An Intimate Conversation on Design, Hospitality, and the Art of Celebration
Candice Edinger on Creating Meaningful Moments with Elegance and Heart
Your appreciation for guest experience and hospitality traces back to childhood, shaped by a life lived between cultures. When did you first realize that weddings and celebrations could become a language for your creativity — not simply beautiful events, but deeply meaningful experiences rooted in connection and care?
I’ve always had a natural instinct for taking care of others, whether through my work in hospitality or by planning parties and experiential trips for friends. But it wasn’t until I made the transition from corporate events to weddings at a private destination planning firm that everything clicked.
For a long time, wedding planning wasn’t on my radar. In the hotel world, I was able to develop creative concepts and problem-solve for corporate events, which kept me inspired. However, as a naturally curious person who’s always eager to keep learning, the work eventually began to feel routine. That curiosity led me to private event planning, where my eyes were opened to the many creative avenues and freedoms available when designing events for clients.
Most importantly, it showed me how deeply creativity and hospitality can intertwine—especially in the world of destination events.
The Heart of Hospitality
Your upbringing spanned the coasts of the United States, Hawaiʻi, and Argentina — a layered cultural landscape that reflects the richness often found in Latin American traditions of gathering, warmth, and family. How has this multicultural background influenced your sense of community, your design sensibility, and the way you create experiences that feel emotionally generous and welcoming?
Being exposed to different cultures and growing up in a multigenerational household profoundly shaped who I am and how I care for others. Living so closely with family taught me that nurturing people comes from shared experience, presence, and intention—it’s something that’s difficult to truly offer without having lived it yourself.
I was fortunate to be raised in cultures and communities where collectiveness wasn’t just valued, but essential.
Because of that, my understanding of luxury looks different. While it’s often assumed that luxury means “more is more” when it comes to tangible elements, I believe true luxury in events comes from something far deeper: feeling genuinely seen, having your needs anticipated before you have to ask, and being able to fully relax and immerse yourself in the experience that’s been thoughtfully created.
Being Argentinean and raised in Hawaiʻi, I grew up immersed in two cultures that are deeply aligned in the way they gather—not just as families, but as entire communities. In both, everyone has a role, and amid the loud music and constant conversation, there’s an unspoken, seamless rhythm at play. It’s a natural flow where connection feels effortless and everyone belongs.
From Hotels to Weddings
Before founding your studio, you built a career in luxury hospitality and corporate events. How did that experience — combined with the values of Latin culture, where hosting is an act of love — shape the way you now approach weddings and celebrations?
Maybe I was subconsciously aware of it at the time, but looking back, I truly believe that every experience I’ve had since stepping into hospitality at 16 was guiding me to where I am today.
Training at such a young age in a high-level restaurant gave me invaluable insight into food and beverage programs, while my time working in hotels taught me the behind-the-scenes realities of venues—what to look for, what questions to ask, and how everything truly operates.
Even my role in corporate event sales showed me that elevated hospitality begins at the very first point of communication. It’s about making people feel seen, establishing trust, and setting the tone long before an event ever takes place.
All of these experiences, combined with my natural instinct rooted in Latin culture to show care and love through action, ultimately shaped how I approach planning and design—grounded in intention, thoughtfulness, and genuine hospitality.
One of the most meaningful aspects of both Latin American and Hawaiian culture—and something I deeply value—is the importance of a shared meal. Whether it’s an asado in Argentina or gathering around the imu for a celebration in Hawaiʻi, food has always been at the heart of the event, serving as an essential part of the experience.
A Mission of Authenticity
Your work feels grounded in truth — to the couple, the place, and the moment. As a creative woman with Latin American roots, how do you balance honoring personal and cultural narratives while creating celebrations that feel elevated, refined, and timeless?
When I speak with potential clients, I always explain that my design process begins with uncovering what feels truly authentic. That means designing from a place that reflects who the couple genuinely is, what naturally connects to the venue, and how the surrounding culture and destination can be meaningfully woven in.
Many clients also bring their own cultural backgrounds into the process, which opens the door to creating layered, thoughtful experiences that feel personal and exciting for both the couple and their guests.
One example of this approach was a Night Market experience we created in Morelos, Mexico. During our initial conversations, the client made it clear they were looking for something different—an experience that felt immersive and unexpected.
