BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS for a LIFE WELL LIVED
the ELLE AND JAMES CO. brand
Alyssa Estrada
FOUNDER + CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Alyssa Estrada is the founder, owner and creative director behind Elle and James Co. As a sentimentalist in every sense of the word, Alyssa is driven by a deep sense of nostalgia and a love for celebrations and tradition— whether it be a milestone moment in life, the Holidays, a summer party in the backyard, or the little day to day rituals that romanticize the little things in life, Alyssa has always held these moments close. “There’s just something about the moments where you know memories are being made”.
With a decade of experience as the visionary behind Elle and James Co., Alyssa is best known for her curated eye for design and her creative ability to weave a couples story beautifully into any event. As a (self aware) perfectionist, she prides herself on her attention to detail and intention behind each step of the planning and design process. Her clients love and appreciate her personal approach, offering a high touch client experience in an authentic and down to earth way.
Miguel Estrada
OWNER + business operations
Miguel is co-owner of Elle and James Co. and plays a major role in the foundation of the company and much of the behind the scenes operations and processes that make each event a complete success. With a background as a Chef and restaurant manager as well as Sales in the Tech industry, he handles logistics and event management with ease. He is a true provider at heart and an incredible host which is evident in his eagerness to make others feel well taken care of.
With an inherent positive outlook and boundless energy, Miguel loves the excitement of a wedding day and is always hard at work behind the scenes and in collaboration with each of our vendor teams to create an efficient and seamless experience for our couples and their guests.
THE TEAM
Because of our commitment to a select number of events each year, our couples and clients are work directly with our owner and creative director, Alyssa Estrada throughout the Planning and Design process. Of course, producing the level of events that define the Elle and James Co. brand, often requires an experienced and trusted team.
Guided and instructed by founders Alyssa and Miguel Estrada, our team brings together expertise in design, planning, and hospitality to deliver our seamless and signature approach to each event. With a commitment to precision, creativity, and sophistication, we work collaboratively to ensure every celebration is produced with the level of care and elevated standard that embodies the Elle and James Co. experience.
as seen IN
AND MORE
BEHIND THE SCENES
Partners in life and in business… how is that!?
We’re a classic “opposites attract” couple and have actually been co-workers three times since meeting in the summer of 2011 at a restaurant where Miguel was a career chef and Alyssa was a hostess home on summer break from college. We started dating and about a year later, Miguel transitioned from the restaurant industry into sales, working alongside Alyssa. With his dynamic charm and outgoing personality, he thrived. In 2020, Miguel joined Elle and James Co. full-time, and today we love blending our marriage with our work. It’s been an incredible journey so far—and we often dream together about future endeavors in the years ahead. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
What inspires you the most?
Alyssa draws much of her creative inspiration from interior design and architecture. When it comes to weddings, her inspiration is ignited by the idea of bringing guests into the couple’s world through design and by the emotion of the meaningful relationships between the couples and families she serves. To be trusted with creating such a memorable day for couples and their loved ones is always such an incredible honor.
SO. Who are Elle and James?
The name Elle and James Co. was inspired by Alyssa’s late grandfathers, Richard Elmer and Reinhart James, whose legacy shaped her childhood and her deep appreciation for family. The feminine and masculine pairing of Elle and James also honors her grandparents, Marlys and Reiny, whose love story was a perfect blueprint of devotion— long regarded by all who knew them as the golden standard of a perfect marriage. As the heartbeat of Alyssa’s childhood, their influence fostered Alyssa’s passion for traditions, holidays, and family gatherings. Some of her fondest memories include summers spent at their home on Camano Island and Christmases made magical by her jolly grandfather, who closely resembled (and occasionally dressed as) Santa Claus. These moments became the foundation of her love for celebration. Today, Alyssa carries that legacy forward, striving to create the same kind of cherished memories within her own family and sharing her gift for creating meaningful celebrations through Elle and James Co.
When you’re not planning events.. what does life look like?
Alyssa resides on the Eastside of Seattle with Miguel and their four beautiful kids. Outside of the wedding world, she is a quintessential homebody chasing an idyllic lifestyle. She loves spending time with her family and you’ll often find her wrapped in a blanket, coffee in hand and a 90’s-2000’s rom-com playing in the background. She loves planning for the holidays and future home decor and design projects, family vacations and getaways, volunteering in the kids’ classrooms, the holidays (no really- ask her about Christmas), and “putting things on the calendar”.
“I am going to make everything around me beautiful— that will be my life.”
— Elsie de Wolfe