Stephanie Gatton | Owner + Lead Planner
Hi! I’m Stephanie.
Stephanie Gatton Events evolved as an opportunity for me to blend my kick-ass stage managerial skills with my current event planning prowess to coordinate your wedding! With a background deeply ingrained in the performing arts and live event management, you name it, I've done it.
I'm a professional event planner, working for such NYC institutions as The Juilliard School and The Guggenheim Museum, and I bring 10+ years of event planning and show running to every wedding I coordinate. I am a lover of logistics, who’s dedicated to details you didn’t even know you needed to think about! My timelines are masteries of coordination, advance planning, and troubleshooting, and my calm, positive attitude onsite makes me your other vendors’ best friend. I will make sure your rehearsal and wedding day are executed without a hitch, and that your ingenious ideas come to fruition. I’ll work with you in the weeks leading up to your wedding to ensure no task is left undone, and every part of your grand plan is expertly executed.
Why should you - or your partner, your parents, or the “responsible” friend you’ve been delegating tasks to - have to work on your wedding day? When you bring me on board your team, I’ll take care of things while you and those you love enjoy what should be one of the most awesome days of your life. Don’t you worry about a thing - I’ve got this!
Want to know the full scoop? Click here to read my bio and be sure to check out my Vendor Guide Listing on Offbeat Bride to see how I cater to non-traditional couples!
A few random bits about me...
I'm an inner nerd at heart, and will converse with you all night long about my favorite moments in the Harry Potter series (Ravenclaw for life), and why Rose and Ten were the pinnacle of Doctor Who pairings for NuWho.
I placed 11th in the Maryland State Spelling Bee in eighth grade, which was televised locally, preserving my middle school fashion sensibilities for posterity. It also means my spelling and grammar skills are top-notch.
Dogs or cats? No contest - canines all the way! For a decade, I was the proud mama to a bonded pair - Duchess (a Staffordshire Bull Terrier) and Marley (a Miniature Poodle), who occupied a large swath of my heart with my love for them. But old age takes us all, and like Johnny and June Carter Cash, these two lived a good long life and passed within months of each other. I now am beholden to an absolutely adorable dodo of a dog named Heidi, a cocker spaniel-shih-tzu mix with one blue eye and endless energy.
You can thank my New York born-and-raised husband for my borderline maniacal NY Mets fandom. I'm also now the co-captain of Juilliard's staff softball team, and we won the trophy in 2014!
I firmly believe in the serial comma, and will always call you out on your misuse of their/there/they're or its/it's. I was an English major, after all!
If I'm not running your event, chances are I am enjoying my awesome neighborhood of Astoria, Queens - so much to see and do!
Have passport, will travel. My life philosophy is as follows: the world is big; life is short. There's never an excuse not to travel and explore a new corner of this big, beautiful world. (hint, hint, I do destination weddings, too! Read more here about my no-fuss travel policies.)
My Amazing Team
Anne VanderWal | Associate Coordinator
Anne hails from Michigan and after graduating from University of Michigan in 2005, she traveled eastbound to pursue her dream of living in New York City. Having made a home in NYC for the past 13+ years, Anne delights in keeping a constant pulse on all that the bustling city has to offer. Beginning with her first events role managing the catering for events at the American Museum of Natural History, to producing events of all shapes and sizes at Yankee Stadium, and most recently running the events department at the New-York Historical Society, Anne has experienced every type of event and thrives off the energy and excitement. From an early age, Anne was immersed in a home where her mother was constantly entertaining, modeling true hospitality to everyone who came through their front door. Combining her keen business acumen and her perennial Midwestern congeniality, Anne naturally collaborates with wedding clients to create their wedding vision in a calm and amicable environment. In recent months, she has partnered with her family and friends to help make their wedding dreams into a reality, whether they played out on a beach in Tulum or in the middle of Central Park at the Loeb Boathouse.
A bit about Anne...
Stemming from my work in the catering industry, I possess a refined appreciation for delicious food and beverage and how they can be harmoniously paired together with impeccable service to create an unforgettable dining experience. These key event components are often what leave a lasting impression on clients and their esteemed guests.
