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@ DistinctEp

A premier full-service event planning and design company serving clients in the Midwest and beyond. Whether we’re designing a fundraising gala, themed party, or corporate conference, we deliver the wow factor at events large and small. Be a guest at your own event and let us take your vision to the next level!

@ D I S T I N C T E P

DISTINCT EVENT PLANNING

our clients

I was impressed by the team's flexibility in overcoming unforeseen barriers and achieving results that went above my initial expectations. Even under duress, their cool-headedness and collected demeanor eased our concerns. It was evident how committed they were to make sure that every aspect—including the venue preparation—was carried out perfectly.

– Chanel Norton Lee (Victoria's Secret & Co.)
 

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Ms. Williams has established an incredible network of resources and was able to accomplish the most complex of tasks, often in a limited timeframe. Her team is truly incredible , and their overall dedication is commendable.

- Lark Mallory (Affordable Housing Trust)

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We presented Ms. Williams with our concept, she listened, brought back ideas, received our feedback, generated more ideas, accepted our tweaks, and created an event that was beyond anything we could have imagined or envisioned. No detail was left unturned and our guests remarked that it was the “event of the year".

- Jami Ervin (Jack and Jill of America, Inc.)

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When Ergo — a New York-based firm — decided to host a conference in Columbus, Ohio on four months’ notice, we knew we needed someone on the ground with a wealth of experience, strong connections, and absolute professionalism. That combination of traits is exactly what Lucretia and WillaMarie bring to the table every day. DEP worked with us on an extremely tight timeline to secure a world-class venue that fit our needs exactly and brought in premier local vendors. As our vision for the conference evolved, Lucretia and WillaMarie exhibited tremendous patience, adaptability, and responsiveness.

- Ergo Staff

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Throughout the planning process, Distinct Event Planning provided guidance and coordinated a multitude of tasks against an expedited 4-month timeline. Leading up to the big day, Distinct Event Planning helped Omega CDC identify and secure vendors for all necessary components, in addition to visioning and designing stellar décor about which people across the community are still raving. On the day of the Hope Rising Gala, the Distinct Event Planning team worked extremely hard to ensure that the event was managed without a hitch. Due to a thorough plan for the event and volunteer coordination, we were able to focus on hosting our attendees and celebrating our success.

– Rachel R. Ward (Omega Community Development Corporation) 
 

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Thank you for helping us bring the Great Lakes Lenders Conference to life! 🙌 Your expertise and seamless planning made it an unforgettable experience. It was amazing to see so many inspiring conversations and connections happening in one place! Looking forward to more collaborations in the future.

– Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI)
 

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We deliver a stress-free experience, from the brainstorming phase to the concept realized. Let us capture your vision and bring it to life. We specialize in planning corporate conferences, retreats, team meetings, employee and client appreciations, galas and more. We collaborate with your team to design a customized package that allows you fulfill your company’s vision while maintaining your budget and creating the highest impact for your attendees. 

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  corporate + nonprofit events

We will handle all of the planning details for your ultimate celebration. We will give you peace of mind by offering sound, professional advice and we will act as a liaison with your various vendors. Our experience, coupled with your ideas, can ensure your event goes just as you envisioned from the beginning stages of planning to the last dance at the party. 

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social events

Your planning is done. Now it’s time to bring to life the look and feel of your event. That’s where we add our Distinct touch! We’ll start with your initial concept and let the creativity flow. We’ll inspire you with fresh takes on color palettes, textures, florals, lighting, and décor. We’ll help you tap into those “uniquely you” elements to create an unforgettable visual experience for your event. Let’s create the “WOW” factor your guests deserve! 

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V I E W   O U R   W O R K  

event design

This natural visionary is the founder, President and CEO of Distinct Event Planning, LLC (DEP), Lucretia Williams. Featured in Essence and on TV, as an event planning expert this designing extraordinaire has successfully planned hundreds of multi-day conferences, business development events and tradeshows. We are talking about Met Gala level exclusiveness here.

Her love of mixed patterns and lots of layered textures speaks to the amazing complexity of a woman and leaves her clients feeling like celebrities “all dressed in love.” As the G.O.A.T. of event planning, she has accumulated many accolades including a 99% satisfaction rate, raising millions of dollars for various non profits, and DEP is the only event planning and design company in the State of Ohio with five certifications including NMSDC, WBENC, State of Ohio MBE, State of Ohio WBE, and SBA WOSB.

