Turning your Dream Event into a Reality
SINCE 2011
Who we are
hopeless romantics with practical connections
creative, experienced yet approachable
modern yet respectful of tradition
adaptable and innovative
laid back yet hard-working and dedicated
voices for the introverted/a steady calm for the extroverted
trendy when its appropriate, timeless when it matters
unapologetically progressive and inclusive
MEET THE HIVE
Anne Michelle Forbes
(she/her)
Senior Planner + Designer
Anne Michelle joined us in 2021 and handles around 18 weddings a year. She graduated from VCU with BFA in Acting and then became a certified Interior Decorator through University of Richmond’s program.
The daughter of a highly ambitious Filipino Mother and a Father with a career in the military, Anne has had the art of planning and organizing instilled in her from a young age. She loves translating her skills in design, organization, and collaboration to the wedding world!
Anne lives in Church Hill with her partner and their 2 dogs. She loves hiking, checking out new breweries and restaurants, vintage shopping and scream-singing 80’s power ballads in the car.
Anne specializes in multi-cultural events and LGBTQ+ weddings. She excels in bringing amazing design ideas to the table and crying at every wedding.
Heather Clarke
(she/her)
Senior Planner + Designer
Heather joined our team in 2015 and handles 18-20 wedding clients a year. As one of our strongest designers on the team, Heather excels at taking a client’s visions and translating them into breathtaking events!
Educated in Journalism, English, and Art History at Randolph Macon and VCU on a swimming scholarship, she fell into film work in 2011 and pivoted to dive into a career of planning and event design after yearning to join a less male-dominated industry.
With a background as a Craft Service Professional and Art Director in the film world, her background allows her to stay calm under pressure, be incredibly adaptable and cares deeply for each of her clients and their families.
Heather lives in the city with her husband and daughter. She loves good food, a strong cocktail, cake icing and top 40 hits from the 90’s!
Ciera Pope
(she/her)
Senior Planner + Designer
Ciera was the first person Christine trusted to join her side in the summer of 2014. Now a senior planner with over 100 weddings on her resume, she is Christine’s partner in business and balances 20 clients a year along with running her private event space Copper Hall.
Ciera graduated from VCU with a Merchandising degree and helped produce the very first fashion show hosted at VMFA. She’s participated as a Board Member for RVA Fashion Week, holding the role of Trunk Show Director and Model Manager.
Ciera owns a home in Richmond but enjoys frequent tropical vacations, hosting themed dinner parties, and cooking food for her friends and family.
Melissa Vine
(she/her)
Planner + Designer
Originally from Queens, NY, Melissa made her way to Richmond in 2017 after studying at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, NC (Go Wildcats!) and working in the Washington, DC area for nearly three years. During her time in the nation’s capital, she played a pivotal role in opening a restaurant and helping various restaurants and hotels grow their private event departments.
Once in Richmond, Melissa joined the Quirk Hotel, where she worked for three years. She then spent about two years as the Director of Private Events before moving on to the prestigious Country Club of Virginia. There, she spent three years leading events, including overseeing the 2022 and 2023 DECC with the PGA, as well as coordinating weddings for the club’s members and guests.
Her extensive experience in event planning and execution laid the foundation for her entrepreneurial journey, which she fully embraced in 2024. Melissa now lives in Richmond with her husband, Jonathan, and their perfect black cat, Salem. When she’s not working, you can find her diving into a good TV show, exploring the city, hunting for the best happy hour, painting, or cooking up something delicious at home.
Aris Kelly
(they/them)
Planner + Designer
Aris joined the Hive family in 2024 after a fulfilling 14-year teaching career. A Richmond native, they studied English and Art at UVA and Education at U of R before embarking on an eight-year international teaching adventure in Costa Rica, Shanghai, and Beijing.
Their experience designing and directing school musicals, fundraisers, and festivals— not to mention keeping little hands busy each day—has prepared them to handle the logistical complexities of a wedding weekend. Playing host to friends and family, however, is where they learned to craft an event full of mirth, reflection, and heart. Recent highlights include a Year of the Dragon hot pot feast, a Frog and Toad tea brunch, and a fabulously silly Clue murder mystery dinner.
