About Creative Concepts by Lisa

Lisa Antonecchia, Owner, Lead Planner and Designer. AKA The MacGyver Of All Things Wedding

Lisa’s philosophy of Wedding and Event Planning is simple, when the curtain goes up you get a ”standing ovation”! It is her goal to make you and you the star of the show!

As a child Lisa grew up in Westchester, New York, and then graduated from The Boston Conservatory.  Lisa has spent her life surrounded by design, theater performance, and a feeling that any dream can come true, you just need the right team to make it happen.

Lisa has Directed, Choreographed, Performed, and Designed hundreds of shows giving her an outside the box approach to create events of all shapes and sizes with all types of budgets! Lisa has had the pleasure of planning events up to 600 guests, but what she loves and what drives her is that each and every event is different and still exciting!

Lisa’s creative and innovative style combine with her boundless energy, and integrity, provide you with a fresh approach to planning. Her planning abilities stretch to all styles of events, including, Weddings, Birthdays, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Corporate Parties, Non-Profit Galas or Fundraisers, Outdoor Events, Launch Parties and more!

Lisa has a simple goal, to bring her clients own sense of style to life! With her guidance and experience to lead the way Lisa is truly here to assist you in making your event your own. Whether you want a traditional event or an event that is a style all its own Lisa will bring you center stage! 

“My passion for creating events that celebrate a clients personality and sense of style drives me to lead the charge for each and every event! We celebrate our clients”!

Other Fun Facts

My Furbaby is Tinkerbell, she is a 9 pound toy poddle. 

I was a cheerleader but would rather have been playing football, more fun.

Dunkin Donuts Coffee, enough said.

I was Rhett the Terrier at Boston University while in college to make some extra money at Football, Basketball and Hockey Games and even got to choreograph some of the BU Cheerleader halftime shows.

As a dancer I wish I could have danced with Patrick Swayze.

I was a world Champion Baton Twirler, yep, I even twirled at a Wedding for a client in 2014!

I am  Musical Theatre Major from the Boston Conservatory.

I consider myself a MacGuyver at weddings, I can fix anything!

Not only can I help you plan a special day but I can help you buy a home! I am CT Real Estate Agent and an Accredited Home Stager!

I love making people laugh!

Lisa’s Headshots Provided By:  Jeff Lunstrom and Bryan Avigne Photography

Traci Pessina: Associate Planner, Wedding and Event Manager AKA The Dream Maker 

Traci joined CCBL’s Team in 2023 and comes to Creative Concepts by Lisa with over 17 years in the wedding and event industry! Traci started her love for weddings at a young age and was fortunate enough to graduate from Johnson & Wales University with a degree in Sports/Entertainment/Event Management. From there she has worked with some of CT’s top catering companies and prides herself on her unique background of events that includes weddings, social events, corporate events, and not for profit experience.

Traci wil be leading the way for our Month Of Coordination Clients, to make their dreams a reality, focusing on weddings and events on a smaller scale and helping with all the details is truly where Traci shines. Mix her background with her passionate and creative side; she is ready to dive into planning and coordinating your event!

In her free time, she enjoys walks with her family (husband Will, son Gavin, and dog Reddington),tai chi, escape rooms, or simple visiting with friends and family.

“I love meeting new people and learning their story; so I can then help with bringing people together for many different celebrations!”

Kelly Wilcox, Wedding & Event Manager AKA Detail Diva 

Kelly joined CCBL in 2020, helping to pivot our clients’ events during the pandemic to a safer time. Since then, she’s been instrumental in assisting Lisa with timelines, event coordination, and leading events during the past 4 seasons. Her skills are diverse making it easy for her to work within any role on our team – lead, wedding party attendant, travel liaison, setup/breakdown crew, or catering liaison. If Kelly is there, you’ll be sure to have that person to sew you into your dress or find that missing wedding party member for a photo. 

Kelly has been in the events world of higher education for many years, planning small and large scale events for admissions, alumni affairs, and student affairs teams. Kelly enjoys the organizational side of the events. In her free time, she enjoys board games, cooking and baking, and going to bingo at Foxwoods with her extended family.

Kelly has proven to be an asset to all aspects of event planning and execution!

