When it comes to weddings in Connecticut, Lisa Antonecchia has seen it all.
And that is in a good way.
Since 2008, Antonecchia has been a wedding and event planner, owner of Creative Concepts by Lisa, helping clients find venues, hire caterers, florists, photographers and DJs, decide transportation, and helping to figure out all the rest of the details that make a day special.
It’s “managing the day so you don’t have to, anything necessary to make that day happen,” said Antonecchia, who also is a justice of the peace, so she can officiate at weddings.
“Weddings today are very complicated, with a huge team behind the scenes,” Antonecchia notes, her voice keeping a level of enthusiasm about a part of life for which she said “there is no end to what you can think of … and what we need to find for you.”
Antonecchia has found more.
Amid the busy schedule that also includes planning other special occasions for clients, she has opened a new store, Creative Consignments CT, in Hamden.
The store, as she describes it, offers new wedding dresses, gently worn wedding dresses, mother of the bride dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and many other items a couple might need for the nuptial day.
“I really wanted to offer a consignment shop,” Antonecchia said.
Wedding and event planner Lisa Antonecchia has opened Creative Consignments in Hamden. ( Timothy Burke Mannle Photography)
Part of the goal is to help people make back a bit of what they spent, but also to take the work out of using a service such as Facebook Marketplace, which can mean having to answers many inquiries about items, send photos and then “go out to meet” in a grocery store parking lot to deliver the items, she said.
“Weddings are getting expensive, and we can make smart choices with our couples,” she said. “Couples are having more forethought for things that are sustainable,” but there “was an obvious desire to sell these items (afterward) and try to make back even just a few dollars.”
Wedding and event planner Lisa Antonecchia has opened Creative Consignments in Hamden. ( Timothy Burke Mannle Photography)
Antonecchia said among myriad items couples might look for are candle holders, cake stands, lanterns, tabletop decor, decorations, glasses and even vintage and high end things such as crystal.
“All those little things to create the overall experience on the wedding day,” she said. “We help you make some really wise decisions within your budget.”
Antonecchia said she also will start what she called “a wish list” for things couples might be seeking. So, for example, she said, if a couple were seeking white lanterns and they had them in the store, but they were not quite what the couple was looking for, she can help to find them, and check to see whether others were looking to sell them.
“Our team is helping you to source other used items” in such cases, she said.
Antonecchia said she also will be working with the company Chase Canopy, to offer the ability for clients to rent items such as tents, tables, chairs, and linens.
“It is exciting because our shelves are full, you never know what you are going to find,” she said.
While Antonecchia has had a successful business for more than 15 years, working in venues in multiple states, she said she has long wanted to open the store. With talk of tariffs on so many imported goods, the store may help, she said.
Wedding and event planner Lisa Antonecchia has opened Creative Consignments in Hamden. ( Timothy Burke Mannle Photography)
“It does accentuate the change of what is happening, we know tariffs are affecting our industry. All of these things are going to effect your bottom line.”
With her background in theater, Antonecchia said she is a “creative mind person” and she loves meeting couples, with whom “creating something new is very exciting.”
“I never want to feel they are (having) a cookie cutter of a wedding,” she said. “The one thing that has always been important to me: you have to trust your wedding planner and our knowledge of the industry.”
Wedding and event planner Lisa Antonecchia has opened Creative Consignments in Hamden. ( Timothy Burke Mannle Photography)
“You really do get a cool experience here,” she said.
The ribbon cutting opening for the new store will be held Sept. 23, 4 to 7 p.m. at 105 Sanford St., Hamden. @creativeconsignmentsct