Instead of traditional hotel welcome bag drops, I proposed transforming the welcome event itself into an experiential moment, complete with gifting and local vendor activations. While many clients gravitate toward a polished interpretation of authenticity, we intentionally leaned into the raw, everyday elements of local markets, including the plastic stools that are so emblematic of Latin American gatherings.
Station signage was hand-printed on site, and local vendors prepared the food and curated the gifts, allowing guests to assemble their own bags as part of the experience. To this day, it remains one of my favorite events we’ve created.
Creating Through Collaboration
Collaboration sits at the heart of your process. In many Latin cultures, creativity is communal rather than hierarchical. How does working closely with couples and creative partners shape the final experience?
My biggest recommendation to clients is to hire a designer you truly trust. That trust makes the process far more seamless and allows your designer to feel empowered to bring forward innovative, thoughtful ideas.
From the planner and designer’s side, the most important responsibility is ensuring clients feel seen and heard throughout the process. Event planning is an emotionally heightened experience, and when trust exists on both ends, it creates a collaborative environment where the experience unfolds naturally and beautifully.
The Shape of the Process
How would you describe the rhythm of your planning and design process?
When working with clients, I always tell them that my top priority is to make the process as efficient and streamlined as possible. The constant back-and-forth between multiple vendors can quickly become overwhelming, so my approach is to shield clients from anything that doesn’t truly require their attention.
At the same time, I maintain clear, consistent, and organized communication systems so they always know what to expect, when decisions are needed, and what’s coming next.
This becomes especially critical for multi-day destination events. There’s a delicate balance between thoughtfully filling the schedule and allowing guests the time and space to truly experience the destination and decompress between events.
Designing With Subtlety
How do you decide which details deserve focus, and which are best expressed subtly?
Whether a design direction is subtle and restrained or bold and maximalist, it ultimately comes down to editing. My favorite way to approach design is by ensuring each event tells a story.
Much like how brands establish a narrative as the foundation of their marketing, a clear story helps determine which elements belong and which should be edited out. Adding more simply for the sake of more can sometimes dilute the impact of the design, rather than strengthen it.
A Defining Moment
Was there a project that affirmed your voice as a designer?
There was a particular event we designed at a private home in California that felt like a true turning point for me as a designer. Having the creative freedom to fully explore the space allowed us to craft an experience that gently guided guests through a series of transitions.
Recently, I was able to experience clients who trusted me fully to go wild with ideas for a three-day celebration where we designed five distinct events. It pushed my creativity, and I am incredibly grateful for that trust.
Leadership
What does leadership mean to you when it’s rooted in empathy, intuition, and deep human connection?
Growing up in a Latin, matriarch-led family, I was raised by dynamic women who embodied both strength and creativity. That upbringing continues to inform how I show up in my work and collaborate with others.
I carry that same philosophy into my relationships with vendors. Every role matters, and everyone deserves to feel respected and valued. Kindness and directness can coexist—and when delivered calmly and with intention, they are just as powerful in creating alignment and shared excitement.
Sensitivity as Strength
How have emotional awareness and intuition become professional strengths?
Emotional intelligence is crucial in weddings because we are dealing with deeply layered and emotional experiences. It’s about understanding the balance between being present and knowing when to give space.
In design, I try to trust my intuition and remain faithful to the story being told, even when external influences create doubt.
The Evolving Industry
What changes feel most meaningful to you in the wedding industry today?
Clients are increasingly seeking unique elements that allow designers to push creative boundaries. One of the most inspiring aspects of this industry is how it empowers women to build their own businesses.
During an event in Mexico, an artist shared with me that our collaboration had employed fifty artists. It was a powerful reminder that every creative decision has the potential to support entire communities.
Redefining Success
How has your definition of success evolved?
Expansion has never been my definition of success. Early on, I placed value on recognition and accolades, but over time I realized those things aren’t necessary for fulfillment.
Success for me means attracting the right clientele, feeling creatively challenged, working in destinations that inspire me, and maintaining a healthy balance between my professional and personal life.
What’s Next
Looking ahead, what creative paths are calling to you?
I’ve intentionally reduced the number of weddings I take on to create space for other creative pursuits. I recently launched a new creative studio, CED Creative, as an outlet to explore marketing and storytelling beyond the wedding industry.
I would also love to work more extensively throughout South America and Asia. South America, in particular, feels like an extraordinary yet underexplored destination for international weddings, and I would be honored to contribute to that growing appreciation.
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