Meet The Team
At Signature Celebrations, our team is passionate about turning life’s most meaningful moments into unforgettable experiences. With creativity, attention to detail, and a commitment to excellence, we work together to bring every client’s vision to life seamlessly and beautifully.
Lori Gambrel
With more than a decade of experience in the wedding and event industry, Lori brings passion, creativity, and expertise to every celebration she plans. She began her career in hospitality and event planning through the hotel industry before stepping away for several years to focus on raising her family while supporting her husband’s military career. After returning to the Bluegrass, Lori continued pursuing her passion by working with a local planning group throughout much of the last decade.
Lori’s extensive experience allows her to guide couples through every detail of the planning process, from catering selections and floor plans to invitations, rentals, and the thoughtful touches that make each wedding feel personal and unforgettable. Based in Richmond, Kentucky, Lori is dedicated to creating seamless, meaningful celebrations wherever your vision may take you. She and her husband, Jason, have been married for 26 years and share three children together.
Founder
Melissa Sandusky
Melissa is a 4th grade teacher at Glenn Marshall Elementary in Richmond, Kentucky. Outside of the classroom, she stays busy supporting her three children in all of their extracurricular activities — and there’s nothing she enjoys more than cheering them on as they do what they love.
A key member of Signature Celebrations, Melissa brings strong organization skills and a sharp eye for detail to every event, helping ensure everything runs smoothly from start to finish. Melissa and founder Lori Gambrel are not only colleagues but also close friends and neighbors, having lived side by side for the past 14 years. Their strong friendship and shared understanding create a seamless partnership that enhances their ability to collaborate, balance ideas, and deliver exceptional experiences for every client.
Event Assistant
Event AssistantAmy Fichetola
With a heart for celebrating love and a strong eye for detail, Amy brings both experience and care to every special event she helps create. Her background in organization allows her to anticipate needs, manage moving pieces, and bring a sense of calm to even the most fast-paced moments of a celebration.
Amy and her husband, Jacob, were both born and raised in Richmond. She is a proud mom to her daughter, Ava, and a devoted dog mom to three Goldendoodles. As a National Board Certified educator in her 21st year of teaching elementary students, Amy excels at structure, adaptability, and thoughtful planning — skills that translate seamlessly into event coordination.
Event Assistant & Floral DesignerAmber Rudacille
Amber brings a vibrant energy and a natural creative talent to every event she touches. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and she has a gift for making the planning process feel exciting, uplifting, and fun for every client she works with.
Recently, Amber discovered a strong passion and skill for floral design, and she has quickly become an incredible asset in that space. Her eye for color, texture, and balance allows her to create arrangements that beautifully complement each couple’s overall vision!
Joanna Slater
Joanna is a proud mom of two boys and a baby girl, and she deeply understands the value of time, the beauty found in small details, and the importance of creating joyful memories that last a lifetime. Her approach to life and work is rooted in warmth, intention, and care for the people around her.
Her passion for events began through her background in catering and bakery ownership, where she developed a love for both large and intimate gatherings. Over the past decade, she has also worked alongside her husband designing and renovating homes and spaces, further refining her eye for creative design and thoughtful detail. With her strong logistical background, Joanna helps ensure every event runs smoothly, beautifully, and without missing a moment of the fun.
Joanna brings a calm, organized, and creative presence to Signature Celebrations, helping craft events that feel personal, intentional, and joyful.
Event Associate Coordinator
Sherrye Hill
Sherrye and her family have called Richmond, Kentucky home for the past 25 years, where she has spent much of her time raising her five children and building a life centered around family and community.
With a background in commercial interior design spanning several decades, Sherrye brings a refined eye for creating beautiful, intentional spaces.
Sherrye first met Lori through their sons’ friendship, but her connection to Signature Celebrations deepened after experiencing Lori’s planning firsthand while her daughter got married. Inspired by the process and the result, she knew she wanted to be part of creating that same joy for other brides.
Event Associate Coordinator
Graphic Designer & Content CreatorKara Michelle
Kara is a web and graphic designer based in Richmond, Kentucky and the creative behind LightBloom Designs. She has always loved making things, and that passion naturally evolved into a love for design and branding. She specializes in helping small and local businesses bring their visions to life through thoughtful design and engaging online presence.
This year, Kara is excited to partner with Signature Celebrations to offer wedding content creation and graphic design services. From capturing beautiful, candid, and share-worthy moments on a couple’s big day to designing elegant stationery and signage, she looks forward to helping make each celebration unforgettable.