LISA TSUBOUCHI

CEO + CREATIVE DIRECTOR

After years of flailing about in my twenties, having worked more part-time jobs than I care to count, I worked my first shift as a day-of wedding assistant in 2017, and that was it. I was immediately hooked to whatever crazy, magical energy that weddings capture and exude.

My professional background in education and hospitality, paired with my personal background in mental health awareness, coaching and self-care, have brought me to this point in my career as a team leader. I will always check in with clients and team members alike, often asking “How are you doing?” “What’s one thing you’re excited about? What’s stressing you out? How can I best support with that?” This is how I’ve learned to humanize a process that can often feel overwhelming and sometimes just like a big to-do list.

Being an event planner is one of many expressions of my personality. Indeed, I am organized, personable, and punctual, and at my core, I am a community builder. I value personal relationships and the time and care it takes to nurture them. My clients are not just clients, they are people that I find interesting and genuinely want to get to know. We share core values like community, respect, and good food above all else.

I want the wedding planning process to not only feel fun, but for it to ideally be a meaningful experience in your journey together as a couple. You will inevitably learn a lot about each other! Enjoy the process. It will not always be easy, but that’s why you’re here - we’ve got you.

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MAGGIE CHEN

SENIOR LEAD PLANNER + LEAD DESIGNER
A San Francisco native with a fine arts background, Maggie has been planning weddings and events for seven years and counting. Prior to finding her passion in planning events, she was a professional sign artist. Her first taste of the event industry was through creating custom signage and décor for weddings. She has intensive experience planning and coordinating weddings throughout Northern California. She gracefully handles all aspects of event planning from the logistical side of timelines and layouts and run of show, to the design and production side of bringing her client’s visions and dreams to life.
JOLENE HSU

LEAD PLANNER
Jolene is a Bay Area native and resides in the beautiful City of San Francisco. She discovered her love of events from having a large extended family and all the events that came with that. Her professional background began in college as an assistant for a wedding planner. Seeing the events she helped plan come to life and connecting with her clients are her favorite parts of the job. Aside from events, some of her other passions are sewing, traveling, and hanging out with her mini dachshund, Wallace!
ALYSSA SHIMODA

LEAD PLANNER
Alyssa grew up on the vibrant island of O’ahu, Hawai’i, where the values of community, connection, and care were instilled in her from a young age. She has lived and worked in the Bay Area as an educator for over a decade, and in this time has cultivated additional values in humility and patience as well as organizational skills and flexibility. She strives to bring all of these elements together to make clients’ special event dreams a reality in a way that makes them feel cared for and allows them to find joy in the process.
ALLISON NGO

LEAD PLANNER
Allison was born and raised in the Bay Area. After living in Pittsburgh and DC for college, she couldn't help but find her way back to the Bay. As a Lead Planner, she brings along design and organization skills from her previous life as a customer researcher and product manager. She loves getting to know each couple and designing weddings that speak to the heart of their story. Outside of weddings, you can find her out on hiking trails, throwing pottery, and hanging out with her two cats.
KAELI TAPNIO

LEAD COORDINATOR
Kaeli is a Bay Area native and has a deep love for Boston terriers! She has a knack for planning and a passion for making dream events into a reality. The first wedding she worked was in 2020, and she is excited to continue her professional growth and experience with the Sachi & Maja team.
MIA HENDERSON-BONILLA

ASSISTANT COORDINATOR
Mia is a born-and-raised Bay Area girl. Her professional background started as a higher education financial aid advisor and was rerouted in 2021 to align more with her life’s passion: birth work and support. To be working with Sachi & Maja has been a pure delight for Mia! She loves having the opportunity to create the vision that couples have for their big day. When she’s not working wedding events, she is serving the East Bay Area as a birth and postpartum doula.
NERISSA SAGABAEN

ASSISTANT COORDINATOR
Nerissa is a San Francisco native with a background in events and hospitality in both corporate and personal settings. Her passion lies in bringing people together and creating lasting experiences. Nerissa takes pride in enjoying all things from planning to execution, all while having fun doing it. As a local foodie, you can find her exploring the Bay Area's culinary scene to discover hidden gems. She can’t wait to help bring our couples' visions to life!
JANETTE KIM

ASSISTANT COORDINATOR
Janette is a Bay Area native but spent her formative years growing up in Hawai'i and Washington state. She was introduced to the world of wedding planning after coordinating and floral designing for her cousin's intimate wedding in November of 2020. Her attention to detail and aesthetic eye are her biggest strengths when it comes to both coordinating and working with flowers. Outside of weddings, she also works as a music instructor teaching piano to beginner and intermediate students.
AUSTIN CHANG

ASSISTANT COORDINATOR
Austin is a proud Bay Area native and currently works in higher education student affairs. His background in live event operations, planning, and execution includes supporting large-scale events with over 60,000 attendees to intimate and personalized gatherings for family and friends. He enjoys providing a stress-free process for couples, recognizes the precision needed to put on memorable events, and is excited to help others put on their big day as part of the Sachi & Maja team!
DAVID ZENG

OPERATIONS SUPPORT + ASSISTANT COORDINATOR
David has been in California most of his life, having moved to Berkeley for college and has called the Bay Area home since. He works in tech and has since adopted all the standard hobbies such as running, rock climbing and board games. Any exercise is followed by eating just as much and he will gladly go with anyone to House of Prime Rib or any place that's AYCE. David's true passion lies in telling stories focused around people and after witnessing the power of Sachi & Maja from the client perspective, he is excited to join the team and help couples write the start to their own life story.
NATASHA SITUMEANG

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Natasha grew up in Southern California and has called the Bay Area home for over a decade. During her time in the Bay Area, Natasha has developed a community in the hospitality industry by connecting with people and sharing experiences. She is excited to showcase the business, the work that comes with each event, and sharing our clients’ special day through social media. On the weekends, you’ll find Natasha either with friends at Golden Gate Park, at a wine bar, or snowboarding in the mountains.
ARIELLE TAN

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT + OPERATIONS MANAGER
Arielle was raised in the Pacific Northwest, but has called San Francisco home for over 12 years. With over 12 years in the hospitality industry, Arielle prides herself on finding creative solutions and bringing people together through food. When she's not working, you're most likely to find Arielle petting someone's dog, drinking coffee, or wandering a bookstore.
ADRIANNE BRIGHT

FLORAL ASSOCIATE
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Adrianne moved to the Bay Area in 2021 in continuation of her former career in sports marketing. An artist and creator at heart, Adrianne has been floral freelancing and designing in Northern California since 2022. Her floral designs are often inspired by her love for nature, travel, and hiking. She fuses her marketing background and innate creativity by translating artistic visions to execution.