Tennessee’s Making Moments LLC teaches brides insider luxury wedding planning secrets through affordable classes, proving elegance doesn’t require massive budgets.
The community center in Clarksville, Tennessee, wasn’t supposed to look like a five-star ballroom. But as golden candlelight danced across draped ivory linens and guests gasped at the towering floral centerpieces, nobody could tell the difference. The bride, radiant in her gown, watched tears stream down her mother’s face. This wasn’t just a wedding — it was proof that luxury has nothing to do with money and everything to do with knowledge.
Want to learn these strategies yourself? Sign up for the free “Luxury on a Budget” class here.
Deonna Kelley, founder of Making Moments LLC, stood in the back corner, quietly observing the magic she’d helped create. Three months earlier, this same bride had walked into her Luxury on a Budget class convinced she’d have to settle for paper plates and plastic chairs. Now, she was living her fairytale — and she’d done it for less than half of what traditional planners quoted.
This transformation happens every week in Kelley’s workshops. While the wedding industry tells couples to either drain their savings or lower their expectations, Making Moments is pioneering a third option: teaching brides the insider secrets that luxury planners guard like gold. Through hands-on classes and an exclusive membership called The Crowned Couture Club, Kelley is democratizing elegance, one bride at a time.
The problem plaguing modern weddings isn’t new. Couples scroll through Pinterest boards filled with $50,000 celebrations, then face their own $5,000 reality. Traditional advice sounds like a broken record: cut the guest list, skip the flowers, serve cake and punch. But settling doesn’t feel like celebrating. It feels like surrendering. Kelley recognized this gap between dreams and budgets wasn’t about money — it was about access to professional knowledge.
“Luxury isn’t about how much you spend,” Kelley explains, adjusting a centerpiece during a recent workshop demonstration. “It’s about how intentional you are with every detail. Most brides think they have to choose between elegance and affordability. We teach them how to have both.”
Her approach disrupts everything the wedding planning industry stands for. Instead of gatekeeping professional techniques, she opens the vault. In her signature classes, brides learn the exact vendor scripts that secure discounts, the styling formulas that make 20 centerpieces look like 200 installations, and the strategic priorities that transform any venue into a luxury space.
Brides can access these scripts and styling secrets inside the free Luxury on a Budget class.
The Crowned Couture Club takes this education further. Members gain ongoing access to editable templates, budget trackers, and private masterclasses that evolve with their planning journey. Unlike one-time workshops that leave attendees scrambling to remember everything, the membership provides continuous support. Brides describe it as having a luxury planner on speed dial — minus the five-figure invoice.
What started as local classes in Clarksville has grown into a movement reaching Nashville, Franklin, Gallatin, and beyond. The July 2025 Heaven Touching Earth conference drew hundreds of attendees, proving that the hunger for accessible luxury extends far beyond individual weddings. Corporate clients now seek Kelley’s expertise for galas and launches, drawn to her ability to create opulence without excess.
But the real magic happens in the emotional transformation. Brides enter stressed, overwhelmed, and resigned to disappointment. They leave empowered, confident, and excited about their planning process. One recent graduate shared that the templates alone saved her thousands of dollars and countless sleepless nights. Another said the vendor negotiation scripts helped her secure her dream photographer at half the expected rate.
The ripple effects extend beyond individual celebrations. Mothers and daughters attend classes together, turning wedding planning from a source of tension into a bonding experience. Bridesmaids gift memberships to engaged friends. Past clients become evangelists, spreading the word that luxury is achievable for anyone willing to learn the secrets.
Kelley’s vision stretches beyond Tennessee. She sees Making Moments becoming the national platform for brides who refuse to compromise their dreams. The combination of hands-on education, ongoing support, and real-world expertise positions the company uniquely in an industry that typically separates planning from teaching.
Competition exists, but nobody else blends education with execution at this level. Traditional planners either plan events for clients or occasionally teach general workshops. Online courses provide information without personalization. Making Moments occupies the sweet spot: professional-grade education delivered with warmth, accessibility, and proven results.
The irony isn’t lost on industry insiders. By teaching brides to plan their own luxury weddings, Kelley could theoretically reduce demand for full-service planning. Instead, the opposite happens. Educated brides become better clients, understanding the value of professional expertise while feeling empowered to contribute meaningfully to their celebration. Many graduates still hire Making Moments for coordination, confident they’re investing in excellence rather than paying for basics they could handle themselves.
Behind every transformed venue and tearful mother-of-the-bride moment lies a deeper mission. Kelley isn’t just teaching event design — she’s proving that everyone deserves to celebrate their love story with dignity, beauty, and joy. In a world that often equates worth with wealth, Making Moments insists that elegance belongs to everyone.
The metrics tell one story: growing enrollment, expanding territories, glowing testimonials. But the human story runs deeper. It’s about the bride who thought her barn venue could never feel elegant until she learned professional lighting techniques. It’s about the couple who allocated their budget strategically and afforded both their dream photographer and dream band. It’s about thousands of women discovering they don’t have to choose between financial responsibility and celebrating beautifully.
“We don’t just create events,” Kelley reflects, watching another class of brides practice tablescaping techniques. “We create movements that empower women to celebrate their love story with style, no matter the budget.”
As the wedding industry continues inflating prices while couples’ budgets remain earthbound, Making Moments offers something revolutionary: knowledge that transforms limitations into opportunities. Every draped ceiling, every perfectly placed centerpiece, every joyful bride proves the same truth — luxury was never about money. It was always about knowing the secrets.
Contact Information:
Deonna Kelley
Founder, Making Moments LLC
Phone: 615-506-7558
Email: Ma***********@*******************ts.com
Website: unforgettablesmoments.com
Facebook: Making Moments Facebook
Instagram: @mmoments7558
