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7 Event Planning Lessons From a Planner Who Once Staged a Rooftop Elephant
From last-minute bar builds in NYC traffic to a life-size circus elephant at the Four Seasons, Lisa Capre of CapreLife Curated shares hard-won lessons every event planner needs to hear — and the data to back them up.
May we all have the audacity of a woman who ships a life-size elephant to a birthday party.
If you've been in the event planning world for any length of time, you know that no two events are the same, and neither are the planners who pull them off. Lisa Capre, founder and Event Curator at CapreLife Curated in Miami, is proof that some of the best lessons in this business come wrapped in chaos, creativity, and a healthy refusal to take "no" for an answer.
After years building experiences for established brands, Lisa made the decision to build something of her own. Today, CapreLife Curated stands as a testament to what happens when vision, accountability, and execution finally align under the same roof. We sat down with Lisa (virtually, because she's usually in the middle of making something impossible happen) to hear what she's learned along the way.
The event industry isn't slowing down to let anyone catch their breath. The U.S. event management market, valued at $285 billion in 2024, is projected to reach nearly $471 billion by 2033. With that kind of growth comes an increasingly crowded field of planners, venues, and vendors all competing for the same clients. Standing out isn't optional. Here's how Lisa does it, and how you can too.
1. Stop Waiting for the "Right Moment"
If there's one piece of advice Lisa wishes she could go back and give her earlier self, it's this: trust yourself and move sooner.
"I stayed stagnant working for others when I knew the value of relationships," she reflects. "I kept waiting for a 'right moment' instead of trusting myself and taking the leap."
Sound familiar? It should. So many talented planners spend years giving their best work to someone else's brand before realizing that the real growth only starts when they start building their own. The right moment isn't a date on the calendar — it's a decision.
Pro Tip: Identify the one thing you keep saying you'll do "when the time is right." Then ask yourself: what would it actually take to do it now?
2. Your Vendor Relationships Are Your Superpower
Two hours before an event in New York City, Lisa received an urgent request from a Miami-based client: they wanted to add a full bar. On the spot. With zero lead time. And in New York City traffic.
She made one call. Within the hour, a bar was installed and running.
"This is truly thanks to the relationships I hold with vendors and clients," Lisa says. "I'm a make-it-happen type of girl. I don't take no for an answer and nothing is too much of a challenge."
That attitude is backed up by hard data: event professionals consistently rank vendor relationships as one of the most critical factors in delivering successful events. In an industry where 52% of planners cite increasing attendance as their biggest challenge, it's the behind-the-scenes partnerships that often make or break the guest experience, before guests even arrive.
Strong vendor relationships mean faster turnaround, more honest communication, and a network that can flex when things (inevitably) go sideways. They're not a nice-to-have. They're your insurance policy.
Pro Tip: Invest in your vendor relationships during the quiet seasons. Send a check-in message, make a referral, or simply show up to their events. The call you need in a crisis is built long before the crisis happens.
3. Listen First. Curate Second.
Lisa's philosophy on client expectation-setting is deceptively simple: "I listen first, then curate based on the client's vision."
In practice, that means entering every first conversation focused on understanding, not presenting. What does the client want? What does success look like to them? What are they actually worried about, even if they haven't said it out loud?
"I'm very transparent about timelines, budgets, and what I need from them to deliver the best outcome," Lisa explains. "This ensures we start with alignment and trust, and that expectations are set based on their vision."
This approach matters more than ever as clients become increasingly sophisticated. They've done their research, they've watched the Pinterest boards fill up, and they have opinions. The planners who thrive aren't the ones who talk the loudest in that first meeting. They're the ones who ask the best questions.
Pro Tip: Before your next discovery call, write down three open-ended questions that have nothing to do with logistics. Ask about the feeling they want guests to leave with. You'll learn more in ten minutes than you would in an hour of presenting packages.
4. Emergencies Are Managed Before They Happen
Ask Lisa about her emergency protocol and she'll tell you exactly what to do: "Hit it head on, stay calm, take control, and solve it before the client even knows there's a problem."
That sounds cool under pressure, because it is. But the secret is that Lisa has already done the hard work before the event doors open. Staffing contingencies are in place. Supply shortages are anticipated. Venue logistics are mapped. By the time something goes wrong, the plan to fix it already exists.
With the number of in-person events expected to increase by up to 20% in 2026, complexity is only going up. Events are bigger, expectations are higher, and the margin for visible failure is thinner. The planners who stay ahead of the chaos are the ones who planned for it before it was chaos.
"During the event, I stay present and focused," Lisa adds. "I delegate tasks to my team so we can resolve the issue efficiently without disrupting the flow. No drama, no panic, just solutions."
