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Signature Weddings. Stylish Events.
Based in southern Oregon, RSVP Event Group is a full-service event production company specializing in large-scale events and weddings. We pride ourselves in creating a spectacular and unique experience that is fully customized for each individual client. Our unique attention to detail and ability to manifest our clients' vision will make your celebration memorable for all the right reasons.
RSVP Event Group was born from a need to expand successful event planning business, Cordially Invited Wedding & Event Planning, which was founded in 2001 by Kimberly Hicks. Cordially Invited thrived on word-of-mouth advertising alone for many years. In 2016 the demand for services had grown to a point where Kimberly found the need to involve the skills of several other talented planners in order to better serve her clients. Thus, RSVP Event Group was formed in early 2017. Together, Kimberly and her team have hit the ground running this year to bring a unique mix of experience and talent to the Rogue Valley and beyond. The RSVP Event team consists of a group of planners and coordinators, designers and decorators, and a full support and staging crew. Meet our lead planners below...
History
Meet the Team
Kimberly H. Hicks
President & Owner
I have been planning events since I was 16 years old. It is my life’s passion and I consider it an honor to be included in the planning of my client’s most memorable life occasions. I find great personal satisfaction in being able to reduce the stress that comes with planning a major event.
I have over 30 years of experience with all aspects of event planning from weddings to non-profit fundraisers, corporate events, parties and celebrations. I am a Certified Professional Bridal Consultant with the Association of Bridal Consultants, a graduate of the Alison Howard Events Refine Course for Wedding Planners, and am pursuing an Accredited Event Designer with the Institute of Wedding & Event Design. I also hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Communication from Arizona State University and have completed graduate work in Organizational Management and Psychology.
Outside of work I have been heavily involved in the leadership of the Cub Scouts and Boys Scouts of America and also served on the Board of Directors for the local council. I’ve spent extensive time involved in women’s ministry and have mentored teenage girls for the past 20 years. For fun I love to travel with my family, host family parties, play tennis and read. I’m also a huge Disney fanatic. I often joke that my retirement plan is to be Mickey Mouse because the person in the costume needs to be 5’ 1” and I am really that short. I am a southern Oregon native and live in Medford with my husband, Brad; my son, Jonathan; and my fluffy orange cat, Hobbes.
Cari Lynn Powell
VP & Director of Events
I moved to southern Oregon to attend college and never looked back. This valley has an unparalleled beauty with a small-town feel; surrounded by rivers, lakes, mountains and wineries.
Living in the Rogue Valley, being a part of the RSVP Event Team, and acting as a behind-the-scenes participant in some of the most important occasions in peoples' lives is an honor. I love the excitement of getting goosebumps the morning of an event. I absolutely love what I do. It is humbling to know that our involvement helps paint the beautiful memories that will be hanging on our clients’ walls for all time.
For as long as I can remember, friends and family have asked me to help with the details of their special occasions. They say I always think of things that never occurred to them. I try to imagine every detail of an event, especially what could go wrong. My motto is "preparation over reaction."
Before joining RSVP Event Group I had the privilege of serving as Vice President of Communication, Programs and Events for the largest chamber of commerce in the State of Oregon. The "largest" became a regular part of my vocabulary. Community-wide Fourth of July celebrations, black-tie awards banquets, producing one of the largest monthly speaker series in the state, all while serving as Editor of an award-winning monthly digital publication.
I bring to the team excellent logistics and organizational skills to ensure no details of an event are missed! Perhaps it’s my built-in problem-solving skills being the eldest of two sisters, that has always required that I find a solution in order to avoid getting in trouble.
Life experiences inspired me to earn my Masters Degree in Applied Psychology which has proved invaluable in navigating both challenging and colorful situations both in life as well as event planning.
I love the sunshine, being near water, working hard, challenging myself, and playing even harder! I am blessed to have a husband whom I adore, and three step kids who helped shape the person I am today. Then there's my mini Pomeranian named Luna who is annoying as can be, but completely melts my heart. Oh and wine. I love that too.
Courtney Butterfield
Wedding Specialist
I grew up in Roseburg, Oregon and assisted my parents with organizing events for their business and church activities. I graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Business Administration. Nearing my graduation, I realized my enthusiasm for design, marketing, coordinating projects, developing budgets and helping others. This led me to pursue my love for planning special events, which combines all of those things.
Since graduating from college, I received my wedding planning credentials from Trendimi, and completed my internship and on-the-job training and experience, with a wedding planning company in the San Francisco Bay Area. I recently moved to southern Oregon and was hired by RSVP Events to head up the wedding division of the company.
I enjoy meeting new people and the challenge of making each event unique. I thrive on the day of a big event when all the planning comes to a head. Be it parents of the bride and groom, catering emergencies, or guest concerns, all I see are solutions. My quiet and calming personality provides much-needed relief for both the bride and groom and their parents.
I live in Medford with my husband, Landin, and our adorable dog, Star. We both enjoy just about everything outdoors, and the beautiful surroundings of the Rogue Valley is one of the reasons we chose to settle here. We can't wait to be lounging by the Applegate River and hiking all the multitude of trails this valley has to offer. All our hiking also creates a way for me practice another passion, which is my photography.