We recently connected with Melina Cianella and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Melina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

The name Starry Eyed Events was born from a very specific kind of magic, one that only exists in the early days of falling in love for the very first time. For me, that memory is forever soundtracked by Anyone Else But You by The Moldy Peaches. It wasn’t just a song, it was an anthem for that era in our lives. We were teenagers, maybe a little awkward, a little wide-eyed and completely enamored with the feeling of being seen and adored for exactly who we were.

There’s a lyric in the song that says, “I kiss you all starry eyed, my body swinging from side to side,” and it hit me even then that’s what love feels like. It’s dizzying. It’s dreamy. It’s unfiltered joy mixed with the wildness of possibility. That moment, that sensation, has stayed with me. It felt like time suspended itself and I was caught in an eternal loop of hope, softness and connection.

When I began this journey as a wedding planner, I knew I wanted to create more than just beautiful events. I wanted to craft experiences that made people feel that same kind of magic! That dreamy, almost cinematic feeling of falling in love, of being known, of being starry eyed.

That’s why I chose the name. Starry Eyed Events is a love letter to first kisses, late night laughter, slow dances and every couple who dares to believe that their love story is worthy of celebration. Because it is.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For those who may not know me yet, I’m the founder and lead planner behind Starry Eyed Events, a wedding planning company based in Las Vegas, where we specialize in crafting dreamy, deeply personal celebrations that reflect the magic of each love story.

My journey began at 18, working in a bridal shop where I first fell in love with weddings. I remember being completely enchanted by the gowns, the joy and the energy of couples preparing for one of the biggest days of their lives. I knew I wanted to be more involved in the wedding world but at the time, I had no experience and being so young, I wasn’t exactly the first person people were ready to trust with their wedding day.

By a stroke of luck I was hired by McFarlane Promotions, a boutique event planning company in San Diego that produced some of the city’s largest events from street festivals to parades. That job taught me the ins and outs of large scale event logistics, team coordination and creative problem-solving. After two incredible years I moved on to iHeartRadio where I worked behind the scenes on concerts, large scale festivals and even managed green rooms for major artists. Those experiences were exciting and fast-paced and they gave me a deep appreciation for what it takes to bring big visions to life.

But over time, I realized I didn’t want to be on-air or in sales I missed the emotional connection I had first discovered back in that bridal shop. That’s when I made the leap and began working in weddings.

The learning curve between festivals and weddings? Night and day. Weddings are so much more intimate and emotionally driven. Every detail matters on a completely different level. It took years of hands on experience to truly understand what it means to create a seamless wedding day and I’ve loved every step of that journey.

Today, Starry Eyed Events is a celebration of that evolution of finding joy in the details, of honoring each couple’s unique love story and of designing events that feel like love itself: intentional, beautiful and unforgettable.

We offer full service planning and design for weddings and wedding weekends, from intimate gatherings to full scale productions. What sets us apart is not just our eye for aesthetics or our production experience it’s the heart behind what we do. We listen deeply, guide calmly and create experiences that leave couples and their guests feeling seen, connected, and a little bit starry eyed.

I’m most proud of the moments when my clients turn to me and say, “This was better than I imagined.” Because those aren’t just words, they’re proof that we captured something real. And that’s what Starry Eyed Events is all about!

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Managing a team, especially in the high-stakes, high emotion world of events requires equal parts clarity, empathy, and trust. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that people do their best work when they feel seen, supported, and empowered.

My advice for managing a team and maintaining high morale is to lead with humanity first. Be clear in your expectations but flexible in your approach. Everyone brings something unique to the table and when you recognize and nurture those strengths, your team will feel more invested in the collective success.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative especially in the world of weddings is the way it allows me to really get to know our couples and and turn their vision into a living, breathing experience for a night.

There’s something magical about hearing a couple describe their story, their dreams and then translating all of that into a celebration that looks and feels exactly like them. It’s not just about beautiful details (though I love those too!!) it’s about creating a space where people feel connected, loved and swept up in celebration.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.starryeyedeventslv.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starryeyedeventslv/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@starryeyedevents

Image Credits

Photography by Julia Stockton
Photography by Sofia Theresa