Pro Tip: Build a "what if" document for every event. List your top five most likely failure points and the exact steps to address each one. Review it with your team before doors open.
5. Wellness Is a Standard, Not a Trend
When asked about the emerging trend that planners should take most seriously, Lisa didn't hesitate: wellness.
"Today's audiences are more conscious than ever about how events affect their physical and mental well-being," she says. "Planners who intentionally incorporate wellness elements; healthier menu options, hydration and rest stations, stress-reducing environments, movement breaks, or sensory-friendly spaces — create experiences that feel more human, more thoughtful, and more memorable."
The numbers strongly agree. According to Eventbrite research, 63% of consumers actively favor events that empower attendees to take control of their well-being. Industry research further confirms that wellness is no longer reserved for spa retreats and yoga studios. It's becoming central to how corporate events and social gatherings are designed across the board, with conferences now regularly incorporating mindfulness breaks, low-alcohol beverage options, and intentional sensory design.
"Guests remember how an event made them feel," Lisa says. "Prioritizing wellness shows respect for the whole person, not just the moment."
That framing (the whole person) is exactly where this industry is headed.
Pro Tip: Start small. Swap one sugary snack station for a hydration bar. Add five minutes of intentional transition time between packed sessions. The feedback will tell you everything you need to know about whether your guests noticed.
6. Design for How Guests Feel, Not Just What They See
Lisa's approach to attendee experience design goes deeper than décor. "I believe the best events are designed around how guests feel rather than just what they see," she says.
Practically, that means thinking about sensory balance, the way lighting shifts mood, how sound levels affect energy, whether food timing creates natural pauses or bottlenecks. It means building in space for guests to pause, connect, and reset. It means designing flow, not just aesthetics.
Research consistently backs this up. Studies show that 65% of U.S. event attendees reported feeling happy after attending events, while 55% said they left feeling energized. The emotional residue of an event, how people feel walking out the door, is the true measure of success.
Pro Tip: Walk your venue as a guest before the event. Sit in the seat farthest from the stage. Stand in the longest line. Feel the temperature in the back corner. You'll catch comfort issues that never show up in a floor plan.
7. Relationships Are the Real ROI
If there's a single thread that runs through everything Lisa Capre does, it's this: events are built on relationships, and relationships are built on trust.
"So many planners get caught in the logistics and the 'next job' mentality," she says. "But the truth is: the best work comes from trust. If you build strong relationships with clients, vendors, and venues, the rest becomes easier."
In an industry where the number of in-person events grew by 52% in 2024 alone, competition for client loyalty is fiercer than ever. And yet, the differentiator isn't pricing or portfolio length. It's the feeling a client has when they think about working with you again.
CapreLife Curated doesn't treat events like transactions. They treat every project like a relationship, and the results speak for themselves, including that famous life-size elephant at the Four Seasons. (Getting it through the doors, Lisa will tell you, was the real circus act).
Pro Tip: After every event, send a personalized note that references one specific moment from the day. Not a templated email. A real, human note. The clients who feel seen are the clients who come back.
Start Sourcing Smarter with Hopskip
Lisa Capre's advice comes down to one thing: the best events start well before event day — and so does the best venue sourcing.
Hopskip is a free venue sourcing and RFP management platform built for event planners who value their time, their relationships, and their results. Send RFPs to multiple hotels at once, track responses in one place, and get the proposal clarity you need to make faster, smarter decisions — without the back-and-forth email chaos.
Planners using Hopskip save 30+ hours per RFP and gain the kind of visibility into venue options that makes every client conversation sharper. Hotels on the platform are engaged, responsive, and ready to compete for your business.
The control Lisa talks about? Hopskip was built to give planners exactly that.
Get started with Hopskip for free today or book a demo and discover how the right tools can transform your event planning process from overwhelming to organized.
References & Sources
- Grand View Research — U.S. Event Management Market Size, Industry Report, 2033: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/us-event-management-market-report
- G2 — 70 Event Planning Industry Statistics for 2025: https://www.g2.com/articles/event-industry-statistics
- Eventbrite — 75+ Event Statistics and Trends: https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/event-statistics-ds00/
- Eventcube — 100+ Event Industry Statistics & Data Points: https://www.eventcube.io/blog/key-event-industry-statistics-data-trends-and-insights-in-2024
- Momencio — The number of events grew by 52% in 2024 (via Eventcube): https://www.eventcube.io/blog/key-event-industry-statistics-data-trends-and-insights-in-2024
- DiscoverPHL — Top 7 Event Trends for 2025: https://www.discoverphl.com/blog-post/event-trends-2025/
- L!VE Agency — 9 Trends Shaping Corporate Events in 2025: https://gowithlive.com/9-trends-shaping-corporate-events-in-2025/
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7 Event Planning Lessons From a Planner Who Once Staged a Rooftop Elephant
From last-minute bar builds in NYC traffic to a life-size circus elephant at the Four Seasons, Lisa Capre of CapreLife Curated shares hard-won lessons every event planner needs to hear — and the data to back them up.