In May 2025, Aris hung up their teaching apron and became a full-time planner on our team after a year of juggling both careers with grace.
Aris lives in Lakeside with their partner, Michael, and their cat, Pea.
Keneil Rainey
(she/her)
lead assistant
Keneil joined our team in 2015 and serves as our lead event assistant. She is our strongest assistant and runs a team of 20 assistants that offer logistics support during wedding days.
Keneil works full-time at Capital One and lives in the East End with her wife and their fur babies. She enjoys craft beer, travel, good food, entertaining friends and spoiling her niece.
HOW IT ALL STARTED
Our company was founded by Christine back in 2011, originally named Wood Grain & Lace Events at the height of the rustic wedding craze.
What began as a healing creative outlet after profound loss grew into a planning collective defined by its commitment to authenticity, representation, and community. From the start, Christine built a team that didn’t just welcome diversity but celebrated it—bringing together planners of different ethnicities, backgrounds, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, all empowered to show up fully as themselves rather than being softened or hidden to make others comfortable.
Through this unapologetic inclusivity, The Hive pushed the DMV wedding industry forward—encouraging more intentional language, more thoughtful partnerships, more honest branding, and greater transparency so couples could clearly align with vendors who share their values. All the while, the team continued to produce breathtaking, innovative weddings and social events marked by artistry, creativity, and heart.
Regularly voted one of Richmond’s Best Wedding Planners, the Hive has become a vibrant, influential force led by entrepreneurs who reflect the diverse love stories they weave into design for their clients.
After more than a decade of leadership, Christine retired as a wedding planner and passed the reins to Senior Planner Anne Michelle Forbes, who now carries the mission and heart of The Hive forward into its next chapter.
Christine continues to serve as a mentor to the team and takes 1-2 planning clients a year, by request, while continuing to run her bridal shop, serving as an ordained wedding celebrant and running a small business consulting firm.
Under Anne Michelle’s leadership, The Hive continues the legacy Christine began—rooted in compassion, craftsmanship, and a deep love for celebrating life’s most meaningful moments.
Christine Haines Greenberg
(she/her)
Founder
CLIENT LOVE NOTES
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"We had reached out to a few different coordinators and as soon as we met with Anne we knew she was the perfect fit. She was so easy to work with, went above and beyond for us, and took all my crazy bride texts in stride. She gave us some great recommendations and paid for herself with just the money she saved us elsewhere (although Anne is literally invaluable and worth so much more than just that!). There are so many moving parts with weddings that we were not even aware of and I truly don't know how we would have had such an amazing wedding if it wasn't for her. Coordinating vendors, walk throughs, any day of issues... Anne Michelle handled every aspect of our wedding with professionalism and grace. It was like working with a friend who only wants the best for you on one of the most important days of your life. The Hive has built such a great reputation for themselves and you can see why in every single thing they do."
Kristen G.
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"Heather was ALWAYS easy to get in touch with and highly responsive. She helped me think through every detail beforehand so that when the wedding day came, we were not surprised, but prepared. She also took care of signage for me right before the wedding, something for which I was super grateful. She has a very "can do" attitude and was able to manage, in a calm and collected manner, the multitude of details that arise when coordinating a large wedding. She corresponded with all our our vendors and gave them very good and specific information ahead of time, so that everyone was well-informed and knew to call her if there was any emergency. Heather was gracious and gentle while being clear and direct."
Kelli L.
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"Im a lifelong control freak and somehow Ciera got me to trust her entirely. Whenever we talked or met with her she was professional, organized, and timely. Her experience and relationships within the wedding industry go a long way, she introduced us to fabulous vendors we may have never found on our own. Before finding Ciera, I met with other wedding planners that described a process where they would call all the shots and the level of communication would be more limited. When I voiced that I wanted to be involved in my own wedding planning Ciera was receptive and she honored my wishes. She was communicative and collaborative. She made the process fun and low stress. Something I really appreciate about Ciera is she has your back. She will honor your vision but she will also let you know when something is unnecessary or if there’s a better option. Our wedding exceeded our expectations in every possible way."
Ainsley J.