About
Eight years ago, after a successful career as a salesperson and manager in various industries, Alison Phillips took a chance! She became a full time wedding consultant! She had enjoyed planning her friends’ weddings so much that she decided to follow her heart and Engaging Events by Ali, Inc. was born.
Ali is able to use the skills she developed in her sales and management careers to deliver a magical wedding experience to brides and grooms all over Chicagoland and beyond. Her organization skills, negotiation savvy, and appreciation for the “art” of customer service have been invaluable in working with vendors, staying within a budget, and creating beautiful, flawless events for clients.
Ali is a certified Professional Bridal Consultant™ with the Association of Bridal Consultants. She is actively involved in the Chicago chapter and regularly participates in various wedding and bridal conferences. She is a member and Board of Director serving as VP of Membership of ISES (International Special Event Society), National Association of Women Business Owners, Women in Catering and Weddings Beautiful Worldwide, a division of National Bridal Service. Ali is the President on the Wish Upon a Wedding Chicago Chapter, America's first nonprofit wedding wish granting organization for those facing terminal illness.
Ali has been quoted in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, the Chicago Tribune’s Red Eye, the Chicago Sun-times, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Modern Bride Chicago and Chicago Social Brides.
She has also appeared on the Channel 7 and Channel 2 newscasts in Chicago and was recently featured in Chicago’s “Daily Candy” as one of the top wedding vendors in Chicago. You will find some of Ali’s featured weddings on chicagostyleweddings.com, theknot.com and CS Brides. In February of 2007, Ali received a 2007 NICE Award (NACE ISES Chicago Excellence Award) for Best Wedding Under $25,000. She again received this award in 2008 for Best Wedding Under $25,000.
Wedding Industry Leader
Ali is truly a leader in the wedding industry. She most recently was honored by being named one of the Top Chicago Wedding Planners in the March 2009 issue of Chicago Magazine. She also was named Best Wedding Consultant in Chicago by The Knot Magazine, Best of Weddings, 2007 and 2010. She received the highest score out of all the wedding consultants in Chicago by The Knot’s readers.
Ali enjoys a wide range of activities outside her business, such as playing golf, running and writing. She volunteers at her church preparing food for the homeless, tutoring students, and arranging flowers for the elderly.
Alison is a dedicated self-starter who is goal-oriented, has a professional and positive attitude, and takes a proactive approach to everything she does. She has extensive experience with all aspects of planning a wedding and other social events and has what is takes to create that perfect day! For Ali, no occasion is too large or too small; she treats each event with care, respect, professionalism, and conscientious commitment to excellence.
Photograph of Ali by Sarah Alair