“I am looking forward to working with you to produce a once in a lifetime memory!”

Ann Reed: Wedding & Event Manager AKA The Culinary Queen 

Ann comes to Creative Concepts by Lisa after a lifetime of working in the Food and Beverage Industry!  Born and Raised in Guilford, CT, Ann started her journey straight out of High School where she worked for American Cruise Lines.

Ann has continued on her path as a Reservationist for Caribbean Vacations and then A Rooms Division Manager in the Cayman Islands!

Once returning to CT Ann worked in the B & B industry eventually landing at the Inn at Chester as Front Desk and Catering Manager. This is where Ann truly fell in love with Catering and Event Planning! Over the next 13 years Ann has worked for some of CT’s best caterers as an event planner and event manager.

Coming to work for Lisa is a dream come true, although Ann will always have a passion for Food and Beverage she enjoys the create side associated with the planning and design aspects as well!

“If you love what you do you’ll never work a day in you life”, Confucius

Joanna Tuneski: Wedding & Event Manager AKA Greek Wedding Goddess 

Joanna is an experienced wedding planner who has worked at numerous top resorts throughout the New England area. Beginning at a young age, she began planning events for her family and friends. After realizing her natural draw to planning, she attended Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, to continue to pursue her passion. While in school she majored in Event Management and was a member of Special Events Society (SES).

After finishing school, Joanna entered the hotel and resort industry as a Catering Coordinator. Within a short period of time and hard work, she became a Catering Sales Manager. While working with clients, she loves to meet them and learn about what they’re envisioning for their perfect day! Joanna has the patience, understanding and guidance that we all need on those busy and chaotic days. She truly knows how to put her clients at ease and showcases that they are in good hands.

In her free time, you can find Joanna supporting the Red Sox or just having an Espresso Martini! Most importantly Joanna enjoys spending time with her husband, Alex, their daughter, Arianna, her family, and friends.

” I love seeing everything come together and a clients expression seeing their vision come to life on their special day!”

Chelsea Massey: Wedding & Event Manager / Hotel & Transportation Liason AKA Timeline Taskmaster 

Chelsea has a similar back ground as Lisa coming to the event community though the arts! Chelsea is a dance artist and educator with a passion for making the unimaginable tangible. Her passion for dance has been enriched through training with dance masters such as Frank Hatchett, Joshua Bergasse, Dustin Phillips, Tony Vitale, and Doug Caldwell. Although she loves all styles, Jazz Dance was and continues to be her first love (don’t worry, her husband already knows). Chelsea spends the majority of her time literally dancing through life.

She has toured and performed her own choreography in Macedonia, Greece, New York, Pennsylvania, Hawaii and the Cataluyna Region of Spain. In addition, she has been commissioned to choreograph works for various individuals including a Miss Virginia pageant contestant, competition solos, and regional charity events.

Standing at six-feet tall, it’s evident that she doesn’t fit the prescribed notion of a petite dancer or even a Rockette (she’s too tall). This has helped her remain creative in her field as well as in life. Wearing many hats in the arts realm, Chelsea has travelled to Rwanda 3 times to implement creative movement curriculums with Hope Shines, Inc., worked as StarQuest International Dance Competition’s Bookings Director, and taught creative movement in various public education sectors in the United States.

After completing in her MFA in Dance at Sarah Lawrence College in 2016, she happily married the love her life and a member of the United States Air Force. Along with her ongoing creative projects and endeavors, Chelsea is excited to join the team and find joy in making the world a better place through each event she helps make happen. She enjoys spending her time reading, knitting, sewing, binge watching sci-fi, and cuddling her precious cat I’a.

Chelsea can often be found at the Hotel keeping an eye on day of transporation and event timeline prior to arrival at the venue!

“I am looking forward to using my creative spirit and work ethic as part of the Creative Concepts by Lisa Event Team”!

Kelly Hanlon: Day Of Social Media Content Creator / Wedding & Event Assistant AKA the Content Creator 

Kelly has been with Creative Concepts by Lisa since 2016 and is back to continue to be one of our hands on crafty queens! She is always up for a challenge with her glue gun, lettering and custom sign magic! As of 2024 Kelly is taking on a new role, creating photo and video content for our Social Media Feeds. As well as continuing to lend support to our clients and team day of! 

