Joyful, fun weddings are kind of like a well-oiled machine - planned in advance so you can take in every exciting detail in the moment. Our founder and former engineer, Katie Sautter, couldn’t start a wedding planning business without at least a little science behind the process. While we are all for creativity and extravagant designs, we know that a stress-free wedding experience begins with an effective planning team and streamlined planning steps!
Life is rarely linear. We get that. We embrace it. We’re inspired by it.
We handle the non-linear wedding details so you can actually enjoy your engagement.
We're based in the Piedmont Triad of NC (Greensboro), and we travel anywhere in NC without travel fees.
There’s so much pressure that comes with weddings - it can be overwhelming! When we meet a couple, our first priority is getting to know you—what excites you, what worries you, and what matters most. At the end of the day, those details are the only ones that really matter in the goal of getting you and your partner married! That’s why we don’t push unnecessary extras or upsell just for the sake of it.
Instead, we focus on creating a planning experience that’s transparent, honest, and tailored to exactly what you need (and nothing you don’t).
We love working with couples who embrace unique ideas and non-traditional touches, but we also know that tradition can be meaningful, and we’re here to help you balance both in a way that feels authentic. Plus, if sustainability is important to you, we have the expertise and vendor connections to make eco-friendly choices easy—without pressure. And with our exclusive vendor deals, our couples get access to some of the best services in North Carolina!
Our team is growing, which means more dedicated support for you. Every planner on our team is fully invested in making your wedding day seamless, joyful, and stress-free. And most importantly? We’re inclusive, open-minded, and ready to bring your vision to life—your way.
Trusted by & equipped with lots of nerdy wedding knowledge:
We welcome all love stories and ensure every couple feels respected, valued, and celebrated.
We love to plan weddings through an eco-conscious filter. If you want to be an eco-warrior, we can help you with that. We help you make budget-friendly, sustainable choices—only if you want to! No pressure, just guidance.
We’ve built strong relationships with amazing vendors across various specialties, giving our couples access to unique perks and savings.
Our team is intentionally built with planners who share our values: inclusivity, open-mindedness, and a passion for making couples feel supported. You’re never just a date on our calendar—we genuinely care about you and your wedding.
Do we share some values?
We’re not the “doting motherly” type of planner. We’re fun, organized, and ready to geek out over details while keeping the process stress-free.
I’m Katie, the planner behind K.S.Otter Events. To me, wedding planning is about connection, about finding meaning in the small moments, and about crafting moments of joy—whether they’re intimate and private or shared with a crowd.
Perhaps like you, my current career wasn’t my first career. Before wedding planning, I was an engineer and while it taught me so much, my heart led me to this world instead.
I started this business to escape a gray, corporate world and enter one I created myself, one that reflects who I am: a space full of energy, spirit, joy, enthusiasm, empathy, and creativity. A space where I get to meet amazing like-minded people and make genuine connections. A space that feels authentic to me.
I spent so long as a student (I have a PhD!) and engineer, chasing something that didn't fit me- I was chasing an expectation and hope of me that wasn't fully my own. I created this business to speak to my values, serve with intention, and be the mentor and guide that I so enjoy being.
But I’m nothing if not a lifelong learner, so I’ve spent the better part of the last decade absorbing all there is to learn about wedding planning and making sure that my team and I always craft the most unique, values-led weddings that our clients desire.
"Entrepreneurship is about the alchemy of becoming. It’s about walking into the dark and building a bridge out of your own spine. It’s about learning to trust yourself in ways no one else ever taught you."
That resonates with me to my core. I love this business more than any job I’ve ever had. In fact, calling it a job feels wrong—it’s not a job at all. It’s a calling. I built K.S.Otter Events because I love it. I love the connection, the creativity, and, at the heart of it all, the love. This business is a reflection of who I am.
I created K.S.Otter Events for couples who want a wedding that truly reflects them—whether that means embracing tradition, breaking the mold, or something in between. Whatever your vision, I’m here to listen, guide, and bring it to life—without the stress.
I can’t wait to hear your story. Let’s make your wedding everything you’ve been dreaming of.
I'm a planner, but I'm also an advisor, a confidant, a coach, (sometimes an unlicensed therapist!), and -in spite of it all- a scientist and engineer. I'm not afraid of numbers, of thinking and moving fluidly, and I'm not afraid of challenges or new ideas. If there's one thing my many years of schooling taught me, it's that I'm capable of doing and learning almost anything.