In between designing unique events with all the flair, she sips on top notch coffee to fuel her day. Her love of faith filled devotionals has lifted her to the paramount level of 24 years of event planning experience. She has boldly established her events as unique as her variety of lipsticks. When she isn’t creating superior events, she can be found enjoying a beach vacation with her husband and daughters.

meet us

Hi, I’m Lucretia and welcome you to Distinct Event Planning (DEP)! Operating a premiere wedding and event planning business has been my dream from the moment I planned my first wedding. Now with 20 years of event planning experience behind me, I realize my own “dream come true” with each incredible event. My team and I are passionate about delivering the ultimate guest experience from start to finish. I take pride in perfecting the details, creating unforgettable visuals and making every moment feel effortless and stress-free.

Having planned everything from weddings and parties, to conferences and high teas, my organizational skills have earned praise throughout Central Ohio and I have great relationships with local vendors. My dependability and my ability to direct the behind-the-scenes logistics, and coordinate with event professionals are just of a few of the tools I’ll use to make your event seem effortless.

I'm also passionate about sharing my knowledge and growing the planning industry. In 2017, I founded the EmpoWEred Planners Society to give planners a platform to learn from other pros. We’re taking the secrecy out of “trade secrets” and providing applicable tools for success. Our society hosts an annual conference and other professional development opportunities throughout the year.

DEP is also expanding its reach. Our events have been featured in magazine spreads, articles and blogs. And now I’m touring internationally as a speaker and educator. I love developing professionals and I welcome opportunities to speak at conferences, seminars and workshops!

We have so much to offer and we’d love to learn about your next big event. Contact us today. Let’s create together!


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WillaMarie is a Harley riding event planner now DEP’s Director of Operations. She enjoys training new staff to become the cream of the crop event planners and leading them to success with the assistance of her handy Trello board. As the epitome of the ultimate problem solver, she can identify the problem before it occurs. Consider it handled as she calmly exits the room while drinking passion fruit lemonade.

Don't let the tough exterior fool you because this Jesus girl’s favorite color is Rose Gold which symbolizes love, also a reflection of her faith and passion that she brings to projects everyday. She enjoys designing a whimsy/classical/ bohemian mix that seems natural but is structured in unexplainable beauty. Add some pops of color and #BoomPow you have her favorite design element.

This seasoned, strategic, dynamic and independent spirit has always championed people’s needs first as a counselor, then as an event planner and now as the lead organizational maven.

When she is not getting staff into formation, she enjoys a date night ride with her husband on his Harley and spending time with her 2 sons.

Hi, I’m Lucretia and welcome you to Distinct Event Planning (DEP)! Operating a premiere wedding and event planning business has been my dream from the moment I planned my first wedding. Now with 20 years of event planning experience behind me, I realize my own “dream come true” with each incredible event. My team and I are passionate about delivering the ultimate guest experience from start to finish. I take pride in perfecting the details, creating unforgettable visuals and making every moment feel effortless and stress-free.

Having planned everything from weddings and parties, to conferences and high teas, my organizational skills have earned praise throughout Central Ohio and I have great relationships with local vendors. My dependability and my ability to direct the behind-the-scenes logistics, and coordinate with event professionals are just of a few of the tools I’ll use to make your event seem effortless.

I'm also passionate about sharing my knowledge and growing the planning industry. In 2017, I founded the EmpoWEred Planners Society to give planners a platform to learn from other pros. We’re taking the secrecy out of “trade secrets” and providing applicable tools for success. Our society hosts an annual conference and other professional development opportunities throughout the year.

DEP is also expanding its reach. Our events have been featured in magazine spreads, articles and blogs. And now I’m touring internationally as a speaker and educator. I love developing professionals and I welcome opportunities to speak at conferences, seminars and workshops!

We have so much to offer and we’d love to learn about your next big event. Contact us today. Let’s create together!


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AJ Jones, a proud native of Dayton, OH—affectionately known as the "Gem City"—found his passion for event management while attending the University of Cincinnati. Starting his career as an event assistant in college, AJ has since grown into a seasoned event manager with nearly a decade of experience.

AJ's extensive portfolio includes corporate functions, social gatherings, and weddings. He excels in overseeing event planning and execution, ensuring seamless logistics, and creating unforgettable guest experiences. Known for his energetic approach and meticulous attention to detail, AJ is dedicated to delivering excellence in every event he undertakes.

