Oakland Personal Services Wedding Planner

Alicia Kester Special Events

Wedding Planner

Over ten years ago I started a small boutique catering company with an exceptional chef, Simply Bliss Catering. When I realized event planning was my passion I shifted gears and joined a dedicated event planning / fundraising firm. There I learned the fundamentals of event planning for everything from galas to golf tournaments, from intimate cultivation events to festivals. I also sharpened my skills as a fundraiser, coordinating independent donor campaigns as well as fundraising events.

Five years ago I decided to open my own event-planning firm and immediately was contracted as the finance and event director for the successful re-election campaign of Oakland Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan. Since then I've orchestrated countless weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, and private events as well as working with amazing organizations such as San Francisco LGBT Center, the San Francisco Film Society (and the San Francisco International Film Festival), GreatSchools, Oakland's Art and Soul Festival, the Art in Nature Festival, the Pan African Family Reunion, and the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County on fundraisers, conferences, galas, opening night parties, cultivation events, and festivals. Read more

3 recommendations

  •  
    Alexandra S.

    Shared on thumbtack.com

    Hiring Alicia was critical to having everything run smoothly on our special day! She was a pleasure to work with! She had a lot of great ideas to problem solve and prevent any snags from happening. It was wonderful to have someone working so hard on the day of, so we didn't have to stress! She was instrumental to having peace of mind! I would definitely recommend hiring her! Thanks, Alicia for all your help and hard work. Much love!

    Original recommendation
  •  
    Laura K.

    Shared on thumbtack.com

    Excellent all around! Alicia Kester Special Events planned my multicultural wedding, which incorporated Nigerian, Indian, and Creole culture. She was highly professional, extremely thorough, and full-heartedly dedicated to ensuring that my vision became a reality. A dream come true!!!! I would recommend her 100%.

    Original recommendation
  •  
    Vick P.

    Shared on thumbtack.com

    Alicia Kester Special Events did an amazing job with our wedding. She was able to bring together our multicultural backgrounds to create a night we will never forget! We loved our experience with Alicia. She was a must have for such a special day. Two big thumbs up!!!

    Original recommendation

Contact

Online & Social

Service Area

  • Oakland, CA

Services Provided

  • Weddings
  • Personal Events
  • Corporate Events
  • Social Events