Building this business was the most authentic decision I’ve ever made. It was a leap of faith, powered by confidence that this was exactly what I was meant to do. I love hearing my couples laugh, seeing their stress melt away, and knowing I’m making a real impact on their experience. That feeling—that tangible shift from overwhelm to joy—is what drives me every single day.
I’ve been planning big events since 2019. I fell in love with weddings at a young age, and though I didn’t know it then, the weddings and school dances I’d attended in my teens transformed how I thought and what I wanted. A hopeless romantic, I’d always dreamed of meeting My Person. It took me years of dating and kissing many, many frogs, but when I finally found My Person, it all just clicked. Creating an event planning business felt the same: it just clicked.
I grew up an Air Force brat, the daughter of two meteorologists (and yes, I am very good at predicting when the rain will hit based on the radar!).
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By the time I was 27, I had lived in 11 states: South Dakota, Illinois, Alaska, Ohio, Massachusetts, California, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and finally North Carolina.
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My husband, two cats (CC and Raja), and I have settled here in North Carolina, where my sister works as a forest ranger in Wilmington, and my parents plan to follow soon.
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When I'm not planning weddings, you'll find me playing video games, cooking delicious food, reading a good sci-fi/fantasy novel, or enjoying a hike with my husband.
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I have tagged an 8-foot-long tiger shark.
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I co-starred in a quantum science miniseries on YouTube
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I'm down to just six US States left on my "never have I ever stepped foot here" list (Hawaii, Maine, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana). I'll get to see them someday!
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I’m a Type-A personality, but with a deeply caring and empathetic core. My priority is you, and I’m here to listen to exactly what you need to make your dream wedding come true.
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Before becoming a wedding planner, I was an engineer and earned my PhD at Boise State University. I worked in a lab for several years - below is a picture of me repairing an electron beam evaporator!
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Fun fact about me:
Instead of champagne, my husband and I did our wedding toast with an "infinity bottle" of whiskey—a bottle we filled with every whiskey we had bought and shared over the years. Our wedding day was the first time we tasted it, making it a special way to celebrate our journey together!
Hi, I’m Rebecca Gonzalez, a Texas native who’s now happily calling North Carolina home with my husband. In my free time, you can find me indulging in sculpture, dance, and getting lost in a good book. After planning my own wedding in 2024, I discovered my passion for creating unforgettable experiences and wanted to help other couples celebrate their love with the same joy and creativity. When I came across a video from Katie on my Facebook feed, I immediately knew I had to meet her—she embodied everything I believed a wedding planner should be, and our shared values made joining the K.S.Otter Events team an easy decision. I’m thrilled to bring my passion for weddings and creativity to the team and help bring your dream day to life!
Fun fact about me:
Outside of work, I love traveling, crafts, and can usually be found with my nose buried in a book.
My name is Jana Vines, and I’m originally from Slovakia. I first gained experience with weddings while working in the hospitality industry, and I knew it was something I wanted to come back to one day. I love the unique story each couple brings and how wedding planning allows me to embrace my creative side. Helping others make their dreams come true is incredibly rewarding and always worth every effort. I’m thrilled to be part of K.S.Otter Events because I know how deeply caring the team is and how effectively we work together. I’ve been inspired by the direction we’re heading, and I’m very excited to be part of that success.
Jana Vines
Please note: our planners are assigned to weddings based on our team availability and style. Our team is made up of talented planners who are all excited to serve you!
1: Do you have travel fees?
2: Does our wedding have to be eco-friendly?
3: Are you an LGBTQIA+ friendly wedding planner?
4: Are you a certified wedding planner?
5: How many weddings do you plan/manage per year, and do you have any other events on our wedding day?
6: What does a first planning meeting with you look like?
7: Can we meet in person?
8: Do you work with specific vendors, or can we choose our own?
9: Are you licensed and insured?
10: Do you have a backup plan if our lead coordinator can't make it on the wedding day?
11: Do you have a team?
12: Can wedding planning save me money?
13: How can you help me save money on our wedding?
Nope! We love traveling! Except...
