Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda And Eddie Ptacnik.
Hi Linda and Eddie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Linda: My journey into the events world began with my sister’s wedding in 2008. I created all her wedding florals (her bouquet, boutonnières, every detail) and designed her bridal shower as her maid of honor. That experience was everything. Seeing her joy, the emotion, the magic of bringing her vision to life. I knew this was my calling.
I fell in love with everything about it, the design process, bringing a vision to life, and most of all, seeing how my work made people feel. That joy, that emotion, that magic of a perfectly planned celebration. I was hooked.
I launched my event planning business in 2009 during the recession, working from home and planning everything from weddings to baby showers to corporate events. The most rewarding part has always been seeing my clients light up when it all comes together.
Eddie: I was born and raised in LA this city has my heart. After graduating from UCSB and studying abroad in Italy, I came straight back to LA and started working at Ticketmaster, now Live Nation, in Hollywood. I spent 12 years there in accounting and finance, and I was fortunate to have been able to attend concerts, Laker games, and all kinds of live events. Those years showed me the power of live experiences, how events bring people together.
Later I moved to a marketing software company, then Hulu. I’ve always been drawn to that energy of people coming together to celebrate and create memories.
Linda: We met in 2013 in Hollywood I was there for a girls’ night out and Eddie was there celebrating a friend’s birthday. My friend, Kim, asked Eddie to take our group photo, and we just clicked. He told me how he study abroad in Italy, and we kept talking from that day on. Even though I grew up in Orange County, I’d always loved LA and was there every weekend. The city became such a big part of our relationship.
I was grateful to experience all those concerts and events with Eddie. We both love to travel, and I love capturing every moment. Over the years, I’ve made collages of our story, photos and memories I’ve always treasured.
Eddie: In 2018, Linda started dealing with health issues. I’ve always been passionate about health and fitness, so we tackled it together. We changed our diet, our exercise, our whole approach to wellness.
Linda: Eddie is my biggest cheerleader. We wanted to start a business together and thought about opening a venue, but we needed to focus on my health first.
Then 2020 happened. Our wedding got postponed, we eloped, and I became pregnant. Becoming parents changed everything! Our relationship grew so much stronger.
Eddie: After our firstborn, Linda went through postpartum. With our second, she had a traumatic delivery and postpartum with PTSD. Those were rough times with real obstacles.
Linda: It clarified what truly mattered. Family, health, being present, creating something meaningful together.
Eddie: Watching our kids look at our photos every day, asking questions, being so curious, that’s when everything clicked.
Linda: Seeing their faces light up reminded us that every photo is someone’s future heirloom. Once we felt ready, our toddlers inspired us to start a luxury photobooth business. We love how families engage with it, and our kids get to be part of it.
Eddie: That’s how Elate Occasions was born. I bring 15+ years of finance experience, my love of live events, and my gift for connecting with people. I handle our accounting and finances.
Linda: I bring 15+ years of event planning and design obsession. Eddie brings business precision and makes every client feel welcomed.
We built Elate Occasions on one belief: luxury is about intention. Every detail complements your story. Every experience enhances, never overshadows. After everything we’ve been through, we know what matters.
Eddie: Our photobooth experiences capture those unfiltered moments (the joy, the laughter, the emotion) and preserve them as timeless keepsakes.
We’re building something that honors our family, serves our community, and creates meaningful memories for others. From massive concerts to intimate wedding moments, it’s all led us here. We’re exactly where we’re meant to be, doing what we love, together.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Linda: The road hasn’t been smooth, yet every challenge has pushed us to grow. When we launched Elate Occasions, getting seen was one of our biggest hurdles. We’re offering luxury photobooth experiences in a market where most people think “photobooth” means props and silly backgrounds. Educating clients that this can be something elevated and timeless, that takes time and patience.
Eddie: Getting reviews has been challenging too, especially starting out. People have amazing experiences at events, but following up to ask for reviews is a delicate balance. We don’t want to be pushy, but we also know reviews are crucial for new businesses trying to build trust and credibility.
Linda: We’re competing in an industry with established players who have years of reviews and visibility behind them. As a new business, breaking through that noise and getting in front of couples planning their dream weddings or planners is an ongoing challenge. But we’re committed to showing up authentically and consistently.
Eddie: And honestly, balancing being parents to two toddlers while building a business is no joke. There are days when the kids are sick or we’re exhausted, but we have an event that weekend and everything needs to be perfect for our clients. It requires discipline and teamwork.
Linda: Here’s what I’ve learned, every challenge teaches us something valuable. My health journey taught us resilience. Postpartum taught us compassion and patience. Being new in the market is teaching us creativity, persistence, and the importance of staying true to our vision even when it’s hard.
Eddie: These challenges have made us more intentional about everything. We know firsthand how precious time and health are, so we make sure every client interaction, every event, every detail reflects that care and intention. Our experiences shaped our values, and those values show up in our work.
Linda: We’re actively building our reputation, building genuine connections, getting our name out there, and growing our base. We believe in what we’re creating. Every client who experiences Elate Occasions walks away with something truly special, and that keeps us going.
