflappable. Couples talk about how organized and reassuring she is, and how she jumps in early when a timeline gets tight. Her vendor relationships smooth over the bumps most hosts never even see. The boutique scale is the point here: you get a tailored, high-touch experience rather than a booking slotted into an assembly line.
Connect with them: Follow @2handsstudios on Instagram for a peek into their creative process and recent events.
Moments Made Simple, LLC
Company name and founder/lead planner: Moments Made Simple, LLC / Kristin Jarrell
Specialty/niche: Moments Made Simple is a planning, coordination, and creative event concierge for weddings, corporate functions, and social celebrations across the Baltimore area. Kristin is a Master Certified Wedding and Event Planner, and the studio even offers custom decorations and balloon design for hosts who want extra flair.
Notable projects or signature style: Kristin’s background as an educator and longtime organizer shows in how she runs a room. She takes a concept from first meeting through day-of execution, keeping every vendor, timeline, and tiny detail aligned so nothing slips through the cracks. The concierge model means no job is too big or too small. She’ll run a full wedding weekend or a milestone birthday that just needs a steady hand and a great eye.
Pricing: Reach out to Moments Made Simple through their website to request a tailored quote.
Why we love them: The name says it. Kristin’s whole pitch is joy over stress, and clients consistently describe an experience that felt easy, warm, and genuinely fun. She treats your trust like a responsibility, and it shows in the follow-through. Her mix of certification and real-world hustle makes her a reassuring pick for first-time hosts who want a guide, not just a coordinator.
Connect with them: Follow @momentsmadesimple on Instagram for a peek into their creative process and recent events.
Choosing a Baltimore event planner
The best planner for your neighbor might be the wrong fit for you. Use these five checks to narrow the field before you sign anything.
Match the planner to your event type
Planners specialize, even when their websites say they do it all. Some live for design-heavy weddings, others shine at corporate logistics or lively social parties. Start by naming your event honestly, then look for someone whose recent work mirrors it. A luxury gala and a backyard birthday call for very different instincts, so let your celebration lead the search. If your event has a specific need, like cultural traditions, dietary requirements, or an accessibility plan, ask directly about it early. A planner who lights up at your particular challenge will serve you far better than a generalist who treats it as an afterthought.
Look for a portfolio that fits your style
A portfolio tells you more than a testimonial ever will. Scroll through real events and ask whether the mood matches what you’re picturing, whether that’s moody and modern or bright and playful. If every gallery looks the same, that’s a signature. If the work stretches across styles, that’s range. Neither is wrong, but you want your taste reflected back at you. Look for full galleries from a single event, not only the greatest-hits shots. Those show you how a planner handles the unglamorous middle of a day. If you’re still gathering inspiration, a quick run through these questions to ask an event planner can help you name the aesthetic you’re chasing.
Set a clear budget before you meet
Walk into your first conversation with a real number in mind. A good planner won’t judge it; they’ll tell you honestly what it can and can’t cover, and where a smart splurge pays off. Be upfront about the total you’re comfortable spending and how much flexibility you have. That candor lets a planner steer you toward the right vendors instead of ones you’ll have to walk back later.
Test their communication style
You’ll spend months trading messages with this person, so the vibe matters. Notice how quickly they reply, whether they explain things clearly, and whether you feel calmer or more anxious after talking. Ask a couple of pointed questions:
- How do you handle a vendor who goes quiet two weeks out?
- What does a typical week of planning look like as we get close?
Their answers reveal how they’ll show up when something goes sideways.
Confirm local vendor relationships
A planner’s little black book is half of what you’re paying for. Baltimore’s best florists, caterers, and photographers book up fast, and a well-connected planner gets you in the door. Ask who they’ve worked with recently and which venues they know well. Deep local ties also mean fewer surprises, since a planner who knows a space already knows its loading dock, its noise rules, and its quirks. Ask whether they collect any referral fees, too, so you can be sure a recommendation is about fit rather than a kickback. The strongest planners are proud of their network and happy to explain exactly why each name is on your shortlist.
Planning an event in Baltimore
Local logistics can make or break a celebration. Here’s what to keep in mind as you lock in a date and a space.
Factors to consider
Baltimore weather has range. According to Weather Spark, summers here run hot and humid while winters turn cold, snowy, and windy. That makes late spring and early fall the sweet spot for comfortable outdoor events. Set on a July rooftop or a January ballroom? Plan for climate control and a weather backup, and let your planner build in an alternative. Humidity matters for the details, too, since it can wilt fresh florals and soften hair and makeup faster than you’d expect. A shaded ceremony spot, a stocked fan or heater, and a covered rain option go a long way toward keeping guests comfortable and photos crisp.
Dates to work around
Baltimore’s event calendar fills fast around marquee moments like Preakness weekend in May and the city’s big spring and fall festivals. Popular venues and vendors get scooped up months ahead on those dates, and hotel rooms for out-of-town guests tighten right along with them. If your date is flexible, ask your planner which weekends to sidestep. A shift of even one week can free up your first-choice venue, trim vendor premiums, and make life easier for everyone traveling in.
Expert advice
Give yourself runway. Per Baltimore City’s Special Events office, the city advises submitting a complete special event permit application at least six weeks before your date. Popular dates can be spoken for even earlier. Lock your planner and venue first, then let them shepherd the paperwork.
FAQs: event planning in Baltimore
How much does an event planner in Baltimore cost?
It varies widely by scope, guest count, and how much of the process you hand off. Most Baltimore planners quote custom, so share your budget and event details upfront to get an accurate figure. Day-of coordination typically costs far less than full planning, since you’re buying execution rather than months of design and logistics.
How far in advance should I book a Baltimore event planner?
Sooner is safer, especially for peak spring and fall dates. Many couples lock in a planner nine to twelve months out, though skilled planners can jump into a tighter timeline when they have capacity.
Do I need a permit for my event in Baltimore?
Often, yes, particularly for events in city parks, public spaces, or the Inner Harbor. A local planner will know which permits apply and how early to file, so loop them in before you commit to a public location.
What’s the difference between full planning and day-of coordination?
Full planning covers the whole journey, from concept and vendor selection to the timeline. Day-of coordination, sometimes called month-of, hands a finished plan to a pro who runs the event so you can actually enjoy it.
Should I hire a planner if my venue already has a coordinator?
Usually, yes. A venue coordinator looks after the building and its rules, while your planner looks after you, your vendors, and your vision. The two roles complement each other rather than overlap.
Great events begin with the right team and the right space
A talented planner is only half the equation. The other half is a room that gives their vision somewhere to live. Think a light-drenched loft, a historic chapel, or a rooftop with a skyline view. Get both right and the whole night falls into place.
When you’re ready to start scouting, explore unique event venues in Baltimore and picture your celebration in each one. The right space makes a great planner’s job easy, and makes your event unforgettable.
Did we miss someone, or spot a detail that needs updating? Let us know at [email protected].
