liting chan, wedding planner, corporate events, portfolioyvr, helen siwak, vancouver, bc, yvr

Liting Chan of Paradise Events Has Built One of BC’s Most Trusted Luxury Event Studios

Liting Chan does not waste words describing what Paradise Events does — she describes what it creates. Since joining the company in 2016, she has guided it through a fundamental transformation: from a rental-based business into a fully integrated creative studio where planning, design, décor, floral design, and production exist under one roof, developed collaboratively, with no detail left to chance.

liting chan, wedding planner, corporate events, portfolioyvr, helen siwak, vancouver, bc, yvr

The result is a firm that now holds a rare position in the Canadian luxury events landscape: immediately recognizable, consistently surprising, and deeply trusted by the clients who seek it out.

A Studio, Not a Service

That evolution from vendor to studio was not accidental. It was a deliberate decision rooted in a particular philosophy about what luxury events should actually be.

“That shift allowed us to move beyond fragmented execution and start designing weddings as complete, immersive experiences,” she explains. “With everything developed collaboratively in-house, we ensure a seamless flow across every layer, with no detail left behind.”

The distinction matters enormously. At the studio level, nothing is handed off. The mood board, the floral sourcing, the spatial logic of a grand ballroom — all of it traces back to a single creative vision, refined through close collaboration with each client. It is a model that has allowed Paradise Events to work with venues as varied as Hycroft Manor and the Fairmont Pacific Rim, and clients as demanding as Holt Renfrew and Chopard, without ever producing work that feels off-brand or off-tempo.

liting chan, wedding planner, corporate events, portfolioyvr, helen siwak, vancouver, bc, yvr

Where Every Event Begins

Chan is firm on one point: quotes do not come before conversations. It is a policy that signals something important about how Paradise Events understands its role.

“Design always begins with people,” she says. “It is not just about logistics, rentals, floor plans. It is about understanding who they are, what they value, and how they want to feel on their wedding day. Only after that do we begin designing.”

That process — listening before proposing, understanding before executing — is what Chan credits for keeping the studio’s work from ever becoming formulaic, even after more than 500 events. With a design signature that includes towering floral installations, dramatic hanging elements, and custom-built sets, the risk of repetition is real. Chan navigates it by treating those elements not as a fixed aesthetic, but as a standard of execution applied differently every time.

“Our role is to take the couple’s vision and elevate it — sometimes beyond what they imagined — while still making sure it feels deeply personal to them.”

liting chan, wedding planner, corporate events, portfolioyvr, helen siwak, vancouver, bc, yvr

Beyond the Wedding World

While Paradise Events has built its reputation primarily in the wedding space, Chan is deliberate about not allowing that designation to define the studio’s full range. Corporate work for luxury brands has been both a proving ground and an ongoing source of creative discipline.

“Corporate clients are always very clear about their message,” she notes. “That mindset has influenced how we approach weddings. We think more intentionally about what each moment is meant to evoke — how guests feel, what they remember, and how the experience unfolds.”

That cross-pollination between the emotional world of weddings and the precision-driven demands of corporate events has made the studio’s output stronger in both directions. And as Chan sets her sights more firmly on expanding Paradise Events’ presence in corporate and private event production, that fluency becomes a genuine strategic asset.

A Platform, a Province, a Next Chapter

This year brought a significant new development: an invitation from Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine to anchor the CELEBRATE wedding section through a dedicated showcase series titled Paradise Events Presents. For Chan, it is an opportunity that extends well beyond profile-building.

liting chan, wedding planner, corporate events, portfolioyvr, helen siwak, vancouver, bc, yvr

“With such a diverse cultural background in BC, we have couples wanting something special, but struggling to have the right vendors to bring it to life,” she says. “We wanted to send the message that they can dream, and we can make it happen.”

British Columbia, in her view, offers a stage unlike anywhere else in the country — culturally layered, visually extraordinary, and populated by couples who arrive with genuine ambition and deeply personal traditions. The province has long been an ideal setting for grand celebrations. Paradise Events Presents will document that reality in full.

As Chan reflects on a decade in the industry, she frames her current position with characteristic clarity. The recognition, the awards, the landmark events — all of it is acknowledged and then set aside in favour of something more useful: a beginner’s curiosity applied to a seasoned practitioner’s range.

“I carry everything I have learned,” she says, “but I approach the next chapter with a renewed sense of passion.”

In an industry that rewards consistency and punishes complacency, that orientation is not simply admirable. It is precisely what makes Liting Chan one to watch.

Author Profile

Helen Siwak, EIC & Publisher: Helen Siwak is the founder and publisher of Portfolio.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine, a digital-first publication dedicated to sharing the stories of British Columbia’s most dynamic entrepreneurs. Through Portfolio.YVR, she highlights innovation, creativity, and business leadership across the province, offering an authentic look into the people shaping its economic and cultural future. As the founder of EcoLuxLuv Marketing & Communications Inc. and with a background in strategic communications and digital brand development, she collaborates with small to mid-sized businesses, and global heritage houses to strengthen their storytelling and digital presence. Always focused on growth and connection, Helen continues to expand Portfolio.YVR as a platform for meaningful entrepreneurial storytelling.