We recently connected with Lindsey Leichthammer and have shared our conversation below.

Lindsey, appreciate you joining us today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

My parents were monumental in building a foundation for success for both my brother and I. Growing up in the Boston area, there is a grit and resilience that becomes a core value and a baseline of how you operate, and my parents baked that into the lessons they taught us. There isn’t some flashy, extraordinary moment, it was all the small moments along the way:

My mom teaching me to take pride in myself, my home, and what I bring to the world. You make you bed every morning, keep a clean home, take pride in the environment you create for yourself. Be thoughtful in your presentation. Wrap your gifts carefully, pay attention to detail. She taught me to be a gracious host, to have proper etiquette, and to go big for holidays and parties.

My dad battled hours of traffic going to and from work every day, providing an amazing home and childhood for us. But even after a long workday and bumper to bumper traffic, he would bring me home a treat or make time to play with me when he got home, that even when work or aggravation fills your day you can still find an opportunity to bring a smile to someone else. And even when he wasn’t working in the office, he was working outside making our home an absolute oasis.

Both of my parents taught us the value of hard work, taking pride in earning, and drive, dedication, and work ethic will get you far in life. Oh, and celver wit and charm doesn’t hurt either. Eye contact when speaking, a firm grip in a handshake, thank people for their efforts, scruples, listen, when to be gentle, when to be tough, how to take it on the chin, how to be brave. It’s all the small things along the way that teach you how to overcome obstables, how to be a positive influence, and how to be a stand up citizen.

I’m so proud of the way I was raised. I have become a kind, generous, dedicated individual because of it. I trust in myself, took a leap and started my own business because I leaned to not be afraid of risk (and if I want it done right, do it myself, haha, mom!) and I am fortunate enough to have created a life I love because of it.

Lindsey, 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?

Okay, so it’s the long story… but it’s worth the read:

I began my journey in the event industry as a wide-eyed, sixteen-year-old banquet server, serving up bacon-wrapped scallops and dirty martinis at a high-end steakhouse on the beach just south of Boston. I loved watching all of the wedding guests arrive; beautiful party dresses, men in sharp suits with ties of all patterns. Arrival is always a flurry of excitement, guests stuffing their cards into the card box and grabbing glasses of complimentary champagne, eagerly scanning the seating chart to see who they’re sitting with for dinner and eyeing the options at the raw bar, they make their way to hug the newlyweds and give a congratulatory handshake.

Fast forward a few years, I leave my little beach town of Marshfield, Massachusetts, and head for the hills to Burlington, Vermont to attend Champlain College. I graduated from their business program in 2010 with honors, majoring in business management, double minoring in Event Management and Marketing. Post grad, I have spent my time in full-service catering, bar services, staffing and event management. I have executed hundreds of events; from curated 12-person dinner parties to 3000+ person festivals, and everything in between. In support of the wedding industry, I became a board member of the Vermont Association of Wedding Professionals in 2013. I was awarded the “Industry Member of the Year Award” from the Association in 2015, and went on to serve two terms as board President 2017- 2023.

I have been the person fluffing the bride’s train before she walks down the aisle, and the person on the other end of the walkie-talkie with the fire chief ensuring a smooth evacuation of a large event due to lightning and thunderstorms. I have executed efficient, timely dinner service for 450 guests, and kept a wedding party calm when Grandma needed an ambulance just as the ceremony was about to begin. I could go on – the point is, I have seen it all and more importantly, dealt with it effectively.

What makes a good event producer is three-fold (in my opinion).
One: It’s extensive experience on the ground floor of many events. Most importantly understanding the logistics, from power distribution to potable water plans, to guest experience and the importance of ambiance. Two: It’s having positive relationships with other event professionals and a gold-star reputation from colleagues and previous clients alike because, I assure you, it’s not for nothing. And three: It’s about having a little humor. Because how boring if you can’t laugh a little along the way? These events are the most important days of your life. They’re going to be so exciting, amazing and filled with love and laughter – half the fun is getting there.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

My tips for managaing a team and maintaining high morale is always be willing to do whatever it is you’re asking of your team members. Many of my team members have stayed with me through most of my career, even from my catering days. I may be the company owner, but my team has seen me jump in at the dish station to get the dishwasher out of the weeds, swing trash bags into the dumpster, lifting racks of plates, stacking chairs, spreading hay in the mud. I’ll never be the gym teacher standing in the center telling everyone else to run a mile. We’re a team, and we’re in it together. When your team feels like we’re all a part of a bigger picture and we need to work together to pull off these extraordinary events, they’re much more willing to go the extra mile to achieve the results. Additionally, gratitude goes a long way. I am always sure to thank my team for their efforts, to address specific ways they went avobe and beyond, cards or treats after really hard days, and beginning all of my team meetings with appreciation because none of this is possible with out the hard work and dedication from your team!

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

Being in the wedding industry, most of my clients are one-timers! However, there have been many occassions where I have had multiple siblings within a family use me for their events, and where I have done other non-wedding events for families as well. Over the course of planning, I become very close with my couples and their families. We spend a lot of time together during the planning process and making them happy is paramount to me. Over this process there is a huge foundation of trust that is built, especially with a high emotional investment / high monetary investment event, when everything goes well and families realize they have a strong leader in their corner, there is a mututal appreciation. Plus, being a part of some of the happiest days of a families life, you are forever a little piece of it. So even if my clients haven’t had an occassion to re-hire me, I remain freinds with them – seeing them start families, receiving Christmas cards, calling to get a drink while they’re in town – and those connections and relationnships are often more valuable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lindseyleichthammer.com
• Instagram: @lindsloves_ and @lindslovesevents
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/lindslovesevents

Image Credits

Coryn Kiefer Photography
Jackie Fox Photography
Julia Luckett Photography
Amanda Young Photography
Gabe Aceves Photography