Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Eva Larson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Eva thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

I aim to create meaningful gatherings of unscripted joy.

The world—especially through social media—constantly bombards us with messages about what we should have, the perfect cake design, the trendiest colors, how our flowers should look, the right amount of décor, what’s essential, the ideal dance song and what everyone should wear. This overwhelming noise creates unnecessary stress and pressure during what should be a joyful and personal experience.

In recent years, many weddings and events have become focused on achieving that ‘Pinterest-perfect’ look, often going to great lengths to get it just right. While we all appreciate a flawless and beautiful day, my goal is to design a celebration that authentically reflects who my clients truly are and what makes them unique. This approach creates an unforgettable experience, making it one of their best days.

At a recent wedding held at a private family home, the bridal processional followed a long path with stunning stone steps winding through an orchard, with grass swaying gently in the breeze. It was a truly beautiful setting for the bride’s entrance. During the rehearsal, I realized just how magical those steps were—especially given the deep connection to the bride’s family home. Though a long processional can take time, I knew it would be worth it. I encouraged the bride and her father to wait until the entire wedding party had gathered at the front before they took their first step. Despite the risk of it feeling too long, I knew this moment would be irreplaceable, and it was sure to become one they’d never forget.

Eva , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi! My name is Eva and I have a love affair with well planned events.

I spent a lot of time seeing couples that felt overwhelmed and overcome by planning their own weddings. The internet is full of ideas, families and friends are full of opinions, it’s typically their first rodeo and no one has given them the playbook.

Planning a wedding is an incredibly large task and is personal on many levels. I seek to support both the couple and the circle behind them. It’s easy to follow the manual and go through the motions, but my goal is to connect on a deeper level where I can serve my clients and their needs best.

I love to design weddings around who the couple truly is…not what Pinterest tells me to do. Furthermore, I have a strong desire to make sure my couples feel a sense of peace and calm when it comes to the execution of one of their best days.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson is never do a wedding alone. Several years ago, I had mostly been working wedding days by myself without an assistant. I just assumed this is the way it was, I could do it all myself and didn’t need any help. Gosh…was I wrong.

It was a hot day in early August at a venue north of Seattle. The clients had a fair amount of decor and a lot of moving around. I usually arrive to the venue fairly early and start right away. I had not thought about how much I had walked that day until my body let me know.

Before the ceremony even started, I could barely walk! I had been running around, repeating a lot of the same motions (placing chargers, florals, candles, signage) and eventually I had to stop. I fortunately was able to sit down, take a lunch break and rest until the next thing. The rest of the night was a bit of a blur. I think that I just pushed through and then laid flat for the next two days!

How did you build your audience on social media?

I just decided to stop worrying about it and just ‘do the thing’. Seriously, that was my strategy. I pictured Jerry Seinfeld staring at me saying ‘Who cares?! Might as well give it a shot, what’s the worst that can happen?!”

I noticed that people liked seeing someone who kept it real and gave advice rather that making them go find it on their website or only pushed sales. Social media has done more for me than any wedding vendor website ever has. Most people find me on Instagram or Facebook.

I find that a mix of advice and suggestions with pictures of my work is really appealing to people. For someone just starting out, the key is just to get started. It won’t be perfect the first 10 times but it get’s a lot easier on the 11th time. And keep it authentic!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gathercheer.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatherandcheer
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gatherandcheer
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eva-larson-107b3934
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@gatherandcheer

Image Credits

Nicole Gagne Photo
Russie Denay Photography
Aika Foz
tmInspired