founder

Lea began her design journey 18 years ago as a luxury interior designer and transitioned to the events industry 6 years later. She began her own production + design company a few years after working for the Bay Area’s leading luxury caterer.

As a woman of color and an entrepreneur, she has been impacted by the presence of implicit bias within creative industries alike. Having lived this experience for over 15 years in her professional life, IN 2019, she felt it was time for her to do something about it.

"I thought to myself, something this heavy on my heart can't possibly be a singular experience, there have to be other event professionals feeling this way." She decided to reach and partner with a couple of industry colleagues she was sure shared this same feeling. This is how EWC was born.

CO.: LEA STAFFORD EVENTS, LLC

founding partner

wedding industry veteran, CHANDA Daniels is the Creative Director of Chanda Daniels Planning + Design and Owner of A Monique Affair, one of the leading event planning companies in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Chanda founded A Monique Affair in February of 1999. THEN AFTER earning a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Hospitality Management from San Francisco State University. SHE DECIDED TO focus on highly customized wedding weekends and, Chanda Daniels, Planning and design was established. With 20 OVER years of planning and design experience, SHE believes in celebrating milestone events with class, style and richness.

Chanda is a HUGE Advocate of MARRIAGE Equality and is a leader in planning LGBTQ+ weddings. She continues TO BE INSPIRED BY ALL THE AMAZING BLACK WEDDING TALENT IN THIS INDUSTRY, AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO DISCOVERING more with EWC.

co.: chanda daniels, PLANNing and design

founding partner

Erica is the Owner and Creative Director of Erica Estrada Design, a full service planning and design company providing an unparalleled wedding experience for couples and their guests.

Erica is well traveled and finds much of her inspiration abroad.  She graduated with a degree in Psychology from the University of Southern California and began her career in Human Resources in the heart of the Silicon Valley. After designing and planning events, she knew this was her calling and landed in the wedding industry. Known for her professionalism, poise, and expertise, Erica is well respected among her peers. Clients continue to praise her for her keen attention to detail and organization.

She’s thrilled to be a part of this collective and can’t wait to see how it blossoms.

co.: erica estrada design