CALLUNA EVENTS - Key Persons
Francesca DeOrio is a native New Yorker who has worked in the hospitality industry for over a decade. She originally joined the Boulder-based The Kitchen restaurant group and worked in a variety of roles in several of their restaurants. Her background in hospitality management, restaurant operations and events coordination has honed her ability to multi-task her way through just about any project. Francesca and Calluna owner, Heather Dwight, first worked together when they collaborated on an event at The Kitchen Next Door. At the time, Francesca was the general manager and events planner. It was immediately evident that events managed by Francesca balanced good humor and positive thinking with innate problem-solving skills and a thorough eye for detail. Her extensive experience at The Kitchen restaurant group combined with her passionate enthusiasm for event and wedding planning makes Francesca a perfect addition to the Calluna Events team.
Gabby Gray is a talented and passionate soul hailing from the charming landscapes of South Georgia. Gabby's love for weddings and design blossomed while planning her own wedding and creating beautifully remodeled homes. This innate passion led her to embark on an exciting journey with a prominent restaurant group in Atlanta, Georgia. During her time there, Gabby orchestrated upscale events that ranged from corporate happy hours to breathtaking weddings on city rooftops. The Rocky Mountains beckoned, and after years in southern hospitality, Gabby answered the call and made her way to Colorado in January of 2022. Embracing the opportunity to continue her pursuit of crafting extraordinary experiences, she landed at a luxurious 4-star property in Boulder, where she meticulously planned weddings and events. Now, Gabby is thrilled to join the Calluna Events team, bringing with her the love and charm of the South and a deep passion for celebrating love. With her expertise and dedication, Gabby is poised to weave unforgettable tales of romance and joy for couples, infusing each celebration with her unique style and heartwarming Southern hospitality.
Gina is a Colorado native with a background in architecture and UX design deeply influenced by her love for nature. As a designer, she cherishes the meaningful relationship between people and place, believing it to be fundamental when planning weddings and events. With over a decade of experience in the wedding industry, Gina has developed a true love in cultivating unforgettable celebrations and experiences for clients from conception to execution. She finds immense joy in infusing each event with personalized design elements that weave love and happiness into every detail, leaving lasting memories for the couples she works with.
Gina began her journey with Calluna Events in 2019 as an intern, and now takes on the role of a lead planner, excited to continue her path of forging connections and fostering a sense of community and inclusivity within the wedding industry. Her mission is to make every event a true celebration of the unique love shared by each couple.
Heather Dwight started Calluna Events in 2004 after working in non-profit and corporate events for 10 years. With a vibrant and captivating sense of style, Heather is one of the most sought-after wedding planners in Colorado and with weddings planned in New York, Virginia, California, Arizona, Louisiana, Wyoming, and New Mexico she is helping Calluna expand to exciting destinations. She is the visionary behind Calluna Events being recognized as one of the Best Wedding Planners in America by BRIDES (2018-2022), The Knot's Best of Weddings (2007-2022), The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame and the winner of Wedding Wire Bride's Choice Award. In 2020 + 2021 BizBash named Heather among the 500 influential event professionals in the US. Heather served as the Director of Communications on the inaugural WIPA Colorado Board of Directors. Clients describe Heather as having a sophisticated, yet calming confidence, allowing her to be a true advocate for her clients' vision. Heather also provides business coaching and mentoring and in 2019 launched a new business, Love Well Planned which focuses on workshops for wedding planners and wedding creatives. She loves mindful design, style and immaculate detail. After 18 seasons, what Heather adores the most are the relationships she is fortunate to build with clients and helping couples achieve a beautiful wedding that is authentically theirs.
Kira Sullivan was born and raised in SoCal, but got her taste of Colorado when attending CU Boulder for undergrad. She has an expansive career in marketing and advertising. Working in both the automotive and real estate industries, Kira brings a passion for organizing, planning and top notch client service to Calluna Events. Being newly engaged herself, Kira is excited to be hands-on with the wedding and event planning, and work with the Calluna Team to make the dream wedding a reality.
Kristen Kennedy, a San Francisco native, joined the Calluna team in 2015 for the opportunity to dip her toes into the Colorado wedding world. She has been with the team ever since; involved in full-service wedding & design to social media strategy. Kristen's favorite part of planning a Calluna wedding is building a thoughtful and intentional vendor team alongside her couples. She thrives during a fast-paced wedding day and believes no detail is too small to make a wedding feel personal & memorable. She has recently produced weddings in Cabo San Lucas and California & looks forward to adding more destination events to her repertoire.
Job Titles:
- Director of Events Operations
A Colorado native whose journey in event planning and design led her to the vibrant streets of the Big Apple. Seven years ago, she packed her bags, fueled by a passion for creating unforgettable experiences. In the bustling streets of New York, Lindsay honed her craft, working with prestigious brands such as Sephora, Google, Airbnb, Slack, Pandora, BuzzFeed, and many more. With a knack for designing events that leave a lasting impression, Lindsay's creativity knows no bounds. Her portfolio extends beyond the corporate realm, as she has also lent her talents to crafting unique social events, weddings, and bar and bat mitzvahs, both in the city and across the globe. As our Director of Events, Lindsay brings her wealth of experience and boundless passion for celebrations to Calluna Events. Her problem-solving skills, deep understanding of the art of celebration, creative imagination, and meticulous attention to detail set her apart. With an unwavering positive attitude and an innate ability to turn dreams into reality, Lindsay is a key driving force behind the extraordinary experiences that Calluna Events creates.
Megan Dunlap is a Colorado native who loves spending time with her family and friends. She is a recent graduate of Colorado State University with a degree in Hospitality Management. She started out with Calluna Events as an intern during the 2019 wedding season. Megan's favorite part of planning weddings is of course, the wedding day and the look on the Groom's face as the Bride walks down the aisle. She says nothing can beat the pure love you can see between a couple during their First Look, and she especially loves the level of detail needed to execute the perfect wedding day.
Melanie Robertz has a built a reputable background in public relations, marketing and event planning, with a notable focus on upscale client relationships. Starting her career at prestigious advertising agency CP+B, and then Artifact Uprising. Melanie prides herself on the ability to effectively project manage, multitask and put pen to paper in a pinch, but the intersection of creativity and human connection is what really gets her heart beating fast. She has found purpose in bringing love and light into every celebration. Leading with contagious optimism, she navigates the wedding world with creativity, gratitude, and a heaping dose of hard work.
Spice Jones, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, joined the Calluna Events team in 2006 for the opportunity to combine an extensive career producing award winning television commercials- collaborating with many of the world's top Art Directors- with her love for creating gorgeous celebrations. For Spice, perfection lies in the smallest details and her passion is finding fresh and exciting ways to match time honored traditions with today's modern styles. She loves the challenge of sourcing visual elements that are not only compelling but also unique to each celebration. After 15 years of planning and designing unforgettable events Spice has earned a reputation for surpassing the expectations of even the most demanding clients. Along with her vast experience, Spice brings the confident professionalism and engaging personality that are the trademarks of Calluna Events.