May we all have the audacity of a woman who ships a life-size elephant to a birthday party.
If you've been in the event planning world for any length of time, you know that no two events are the same, and neither are the planners who pull them off. Lisa Capre, founder and Event Curator at CapreLife Curated in Miami, is proof that some of the best lessons in this business come wrapped in chaos, creativity, and a healthy refusal to take "no" for an answer.
After years building experiences for established brands, Lisa made the decision to build something of her own. Today, CapreLife Curated stands as a testament to what happens when vision, accountability, and execution finally align under the same roof. We sat down with Lisa (virtually, because she's usually in the middle of making something impossible happen) to hear what she's learned along the way.
The event industry isn't slowing down to let anyone catch their breath. The U.S. event management market, valued at $285 billion in 2024, is projected to reach nearly $471 billion by 2033. With that kind of growth comes an increasingly crowded field of planners, venues, and vendors all competing for the same clients. Standing out isn't optional. Here's how Lisa does it, and how you can too.
1. Stop Waiting for the "Right Moment"
If there's one piece of advice Lisa wishes she could go back and give her earlier self, it's this: trust yourself and move sooner.
"I stayed stagnant working for others when I knew the value of relationships," she reflects. "I kept waiting for a 'right moment' instead of trusting myself and taking the leap."
Sound familiar? It should. So many talented planners spend years giving their best work to someone else's brand before realizing that the real growth only starts when they start building their own. The right moment isn't a date on the calendar — it's a decision.
Pro Tip: Identify the one thing you keep saying you'll do "when the time is right." Then ask yourself: what would it actually take to do it now?
2. Your Vendor Relationships Are Your Superpower
Two hours before an event in New York City, Lisa received an urgent request from a Miami-based client: they wanted to add a full bar. On the spot. With zero lead time. And in New York City traffic.
She made one call. Within the hour, a bar was installed and running.
"This is truly thanks to the relationships I hold with vendors and clients," Lisa says. "I'm a make-it-happen type of girl. I don't take no for an answer and nothing is too much of a challenge."
That attitude is backed up by hard data: event professionals consistently rank vendor relationships as one of the most critical factors in delivering successful events. In an industry where 52% of planners cite increasing attendance as their biggest challenge, it's the behind-the-scenes partnerships that often make or break the guest experience, before guests even arrive.
Strong vendor relationships mean faster turnaround, more honest communication, and a network that can flex when things (inevitably) go sideways. They're not a nice-to-have. They're your insurance policy.
Pro Tip: Invest in your vendor relationships during the quiet seasons. Send a check-in message, make a referral, or simply show up to their events. The call you need in a crisis is built long before the crisis happens.
3. Listen First. Curate Second.
Lisa's philosophy on client expectation-setting is deceptively simple: "I listen first, then curate based on the client's vision."
In practice, that means entering every first conversation focused on understanding, not presenting. What does the client want? What does success look like to them? What are they actually worried about, even if they haven't said it out loud?
"I'm very transparent about timelines, budgets, and what I need from them to deliver the best outcome," Lisa explains. "This ensures we start with alignment and trust, and that expectations are set based on their vision."
This approach matters more than ever as clients become increasingly sophisticated. They've done their research, they've watched the Pinterest boards fill up, and they have opinions. The planners who thrive aren't the ones who talk the loudest in that first meeting. They're the ones who ask the best questions.
Pro Tip: Before your next discovery call, write down three open-ended questions that have nothing to do with logistics. Ask about the feeling they want guests to leave with. You'll learn more in ten minutes than you would in an hour of presenting packages.
4. Emergencies Are Managed Before They Happen
Ask Lisa about her emergency protocol and she'll tell you exactly what to do: "Hit it head on, stay calm, take control, and solve it before the client even knows there's a problem."
That sounds cool under pressure, because it is. But the secret is that Lisa has already done the hard work before the event doors open. Staffing contingencies are in place. Supply shortages are anticipated. Venue logistics are mapped. By the time something goes wrong, the plan to fix it already exists.
With the number of in-person events expected to increase by up to 20% in 2026, complexity is only going up. Events are bigger, expectations are higher, and the margin for visible failure is thinner. The planners who stay ahead of the chaos are the ones who planned for it before it was chaos.
"During the event, I stay present and focused," Lisa adds. "I delegate tasks to my team so we can resolve the issue efficiently without disrupting the flow. No drama, no panic, just solutions."