A 2016 graduate from Gateway Community College in New Haven, Connecticut with an Associate in Science for Hotel / Motel Management.  Kelly was inspired to enter the event planning field when she got married in 2007.  

You will often find Kelly greeting event guests and answering questions upon arrival, as well as behind the scenes taking images and video for our social media. Her kindness makes her a fabulous first point of contact for all  your guest needs.  

When Kelly is not helping Lisa make your event a memorable one, she can be found making art and crafts at home, attending live music events and comedy shows, traveling with her husband, or throwing dinner parties with friends.

“I believe that one defines oneself by reinvention. To not be like their parents. To not be like their friends. To be yourself. To cut yourself out of stone.” – Henry Rollins

Anastacia Teixeira: Assistant Wedding and Event Manager 

Anastacia started on the Creative Concept team at the beginning of the 2022 season and has brought with her marketing skills along with her enthusiastic, and positive attitude. She has a bachelor’s degree from Western Connecticut State University in Digital and Interactive Marketing and her master’s degree from Sacred Heart University in Strategic Communication and Public Relations.

Her passion for planning and organizing, as well as her laser focus on details is what drew her to working for Creative Concept by Lisa. You will certainly see the joy and enthusiasm that Anastacia brings to each and every event.

Anastacia is fluent in Portuguese and enjoys spending time with her family and friends when she is not making your event special.

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

– Steve Jobs

Chrissy Panciera: Assistant Wedding and Event Manager / Hotel and  Transportation Liason 

Jessica Buller: Assistant Wedding and Event Manager / Hotel and Transportation Liason 

Jess has over ten years in the weddings and events industry and got her professional start with Creative Concepts by Lisa in 2014! After a few years away pursuing her graduate degree and work in higher education and learning & development events, Jess is back!

Jess has an undergraduate degree from Elon University in Sport & Event Management and a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina. By day, Jess is a project & customer relationship manager in learning and development, focusing on creating long-term and large-scale development for organizations. Jess brings to the Creative Concepts team a high level of attention to detail and professionalism, all with a warm and friendly smile.

When Jess isn’t working to make sure your event runs seamlessly, you can find her planning her own wedding with her fiancé, Stephen, and their golden lab Rosie! (as a 2025 Creative Concepts by Lisa Bride)!

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

Shannon O’Connor: Event Assistant

Shannon joins Creative Concepts by Lisa for her third season as she heads into her junior year at UCONN! She has a Political Science and Human Rights major with a Spanish minor. While she is interested in the Pre-Law path, she enjoys partaking in meticulous tasks and discovered just how much she enjoys helping with events when she began working with Creative Concepts. Shannon worked with the team in the summer of 2022 in the office: this is her second year as an Event Assistant, and she is all in, on-site, helping to execute amazing events.

She loves spending as much time as possible with her family, friends, and cats! She enjoys working hard and putting time into what she loves to do, whether it be her studies, research, organizing fun events for her friends, or otherwise.

Shannon is so excited to work with the team in the 2024 season!

“Lisa and her team are incredibly hardworking and talented, I am so honored to be working with them and putting together some amazing events”!

Sonya Thiel, Wedding and Event Manager AKA the Multitasking Maven

Sonya joined the Creative Concepts by Lisa team in 2024, and immediately jumped into the team with vigor! Sonya has been in the events industry since she could walk as she followed in her mother’s footsteps organizing and planning events for nonprofit arts organizations. With her Bachelor’s degree in Theater Production Management, Master’s of Fine Arts in Arts Leadership and Cultural Management, and 10 years of professional theater/events management experience, Sonya has many tools under her belt to help make your event perfect! 

Sonya has a passion for all things creative and a flair for logistics leading her to already work on events with CCBL as a Transportation and Hotel Liaison, a Wedding Party Manager, and can even be found at the office working on the event detailing from time to time. She is a Multi-Tasking Maven! 

When Sonya isn’t helping Lisa with all of your events’ details, she is found running “errands” with her friends with a coffee and sweet treat in hand! 

“The most important aspect of any event is the team behind it. I am honored to be part of the strongest and smartest team I know, Creative Concepts by Lisa. Let’s make your day flawless!”