Hard to believe the Holidays have arrived. The fall has been amazingly pleasant, which allowed LK Events to enjoy the beautiful weather outside in a photo shoot with Leathem Photography. We always have a blast together on these photo shoots, and this year, we were fortunate enough to have Puja Batura help us coordinate our outfits and Brian Sutherby beautify us. ☺ We’d now like to take some time to reflect on the past year as we are so grateful for our family, friends and community – we wanted to share some of our thanks to those around us.

We hope you, your family, and your friends have a warm, wonderful, and safe Holiday. As always, we thank you for your support!

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It would be safe to say, this year has been the craziest….by far….of my life ☺ And I wouldn’t change it for the world.

I am grateful for my husband, Bryan. He has been my rock, my partner and my calm since the day I met him. If it weren’t for his love and support, I don’t think I could have gotten through the past 11 months. In February, we were told we were having twin girls. I spent the next six months of pregnancy in complete shock, while wondering how I was going to deal with everything that comes with twins…not to mention raising a 17 month old….and running a business. Bryan reminded me that God only gives you what you can handle and although I didn’t believe him all year….I wouldn’t trade my family for the world. Thank you, Bryan, for always putting our family first, for taking care of our children when I go to work (while keeping the house clean to my standards), and for your understanding in the midst of all of it. I love watching you light up around our children, I love that Jack waits for you to come home by the window, and I can’t wait to see how attached our little girls will be to you, just like their brother. I couldn’t do this without you.

I am grateful for my children. Jack, you have brought more joy into my life than you will ever know. I love your smile, your contagious laugh, your cuddles, your words, your manners, your affection, your bright blond hair and those beautiful blue eyes. I love your curiosity about everything, your appreciation for the smallest things in life (like turning the lights on and off) and how you love to clean, like your mom. I look forward to our nightly dance parties. Never stop dancing, Jack. Ellie and Lucy, I never knew I could love two little girls as much as you. I love watching you smile together, talk to one another and hold each other’s hands. You have made this transition from 1 to 3 pretty easy, and I have learned so much from you. I can only hope you will be as close to one another as I am to your Aunt Jenny, and as close to me as we are with your Nana. Who knew I’d be 32 years old with three kids under two, living in the suburb I was raised. Next thing you know, I’ll be driving a minivan with an LK Events logo!

I am grateful for my parents – who have been by my side throughout every pivotal moment in my life. Most importantly, the birth of my children. Mom, you are my best friend. There is no one in the world I would rather talk to 10 times a day (except Missy) and I appreciate you always being there. I can only hope I am as close with my children as you are with yours. You are always putting everyone else’s needs before your own. You have more energy to keep up with seven grandchildren than I could ever have. I hope to be half the mother you have been to me. There is no one else I’d rather share a glass of wine with while feeding a baby at 4 pm on any given day. These are the memories I will cherish forever. Dad, thank you for always being my first phone call when I’m in a bind or need advice (like when all those curbs got in the way when I was learning to drive). Most importantly, you are the first person I contact when I am in need of anything. That will never change. I love you both so much.

I am grateful for our nanny, Krystina. I don’t like to use the word “nanny” because Krystina is so much more. She is a part of our family. Yes, she takes care of our children so Bryan and I can go to work every day, but her presence is so much greater. She adores our children and they adore her. She manages to keep the twins on the same schedule, while always making time for Jack. But more than that, I come home to a spotless house after a long day. I get asked constantly, “How do I do it all?” It’s simple, it’s Krystina. I am so grateful for you Krystina. You came into our lives when I had no idea how I was going to get through the day. You walk into my home every day with incredible energy, calmness and a smile on your face.

To my LK Event Family – this company would not be where we are today, if it weren’t for you. Nicole, you continue to steer this ship and lead the team on everything. And I mean everything. Jennifer, Allison and Lara – I am so proud of everything you have accomplished both professionally and personally and I look forward to what lies ahead. We are not colleagues, we are a family….and that is something so special to me. I could go on and on about each of you but you know how special you are to me. Thank you, for all you do.

There are SO many more people I am grateful for and I have to stop soon before I bore everyone but I am pretty sure you all know how important you are to me. I am SO grateful for my sister, my brothers and my in laws, best friends, colleagues, vendor friends, clients, brides, grooms, parents of the brides and grooms, my doctors, nurses and of course, Carrie Underwood – you are all so special to me and I thank you for being a part of my life.

Love,
Lauren Knuepfer Rozum

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I am so thankful for the health of my parents this year. They both had some scares and I am not ready to face ongoing health issues with both of them, especially since they live in Montana. They have been taking care of themselves and each other and I thank my friends for all of their prayers for their recovery. I am thankful that I will be spending a long Thanksgiving holiday with my family this year. The time with my parents, brothers, sister-in-law, two nephews and one niece are what I treasure most in life. Even if I may need to take a “Nikki Time Out” during the visit, I enjoy the time we spend over a home cooked meal and playing with the kids outside. I am thankful for a safe place to live and for all of my friends that supported me during that crisis in September.

