Rafanelli Events

What Rafanelli Events does

Rafanelli Events is a privately held luxury event planning and experiential design firm founded in 1996 by Bryan Rafanelli. The company provides full-service event planning across seven integrated service lines: weddings, non-profit galas, corporate events, sports hospitality, social celebrations, destination events, and consulting/branding. Its client base spans ultra-high-net-worth individuals and celebrities, Fortune 500 companies, leading non-profits (including amfAR, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, PEN America, and Camp Harbor View), professional sports teams and leagues (including the Kansas City Chiefs and MLB/NBA/NFL properties), cultural institutions, and government clients including the White House, where it has produced multiple State Dinners.

The company operates with a team of approximately 50 design and production professionals across three U.S. offices in Boston (headquarters), New York City, and Palm Beach, with destination event execution spanning Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. Events range in scale from intimate gatherings of 50 guests to productions of up to 15,000 attendees. The firm maintains an in-house graphics studio (REM Studio) and motion graphics capabilities supporting bespoke design work for each engagement.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees on a quote-based pricing model, with rates varying by event scope, guest count, destination, and complexity. The business is founder-owned with no disclosed institutional investors, private equity backing, or parent company structure. Go-to-market is driven by earned media coverage in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Martha Stewart Weddings, Town & Country, and Today, supplemented by high-profile referrals from existing Fortune 500 and HNW clients. There is no proprietary technology platform; the offering is delivered as a high-touch human-led creative service.

Name

Rafanelli Events

Legal name

Rafanelli Events

Website

https://rafanellievents.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rafanelli Events is a luxury event planning and experiential design firm serving ultra-high-net-worth individuals, Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, sports leagues, and government clients with bespoke weddings, galas, and corporate events executed across three U.S. offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Event Planning Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (713990), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Fabrication & Scenic/Set Build (Custom Builds, Installations) (BPAFAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Staging, Scenic & Set Fabrication (Stages, Backdrops, Scenic Builds) (THAHAEAC)

Keywords

• Luxury event planning
• Wedding planning services
• Corporate event design
• Non-profit gala production
• Destination event management

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event Planning and Design Services: Full-service luxury event planning fees, likely project-based or retainer arrangements for bespoke event design and execution across weddings, corporate events, non-profit galas, and destination events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rafanelli Events is a full-service luxury event planning and experiential design firm that designs, produces, and executes bespoke events from concept through on-site management. Core service lines include weddings, social celebrations, non-profit galas, corporate events, destination events, sports hospitality events, and event consulting & branding, delivered by a team of approximately fifty in-house design and production professionals based in Boston, New York City, and Palm Beach.

Product overview

Rafanelli Events is a full-service event planning and experiential design company offering a unified portfolio of services rather than a modular software platform. The core offerings include Weddings, Non-Profit Events, Sports Hospitality Events, Social Events, Destination Events, Corporate Events, and Consulting & Branding. These services work together as an integrated offering—the company leverages its design, production, and strategic planning capabilities across all event types to deliver bespoke experiences for private individuals, Fortune 500 companies, and non-profit organizations. The services are delivered through a team of fifty design and production professionals based in New York City, Palm Beach, and Boston offices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Weddings Full-service wedding planning and design for luxury weddings, including destination weddings, covering all aspects from floral arrangements to on-site management.
• Non-Profit Events Non-profit event planning including galas, fundraisers, awareness campaigns, and advocacy events with strategic fundraising focus for non-profit clients.
• Sports Hospitality Events Sports-related hospitality events including championship ring ceremonies, season kick-off parties, All-Star events, and VIP guest experiences for professional sports teams and leagues.
• Social Events Personal celebrations including anniversary parties, birthday celebrations, bar mitzvahs, and milestone events.
• Destination Events Global destination event planning spanning weddings and celebrations at international venues, incorporating local culture and traditions.
• Corporate Events Corporate event planning including product launches, galas, company retreats, and brand activations reflecting corporate identity and values.
• Consulting & Branding Strategic event consulting and brand development services including event concepting, relaunches, brand strategy, and market research.

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hotel Jerome, Auberge CollectioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Rafanelli Events serves as creative partner for the sixth annual Epicurean Passport Weekend (June 18-21, 2026) at Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colorado. This marks the fourth consecutive year of partnership, with Rafanelli leading design and guest experience transformation across the property. The event runs parallel to Aspen Food & Wine and features multiple James Beard-recognized chefs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• David Stark Design and Production: NYC-based event design and production firm specializing in immersive, design-forward experiences for corporate, non-profit, and private clients. Directly comparable to Rafanelli as a full-service design-led event firm; Michelle Mutter, Rafanelli's Managing Director, previously worked at David Stark Design.
• Colin Cowie Lifestyle: Globally recognized luxury event planner and lifestyle brand serving HNW individuals, celebrities, and Fortune 500 clients with weddings, corporate events, and destination celebrations. Closely comparable to Rafanelli in scope, client tier, and editorial positioning.
• Preston Bailey Designs: High-end event designer specializing in luxury weddings, social events, and corporate galas for ultra-wealthy clients worldwide. Directly comparable luxury design-forward event firm with similar global footprint and premium positioning.
• Marcy Blum Associates: Long-established luxury event planner producing weddings, corporate events, and celebrity celebrations. Comparable in client tier, editorial recognition, and full-service planning model.
• Mindy Weiss Party Consultants: Beverly Hills-based luxury event planner specializing in celebrity weddings, social events, and corporate galas. Comparable in premium positioning, celebrity clientele, and editorial profile; serves as a West Coast analog to Rafanelli's East Coast focus.
• Bronson van Wyck Events: NYC-based event planner producing high-profile weddings, political fundraisers, corporate events, and non-profit galas. Directly comparable on Fortune 500, non-profit, and political/government client mix and luxury positioning.
• Lisa Vorce Company: Los Angeles-based luxury event planner known for celebrity weddings and high-end social events. Directly comparable in luxury wedding specialization, destination event capability, and editorial recognition.
• Bash Please: Design-forward wedding and event planning firm with strong editorial presence and destination event capability. Comparable boutique scale, design-led approach, and premium client mix.
• Party Planners West: Sports-event hospitality specialist producing events around major league championships, All-Star games, and Super Bowl-related celebrations. Direct comparable to Rafanelli's Sports Hospitality division; Meg Madden joined Rafanelli from this firm.
• Stefanie Cove & Co. Luxury wedding and event planning firm serving HNW clients and producing destination celebrations. Comparable in bespoke wedding specialization, editorial recognition, and high-end positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/rafanellievents
• Xx.com/rafanellievents
• Facebookfacebook.com/rafanellievents
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rafanelli-events

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rafanelli Events