Pro Tip: Build a "what if" document for every event. List your top five most likely failure points and the exact steps to address each one. Review it with your team before doors open.
5. Wellness Is a Standard, Not a Trend
When asked about the emerging trend that planners should take most seriously, Lisa didn't hesitate: wellness.
"Today's audiences are more conscious than ever about how events affect their physical and mental well-being," she says. "Planners who intentionally incorporate wellness elements; healthier menu options, hydration and rest stations, stress-reducing environments, movement breaks, or sensory-friendly spaces — create experiences that feel more human, more thoughtful, and more memorable."
The numbers strongly agree. According to Eventbrite research, 63% of consumers actively favor events that empower attendees to take control of their well-being. Industry research further confirms that wellness is no longer reserved for spa retreats and yoga studios. It's becoming central to how corporate events and social gatherings are designed across the board, with conferences now regularly incorporating mindfulness breaks, low-alcohol beverage options, and intentional sensory design.
"Guests remember how an event made them feel," Lisa says. "Prioritizing wellness shows respect for the whole person, not just the moment."
That framing (the whole person) is exactly where this industry is headed.
Pro Tip: Start small. Swap one sugary snack station for a hydration bar. Add five minutes of intentional transition time between packed sessions. The feedback will tell you everything you need to know about whether your guests noticed.
6. Design for How Guests Feel, Not Just What They See
Lisa's approach to attendee experience design goes deeper than décor. "I believe the best events are designed around how guests feel rather than just what they see," she says.
Practically, that means thinking about sensory balance, the way lighting shifts mood, how sound levels affect energy, whether food timing creates natural pauses or bottlenecks. It means building in space for guests to pause, connect, and reset. It means designing flow, not just aesthetics.
Research consistently backs this up. Studies show that 65% of U.S. event attendees reported feeling happy after attending events, while 55% said they left feeling energized. The emotional residue of an event, how people feel walking out the door, is the true measure of success.
Pro Tip: Walk your venue as a guest before the event. Sit in the seat farthest from the stage. Stand in the longest line. Feel the temperature in the back corner. You'll catch comfort issues that never show up in a floor plan.
7. Relationships Are the Real ROI
If there's a single thread that runs through everything Lisa Capre does, it's this: events are built on relationships, and relationships are built on trust.
"So many planners get caught in the logistics and the 'next job' mentality," she says. "But the truth is: the best work comes from trust. If you build strong relationships with clients, vendors, and venues, the rest becomes easier."
In an industry where the number of in-person events grew by 52% in 2024 alone, competition for client loyalty is fiercer than ever. And yet, the differentiator isn't pricing or portfolio length. It's the feeling a client has when they think about working with you again.
CapreLife Curated doesn't treat events like transactions. They treat every project like a relationship, and the results speak for themselves, including that famous life-size elephant at the Four Seasons. (Getting it through the doors, Lisa will tell you, was the real circus act).
Pro Tip: After every event, send a personalized note that references one specific moment from the day. Not a templated email. A real, human note. The clients who feel seen are the clients who come back.
Start Sourcing Smarter with Hopskip
Lisa Capre's advice comes down to one thing: the best events start well before event day — and so does the best venue sourcing.
Hopskip is a free venue sourcing and RFP management platform built for event planners who value their time, their relationships, and their results. Send RFPs to multiple hotels at once, track responses in one place, and get the proposal clarity you need to make faster, smarter decisions — without the back-and-forth email chaos.
Planners using Hopskip save 30+ hours per RFP and gain the kind of visibility into venue options that makes every client conversation sharper. Hotels on the platform are engaged, responsive, and ready to compete for your business.
The control Lisa talks about? Hopskip was built to give planners exactly that.
Get started with Hopskip for free today or book a demo and discover how the right tools can transform your event planning process from overwhelming to organized.
References & Sources
- Grand View Research — U.S. Event Management Market Size, Industry Report, 2033: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/us-event-management-market-report
- G2 — 70 Event Planning Industry Statistics for 2025: https://www.g2.com/articles/event-industry-statistics
- Eventbrite — 75+ Event Statistics and Trends: https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/event-statistics-ds00/
- Eventcube — 100+ Event Industry Statistics & Data Points: https://www.eventcube.io/blog/key-event-industry-statistics-data-trends-and-insights-in-2024
- Momencio — The number of events grew by 52% in 2024 (via Eventcube): https://www.eventcube.io/blog/key-event-industry-statistics-data-trends-and-insights-in-2024
- DiscoverPHL — Top 7 Event Trends for 2025: https://www.discoverphl.com/blog-post/event-trends-2025/
- L!VE Agency — 9 Trends Shaping Corporate Events in 2025: https://gowithlive.com/9-trends-shaping-corporate-events-in-2025/
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