Member Spotlight: Carrie Traver of Pure Lavish Events

Southern California native, Carrie Traver is a proud Firefighter wife, entrepreneur, and wedding planner. Upon graduating from Azusa Pacific University Carrie realized she loved nothing more than to meet a couple, hear their story, and be right by their side on one of the biggest days of their life. With encouragement from her husband, Justin, and the Lord opening door after door, Pure Lavish Events flourished. Carrie has the opportunity to hear incredible engagement stories, be inspired by remarkable couples, spend months planning, and then witness as they become husband and wife. Now that Carrie is a wife and mother, she's come full circle seeing how important every minute of a wedding day is. When Carrie isn’t buried in timelines, you can find her lounging at the beach with her husband and kiddos! 

What inspired you to enter the wedding industry?
There were so many different avenues of inspiration that led me to become a planner. I think the biggest was serving others. All of the gorgeous details are a perk, but for me, acts of service have always been in my nature! I actually went to college to become an English teacher but while I was in school I was working for an event firm and that’s when I realized that events were my niche. I completed my degree in English-Lit and then began hospitality at a Junior College (yes, I was in school forever!). From there I started Pure Lavish Events and have never looked back!

What inspired you to start Pure Lavish Events?
My husband actually inspired me to start Pure Lavish Events. He understood my hope for others to have the most memorable wedding day and dreams for a company that focused on service. My motivation behind Pure Lavish is that both myself and our planners ensure that our couples feel as though they're our only couple and truly have an experience that they always remember and cherish—from beginning to farewell brunch.

How does using Aisle Planner help you deliver the client experience you want to?
Aisle Planner has been one of the most beneficial tools for our company. It serves as an interaction tool between the couple and planner and ensures a premier experience upon our couples signing with us.

What's your favorite Aisle Planner feature?
My favorite feature is the in-depth checklist and budget tracker. This may seem so simple but when you have multiple couples Aisle Planner is the best investment in ensuring not only your couples are on track but you and your team are!

What would you tell someone who's thinking about becoming a wedding and event planner?
Do your due diligence and assist or shadow a planner not only on a wedding day but behind the scenes. There’s so much more to planning than just pretty things. It’s long days, sometimes very emotional, and the details are endless. You wear so many hats and want to understand every avenue that planning entails.

What do you think will change about the weddings and special events space over the next five years?
I think things will change slightly in the next five years. Since we're in the midst of a pandemic, I think people have come to realize that weddings can easily become more of a “presentation” and the true meaning of marriage can get lost. We may see that weddings become more intimate (still as beautiful!) and that personal details and experiences for their guests take precedence.

What’s your personal philosophy on becoming a great wedding and event planner?
My personal philosophy on being a great planner is easy... it’s all about service, attentiveness, and passion!

What lights your creative fire?
Learning about what the couple loves and trying to incorporate that in a tasteful way!

Is there anything you're particularly excited about working on this year?
Yes, there's a lot to look forward to! We can’t disclose much but we've been blessed with some amazing couples and are looking forward to sharing their stories!

Hero photo courtesy: Kaysha Weiner

Want to see more from Carrie? Check out her website eventsbypurelavish.com!