Hiring Lauren as our wedding coordinator was the best decision we made during the whole planning…read moreprocess! She was extremely communicative, helpful, honest, and proactive - and helped make our vision a reality. We planned our whole wedding, but also work several jobs and live out of state. So at times, it was challenging to stick to our timeline and keep track of all the moving pieces. Here are the qualities we experienced with Lauren, and I'm confident you'd get the same: PROACTIVE: We shared our planning document with Lauren early on, and she was so great about jumping in and providing recommendations, asking questions we hadn't thought of, and reminding us to do things before it was too late. We had a list of "items we need" and Lauren went so far as to lend us some things she had, search Craigslist/Offer Up/ Etsy to make suggestions, and even went out of her way to pick up some decor for us from a vendor in CA since we were out of state. HELPFUL: Lauren helped us navigate how to get our marriage license and sent us a very detailed email with all the specifics. These little things REALLY add up when you're running 100 miles per hour with your job, planning, family stuff, etc. COMMUNICATIVE: Lauren took the initiative to reach out to all of our other vendors to check in with them, answer questions, provide information and make sure they had what they needed. Towards the end, she also took over communication with our venue on our behalf, which was a weight off my shoulders because they kept forgetting things I had told them! It was nice to have her as the middle-woman. By the time we actually got to the wedding, Lauren was so familiar with our vision and plan that everything was flawless!! ACTION-ORIENTED: I had intended to be much more involved on the day with helping get set up - but I didn't get a single thing done on my to-do list because everyone was talking to us / asking how to help / etc etc - it was so overwhelming but I knew that I could comfortably go upstairs to get ready with the girls and Lauren would have it handled. By the time we walked out for the ceremony, everything was STUNNING. Lauren helped set up the table decor, all the signage, the florals, etc. I had so many family and guests say what a hard worker her and her husband (who showed up to give an extra set of hands) are. I have to admit, I really had to convince my husband (and other family members involved in the wedding) that we even needed a coordinator and to make space for it in the budget. Given that we were planning it all and had so much help, it was difficult to convince some people. We were hesitant at first since every other vendor was a friend or acquaintance and we weren't sure we needed a coordinator. And for all the people who were skeptical about hiring a coordinator, they all understood what a necessary role they plays when they saw Lauren and her husband in action. For anyone in a similar situation: DON'T SKIP OUT ON IT. Having someone that is not directly involved with your guests is essential in getting stuff done. From the planning to having someone give a non-biased perspective, to all the help setting up, breaking down, and making sure guests knew where to go and what to do - the day wouldn't have been the same without Fancy Fern Events. She will allow you to sit back and enjoy your special day with all our closest friends and family, without worrying about a thing! I feel like I've known Lauren for a long time and have developed a friendship I am sure will last far beyond this day. The cherry on the cake was her thoughtfulness after all the festivities - a personal note and gift, and helping us to sell all the items from our wedding. Thank you, Lauren and Fancy Fern Events for going above and beyond to make our wedding magical!

Formal Impressions is amazing. Gail is the best. We learned about Gail from a friend who worked…read morein catering at the hotel where we had our wedding. We asked for a recommendation and we were told 'I am going to give you the best. She is the best because she always looks out for her clients, even if it makes things difficult for me." She asks great questions to understand what we want. She helps broker understanding when we did not agree with one another. She helps navigate the complexities of family dynamics when planning a wedding. She is the best there is.

I have been using Formal Impressions for invitations & party planning for over 20 years. The…read moreselection of invitations---party, wedding, bar/bat mitzvah, etc.---are the best! From unique one-of-a-kind invites to simple elegance to fun creations, there is something to fit any budget and any event. The owner comes with over 30 yrs. experience & does it all for you. Our parties were always a hit because of Formal Impressions! I highly recommend Formal Impressions for ALL your event needs!

When my husband and I decided to get married, we went back and forth on whether we would need a…read morewedding planner. I am a type-A, project manager so we felt I could handle the whole thing. However, considering I run projects as my day job, we thought it would take a stress off my shoulders to hire someone to help us. We eventually decided on a 'day of' planner. We researched and asked around, and we ended up with a multitude of options. We requested for quotes and had phone interviews with the planners that were available for our day, but they were either too expensive or just not what we were looking for. Then Jessica, who was originally the planner for the venue we booked, let us know she was moving on to a different job at which point we had a light bulb idea. Jessica had been so great to work with as we were booking the venue. She was organized, responsive, and personable. So we approached her with the idea of being our 'day of' planner. She was professional; she made sure the venue was ok with this idea before committing to us, and she sent us her resume work alongside her website and rates to make sure we were comfortable moving forward with her. I am BEYOND happy with our decision. Jessica helped guide us through any pre-wedding dates and information to ensure our wedding day would go smoothly. When the day came, she took full control, and we were able to truly enjoy our day without any stress! As a planning professional, I can truly vouch how great Jessica is as a planner and would recommend her in a heartbeat! If I could give her more stars I would :)

Jessica is the best party planner I have ever hired. She really pays attention to the idea and…read morefeelings that you want your event to project. She thinks outside of the box and comes up with unique caterers and completely fabulous venues. For example , at our Halloween party , we had a wall of donuts for dessert!!! Jessica cares about your guests' experience as much as the host does. I think she was every bit as excited as I was for the party. My friends are still talking about the party, almost four months later and I can honestly say that it was not just the best party I have ever thrown, I also felt like I got to be a guest at my own event. Kim B.