If your wedding requires a flight, then yes. Unfortunately, we don’t have unlimited funds to fly to Italy (though we’d love to!). We’ll gladly go to Italy, Switzerland, Hawaii, or Bora Bora—first couple to let us plan their Puglia Italian wedding or German castle wedding will only have to cover our flights and hotel. 😉 We'll travel anywhere for your dream day and will put together a custom proposal that covers our services and travel.
Nope! Although sustainability is our specialty, we welcome and invite all couples. We’re here to give you tips whether or not you aim to be an eco-warrior or just want a regular wedding. We promise not to judge—even if you’re planning to burn a tire as a ceremony ritual (not kidding—someone actually said that to us once! How silly!).
We typically plan and/or manage up to 60 weddings per year, and our calendars fill up fast! Depending on team availability, we may plan two weddings on the same day or a Friday and Saturday wedding on the same weekend.
However, we do not book triple-headers (weddings on three consecutive days—like Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) because we value our team's well-being. A wedding day is a long, dedicated effort (10-12 hours plus travel), and we want to ensure every event gets the attention and energy it deserves.
Bookings are first come, first served—so reach out as soon as possible!
During our first meeting, we’ll chat about your event priorities and overall vision, then dive into creating a budget that aligns with those priorities. We’ll outline a few key action items to tackle over the next month—don’t worry, we’ll keep it light and fun! We focus on giving you the enjoyable tasks (like picking out a dress or suit) while we handle the nitty-gritty details.
Maybe! It depends on your location and situation. We love meeting in person with our full-service planning couples for the first planning consultation and the final venue walkthrough. We are also happy to meet virtually, primarily via Google Meet. Full-service clients get more in-person meetings (like venue tours and tastings), but all initial consultations before booking are virtual or over the phone.
Yes! Our team is composed of 3 planners: Katie, Rebecca, and Jana. We believe that having multiple skilled planners on board ensures that every couple gets the support and attention they deserve.
If you ever feel like it’s not working out with one of our planners (which we feel is very unlikely-This is a stellar team!), you have the option to switch planners, giving you extra assurance that your investment in us is a safe and reliable choice. We’re here to make sure you feel comfortable and confident throughout the entire planning process!
Absolutely! We often completely recoup the investment. Many couples view wedding planners as an added expense, but in reality, a skilled planner can help you save significantly on your overall wedding budget. At K.S.Otter Events, we're committed to making your special day sustainable for your wallet as well as the planet.
Here are some ways we can help you save:
Budget Strategy That Pays Off:
We don’t haggle vendors or chase vendor discounts—we dig deep into contracts, ask the right questions, and advocate fiercely for your priorities. For one couple, we saved them $4,485 on alcohol and bar fees by restructuring their venue’s beverage package—no haggling, no awkward conversations, just smart, respectful negotiation that felt good to everyone involved.
Exclusive Deals: Through our network, we offer exclusive vendor deals, providing additional savings that can offset the cost of hiring a planner. One couple saved an extra $1,000 through these deals, effectively recouping their investment in our coordination services.
Budget Allocation: We assist in prioritizing your budget, ensuring funds are allocated to what matters most to you, and identifying areas where costs can be reduced without compromising quality.
Investing in a wedding planner isn't just about convenience; it's a strategic decision that can lead to substantial financial savings, allowing you to enjoy your big day without unnecessary financial stress.
Katie is a doll and so much fun to work with. I recently worked with Katie at the recent wish upon a wedding celebration in Greensboro, NC. You truly will love her and have no regrets. I highly recommend Katie for your wedding planning and/or event planning.”
She helped set up backup options for our elopement and reception, and then when we found out that we could have our wedding at the original places Katie coordinated and made sure everything went perfectly how we envisioned it. Our day would not have been possible without her!!”
“Katie is a Superhero! K.S.Otter Events was an absolute amazing wedding planner! She swooped in when we thought we were going to have to cancel our wedding due to Helene.
She has been extremely helpful and answered all of our questions. We wanted to make sure that we were getting help that was actually needed. Katie has listened to our dreams and vision and is helping us bring that to life on a budget. She has made our planning something to look forward too!”
“K.S.Otter Events is the G.O.A.T! Katie has been amazing in our wedding planning process so far!
To us, weddings reflect the heart and soul of what it means to be human—to have and to hold, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. Weddings celebrate that fundamental human desire to share life together, and being even a small part of that story is an honor we never take for granted.
We’ll guide you through the fun, crazy, and intricate process of planning a wedding so that you can fully enjoy this stage of your life!