the team
a north carolina wedding vendor dining experience
Dine Parlare is a night where wedding and event vendors—who are so often behind the scenes—become the stars of the show.
From the first touchpoint to the final farewell at the event, every interaction is designed to make guests feel cared for, spoiled, and deeply appreciated.
lauren o'brien
Founder & Creative Director
Lauren O’Brien is a seasoned wedding planner whose unflinching “tell it like it is” approach has redefined the industry. With over a decade of experience, she’s dedicated her career to championing the underrepresented—ensuring that plus-size Black brides and diverse couples, often overlooked in luxury wedding spaces, receive the celebration they deserve. In 2013, Lauren launched Lauren O and Co. in Hartford, Connecticut, and her groundbreaking work quickly garnered national attention with features in industry-leading publications such as Martha Stewart Weddings and Style Me Pretty. Her commitment to inclusivity and excellence continues to inspire a more diverse and authentic vision of love and celebration.
She is the Director of Education for the North Carolina WIPA chapter, an educator for Refine for Wedding Planners, a WeddingPro Mentor, and a featured guest on the Ask the Planner podcast.
Throughout her years in the wedding industry, Lauren has learned that a strong, reliable vendor network and the shared experience of creative entrepreneurship are invaluable to success.
Beyond her work, Lauren is a devoted wife to Sean and a proud mom to Evan and Maia. When she’s not planning weddings or fostering industry connections, you can find her binge-watching TV with Sean, binge-watching reality TV without Sean, and cheering on her kids at their sporting events.
She founded Dine Parlare to strengthen the vendor community by bringing together diverse creatives across disciplines and career stages for an evening of insightful conversation, new connections, and meaningful collaboration over a beautifully curated dining experience.
morgan graham
Director of Guest Experience
As the Director of Guest Experience for Dine Parlare, Morgan Graham is the visionary behind crafting an effortless and extraordinary guest journey. With a passion for highly intentional design, white-glove hospitality, and personalized experiences, she ensures that every guest—long before they step into the event—feels valued, celebrated, and immersed in an experience unlike any other.
Her background as the founder of Grey Cove Designs, a luxury event stationery and signage studio, has sharpened her ability to curate highly detailed, one-of-a-kind experiences that resonate deeply with her audience. Combined with her seven years as a clinical research project manager handling complex, multi-million-dollar global trials, she brings an unmatched level of precision, problem-solving, and client-first thinking to Dine Parlare—ensuring that no detail is left to chance.
The most rewarding part of her role? Watching the pure joy on guests’ faces as they step into the space, feeling the palpable energy in the room, and knowing that every detail has come together to create an experience that not only delights but sets a new standard.
When she’s not curating unforgettable experiences, you can find her sipping on an iced salted maple latte by day or a shaken daiquiri by night. Her dream dinner party would be an intimate, home-cooked meal with Michelle Obama, Simone Biles, Serena Williams, and Queen Latifah, a table filled with wisdom, resilience, and powerhouse energy. And if she weren’t shaping the guest experience at luxury events? You’d likely find her at a stone yard, hunting for the next visually striking piece of Quartzite for a dream interior project.
With a relentless focus on guest experience, sensory immersion, and unparalleled hospitality, she is redefining what it means to create an industry event that feels like magic from start to finish.
Her approach prioritizes ease, highly personalized touches, and creating moments of awe and wonder that push the envelope.
Harry McLaughlin
AV & Tech Director
I believe the right mix of lighting, sound, and visuals can completely transform an event. It’s not just about what people see or hear—it’s about how it makes them feel. That’s what drives me. With my background in nightlife and DJing, I’ve seen how the energy of a space can shift with the right lighting or the perfect song, and I’m passionate about bringing that same vibe to every event I work on.
For me, it’s about creating an atmosphere that encourages connection—where people feel comfortable to talk, dance, or simply enjoy the moment. Lighting projections can turn a simple space into something magical, and quality audio can set the tone without overpowering the experience. I want to use these tools to help craft environments that feel intentional, immersive, and unforgettable.
Even though I’m still building this vision, my goal is simple: to create experiences where people aren’t just present but truly engaged, feeling the energy of the moment from the visuals to the sound.
Every detail, from the stunning decor to the delicious food, was unforgettable! You and your team created something truly special, and I deeply appreciate the opportunity to be there.
janna simone