As the Events Operations Manager at DEP, AJ brings his unique blend of professionalism, creativity, and strategic vision to elevate your next event. Whether you’re planning a compelling corporate function, a vibrant social celebration, or a non-profit fundraiser, AJ is committed to crafting impactful experiences that are sure to leave a lasting impression.

Connect with AJ to bring your vision to life!

Hi, I’m Lucretia and welcome you to Distinct Event Planning (DEP)! Operating a premiere wedding and event planning business has been my dream from the moment I planned my first wedding. Now with 20 years of event planning experience behind me, I realize my own “dream come true” with each incredible event. My team and I are passionate about delivering the ultimate guest experience from start to finish. I take pride in perfecting the details, creating unforgettable visuals and making every moment feel effortless and stress-free.

Having planned everything from weddings and parties, to conferences and high teas, my organizational skills have earned praise throughout Central Ohio and I have great relationships with local vendors. My dependability and my ability to direct the behind-the-scenes logistics, and coordinate with event professionals are just of a few of the tools I’ll use to make your event seem effortless.

I'm also passionate about sharing my knowledge and growing the planning industry. In 2017, I founded the EmpoWEred Planners Society to give planners a platform to learn from other pros. We’re taking the secrecy out of “trade secrets” and providing applicable tools for success. Our society hosts an annual conference and other professional development opportunities throughout the year.

DEP is also expanding its reach. Our events have been featured in magazine spreads, articles and blogs. And now I’m touring internationally as a speaker and educator. I love developing professionals and I welcome opportunities to speak at conferences, seminars and workshops!

We have so much to offer and we’d love to learn about your next big event. Contact us today. Let’s create together!


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Introducing Lovelyn Tapales, the wizard behind the web and the maestro of content creation at Distinct Event Planning (DEP) and its umbrella of companies. While she's usually the quiet force in the tech realm, don't be fooled by her shy demeanor—this tech-savvy virtuoso is known to sprinkle her day with random jokes that'll catch you off guard and have you giggling in no time.

As DEP's go-to guru for all things technical, her expertise in website design, graphic wizardry, and content curation knows no bounds. She’s got you covered, blending creativity with technical finesse like nobody else and her online presence sorcery, weaving keywords and optimizing content to ensure DEP shines brightly in the digital landscape. She's also a research whiz, diving deep like a digital detective! And when it's time to edit images and videos, she's a pro, making pixels dance like nobody's business!

When she's not busy being DEP's personal tech oracle, you'll likely find her back in her cave, diving headfirst into a world of manga and light novels faster than you can say "kawaii!” or immersed in the digital space of games. 

Hi, I’m Lucretia and welcome you to Distinct Event Planning (DEP)! Operating a premiere wedding and event planning business has been my dream from the moment I planned my first wedding. Now with 20 years of event planning experience behind me, I realize my own “dream come true” with each incredible event. My team and I are passionate about delivering the ultimate guest experience from start to finish. I take pride in perfecting the details, creating unforgettable visuals and making every moment feel effortless and stress-free.

Having planned everything from weddings and parties, to conferences and high teas, my organizational skills have earned praise throughout Central Ohio and I have great relationships with local vendors. My dependability and my ability to direct the behind-the-scenes logistics, and coordinate with event professionals are just of a few of the tools I’ll use to make your event seem effortless.

I'm also passionate about sharing my knowledge and growing the planning industry. In 2017, I founded the EmpoWEred Planners Society to give planners a platform to learn from other pros. We’re taking the secrecy out of “trade secrets” and providing applicable tools for success. Our society hosts an annual conference and other professional development opportunities throughout the year.

DEP is also expanding its reach. Our events have been featured in magazine spreads, articles and blogs. And now I’m touring internationally as a speaker and educator. I love developing professionals and I welcome opportunities to speak at conferences, seminars and workshops!

We have so much to offer and we’d love to learn about your next big event. Contact us today. Let’s create together!


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Meticulous. Passion. Experience.

Distinct Event Planning would be happy to assist you in planning a fabulous event. Please complete our contact form to set up your complimentary consultation. 
 
450 North Brice Rd. Unit 175
Blacklick, OH 43004
PHONE: (614) 577-1844
EMAIL: info@distincteventplanning.com

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Meticulous. Passion. Experience.

Distinct Event Planning would be happy to assist you in planning a fabulous event. Please call or complete the contact form to set up your complimentary consultation. 
 
P.O. Box 175
Blacklick, OH 43004
PHONE: (614) 577-1844
EMAIL: info@distincteventplanning.com

let's get started

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