Lemiga Events by Michelle Gainey: Atlanta Wedding & Event Planning Guide

If you’re planning a wedding or social event in Atlanta, Georgia, you’ve probably come across the name Lemiga Events and its founder, Michelle Gainey. For many Atlanta couples and hosts, this name is associated with highly curated, design-forward celebrations that feel stylish but also very personal.

This guide explains what Lemiga Events is known for, how a planner like Michelle Gainey typically works in Atlanta, when this level of service makes sense, and what to think about before reaching out.

Who Is Michelle Gainey and What Is Lemiga Events?

Lemiga Events is an Atlanta-based event planning and design company led by Michelle Gainey, who is widely recognized in the local wedding and event community. The company focuses on:

• Luxury weddings in and around Atlanta
• Milestone celebrations (birthday parties, anniversaries, baby showers, etc.)
• Stylish social and corporate events

In Atlanta, planners like Gainey are often chosen by couples who:

• Want a highly customized design rather than a standard template
• Are hosting at design-driven venues where décor and logistics are complex
• Have demanding jobs and need full-service support
• Expect many out-of-town guests flying into Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and staying in Midtown, Buckhead, or Downtown

While every planner has a personal style, Lemiga Events is frequently associated with:

• Detailed event design and aesthetics
• Layered, editorial-style décor
• Cohesive guest experience from invitation to send-off

How a High-End Planner Typically Works in Atlanta

Common Services You Can Expect

Although each planning company has its own packages, an Atlanta planner operating at Lemiga’s level usually offers:

1. Full-Service Wedding Planning
From early concept to the last guest departure, including:

• Budget guidance and overall planning timeline
• Venue scouting around Atlanta (e.g., West Midtown loft spaces, Buckhead hotels, historic estates in nearby areas)
• Vetting and coordinating key vendors (caterers, photographers, florists, DJs/bands)
• Contract review and scheduling
• Detailed wedding day management

2. Event Design and Styling

• Creating a design concept based on your style, culture, and priorities
• Color palettes, décor story, and layout plans
• Collaboration with florists, rental companies, and lighting vendors
• Guidance on stationery, linens, and tabletop details

3. Wedding Weekend & Guest Experience

Useful in a hub city like Atlanta where many guests travel in:

• Welcome party planning (often in Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, or Inman Park)
• Rehearsal dinner coordination
• Brunch or send-off events
• Transportation timelines between hotels, ceremony, and reception venues

4. Social Events & Celebrations

For Atlanta locals planning:

• Milestone birthday parties at rooftop venues
• Baby or bridal showers in Buckhead or Westside
• Intimate dinner parties with curated décor

Why Atlanta Couples Consider Planners Like Lemiga Events

1. Complex Venues and Logistics

Atlanta’s venue options are diverse:

• Historic properties (mansions, estates, older buildings)
• Industrial-chic spaces in Westside/West Midtown
• Upscale hotels in Buckhead and Midtown
• Museums, galleries, and rooftop spaces Downtown

These often require careful logistics and design planning, especially when you’re:

• Flipping a room from ceremony to reception
• Managing valet or limited parking
• Moving guests across neighborhoods in Atlanta traffic
• Bringing in outside catering or specialty rentals

A planner used to working across the city can anticipate typical Atlanta issues, like:

• Peak-traffic timing for Friday evening events
• Scheduling around sports games or large conventions Downtown
• Considering weather backup options for outdoor patios and rooftops

2. Out-of-Town Guests Flying Into Atlanta

Because Atlanta is a national air travel hub, many couples have guests:

• Flying into Hartsfield-Jackson
• Staying in hotels in Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead
• Relying on rideshare or MARTA

A planner familiar with the area can:

• Suggest hotel blocks in areas convenient to your venue
• Build timelines that allow for traffic on I-75/I-85, 400, and major surface streets
• Coordinate shuttles or car services between hotel clusters and event locations

3. Design-Forward, Photogenic Events

Many Atlanta couples want weddings that feel:

• Refined rather than DIY
• Cohesive across stationery, décor, lighting, and floral
• Suitable for professional photography and keepsake albums

Planners and designers in this category typically:

• Start with a mood board or design outline
• Tie in local touches (Southern hospitality, regional flowers in season, seasonal food)
• Think about guest flow through cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing

What Working With an Atlanta Planner Like Michelle Gainey Often Looks Like

Every planner has a unique workflow, but for higher-end Atlanta planning and design services, you can typically expect:

Initial Inquiry and Consultation

You’ll usually:

• Submit an inquiry form or call the office
• Share basic details: date range, guest count, preferred neighborhoods, indoor/outdoor needs, and budget range
• Schedule a consultation (virtual or in-person in Atlanta)

During this conversation, you’ll likely discuss:

• Your story and priorities (food, music, décor, guest experience)
• Whether you prefer in-town (Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, Buckhead, Westside) or metro-area venues
• The level of planning support you want (full planning vs. design + partial planning)

Design and Planning Phase

Once you move forward:

• A planning timeline is set, which is especially helpful if you’re juggling busy Atlanta work schedules.
• A design direction is created, including color palettes and décor concepts that work with your chosen venue.
• Key vendor meetings are scheduled—often clustered on the same day for out-of-town couples.

