More Than Events: Michelle Gainey on Purpose, Family and Hospitality

Michelle Gainey, founder of Lemiga Events, is a trailblazer in the event planning industry—an event tastemaker and experience curator with a gift for storytelling through design. Her journey began with a love for design and a desire to bring joy to others through meticulously crafted events, a passion that has since transformed countless celebrations into unforgettable experiences. With a keen eye for detail and bold creativity, she infuses every gathering with personal touches that reflect her clients’ hearts and visions. From celebrity galas featuring Cardi B and Idris Elba to brand events for BET and Four Seasons, Michelle’s work blends elegance with innovation, elevating every detail into an art form. Celebrated for her calming presence, expert guidance, and uncanny ability to exceed expectations, she has built Lemiga into a name synonymous with luxury and sophistication—setting new standards in the world of event planning.

From Law School Dreams to Event Industry Icon

Twenty years ago, the events industry looked very different—and Michelle Gainey wasn’t planning to be a part of it at all.

As a child, she was inspired by the poise and power of Claire Huxtable and dreamed of becoming a lawyer. She pursued that dream, earning a degree in political science. However, life shifted course after she met her husband.

Her first taste of event planning came when she produced her own wedding in less than a month.

“That was the first time that I had an introduction to this creative side and my Type A personality. Which is very much like ‘Make a plan, work the plan, and get it done.’ After my wedding, I just had this feeling of let down that it was over.”

From there, Michelle began planning milestone birthdays, weddings, and baby showers for friends and family. At first, she saw her talent as a beloved hobby rather than a viable career. That perspective changed after she and her husband welcomed their first child in 2004.

With the encouragement of loved ones and the guidance of a photographer friend in the wedding industry, Lemiga Events was born.

Finding Purpose Through Connection

Since that turning point, Michelle has been on a journey of discovery—digging deep into her purpose and passion and reflecting those values in the work she does.

“Really, where my purpose comes from is connecting with people and creating these moments and really being able to see someone and their heart’s desires and how can I express that into design and into an event and bring that to life.”

Michelle has always leaned into quality over quantity. She limits the events she takes on, balancing family life with serving her clients at the highest level. That focus slowed her business growth at first, but it allowed her to expand with intention.  

“You’re not going to see a brand new event on my Instagram every week, but when you do see it, it’s going to be full of intention and meaning.”

Michelle never sells the idea of fast success. Her journey has taken 20 years, built steadily on intentionality, focus, and care.

Cultivating What Matters

Michelle is the first to admit that building a business alongside raising a family comes with challenges. For her, family has always been both grounding and challenging.

“I’m really grateful I started my business with a family.”

Doing work you love has its own set of challenges with a family.

“I definitely had to learn how to turn it off. It forced balance in my life.”

Like many mothers, she’s felt the pangs of guilt.

“I missed one of my kids’ first day of Kindergarten and I thought I was the worst mother ever and that my daughter would be scarred for life.”

Later in her daughter’s schooling, “she did a presentation on a businessperson I look up to and she googled me herself—did all her research and did this presentation on why I was a business person she admired. What that taught me was for every moment that I thought I had failed, my child was watching me and saying, ‘if she can do it, I can do it, ’” Michelle reflected.

Her kids have become her biggest supporters.

Michelle sets clear boundaries in both worlds—at home and work.

“We teach people how to treat us. When we teach them that within these hours, you have my undivided attention, I am focused on you during our meetings. I’m not responding to emails, you know you’re going to be taken care of and that you’re heard—the texts at 8 pm aren’t necessary.”

Southern Hospitality at Its Finest

Michelle prides herself on creating experiences where every guest feels taken care of—never left wondering where the bathroom is or waiting in a long line.

She designs with story and intention, breathing new life into ordinary details.

“I take it to the highest level. I am an event designer. I will never just plan your event.”

Her clients are drawn to her work because it resonates—it’s not just beautiful, it’s meaningful.

“I don’t want it to just be a pretty event. To me, that’s boring.”

Michelle’s southern roots are woven into everything she creates.

“It goes back to that southern hospitality. If you come to my mother’s home, you’re going to have a warm hug, you’re going to have something good to eat. You’re going to have a smile. You’re going to feel like the most important person in the world, and I want our guests at every event to experience that sense of hospitality, to feel seen, cared for, and loved.”

From music that stirs the soul to the warm smile that greets each guest, Michelle’s goal is for all people to leave with not just memories, but highlights of their lives.

The Magic Maker

Michelle doesn’t chase trends. She tells her clients’ stories through events that feel timeless and deeply personal.

One couple, huge fans of Sci-Fi, admitted that their celebration would have looked like a child’s birthday party if they had planned it themselves; yet, Michelle elevated the theme into something elegant, cohesive, and unforgettable.

She gets to know her clients and tells their story. Her events represent who her clients are.

“We are the experts, and we know how to get it done and we know how to get it done well.”

One client even has her saved in their phone as “Magic Maker.”

Event planning, Michelle explains, is an unseen labor of love.

            “It comes from a love of people and service.”

During COVID, she was reminded of the deeper meaning behind her work. While event planning may not be heroic in the way that surgeons or paramedics are, it creates the moments that make life feel worth living.

“When someone you love dies, the first thing you do is open those photo albums. You look at the highlights. It was a point for me to remember that we get to make the soundtrack. We get to design the rooms of people’s highlights. We’re not leaving this life with any material things. We’re leaving with the memories we create of the people we impact. For me, it’s an act of service. Every event that I do, it’s an opportunity to create in someone’s life, that highlight moment.”

For Michelle, events are more than parties. One of her most memorable COVID-era events was a New Orleans-style second-line car parade for a 40^th birthday.

“A full second line band came marching down the street, and behind the band was a whole line of cars, decorated, throwing beads—the joy on everyone’s face, there was just this moment of ‘I see you, I love you, we’re celebrating you’.”

With the neighbors dancing on their lawns, Michelle recognized the magic she gets to create with these moments.

“This is why I do what I do. It really is a ministry for me.”

Recess: A Time to Play

Michelle’s creativity doesn’t stop at client events. Drawing on her years of experience and love for community, she created Recess by Lemiga Events—a playful networking event for industry professionals.

Unlike traditional networking, Recess encourages connection through play, laughter, and big questions like “What’s your wildest dream?” instead of “How many events are you doing this year?”

It’s a chance for event planners and vendors to step away from producing experiences and finally enjoy one themselves.

Dreaming Forward

With two decades behind her and new opportunities always ahead, Michelle Gainey continues to dream, design, and deliver experiences full of intention and heart. Her story is one of balance, resilience, and purpose—a reminder that the most magical moments aren’t just about beautiful details, but about creating memories that last a lifetime.

Want to see more of Michelle’s magic? Follow along with her latest events and behind-the-scenes inspiration on Instagram @lemiga

And don’t miss the full conversation—watch Episode 7 of Backstage with Lost Wax now on YouTube!

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