To the numerous friends I call besties – thank you for your love and support from near and far. I am thankful for the couples that I was privileged to work with in 2015 – you have all helped me grow as a wedding planner and I will always remember our time together. I am thankful for the Chicago event professionals that have opened their arms for me this year as I stepped into the President position for ISES Chicago. It is truly an honor to keep our chapter members moving forward in the growth of their businesses and personal development.

Lastly, to the ladies at LK Events, you make me laugh, let me cry in front of you, and keep me motivated. I am so grateful for each and every one of you.

Love,
Nicole Zenner

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I am thankful every day for my life choices that have gotten me to where I am today in my journey. I often wonder if I would have moved to a different city other than Kansas City right after college if I would have followed my lifelong dream of getting to Chicago. Or how different my life would be if I wouldn’t have joined the sorority I did with women I adore & have such wonderful memories of. I lost a pledge sister this year and through her struggle she was able to reconnect so many of us which she would have loved. Although we lost her at such a young age I am grateful to her for bringing us all back together despite being spread out all over the world.

I will be forever grateful to my best friend, Lindsey, for many things but also because if it wasn’t for her lack of organization (sorry Linds) I may never have found my passion of event planning over five years ago. I am grateful for living in a high rise (even though I said I never would) for if not I would have missed out on another amazing group of friends. Unfortunately this year I lost a friend from there as well who had an amazing journey and had so much left to still live. Through our inseparability as “neighbor-roomies” she taught me how to live, love and laugh and always had a smile on her face.

This year obviously had its struggles but through the care of some great doctors my health issues seem to be finally getting back on track. I am thankful to them and to the doctors who have helped and continue to help my loved ones this year too. Because of them my mom’s back is making progress and we celebrated my Grandma’s 94th Birthday this year. I am grateful to Ollie’s team of veterinarian’s and dog walkers for without them we wouldn’t be where we are today; almost two years seizure free! I thank Gloria for being my low maintenance “furry kid.” I appreciate my friend’s patience with my schedule more than they will ever know and vow to do better. ☺

Thank you to all of my amazing clients and vendors that I had the pleasure of working with this year – it was truly a wonderful year.

And then there are the ladies of LK Events who are not only my colleagues but some of my best friends and I thank you all for your love and support and always being willing to catch up over a glass of wine or champs.

Love,
Jennifer Crouch

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With 2015 coming to a close, I am initially thankful for forcing myself to disconnect from technology to enjoy some quiet time to think back over an exciting year. Above all, I am thankful for the health of my family. This year brought some challenging news, but with it, I realized just how strong and close the DeKnight family can be even while living up and down the East Coast. There were definitely times this year when I was humbled by their strength and remembered why I am so proud to call everyone my family.

I am also so thankful for my husband, Dave, who makes me laugh everyday and never complains when I work late or ask for help alphabetizing escort cards on a Friday night.

I am eternally grateful for my friends who I know will always be by my side even though they span both coasts. I can always count on them for a crazy laugh or to giggle when I tell the same story over and over (guilty!).

Thank you to all the couples I have been blessed with over the past year. Each of you have taught me something new and let me be a part of such an intimate and special day in your lives and I will never forget it.

And to my LK Events team – thank you for being family, friends, coworkers and everything in between. 2015 was an incredibly exciting year and I can only imagine what the next year brings!

Love,
Allison DeKnight Young

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Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it forces us to pause from the hustle of every day life – the emails, the texts, the social media, the busy schedules, the stresses of making enough and being enough and doing enough – and really focus on what is important and how fortunate we are.

This year I am thankful for so many things. It has been a year of change and growth for me and I’m so thankful to have the unwavering support of husband, my biggest cheerleader. I’m also thankful for his professional success and the daily stories he comes home with from the hospital, because they serve as an amazing reminder of how small our problems really are.

I’m extremely grateful for my parents, who continue to put their four children at the forefront of every single thing they do. I am especially thankful for my mother who continues to answer my MANY phone calls every day – she is my lifeline. I’m also grateful for my father who walks me through life’s biggest challenges in painstaking detail via phone – like how to fix a radiator or how to file taxes. They are honestly the best. I’m thankful that despite the fact that my three siblings are currently living in three cities, we are still best friends and always prioritize time our together. It’s amazing to watch them grow into adults and figure out the kind of people they want to be. I’m constantly in awe in how much I learn from my little brother and sisters.

I am also thankful for my amazing friends who show me the biggest most selfless hearts when I really need it. They are my workout, wine drinking, Target shopping, restaurant trying partners, and I couldn’t do life without these people.

I am thankful for the amazing opportunities that I’ve been able to take advantage of this year, especially joining this phenomenal team of women. They have been so welcoming not only as colleagues, but as friends, and I couldn’t ask for more inspiring people to work alongside. I’m so lucky I have the ability to do a job that I truly love.

Love,
Lara Tumer