BEHIND THE CELEBRATIONS

Cara Press is the founder of Impressive Events, a wedding planning and floral design company rooted in hospitality, creativity, and intentional guest experience. With a background that spans nearly every corner of the service industry—from bartending and banquet work to hospitality management and special events—Cara brings a deeply practical understanding of how to create seamless, meaningful celebrations.

Wedding Planner Cara Press of Impressive Events

After studying Hospitality Management with a concentration in Special Events and moving to Wilmington, she stepped into her first dedicated wedding planning role, where she was also introduced to floral design. That experience quickly shaped the direction of her career and led to the organic creation of Impressive Events, built from word-of-mouth requests and a growing passion for guiding couples through one of life’s most important milestones.

Today, Cara works closely with couples to design and execute weddings that are both beautifully curated and logistically seamless. Her approach blends thoughtful planning with creative direction, ensuring each celebration feels personal, intentional, and true to the couple behind it. In this Q&A, Cara shares more about her journey, her approach to planning and design, and the moments she believes matter most on a couple’s wedding day.

Can you share the story behind Impressive Events and what inspired you to become a wedding planner?

I’ve been in the hospitality industry since I was 14 years old—everything from serving and bartending to management, cocktail waitressing, banquet service, and working in both dive bars and high-end environments. Across every role, what I loved most was connecting with people and creating meaningful experiences for them.

In college, I studied Hospitality Management with a concentration in Special Events. I knew I wanted to be in the events industry, but I wasn’t yet sure exactly what path that would take. After moving to Wilmington, I landed my first role in event planning, primarily focused on weddings, where I was also introduced to floral design—something I had never done before. I quickly fell in love with it.

That role taught me everything from the foundational steps of planning to full wedding day execution. It showed me exactly where I was meant to be. From there, Impressive Events naturally came to life when my sister, friends, and coworkers began asking me to plan their weddings and design their florals.

Today, I feel incredibly grateful to be doing this full-time. There is something so fulfilling about being part of such an important season in people’s lives. I genuinely love what I do, and I cannot thank my clients enough for trusting me to be part of their special day and allowing me to experience those moments with them.

How would you describe your planning style, and what sets your approach apart for couples?

My planning style is completely tailored to each couple and their needs. Every wedding is different depending on how involved they want me to be—whether that’s full planning support or month-of coordination and execution.

When it comes to florals, I take a collaborative, educational approach. There are so many directions couples can go in terms of design, especially with inspiration being so accessible through social media. I prioritize transparency around options and pricing, helping couples understand what is realistic while still achieving the overall vision they have in mind. What sets my approach apart is that I truly meet couples where they are. I guide them through decisions, offer creative direction, and provide honest insight so their vision feels both intentional and achievable.

What is one detail or moment you always encourage couples to prioritize on their wedding day?

One moment I always encourage couples to prioritize is a private last dance—an intimate moment shared together with a song of their choosing.

While guests are being guided for the exit, the couple has the entire dance floor to themselves for one final song of the night. It becomes a deeply personal and intentional moment where they can truly take everything in together before the celebration ends.

It’s one of my favorite parts of the entire wedding day, and I absolutely love seeing couples experience it. I cannot wait to share that same intimate moment with my husband next year.

How do you help bring a couple’s vision to life while managing logistics behind the scenes?

My main focus throughout the entire planning process is to take as much stress and worry off the bride as possible so she can truly enjoy her engagement and fully live in the moment on her wedding day. I bring a couple’s vision to life through detailed conversations about design elements, including linens, table settings, florals, and the overall aesthetic direction. I also use inspiration photos and mood boards to ensure we are fully aligned and that their vision is clearly translated into execution. Behind the scenes, logistics are everything. I am in constant communication with vendors leading up to the wedding, finalizing timelines and floor plans, and ensuring everyone is on the same page. On the wedding day, I manage the flow of events, coordinate with vendors, and make real-time adjustments as needed to keep everything running smoothly.

What advice would you give to couples currently in the planning process?

My biggest advice to couples is to truly invest time in getting to know your vendors—schedule calls, ask questions, and make sure their communication style, personality, and energy align with yours. Your vendor team plays a major role in shaping your overall experience, so choosing people you genuinely trust and connect with makes all the difference. Another important piece of advice is understanding the value of having a professional planner or coordinator. A lot of couples today feel they can rely on a friend or family member to help manage the wedding day, but what often gets overlooked is the level of logistics, timing, vendor coordination, and problem-solving that happens behind the scenes.

Weddings are emotional by nature, and when someone close to you is responsible for managing the day, it can unintentionally add stress or pull them into situations that take away from their ability to simply be present and enjoy the celebration. Having a professional ensures that everything is handled seamlessly and objectively so your loved ones can fully experience the day with you.

Regardless of budget, every couple deserves to have the wedding they’ve always envisioned. My goal as a wedding planner is to make that happen in a way that feels intentional, seamless, and true to them—while allowing them to fully live in every moment of their day.

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