Meet Haylie Scherr | Wedding Planner at Heirloom Event Company

We had the good fortune of connecting with Haylie Scherr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Haylie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Heirloom Event Company began in one of the loneliest seasons of my life. After moving to Los Angeles without knowing anyone, I realized just how isolating it could feel to start over in a new city. I didn’t want anyone else to feel that way—so I started hosting monthly events as a way to bring people together.

What began as a handful of new friends going to Dodgers games or trying out archery dodgeball grew into something much bigger: horseback riding trips, wine tastings, and community gatherings with up to 60 people. My goal was always the same—create spaces where people felt seen, welcomed, and connected. I wanted someone to bring a coworker or a neighbor and leave having made a friend, or maybe even a lifelong memory.

Eventually, those same friends started asking me to help plan their weddings. What I had built—this sense of care, hospitality, and celebration—translated so naturally into the world of weddings that it didn’t feel like starting a business. It felt like continuing a mission. That’s when Heirloom Event Company truly began, with connection and core at the foundation of it all.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Heirloom Event Company has grown from a small idea to a multi-city planning company that now operates in both Los Angeles and Chicago. We have three lead planners in each city, which means our couples never have to hear, “Sorry, we’re booked.” That flexibility is core to who we are—we don’t want hopeful clients reaching out only to hit a wall of unavailability. We believe there’s room for more joy, more “yes,” and more human connection in the wedding planning process.

We’re also in the exciting phase of expanding to Dallas and Denver next year. Our goal is to continue creating deeply personal celebrations while building out teams that can serve multiple markets with the same heart and creativity that Heirloom was founded on.

What sets us apart is that this has never been just about weddings. It started with community—creating space for people to feel seen and welcomed—and that remains at the core of what we do. Every wedding we plan is approached with the intention to not just deliver beauty, but to hold space for emotion, meaning, and belonging.

Getting here hasn’t been easy. Growing a business from scratch means long hours, financial risk, self-doubt, and wearing a lot of hats at once, often times while I was working a full-time job in television. But each challenge has taught me the value of trusting my gut and trusting my team.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting, I’d treat the week like one of the events I plan, intentional and personal. Whether it’s Chicago or LA, the goal would be the same: give them the best mix of food, culture, beauty, and “this is my real life” moments.

If we were in Chicago, we’d start in Lake Forest for a peaceful intro—maybe brunch at South Gate Café, followed by a beach walk to soak in the lake breeze. I’d plan a full downtown day next with shopping on Armitage, lunch at Summer House, and an afternoon at the Art Institute. Dinner? Monteverde for pasta (the best pasta place you’ll ever experience), followed by drinks on the rooftop at LondonHouse for one of the best views of the city.

In LA, we’d bounce from beach to mountain to dinner party. Morning coffee from Blue Bottle, then a hike through one of the Canyons before booking a local wine-tasting day. You can’t visit without a cozy dinner at Gjelina in Venice. One night we’d go big—maybe a concert at the Hollywood Bowl or an at home dinner party with all the beautiful produce from Marina del Rey Farmers Market.

And if their visit happened to overlap with a wedding (and the couple gave their blessing, of course), I’d have them quietly pop in for my favorite moment of every celebration: the parents’ first look. Watching a mom tear up as her son walks in the door—fixing his tie one last time or sneaking a kiss on the cheek before he gets married—is so human and tender. Or seeing a dad hold back tears as his daughter steps out in her wedding dress… those are the moments that never get old. It’s why we do what we do.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Heirloom Event Company wouldn’t exist without the people who showed up for me when I first moved to Los Angeles. That original group of friends who said “yes” to monthly events, who invited their friends, and kept showing up with curiosity and openness—they built the foundation of this company without even knowing it.

I also have to shout out my husband, Chris. In the very beginning, he was out there setting up string lights for backyard weddings, troubleshooting tech issues, and making sure every little detail ran smoothly behind the scenes. His belief in me, his willingness to dive in (even when it wasn’t glamorous), and the way he’s always made my couples feel cared for—he’s been the quiet force that’s helped this dream grow from day one.

And of course, the couples who trusted me with one of the most meaningful days of their lives when Heirloom was still in its early stages. Their confidence gave me the courage to turn this from a passion into a full-time business.

This company was built through community—and it’s only grown because of that same community continuing to show up. I’m endlessly grateful.

Website: https://heirloomeventcompany.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heirloomeventcompany/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeirloomEventCompany#

Image Credits
Haylie solo – @katieperkowska
Group photo – @jonstars
Group Photo – @keridanskyephotography