Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Overton-Kirk.
Hi Lauren, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I always say I started in events when I was 18, but, truthfully, I worked my first event at 5. My mother always hosted these huge family Christmas parties (we’re at 70 family members and still going strong), and that was the first of many years I became her trusted assistant.
We selected the menu, designed the theme, decorated the house with bright garlands and whimsical lights, curated the playlist (which really meant swapping out CDs mid-party), and booked the entertainment (a mariachi band as a surprise for my music-loving Granny).
Even at 5, I felt this deep joy showing family their seats, chatting about the decor, and of course the massive smile on my Granny’s face as the whole family danced to the beautiful mariachi music. That Christmas, and many Christmases to come, were full of warmth, life, and memories.
When in college I attended my first music festival with friends. It was vibrant, electric, and magical. Within minutes I realized I didn’t like being in the crowd; I wanted to be a part of that magic. So I found a few local dance clubs, and on weekends, I threw my heart into any role they would hand me – marketing, ticketing, decor, gogo dancing (I’m a theater kid at heart and will never say no to an Elton John–inspired costume).
That momentum carried me into management roles at the same clubs and then on to major festivals like Imagine in Atlanta. I felt challenged, alive, and in my element.
Despite that feeling I still called events a hobby as I worked on my English and Education degree. I explored careers like project management and teaching. “Safe” options, but they didn’t feel right. I felt stuck, like I didn’t belong, like something was missing.
One day, while complaining to my hairdresser about my career dilemma, she mentioned her friend – a wedding planner – needed an assistant. I jumped at the chance.
As I prepared for the interview, I counted how long I’d worked in events, and it dawned on me: what I’d called a hobby had quietly added up to more than a decade of experience. I was building a career all along. I decided to leave my “safe” careers behind and pursue events full-time.
After working weddings for a while, something still tugged at my heart. I realized the final piece – the intimacy I’d felt hosting Christmas as a child – the warmth, my hands-on connection, surprising guests with spectacular music, decorations, and lights.
The music scene, weddings, my childhood events, events I planned with Emory’s School of Nursing, even my own wedding…all these experiences compounded and I finally understood where I was meant to be.
So Ello Designs was born, a company based in warmth, personal touches, and romantic memories.
And, as if the world opened up the moment I stepped into my true self, not long after I opened Ello I received an offer to work full-time in a prestigious Event Planning position at Georgia Tech here in Atlanta. The day I got that acceptance call I felt this deep sense of peace settle over me. Ello as my creative venture and my full-time work with Georgia Tech…together these two paths gave me the belonging I was looking for.
After years of hard work, struggling, questioning, and quiet career building – I finally felt whole.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Before I chose events full-time, the road was anything but smooth. It took me years to admit I was never meant for the more predictable life my family and friends wanted for me. Expectations – both external and internal – were my greatest obstacle.
Throughout high school I was certain I wanted to perform on Broadway. I trained 40 hours a week, got a few full-ride scholarships even, so it completely shocked my family and friends when I decided to pass it up after graduation. Something in my gut told me performing wasn’t the right decision at the time.
After that, expectations of me seemed to shift from this adventurous role in the arts to something more “stable.” Many of my friends and family began issuing advice on how best to settle down and get a desk job (a career path that never sat well with me despite owning a briefcase since I was 6).
Then I eventually began feeling the pressure of my own expectations: my peers had their careers by 24-25 years old, why didn’t I? They were scientists, teachers, models, doctors/nurses, social workers, etc, and here I was in my late 20’s still searching for that perfect fit. Was I falling behind? Was I ever going to find my path?
There was this guilt that I was letting down my friends, my family, and myself. It was a heavy weight I carried around for quite a few years.
So that moment when I fully chose events, something clicked into place. It was like every obstacle I’d ever faced melted away. Expectations, guilt, roadblocks? All gone. Doors that were once closed were flying open for me, like I was always supposed to be there.
It perfectly combined every skill, every strength I possessed and channeled them into this one perfect pursuit. The weight lifted off my shoulders.
I live by the saying “the universe conspires in my favor,” because now that I am on the other side of the searching, I see those roadblocks were only there to teach me lessons: slow down, sharpen my skills, find true purpose, and stop comparing myself to others. Some people have their career picked out at 19; some of us find it at 29. Your timeline is your own, and that’s beautiful.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I spend my weekends with Ello and my weekdays with Georgia Tech – and I am so deeply proud of both!
Since Ello Designs is a boutique event planning and design company, I offer a lot of hands-on services (that people often combine). When I plan – I focus on deep personal touches and insight. When I design – I create unforgettable floral art and ambiance. When I coordinate the event – I execute with calm professionalism. With me it isn’t just simple event planning or a quick bouquet – my heartfelt goal is to fully capture the energy of the client, create art, or curate a sense of belonging at their event.
Kind of fun, but one way I do all of that is to pick a few songs I feel really match the vibe of the client and play the playlist while I plan or design. It keeps things super personal at all stages.
Another thing I think makes Ello unique is how small my events are. After first I welcomed guest counts of all sizes, but quickly realized micro-events (events with 50 people or less) really made my heart the happiest and allowed clients to walk away feeling not just seen but deeply understood.
Now events with Georgia Tech, on the other hand, are usually high energy, fast-paced, formal, and often involve a pretty large crowd.
I am a part of the Special Events and Protocol team within Institute Communications and our team plans and executes the large or high-impact Institute events at Georgia Tech including multiple Commencement ceremonies each semester and Celebrate STEAM (the Atlanta Science Festival Launch at Georgia Tech).
These events draw in thousands of guests and as I always joke with my team “I prefer 50 guests or 5000.” Apparently I’m a fan of cozy or chaos!
Even at large-scale events, I like to focus on including special touches that make guests feel welcome and engaged – like the “Galactic Passport” I introduced to Celebrate STEAM. Guests (our “astronauts”) get these free passport booklets stamped at each of the Georgia Tech buildings (“planets”) they visit, view some of our 60+ scientific demonstrations, then write on each page about the best thing they learned on that planet. A great keepsake for young scientists!
One of the reasons I love working for Georgia Tech is that everyone you meet really has a passion for what they do. And on my team in particular, we treat each event as a precious moment in time. Our event planning is something we give as a gift from our hearts to the hearts of our community, something that dovetails quite nicely with the warmth I felt with each event of my childhood.
I am deeply proud that my time searching for the perfect career prepared me to quickly find and highlight the heartbeat of any event, big or small, and I think that is something that sets me apart as an event planner in Atlanta.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
The universe – it conspires in your favor.
So if anyone is reading this and wondering if you’re where you’re meant to be – be patient, give it time, you’ll get there when the time is right.
Once you figure it out – I’ll be ready to help you throw the perfect celebration.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @eventsbyellodesigns
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eventsbyellodesigns/
Image Credits
David Carr
Self
MoonFire Photo
Shoot with Jordan
Caitlin Wilcox Photography
Shelby Ann Photo
Caitlin Wilcox Photography
Ana Overton
CH Capture
