EVENT PLANNING & DESIGN
Every story deserves a spark worth remembering.
Jamie Smoker and the Ember After team plan weddings, celebrations, and gatherings that feel entirely yours — handled with care from the first idea to the last dance.
Jamie Smoker and the Ember After team plan weddings, celebrations, and gatherings that feel entirely yours — handled with care from the first idea to the last dance.
“Every dream starts as something only you can see. My job is to build it into something everyone can walk into.”
Jamie's love of bringing people together started long before Ember After Events had a name — behind a bar, learning that the best nights happen when someone else is quietly making sure everything runs smoothly. That instinct carried her through a decade in luxury hotels and event sales, planning everything from intimate dinners to full-scale conferences, including catering Jennifer Lopez's 50th birthday celebration at Gloria Estefan's Star Island estate.
At the InterContinental Miami, she led a catering department to a first quarter that closed at 256% of goal, earning her the Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association's Catering Manager of the Year award and an IHG nomination for Leader of the Year. Before that, at Ruth's Chris Steak House, she grew private dining and catering sales 70% year-over-year and planned the company's entire Florida sales conference on her own.
Today, Jamie is doing what she loves most on her own terms — raising her toddler in Brewster, New York, and building Ember After Events from the ground up, just her, a laptop, and a whole lot of heart. She knows firsthand what it feels like to pour everything into something and watch it become real, and that's exactly the care she brings to every event she plans. Every story begins with a spark — this one's hers.
This work has been Jamie's passion for almost twenty years in hospitality — and it shows in the details most people never notice: the way a centerpiece catches the light just right, the timeline that runs so smoothly no one ever has to ask what's next. But what she loves most is the people. Every couple, every family, every client becomes a real connection, not just a booking — because the best events aren't just planned, they're felt.
From an A-list birthday on Star Island to weddings and galas across Westchester, the Hudson Valley, and South Florida — every event gets the same standard of care.
Before Ember After Events existed, Jamie was already doing this level of work — catering Jennifer Lopez's milestone birthday celebration at Gloria Estefan's Star Island estate. It's the same precision, discretion, and hospitality-first instinct now behind every Ember After event, regardless of guest list size.
Full-day celebrations built around your story, from first look to last dance.
Polished, on-schedule events for brands and organizations that can't afford surprises.
Birthdays, anniversaries, and once-in-a-lifetime moments worth doing right.
Intimate gatherings designed down to the last candle and place setting.
See the full portfolio — including the milestone celebration above — on the gallery page.
A straightforward path, no matter which package you choose.
A conversation about your vision, your guests, and your budget — free, no pressure.
A concept, mood board, and vendor shortlist built around what makes your event yours.
Contracts, timelines, and logistics managed so nothing falls through the cracks.
Jamie on-site running the day, so you can actually be a guest at your own event.
Every package flexes to fit your event and your vision. We serve Westchester and Putnam Counties and New York, NY, as well as Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties in South Florida — tell us what you're planning and we'll build a proposal around it.
You've planned it all yourself. We step in during the final month to make sure it runs without you lifting a finger.
You've got the big pieces — venue, date. We fill in the rest and manage everything from three months out.
From an empty date on the calendar to a finished celebration. We handle every decision alongside you, start to finish.
Planning something that doesn't fit a box? Bespoke packages are available for corporate events, milestone parties, and multi-day celebrations — let's talk.
Reach out through the contact form or by phone, and we'll set up a first conversation to talk through your vision, date, and priorities — no obligation, just a chance to see if we're the right fit.
A background running events for hotels like InterContinental means every detail — vendor logistics, guest flow, timeline — gets handled the way a five-star property would handle it, with the personal attention of working directly with the person planning your day.
Always. The three packages are a starting point — every proposal is built around your guest count, timeline, and vision, and can flex to include exactly what you need.
“Jamie remembered things about our wedding we hadn't even thought to worry about. We just showed up and had the best night of our lives.”— A recent Ember After client
Tell us a little about what you're planning. Jamie replies personally within two business days.
From New York City, Westchester & Putnam Counties to Palm Beach, Broward & Miami-Dade Counties, we bring unforgettable events to life across New York and South Florida.