Eddie: The road hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been ours. Every obstacle has brought us closer together as partners and pushed us closer to building something that truly matters, something that honors our family and serves our community in a meaningful way.
Linda: We’re where we’re supposed to be, learning and growing with every event, every interaction, every challenge. And that’s the beautiful part of this journey.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Linda: Elate Occasions is a luxury photobooth experience company, but we’re much more than just a photobooth service. We specialize in creating elevated, timeless photo experiences that feel like a natural extension of any celebration not an afterthought.
Eddie: What sets us apart is our belief that luxury is about intention. Every detail we design complements our client’s story. Every experience enhances their celebration without overshadowing it. Every interaction reflects the care and thoughtfulness their day deserves.
Linda: We take a design-forward approach to everything we create. With my experience in event planning and multimedia design background, I obsess over every visual detail (the backdrops, the lighting, the setup), how everything integrates seamlessly into our client’s aesthetic. Each experience is thoughtfully designed to match their vision and style.
We’re incredibly proud of our two photobooth options. Our elegant vintage red oak wooden photobooth brings warmth and timeless sophistication, it’s perfect for rustic weddings, vintage-inspired celebrations, or anyone who loves that classic, rich aesthetic. Our modern open-air white photobooth offers sleek, contemporary elegance that fits beautifully into minimalist or glamorous events. Both set up seamlessly with any type of celebration, and we help clients choose which one best complements their vision.
Eddie: I bring the guest experience side. With my natural love for connecting with people, I make sure every guest feels comfortable, welcomed, and genuinely excited to participate. We’re creating an atmosphere where people relax, have fun, and capture authentic moments.
Linda: What sets us apart is that we’re a husband and wife team who understands the value of memories on a personal level. I’ve been making collages of our relationship since 2013 (photos from our travels, our adventures, our life together). Our kids look at those photos every single day, asking questions, being curious. We know firsthand that these aren’t just pictures, they’re future heirlooms.
Eddie: That perspective shapes everything we do. We treat every photo we capture with that same reverence. The quality of our prints, the elegance of our presentation, the way we preserve these moments, it’s all designed with longevity in mind. We want our clients to look at these photos in 20 years and feel the same joy they felt on their celebration day.
Linda: What I’m most proud of is that we’ve built Elate Occasions on authenticity and intention. After everything we’ve been through, we know what matters. We’re not trying to be the biggest. We’re focused on being the best at what we do and serving each client with genuine care.
Eddie: We’re also proud that our kids are part of this journey. They see us working together, creating beautiful experiences for people, being part of important celebrations. We’ve built a business that honors our family values while serving our community, and that means everything to us.
Linda: Our offerings are fully customizable. We work closely with each client to understand their vision (their colors, their aesthetic, their vibe) and we design an experience that feels uniquely theirs. From elegant minimalist setups to lush, romantic backdrops, we bring their vision to life.
Eddie: We handle everything from setup, breakdown, guest interaction, to photo delivery. Our clients don’t have to worry about a single thing.
Linda: When you choose Elate Occasions, you’re partnering with two people who genuinely care about your celebration and the memories you’re creating. We’re Linda and Eddie, and we’ll be there personally, making sure every detail is perfect and every moment is captured beautifully.
Eddie: We serve the SoCal community with gratitude. This region brought us together, and we’re honored to be part of life’s most important moments here. Whether it’s an intimate backyard gathering, a grand ballroom wedding, a corporate celebration, or a milestone event, we bring that same level of care, and intention to every single occasion.
Linda: Elate Occasions exists because we believe every celebration deserves to be preserved with beauty and intention. We’re capturing unfiltered joy, genuine laughter, pure emotion, and turning those moments into timeless keepsakes that families will treasure for generations. That’s who we are. Let’s celebrate, capture, and elate together.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Eddie: What I love most is the diversity and energy. Growing up in LA and now being based in Orange County, we get to experience the best of Southern California. The diversity of people, cultures, and celebrations is incredible. Every event feels different.
Linda: I love the creativity and community. There are so many talented vendors and couples with unique visions. The events community across SoCal is collaborative and supportive.
Eddie: There’s also the variety. We can work an elegant ballroom wedding in downtown LA one weekend, a rustic vineyard celebration in Temecula the next, and an intimate backyard gathering in Orange County after that. Southern California offers endless possibilities.
Linda: What we like least? The traffic, hands down. Getting from Orange County to LA or the Inland Empire during rush hour can be challenging, especially when we’re hauling equipment.
Eddie: We’ve learned to plan ahead and build in extra time. The traffic is the trade-off for living and working in a vibrant, diverse region. We wouldn’t trade serving this incredible SoCal community for anything.
Linda: Absolutely. Southern California brought us together, and now it’s where we get to create beautiful memories for others. We’re honored to serve this community, traffic and all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.elateoccasions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elateoccasions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575967550398&mibextid=wwXIfr
Image Credits
Andrew Cordero of Cordero Photos and Elate Occasions
