Gretchen Culver

A little off-beat, always on point.

Gretchen Culver has been producing out-of-this-world events for her clients for over a decade. 

This Art Historian didn’t expect to become an Event Scientist but quickly discovered that the creativity and logistics required to plan and design an event ignited both sides of her brain. Seeing the hundreds of hours of planning and decision-making come together on an event day brings Gretchen unparalleled joy.

While every event Gretchen produces may be different, her design philosophy remains the same: consider everything, overlook nothing. She finds inspiration everywhere, from the back aisles at Target to a Rothko painting at the Walker Art Center. Viewing an event like a puzzle, she can see the big picture and welcomes the challenge of putting the pieces together. 

Gretchen’s superpower is her ability to get to the heart of what her clients really want, understanding their ‘why’ even when they can’t articulate it. The end result? A perfectly honed event with the exact right elements - knocking her clients' socks off.

More than a badass event planner with a sick sneaker and watch collection, Gretchen is also a MILF to three kids and the wife of a HOT husband. When not making event magic happen or traveling for speaking engagements, she can be found curled up watching Pitch Perfect (again), savoring a triple-cream brie and some wine.

Honest

MINNESOTA NICE NEED NOT APPLY.

“There needs to be mutual respect between myself and my clients. I want them to know they can express their wants and feelings. If they don’t like something I’ve proposed, they can be honest with me about it. My feelings won’t be hurt! I’m not a mind reader (although I’m working on it). 

That said, clients hire me for my expertise, so it's my duty to give candid feedback and push them out of their comfort zone. This is how I dial their event up to eleven.”

Hard-Working

NO PHONING IT IN, EVER.

“You are only as good as your last event. I firmly believe I'm always growing and improving my craft. I learn something new every time I produce an event, which keeps me hungry and striving to outdo myself.

Winning awards is nice, but it doesn't make me better at my job. Keeping a growth mindset and staying curious help me stay at the top of my game. No complacency. No ego. Humility and hard work are two very Minnesotan traits, I take pride in both.”

Humorous

IF YOU’RE NOT HAVING FUN, YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG.

“I take my work seriously. Myself? Not so much. I don’t want my clients to worry about a thing. I want them to have fun, period.

On the day of an event, one of my jobs is to bring good vibes and create a fun environment for my clients, their guests and everyone working on the team. If I can bring humor to alleviate some stress and cultivate an atmosphere of joy, the whole process is better for everyone involved.”