Events are no longer just parties, recognition ceremonies or fundraisers. Now full scale, immersive productions in every sense of the word, they encompass the best of food and beverage, design and decor, entertainment and engagement. Intentional design that relates each piece to the whole and excites the senses in unexpected ways.
We are a full service event design and management company, producing highly creative and impactful social and nonprofit events in the Washington DC metropolitan area. We’ve spent nearly 20 years honing our craft, developing relationships with incredibly talented industry partners and finetuning our logistics protocols to bring our clients beautifully designed and flawlessly executed events.
About Atelier Events
about
Our Values & Approach
wondering what makes us different?
Bold when our clients want bold. A touch of restraint when the moment, event or client calls for it. We listen to your story, read between the lines on challenges you or your organization may be facing, hear your vision and hopes for your special event. Then get to work to create an experience that is unique, exciting and memorable. Never a cookie cutter approach; every one of our events looks completely different. We love being in the business of happy, of helping to achieve an event dream or outcome, of delivering joyful and impactful events that will be remembered for a long time. It’s a journey we treasure and give our all to each and every time.
Listen, Create, Deliver
Our evolving event protocols have us more aware from the start, more consciously thoughtful about how we source and use event product and what happens to it when an event ends. We’re committed to both visioning and driving positive action toward reducing waste and extending the life of event product beyond the primary event to reduce negative impacts on the environment.
High end, highly creative event design paired with thoughtful, environmentally responsible design and implementation.
Partnering with such organizations as Food Rescue and Petal Share, we're helping to raise the bar for greener events.
GOING GREEN
Community Engagement
We are just as creative about helping our clients engage with local communities in need, leveraging our experience in the public and nonprofit sectors to repurpose event product (principally food and decor) for secondary gain. Think 70+ umbrellas from a recent event installation donated to local shelters and transitional housing programs. Or the work we did to curate and incorporate into a recent event design high quality children’s books and educational toys for a local transitional housing playroom.
We regularly coordinate on our clients’ behalf with Food Rescue US to address food insecurity and reduce food waste. And we’re working with our local Food Rescue affiliate to address logistical challenges in the event industry overall, increasing attention to such issues and bringing more venues and catering entities on board.
randy, floral artist
"What would I say to anyone who is thinking of hiring a professional to create a fabulous event? I'd say you will never find an event planner who is more capable than Deborah. Work with her. You will be so glad that you did!"
SERVICES & INVESTMENT
ATELIER EVENTS
We offer a full range of planning, design and event management services. Most of our clients engage us for A-Z services, providing assistance from start to finish with a concierge approach to ongoing communication and support.
We also provide stand alone event design and management services (remember “month of” coordination plans?) for those who are comfortable handling parts or even most of their events themselves.
And for our nonprofit clients, we are expert in managing multi-stakeholder relationships involved in organizational planning for development or other events. Professional staff, volunteers and Boards of Directors as appropriate.
our core team
I came to event planning totally by accident but fell in love instantly. A chance opportunity to plan several professional association conferences during an initial career in public policy and speechwriting led to an unexpected turn. Travel throughout Europe opened new horizons in art, architecture, and design as well as food and wine. Together these early experiences shaped a skill set perfectly suited for event planning and design - awareness of context as well as painstaking attention to detail, creative visioning and a keen eye for aesthetics, relational sensitivity and integrity. Establishing ATELIER EVENTS as a creative force in the Washington, DC area has been hard work, but worth every sleepless night! So excited to now be taking the next step with our incredible team … a complete brand refresh and website relaunch in 2022 along with leadership on the event sustainability and social impact front. Welcome to our new online home!
Debbi joined the team in 2016 and has become our venue, vendor and hospitality lead along with taking a key role in business development and outreach. A quiet extrovert at heart, Debbi goes to great lengths every step of the way to make sure our clients and their families are comfortable and relaxed - from the onset of planning through the end of an event. So grateful for Debbi’s warmth and quiet perseverance; she keeps us sane on even the most challenging days.
Core Team
Deborah Lesser
Debbi Levine
principal & chief creative officer
SENIOR PLANNER
Ellen is our newest team member but we are beyond fortunate to have her on board. With years of experience in high end catering and rentals, Ellen is our on site go to for rentals and catering. She is also our on site styling lead, her keen eye (and hands!) making sure that every chair, place setting and menu card lines up perfectly. We are incredibly grateful for Ellen’s expertise and finesse.
Ellen Cutler
CATERING & RENTALS LEAD
Jill joined the team in 2019. She is our ball of energy, taking on every project with an enthusiastic smile and unflagging energy, making sure we keep the fun in the mix. Jill is constantly on the lookout for that extra special touch, from the coolest entertainment to unique event and tabletop accents. Her spirit is contagious! We are grateful for the joy she brings to all of us and everything we do.
Jill Konopaske
SENIOR DESIGNER
the atelier events
Michelle is our lead wedding ceremony coordinator. Comfortable and relaxed in this role, she makes sure our brides, grooms, their families and attendants are equally comfortable and confident in every aspect of ceremony preparations and logistics. She is right there at their sides, from hair and makeup to prepping for the ceremony to emergency kit preparedness. She exudes personal care and attention, with her warm smile and ready hug reassuring everyone in her presence. We are grateful for Michelle’s experience in so many walks of life and her total dedication to our clients at this incredibly important moment in their lives.
