“I plan with joy, compassion, and empathy. My promise to every couple is that you’ll feel like you’re the only wedding I’m working on because I care that deeply. This isn’t just a job—it’s my passion.” Katie Sautter, KS Otter Events
Spotlight on Katie Sautter of K.S. Otter Events LLC
December 9th, 2024
Who She Is: The Face of Sustainable Weddings in North Carolina
Anna Marie Creative
Meet Katie Sautter, the brains and heart behind K.S.Otter Events LLC, North Carolina’s new and trailblazing wedding planning firm focusing on the wedding experience AND sustainability. If “sustainable weddings” sounds like a mystery to you, don’t worry—you’re definitely not alone right now, but you will be hearing the phrase over the coming years. Katie Sautter’s not just going to make your wedding or event eco-friendly, but downright inspiring with a combination of brains, creativity, empathy, and passion. She’s based in the Triad area and works with wedding couples across North Carolina and even into parts of Virginia. Her calling card is helping create beautiful, waste-conscious weddings kind to the planet with a huge helping of heart.
Lauren Depuy Photography
“I’m the only sustainable wedding planner in the Triad,” Katie says so pridefully. Her reputation precedes her because at Greensboro’s renowned Proximity Hotel—the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum-certified hotel in the U.S., she’s one of its preferred wedding planning partners because of her devotion to sustainability. And while she’s leading the charge now, Katie Sautter hopes every couple moving forward will strive to make sustainability more than just an afterthought. Her work focuses on cutting emissions through reducing waste and guiding couples toward thoughtful, eco-friendly choices. From nixing single-use plastics (we’re taking aim at you, individually wrapped bubble wands!) to finding ways to repurpose decor, she promotes sustainability without having her clients sacrifice style.
But what does “sustainable wedding planning” actually look like in real life? For example, Katie is always coming up with creative solutions that should otherwise appear obvious until they actually are, like donating leftover food to shelters, repurposing floral arrangements for nursing homes, and helping couples choose vendors who share her eco-conscious values. “It’s not just about what happens during the wedding,” she explains. “It’s about extending the joy and reducing waste afterward.”
For Katie, sustainability isn’t just about being eco-friendly—it’s about being people-friendly. “For me, sustainability means people over profit,” she says. “It’s about creating events that are good for the planet while genuinely caring for not just the couples and their guests, but with all the vendors who are part of the event.”
More Than a Planner—A Wedding Day Hero
Katie Sautter says she wears a lot of hats, but her favorite might just be her superhero cape. While full-service planning and day-of event management are her specialties, Katie is quick to point out that she does far more than just “coordinate.” “We all create timelines, manage vendors, and make executive decisions so couples can focus on enjoying their day,” she explains. “But where I really shine is stepping in to save the day—and sometimes a couple’s sanity—when the unexpected happens. I’m there to solve problems so they can stay in the moment.” She says she’s calm under pressure and solves problems before they even arise–and has built a reputation for handling the hiccups with grace and good humor.
Inclusivity is also at the core of Katie Sautter’s approach. She says she’s proudly LGBTQ+ friendly and has received inclusivity training from the Gay Agenda Collective to make sure everyone—from her clients to the vendors and guests—feels super-welcomed and respected.
How She Got Here: A Path Rooted in Passion
Katie Sautter’s journey to wedding planning began in an unlikely place—a Ph.D. program in Material Science and Engineering. She remembers while studying in Idaho, she organized a space-themed gala for her STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) community. “It was the first time someone raised a glass and cried out, ‘Here’s to Katie and everyone in the room obliged!’” she recalls. “That moment really did spark something in me. Despite the fact I was finishing up my doctorate, I knew I wanted to keep creating events that brought people together and that was a real acknowledgement I was good at it.”
Raven Shutley Studios
After earning her Ph.D., Katie Sautter moved to Chicago and tried her hand in academia and lab work, but it didn’t feel right. She then moved with her soon-to-be husband to North Carolina in 2022 for a new job. and to begin planning her own wedding. “That was way more exciting to me than my work…. and I realized I loved it too much to stop. This is what I wanted to do. 100 percent.”
It’s funny because while she’s shunned the world of science, her scientific background is a a pretty big influence on her work as a planner. “I’m definitely a problem solver,” she says. “I can anticipate issues and think creatively, and my events run smoothly. These skills are invaluable.”
In her first year as a business owner, Katie booked 15 weddings which is phenomenal in such a tight and competitive market. “I’ve spent all of my time cultivating this business, and I’m so proud of how far it’s come.”
Where She’s Headed: Building a Legacy of Sustainable Celebrations
Katie Sautter dreams big for the future of K.S.Otter Events. She plans to expand her team and hire only those planners who are passionate about sustainability and inclusivity. “In five years, I see us as a team working all over North Carolina, mountains to coast,” she says. “I want purposeful growth.” Her ideal budgets will be between $15,000 and $40,000 so she has tremendous latitude in creating phenomenally creative atmospheres, but in the meantime she truly loves working intimate, meaningful events. “Smaller weddings really do allow for so much connection with the couples I work with and yes, they’re where my heart truly lies,” she shares. So at least at the time of this article’s drafting, she’s extremely interested in planning a small, up to 30 guest destination wedding right here at Weddings Over Waterfalls!
No matter the size of a wedding, Katie Sautter’s ideal clients are those who are, well, a little on the nerdy side. “I attract people who are quirky, open-minded, and vibrant,” she says. “They’re the ones who want their weddings with disco ball centerpieces or a Studio Ghibli-inspired decorations. (meaning, anime) I love working with people who bring so much personality to the table!”
In addition to growing her business, Katie Sautter envisions dedicating more time to nonprofit events and fundraisers as a way to give back to the community that has supported her. One cause especially near and dear is Wish Upon a Wedding, an organization similar to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which creates beautiful weddings for couples facing terminal illness or other tremendous, life-altering hardships. It’s a real pleasure to see Katie’s commitment to the industry from every angle.
“Building this business has been the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done, and I know I’m just getting started.”
Focused on sustainability, inclusivity, and heartfelt service, Katie Sautter of K.S.Otter Events LLC is trying to set a new standard for wedding planning that matters. You can find her here if you’d like to contact her for your own wedding!
Find us at www.windowsoverwaterfalls.com
