About

The Team behind the creativity

is all about you and that is at the heart of our planning and

Based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, B Astonished Events is a premier full-service event planning and design company specializing in luxury weddings and lavish events both domestically and internationally.

Established in 2014, our offerings include full planning and design services that range from intimate events to extravagant weddings. From the first impression to the smallest detail, we take your vision and dreams and ensure that every wedding and event is astonishing and authentic.

belief

design philosophy

YOur WEdding

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Sophie Felts Floral Design

Sophie Felts

“ She is vibrant, creative, and so much fun to work with - seriously one of the best in the biz.”

How they see us

Melissa deeply understands her clients and artfully bridges the gap between what the client wants and what we love to deliver.

I absolutely enjoy planning weddings and events! As the CEO and Owner of B Astonished Events, I believe my passion for professional planning and design of events started with unique celebrations I planned for my birthday and other special occasions in high school and college for family and friends.

I received my Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Maryland with a double major in Criminal Justice and Communications. My responsibilities, along with being an active basketball player, included managing, planning and coordinating all resources related to the Club Basketball program and my sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. These memorable experiences led me to pursue and complete my Master’s degree in Sports Industry Management (Business Management) from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

The personal satisfaction culminating from these lifetime memorable events had a significant impact in the creation and vision for B Astonished Events. Over the past decade, I have incorporated invaluable life experiences gleaned from my leadership, passion, creativity, detail-orientation, commitment and honesty into a myriad of beautiful experiences provided by the B Astonished Events Team for our clientele.

Owner and Creative Director

Meet Melissa

I really thrive on my couples feeling that their wedding is a one-of-a-kind and true expression of who they are so that their love story is the essence of the event. My favorite part of a wedding day is seeing the design come to life and our clients' reaction to their room reveal.

Balancing my passion is time well spent with my husband Blair and raising two young boys, Braylen and Bryson. If I am not planning one of our lavish events, you can find me traveling the world, enhancing my closet accessories or enjoying a sweet cocktail with my friends.

As an experienced designer and planner,

- melissa

Featured Press

On August 18, 2017, I married my best friend Blair Williams at the National Harbor in Maryland. We had a beautiful destination wedding theme since I always dreamed of having a destination wedding. Best believe our vow renewal will be in another country!

We have two young boys named Braylen and Bryson.

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Family time is very important to me! I’m always happiest when I’m surrounded by my family. I was born in Germany and raised in a military family where both of my parents are retired colonels in the US Army. I have a younger brother, Marlon, who is also ambitious and career driven.

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I LOVE to travel! I'll take a destination wedding any day! I'm so grateful for the experiences I have been able to witness through traveling with my family and friends and our wonderful clients. I could see myself traveling every other month in my retirement years.

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meet the owner

get to know

Our Team

I grew up as a trained dancer, which sparked my passion for creating unforgettable lifetime moments. This was the true inspiration for me to help start the lovely B Astonished Events.

De’Angela Calder

Lead Event Planner & Bridal Stylist

more on Alyssa

I grew up as a trained dancer, which sparked my passion for creating unforgettable lifetime moments. This was the true inspiration for me to help start the lovely B Astonished Events. Born and raised in Washington, DC, and an alumna of the University of Maryland, where I received my BS in Criminology and Criminal Justice and MA in Homeland Security Management (UMGC), I never left home. Growing up in one of the most sought-after places to live, I am no stranger to all things fun and fashionable. With over 9 years in the wedding and event planning industry, I have grown to love building relationships with vendors and playing an integral part in making clients' most unimaginable dreams come true.

My creative perspective and drive to provide dedicated, enthusiastic planning and bridal styling services aim to surpass client expectations on every level. I am mostly known for my exciting and unique approach to bridal party preparations on the wedding day. Alexa, play "cuff it" by Beyoncé as I pour glasses of Veuve Clicquot for my bride and her entourage!

When I'm not catering to my clients, you can find me reading a good romance novel or spending time with my husband and son catching up on the latest season of Cocomelon (haha!).

I grew up as a trained dancer, which sparked my passion for creating unforgettable lifetime moments. This was the true inspiration for me to help start the lovely B Astonished Events. My creative perspective and drive to provide dedicated, enthusiastic planning and bridal styling services aim to surpass client expectations on every level. I am mostly known for my exciting and unique approach to bridal party preparations on the wedding day. With over 9 years in the wedding and event planning industry, I have grown to love building relationships with vendors and playing an integral part in making clients' most unimaginable dreams come true.

Meet Deangela

I love to call myself multi-passionate as I have a variety of interests, but all of them are rooted in project management and design of some sort. My first love was science, I have a PhD in Nutrition Biochemistry that birthed my appreciation for the systematic process of planning to implementation. But I was yearning to add a little more color in my life, which led me to event planning and design with B Astonished Events!

My clients know me to have a style forward approach to event design and an eye for the fine details. Details matter to us, and it is these small touches that our clients and vendors appreciate. My personal design style is to push the boundaries of timeless and elegant trends. I love working with creatives all over the world who set precedent to curate one-of-a-kind experiences.

Outside of event planning, I love to spend time with my husband by binge watching our favorite shows, cheering on the Gators, or going out for sushi and margaritas!

I joined the event and wedding industry because I had a hidden passion for bringing others visions for their most memorable moments to life! My clients know me to have a style forward approach to event design and a keen eye for the fine details needed to make an event unforgettable and timeless. Details matter to us, and it is these small touches that our clients and vendors appreciate. My personal design style is to push the boundaries of timeless and elegant trends. I love working with creatives all over the world to curate astonishing one-of-a kind experiences.

The Blog

Weddings

Take a peek into the weddings and special events we’ve produced for clients around the world.

Read through our favorite tips and tricks for wedding planning, from the moment you get engaged through the big day.

Our Work

explore

Events

Our sophisticated style and eye for design go far beyond weddings - we provide planning services for all of life’s celebrations.

With over 10 years of experience, this private 1-hour coaching session will provide you with my complete attention to ask me anything from all things wedding industry or personal questions on the growth of your business.

I’ll share some innovative ideas that allowed my business to excel and provide you with smart, actionable advice you can profit from.

1-Hour Business Consultation

Book a call with me

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grab our guide

Every task you’ll need to ensure you have the wedding of your dreams - in one place! This checklist will help you stay organized from your engagement to your last dance and every stage in between.