LaShanna Douglas      
Entrepreneur of Elegant Party Creations

As the child and grandchild of natural born cooks and entertainers it is only befitting that LaShanna affectionately known as “Shanna” would grow up and love to entertain also. This passion has been ever burning since she watched her grandfather Elijah K. Evans cook for large parties of people.

As the top army chef, Elijah cooked for the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. As Shanna watched her grandfather in awe making large Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners she knew that she wanted to create an environment that drew people to her in the same way that her grandfathers cinnamon swirl called the family. At the age of six with the cinnamon swirl mastered, Shanna decided that she didn’t want to be a nurse or a school teacher, jobs often occupied by women, but a chef.


LaShanna was not the only person bitten by the culinary bug; her mom had been bitten when she was growing up as well. Because Shanna and her mother shared the same passion, she accompanied her mother to the Wilton Cake Decorating Classes. LaShanna began helping her mother with setup, breakdown and organizing parties. Her mother Gloria was very excited because her daughter was learning at such a tender age and would be able to practice her craft for years.


In 2002, LaShanna began classes at the Illinois Institute of Art to receive a degree in culinary arts. The classes would play an essential role in enhancing her knowledge that she already possessed for party and event planning specifically menu selections.


In 2003, while she was yearning for an event to plan, Shanna turned the lot adjacent to her mother’s home into a cemetery and grave yard. She created an environment that was so real like that people stopped in the middle of the street in awe of the sight.

With a culinary background and a family history of party planning, Shanna has learned that some of life’s simplest details often go overlooked and that is where she comes in. She handles all of the details for you through her organization Elegant Party Creations. Her company motto is “be a guest at your own party”.