ABOUT US
Making Dreams Come True
I think I knew at a very young age what my true calling was! As a child, I was always encouraged to choose my own décor, planning the guest list and, in some cases, the menu (much to my Mother's amusement/dismay)! I am so thrilled that I have been able to turn my passion and love for planning and working with people into a career. Nothing brings me more joy than knowing I was able to give life to the vision my client had and make their dream a true reality.
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I’ve always had a deep passion for organizing and planning, and I believe that every special event deserves to be stunning. With this philosophy in mind I founded Plan + Gather Events in 2017, and have since gained many valuable connections with industry-leading experts and vendors. I’ll work day and night to guarantee that your next event will be filled with unforgettable moments.
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Plan + Gather is the culmination of years of wedding planning, nonprofit event management, holiday, friends and family party planning. Plan + Gather is a full-service Event Management company that specializes in custom events of all sizes. We are here to make sure that each and every event is inspiring, extraordinary, and unforgettable.
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My team and I pride ourselves on our highly customized and unique events. We value the relationships that we form with our clients, and take pride in our ability to make your vision a reality. While based in Chicago, we will travel any distance to create an unforgettable event for you and your guests. We’re here to ensure that every last detail is executed smoothly, so that you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the day!
Amy Sexton Stanislavski
Founder & Senior Planner
Turning a Vision into Reality
Haley joined the Plan + Gather Team in the Fall of 2020. Growing up, she always enjoyed planning, whether it be organizing fake events for her little sister and friends to attend or sending her family detailed itineraries for all family trips. As she got older, she was drawn to event planning. As president of her college's chapter of Best Buddies, she was responsible for planning monthly events, as well as a 100+ guest formal event, to raise awareness for The Spread the Word to End the Word initiative. As a Special Education Teacher, Haley is constantly creating, adjusting, and implementing various systems to ensure success for her students. Haley’s love for teaching is tied with her love for all things wedding!
After dating her now husband Todd for 3 years, Haley was anxiously awaiting her own proposal, spending hours on Pinterest, inputting various ideas in a secret “Ford/Dummett Dream Wedding” excel sheet! After the proposal FINALLY happened, Todd passed out, and Haley pulled an all-nighter putting together vision boards, sending emails, booking tours, and organizing a wedding binder. Within two weeks of getting engaged, Haley had planned their whole wedding down to the smallest details. Like many other couples, Haley and Todd had to adjust their original wedding plans due to COVID-19, and successfully created a Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C. Her and Todd eloped in a small park and had brunch reception with their closest family and friends. Then she canceled her original wedding, and completely re-planned their vow renewal with a whole new vision! Working under pressure, deadlines, and constraints is Haley’s specialty.
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On a typical evening, you can catch Haley watching hours of “Say Yes to the Dress” and “Four Weddings” reruns cringing at the avoidable mistakes that occur due to poor planning or searching Pinterest for all the new wedding styles for the upcoming season. Haley is so excited for the opportunity to work with Plan and Gather Couples on their special days and do all that she can to ensure the day goes as planned.
Haley Ford Dummett
Senior Planner
