ABOUT ME

Hi! I'm Madeline Ralph, the owner and lead wedding planner behind Greater Joy Events. I have found so much joy in helping others plan their special events in the past, and I know I can bring you even greater joy when planning your dream wedding day! I would be so honored to help you feel relaxed, excited, and confident when planning - and eventually enjoying - one of the most memorable days of your life!

 

After graduating from Loyola University Chicago with a major in Information Systems and a degree in Business Administration, I worked as a Project Manager at Deloitte. I managed the staffing, budgets, and timelines of a wide range of projects - from limited budgets with four staff members to multi-million-dollar budgets with fifty+ staff members. I loved the hustle and bustle of Chicago, but big city life ultimately wasn't for us!

 

Born and raised in Central Illinois, my husband Tate and I knew we wanted to move back to the area when we started our family. I left my job at Deloitte to work as the Events Coordinator for Jonah's Seafood House & 2601 Oyster Bar and as a Wedding Assistant for the Diocese of Peoria. After gaining experience planning over 100 events for Jonah's, I decided to go full-time with Greater Joy Events!

 

We now have a seven-year-old daughter, Catherine, a five-year-old son, Daniel, and celebrated our son Patrick's first birthday this past July! We love hanging out with our family & friends, trying out new restaurants in Peoria, and drinking (lots of) coffee. We are avid sports fans, from the English Premier League to the MLB (go Cardinals!) to College Basketball (huge University of Illinois fans). We love it all! I look forward to getting to know you and your family & friends - being a wedding planner gives me the unique opportunity to get to know you, which I absolutely love! 

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