Michelle Stravitz
LEAD WEDDING PARTY & CEREMONY COORDINATOR
Branding & Print
Artisan 2
Designers Fine Press
Emily Baird
Fingers in Ink
Lettering by Lynne
Little Black Dress Paperie
Mitzvah Logos
Social Supply Design
Rentals / Tenting
AFR
BBJ Linen
DC RENTAL
Lola Valentina
Maison de Carine
Party Rental
POSH & LUXE
Select
Something Vintage
SUGARPLUM
Table Manners
Vintage to Modern
Floral & Decor
Blue Vanda
Company Flowers
DaVinci
Edge
Festive Effects (balloon sculptures)
Helen Olivia
Paper (flowers) by Anna K
Randy Watts
She Loves Me
Victoria Clausen
Lighting & Production
ATMOSPHERE
Frost
John Farr
POTOMAC SOUND
Social Supply Design
Music & Entertainment
Airbrush Unlimited
A Squad
Bialeks
Blue House Productions
Chris Grasso Music
District Strings
Electric Events
Everything Entertainment
Pelonkey
SAGE STRING QUARTET & JAZZ
Washington Talent
Catering
Airlie
Capital One Hall
Charles Levine
The Dupont Circle
Equinox
get plated
Lansdowne
Metro Bis
Mindy’s
Occasions
Pampa’s Fox
Spilled Milk
Food Trucks
CAPTAIN COOKIE
Surfside
TIMBER PIZZA
Swizzler
Cakes
Blue Lace Cakes
Buttercream Bakeshop
SIFThouse
Sweets & Treats
Alexandria Cake Pop Company
America’s Favorite Popcorn
Buttercream Bakeshop
Call Your Mother
Casa Rosada Gelato
District Doughnut
Dolcezza Gelato
Happy Tart
Hey Sugar Rex
Holy Ganache
Fluffness
Laduree
Mrs. Macarons
The Pretzel Company
Sofie K Bakes
Sugar Pixie Sweets
Tiny Tudor Cookies
Zola Bakes
Back to Portfolio >>
With gratitude to our amazing vendor partners
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHTS
Weddings
STUNNING ELEGANCE AT THE DC WHARF
PHOTO CREDITS: rODNEY BAILEY
foxhill Private Estate
Photo credits: Sarah Bradshaw
winter warmth at the jazz club
Photo credits: Sharon Farmer &
ATELIER EVENTS
Intimate Garden celebration
Photo credits: Rodney Bailey &
Zmimi Photography
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHTS
Mitzvahs
FALL FUN WITH RIZZO
PHOTO CREDITS: BRADLEY IMAGES
ombrÉ blue, green & yellow
PHOTO CREDITS: JACK HARTZMAN
Pretty in Pink
Photo credits: Ricardo Reyes
nepalese STREET MARKET
PHOTO CREDITS: BRADLEY IMAGES
sports star INDUSTRIAL RUSTIC
PHOTO CREDITS: JOSHUA BARRY
Spunky Sweet
Photo credits: Matthew Ha
LLAMA LOVE
PHOTO CREDITS: JOSHUA BARRY
boho RUSTIC
PHOTO CREDITS: carpe lucem photography & ATELIER EVENTS
Purple Aztec
Photo credits: Matthew Ha
SUMMER IN PARIS
PHOTO CREDITS: RODNEY BAILEY
Basketball lounge
Photo credits: Rodney Bailey
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHTS
Non-Profit
20TH ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE
(hybrid live & virtual)
PHOTO CREDITS: LLOYD WOLF
building a Community Playroom
Photo credits: Joshua Barry
"Words fall short of the results this team produced. Five stars!"
What can I say about a team that made a milestone life event into an absolutely beautiful and awesome memory? Words fall short of the results this team produced. Gave the particulars and they took care of the details. Wonderful communication, wonderful results. Highly recommend. Five stars (six if I could give that many)!
leah
"Without you, it simply wouldn't have been. For all the trials, patience and love you put into our family's special memories, we are all eternally grateful."
Though only gone a bit over two weeks, the memories of June 10th linger on and we have spoken of that special night many times this trip. Your inspiration, your dedication and your unfailing patience I continue to draw upon - after all, without you, it simply wouldn’t have been. For all the trials, the patience and the love you put into our family’s special memories, we are all eternally grateful.
kate
"The entire community benefited from your choice to embrace this new reality and create a truly spectacular event."
Thank you for all you did to create an amazing evening of tributes, music and delicious food! Who knew we could experience a dinner together virtually? You did everything with such determination and care - from the program to the food to the decor. Incredibly difficult to pivot not only the date, but the whole concept. The entire community benefited from your choice to embrace this new reality and create a truly spectacular event.
Elisheva (honoree)
GRATITUDE
Call or email us to start the conversation and learn what we do and how we can help you.
Bringing you a custom approach, just like the highly curated menus at our events.
We’re proud of our work and excited to begin the journey with you!
to start
We'll prepare a custom quote and draft letter of agreement for review and discussion, then go to contract and begin the process of planning and designing your event.
to follow
We’ll deliver a beautiful, highly engaging event you and your guests will treasure forever and for our nonprofit clients, help exceed your fundraising or other goals. And we’ll make the journey to the finish line infinitely less stressful and immeasurably more joyful!
to finish
WONDERING WHAT THE ATELIER EVENTS PROCESS IS LIKE?
CONTACT ATELIER EVENTS
sound like just what you need?
We look forward to learning more about your event. Please inquire via the email link below or reach us by phone or text at 703.346.0247.
© Atelier Events 2022 | All rights reserved | Legal | Video Credit | Template by TONIC | Site Credit by STUDIO STEFAN
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHTS
Social
WEDDING WELCOME DINNER
PHOTO CREDITS: RODNEY BAILEY
WINTER ONEDERLAND FIRST BIRTHDAY
PHOTO CREDITS: ATELIER EVENTS
Wedding Welcome family Brunch
Photo credits: Matthew Ha
Tropical Elegance 50th birthday
Photo credits: Ian Sitek
FIRST BIRTHDAY celebration
PHOTO CREDITS: TONYA TERAN