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
HOW IT ALL STARTED
Christine Haines Greenberg
(she/her)
Founder + Creative Director
Queen Bee
“Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect.”
Christine Greenberg was born in California and moved every 2 years with her parents as her father bravely served in the US Army. Spending most of her formative years in Southern Germany, her family settled in Virginia in 2000 and she attended VCU to study English Lit, Political Science and Women’s Studies.
After graduating from VCU in 2009, Christine planned to move to NYC with her best friend, Hunter, and open up a clothing boutique. Days before she was due to leave, her college sweetheart discovered he had an inoperable brain tumor. She chose to stay in Richmond and help him fight. His treatments went well for awhile and they got engaged a few months later.
Unfortunately, after an 18 month battle, her first true love passed away in May 2011 at 26 years old.
Through that loss, she grew closer with her family and friends, realized she loved Richmond, loved planning her wedding and realized she would excel at doing that for others. The gig demanded both a type-A personality and a creative, flexible spirit and a career was born!
Through serendipity, she met a newly engaged woman in a similar situation to her own (a fiance with dire health news) and somewhat organically, began helping this new friend plan her wedding. Her fiance survived his health scare and they were wed at Pippin Hill in September 2012, the same place Christine was suppose to marry her late fiance. A full circle, healing moment that led to a new life path.
Christine continued to plan weddings under the name 'Wood Grain & Lace Events' as a side hustle until she decided to leave her full-time job in 2013 to fulfill her dream of opening up a brick-and-mortar bridal boutique. This time the original dream took a pivot and she opened up a wedding gown boutique, Urban Set Bride, with her Mom in 2014. She also found love again after loss and got married in 2014 with Ciera by her side to plan and coordinate.
Slowly but surely, the planning team grew to the team of five it is today and in 2018, they decided it was time for a refresh and rebranded the company to The Hive Wedding Collective.
Along with the bustling bridal shop and ever-growing planning company, Christine also owns a small business consulting firm called CHG Consulting and serves as an ordained civil celebrant for secular wedding ceremonies.
Christine lives in Bon Air with her husband, Lenny, their boys Ellis (7) and Jack (3) and a one-eared Shepherd/Chow mix named Frida Bonita.
She loves all things Beyonce, books, politics, keeping her houseplants alive, volunteering for her favorite non-profit Girls for a Change, enjoying a glass (or two) of wine with her girlfriends and relaxing with her family.
As of October 2023, Christine has retired as an active planner and only takes one special request client per year. She serves as the Creative Director for the company and focuses on supporting the team from behind the scenes.
Christine is available (by request) for one exclusive planning client a year and still actively officiates weddings and offers small business consulting services via CHG Consulting + Ceremonies.
MEET THE HIVE
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.
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!
Lindsay Force
(she/her)
Event Mgt Specialist
Lindsay met Christine in 2017 when she found her wedding dress at Urban Set and they hit it off immediately! She joined our team as an assistant in 2018 and quickly fell in love with the idea of being her own boss and becoming a wedding planner and designer.
Lindsay lives in the North Chesterfield and loves cooking, reading, seeing live theater and spoiling her rescue dog, Tux.
Lindsay will be hanging up her proverbial planning apron at the end of 2024 to pursue new career opportunities. But she plans to continue to assist the other planners when her schedule allows and will always be part of the Hive family.
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. She takes 18-20 planning clients a year, balancing that work load with interior design and theatre work.
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 miniature dachshund, Frankie. She loves hiking, checking out new breweries and restaurants with her partner, 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.
Melissa Vine
(she/her)
Associate Planner + Designer
Originally hailing from Queens, NY, Melissa landed in Richmond in 2017 after studying at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, NC (Go Wildcats!) where she received her AS in Culinary Arts & BS in Food Service Management.
She worked in restaurants and hotels around Washington DC and then relocated to Richmond in 2017 where she met the Hive crew while serving as the group sales and catering manager at the Quirk Hotel.
At Quirk, she handled planning and executing large and small scale events, corporate meetings, sports events and weddings for the luxury hotel. While Melissa just jumped into the entrepreneur role with us in 2024, she has years of experience planning + executing events under her belt!
Melissa lives in Richmond with her husband, Jonathan, and their perfect black cat, Salem. During her spare time, you can find her diving into a juicy tv show, going on an adventure in the city, looking for a good happy hour, painting, or cooking up something delicious at home.
Aris Kelly
(he/they)
junior planner + designer
Aris is our newest team member, he joined the Hive family in March 2024. A Richmond native, he 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.
His experience designing and directing school musicals, fundraisers, and festivals— not to mention keeping little hands busy each day— has prepared him to handle the logistical complexities of a wedding weekend. Playing host to friends and family, however, is where he 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.
Aris lives in Lakeside with his partner, Michael, and their cat, Pea.
He continues to teach as he learns the ins and outs of the wedding world.
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.
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.