Cherry Pop Events has been recognized as the Best Wedding Planner in Southern California, cementing Laura Kinniburgh’s reputation as one of the region’s most innovative voices in an industry often criticized for its cookie-cutter approach and mounting costs.
With over 20 years of experience in event planning, Kinniburgh has built her San Gabriel Valley-based company on a foundation of personality-driven coordination and transparent pricing. Cherry Pop Events specializes in day-of coordination for couples who have handled their own planning but need a seasoned professional to execute the vision without the stress.
“My clients are busy, brilliant, no-BS professionals who want a wedding that feels like them — not a Pinterest board,” says Kinniburgh. “They don’t have time to micromanage. They want to show up, look stunning, and actually enjoy the day they paid for.”
What sets Cherry Pop Events apart is Kinniburgh’s commitment to accessibility and authenticity. In September 2025, she launched the Atomic Love Challenge, an ambitious year-long project to plan and execute a complete wedding and reception for 75 guests on a strict $5,000 budget in Southern California. The challenge runs through October 2026 and documents every cost breakdown, vendor negotiation, and creative hack through weekly blog posts and social media updates.
“Weddings have become emotionally manipulative and financially draining for so many people,” Kinniburgh explains. “The Atomic Love Challenge is my way of saying: screw the rules. Let’s make it meaningful, make it fun — and keep our damn savings intact.”
Adding to her growing platform, Kinniburgh launched The Pin-Up Planner podcast on December 9, 2025. The weekly show offers unfiltered discussions about wedding planning in Southern California, featuring vendor interviews, budget strategies, and stories from two decades in the trenches of event coordination. The podcast serves as both entertainment and education for couples navigating an industry often clouded by unrealistic expectations.
Cherry Pop Events draws inspiration from 1950s glamour while maintaining modern execution standards. The company’s approach prioritizes vendor relationships built on trust rather than commission, ensuring clients receive recommendations tailored to their specific needs and budgets. From managing timelines to solving last-minute problems, Kinniburgh brings what she describes as calm to the storm of wedding day chaos.
The award recognizes not only Cherry Pop Events’ coordination services for weddings but also Kinniburgh’s broader mission to revolutionize the event industry. Her focus remains on bringing authenticity back to celebrations, whether through full-service event planning or day-of coordination that lets couples actually experience the moment they’ve invested in creating.