Amo L’ Italia (I love Italy)! I spent six months living and studying in Florence during college and the experience remains one of the most special and memorable. Everything about the country is beautiful; the language, art, fashion, food, wine, architecture, and the people! Italy exudes passion and is a feast for the eyes and the soul.
Music is a magnificent motivator for me and I relish curating (and sharing) playlists for any activity...workouts, sunny day strolls, dinner parties, or late-night dance parties.
In my free time, I find pure joy in the kitchen baking my mom’s famed recipes for carrot cake and apple pie, or trying out a new confection to share with my family and friends. To balance the occasional sugar rush, you can find me training for my next half marathon (Las Vegas is next!), taking a barre class, or walking the island of Manhattan from top to bottom.
Katie Scheuerle | Assistant Coordinator
Katie was born and bred in the heart of the Carolinas and has brought her southern hospitality to the exciting atmosphere of New York City. Katie’s love for event planning was first inspired by her mother, who re-created the set of Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley in their backyard for her 10th birthday. Since then, she has dove into the event culture by coordinating events within the realms of fashion, sports, education, and the performing arts. With a design and business degree, Katie brings her creative eye and attention to detail to making every experience magical. Her favorite part of event planning is seeing the joy and happiness of guests that originates from a beautifully coordinated experience.
A bit about Katie...
Action and adventure are my calling…on the big screen. If I’m at the theater, I am usually seeing the newest Sci-Fi or Marvel film. Star Trek and Captain America are among my favorite series to follow! When it comes to the stage, I enjoy experiencing the beauty of music, dance, and drama and broadening my knowledge of the performing arts.
My free time is spent with others. I love being around friends and family and exploring this exciting city together. Usually this involves a game of soccer, movies in the park, or visiting the newest art exhibit.
When I’m brainstorming my next event, you can find me on a yoga mat or taking a stroll along the Hudson River through Riverside Park.
My favorite time away from New York is spent vacationing on a cruise ship. Traveling to new cities, being within steps of the water, and unlimited ice cream are things that make me very happy.
I live through the words of one of the most inspiring figures in events, innovation and hospitality: “Whatever you do, do it well.” -Walt Disney
Samantha Cooper | Assistant Coordinator
Born in New York and raised in the Bay Area, Sam is a bicoastal hybrid of buzzy NYC energy and laidback California confidence. Sam has spent over 10 years in the event and entertainment industries, blending her whimsical, outgoing personalit with her type-A organizational skills and classical acting training. Quick and calm when responding to the needs of her clients and guests, she strives to create a welcoming and warm atmosphere in any space and is the go-to gal for a brainstorming session. As the manager of the Joyce Theater Foundation’s bustling DANY Studios in Midtown Manhattan, she oversaw daily operations and events while developing strong relationships with numerous artistic and VIP personalities. As an associate event producer and brand ambassador, she has ensured the success of high-profile galas, benefits, speaking engagements (including those of President Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton), and retail pop-ups in venues all over the country, from the Marriott Marquis and the Ziegfeld Ballroom to Lord & Taylor and private estates.
Having also dabbled in the catering industry, Sam is often hand-picked to coordinate the inner workings of an evening, be it at an upscale wedding or a high-profile dinner.
A bit about Sam...
I love weddings...LOVE them. I have been a bridesmaid or maid of honor approximately 10 times, and every single bride has called on me to either emcee the reception, host a karaoke segment, organize a flash mob, or round out the evening with a rousing, heartfelt toast. My favorite make-it-work wedding moment occurred as a junior bridesmaid at age 13 when I locked my dress in a country club's locker room during a storm without a master lock available. The dress was recovered in the nick of time and I went on to teach the entire guest list the Macarena choreography.
My time is split between the stage, the voice over sound booth, and the classroom; I'm a collaborative actor who also works solo to voice commercials, animated characters, and corporate explainer videos.
When not making my own art, I'm teaching young children to explore their own imaginations and discover the joy of storytelling.
In my free time, I'm dining with friends, rolling out my yoga mat, or researching my next adventure abroad. Experiencing other cultures is vital to me, be it overseas or on the street in my own NYC backyard.