Planners with deep Atlanta connections often have:

• A preferred list of local florists, caterers, photographers, and entertainment vendors
• Familiarity with venue rules, such as noise ordinances, end times, and load-in policies

Wedding Week and Event Day

Your planner coordinates:

• Final confirmation with vendors
• Setup and breakdown timing with the venue
• A detailed day-of timeline for your wedding party and vendors

On the event day itself, a team will typically:

• Oversee setup (décor, rental placement, floral, lighting)
• Manage the processional, ceremony timing, and reception transitions
• Troubleshoot any last-minute issues without pulling you or your family away from guests

Typical Atlanta Venues Where Design-Driven Planning Shines

You can work with a planner like Lemiga regardless of venue, but this level of design and logistics management is especially useful at:

• Industrial lofts and warehouses in West Midtown and the Westside, where the room starts as a blank slate
• Rooftop and skyline-view spaces where weather plans and lighting are critical
• Luxury hotels in Buckhead or Midtown, for multi-day wedding weekends with welcome mixers and brunches
• Historic homes and estates in the metro Atlanta area, where floor plans and preservation rules can be complex

The more flexible the venue layout, the more value a seasoned design planner can add—helping you transform an open room into a cohesive, guest-friendly environment.

Is a Planner Like Lemiga Events the Right Fit for You in Atlanta?

Here’s a simple way to sense whether this tier of service matches your needs.

Quick Fit-Check Table

If you answer “No” to most of these and prefer a simple, low-decor celebration at a full-service venue (for example, a hotel with built-in packages), you might still benefit from a coordinator, but full-scale design and planning may be more than you need.

Budget and Planning Considerations in Atlanta

Planners operating at Lemiga’s level usually serve mid- to high-budget weddings and events. A few Atlanta-specific points to think through before reaching out:

• Overall Budget:
  Higher-end planners typically work best when the total budget allows for custom design, meaningful décor, and quality vendors across the board.

• Season and Date Flexibility:
  Atlanta has popular event seasons, particularly spring and fall. Prime dates can book quickly at both venues and with in-demand planners, especially on Saturdays.

• Neighborhood Choice:
  Costs and logistics can vary between areas like:

  • Buckhead (more hotel and ballroom options)
  • Midtown/Downtown (easier access to MARTA and major hotels)
  • Westside/West Midtown (trendy lofts and warehouses)
  • Surrounding suburbs and estates (more space, sometimes more complex logistics)

How to Prepare Before Contacting an Atlanta Planner

To make your first conversation productive:

1. Clarify your guest count range.
   Even an estimate (e.g., 120–150 guests) helps with venue suggestions.

2. Narrow your date range and season.
   Knowing whether you want spring azaleas or a fall foliage backdrop matters in Atlanta.

3. Decide on a general vibe.
   For example:

   • Classic and formal Buckhead hotel
   • Modern and minimal Westside loft
   • Romantic and garden-inspired estate feel

4. Think about your priorities.

   • Is photography non-negotiable?
   • Are you food-focused and interested in local chefs or Southern cuisine?
   • Do you value a high-energy dance floor with live music?

5. Be ready to share a general budget range.
   Planners use this to steer you toward realistic venues and vendors in the Atlanta area.

Finding and Evaluating Planners Like Lemiga Events in Atlanta

If you’re considering Lemiga Events—or another Atlanta planner—you can:

• Look at portfolio photos to see if the style matches your taste.
• Ask whether they’ve worked at your preferred venues or similar spaces.
• Inquire how they handle common Atlanta challenges, such as traffic, parking, and weather backups for outdoor events.
• Confirm whether they offer full planning, design-only, or month-of coordination, and which best fits your needs.

When comparing options, pay attention to:

• Communication style and responsiveness
• How clearly they explain their process and fees
• Whether they seem comfortable with your preferred neighborhood and event scale

For couples and hosts planning in Atlanta, a planner like Lemiga Events by Michelle Gainey can be especially valuable if you’re aiming for a polished, design-driven celebration with many moving parts—whether that’s a multi-day wedding weekend in Buckhead, a modern loft event on the Westside, or a sophisticated social gathering in the heart of the city.