I just love Alyssa. I found her on yelp and needed a coordinator for the "day of." She went above…read moreand beyond what I asked her to do and she worked with my budget too. She's organized and sweet as can be! I tell other brides the best decision I made was to hire Alyssa. I'm one of those brides who thought I could do everything by myself, and trust me, I did a great job! But it helps tremendously to have someone like Alyssa help you along the way. If I could go back and do it all over again, I would have hired Alyssa from the beginning to be a full-on coordinator instead of for just the day-of.

Alyssa was so amazing as our wedding coordinator. I don't know what Mark and I would have done…read morewithout her . She was very organized and had lots of ideas. Really interested in our style and wanted to understand our vision. Alyssa really went beyond our expectations. From the detail with her chalkboard art , to each detail for the ceremony , the decorations , the table arrangements , the schedule for all the events of night . Everything went amazingly smooth. We had full trust in her. Mark and I were able to enjoy the day with our friends and family without any issues. Thank you Alyssa !!!! I would most definitely recommend her!!!

The best decision I made when planning my wedding was hiring Ryan for full coordination. Ryan gave…read moremy husband and me the wedding of our dreams, on a short timeframe and exactly on budget. We live in Boston, MA and were getting married at the Serra Retreat in Malibu, CA; we had also decided on a date that was only 6 months away. Both my mother and myself work full-time with long hours. Ryan made planning a wedding in 6 months from across the country possible. More than that, however, she made the planning process stress-free and enjoyable. Ryan is a calm and creative professional. The vendors she suggested exceeded our expectations and the budget she put together was accurate and reasonable. We are also a religious couple and Ryan was respectful of the sacred tone that we wanted to set for the ceremony. Throughout the process she responded to the vision I had for my wedding, and used her own expertise to make that vision a reality. I wanted an elegant but simple reception that would complement the Spanish courtyard and natural beauty of the Serra Retreat. Ryan put together a design that created an informal garden feel without being rustic, and was full of personal touches without being fussy. The final event was more fun and beautiful than I had dreamed. Having Ryan in charge on the day-of meant that my bridesmaids, myself, and my mother could enjoy ourselves and be in the moment. (She even handled the uninvited +1 that one of our guests brought without me knowing anything was wrong). Four months after our wedding, our friends are still talking about how it was the best wedding they've been to.

Having probably researched 20+ coordinating companies and spoken with half as many, I knew I wanted…read moreRyan as my coordinator the minute I got off the phone with her. Her energy and knowledge about the industry came through clearly on the phone and for someone planning the event from the east coast, I just appreciated her friendly, but honest attitude and genuine advice. Moreover, it was really important to us to have someone we could communicate with through a variety of formats and Ryan's quick response time and comfort around technology really sealed the deal for us. Even though we only contracted Ryan for the day of our event, she went above and beyond our expectations. Being the one of the first from our circle of friends to get married we had few to turn to for advice and expectations. We peppered Ryan with questions through out the planning process (sorry Ryan!) but she really helped guide us to through the journey. The day of the actual wedding was filled with what I presumed a lot of logistics, set up and directing. I presume because all I saw were the finished work. As the event stretched through out the night, toasts magically occurred, food courses automatically changed, and the guests danced the night away. Looking back, if there was one thing I did right, it was booking Ryan as my day of coordinator.

I would not know what I would have done if I did not hire Becca. My coworker used Becca for her…read morewedding and raved about her. After a few meetings, it was easy to see why. For the first two months of our engagement, I attempted to do the planning all by myself. Given that I had a tight budget but a large (250-ish) guest list, I easily got overwhelmed. All of that went away with just one phone call with Becca. Within a few months, we broke down the budget, booked a venue, and interviewed photographers/videographers. Becca handled all the calls, scheduling, and negotiating. It was absolutely wonderful! She just kept things moving that I never felt stressed during the planning the process. People kept telling me to make sure I don't forget the little things. I never really worried about missing anything, however, because Becca would send me checklists to keep me on top of everything. My (now) husband and I eventually put full trust in Becca's recommendations, specifically for the videographer, desserts, and photo booth. We were so glad we did! Our guests kept giving us compliments for all three. Becca also helped out with some of our decorations, which turned out beautiful! I'll be sure to post pictures once I get them. I highly recommend to anyone! She does a lot for you and definitely pays for herself with how much time and money she'll save you.

We hired Becca to help us with a 50th party. We weren't sure which way to go but through much…read morecommunication, Becca pulled it all together and threw a MOST amazing party for my friend! I can't believe the attention to detail. She left no stone unturned and everyone had an amazing time!!!! The whole event was perfectly themed and it all came together seamlessly! Best 50th party EVER!!!! Thank you Becca, for your time and attention to detail! You went above and beyond and we will be talking about this party for years to come!!!! Seriously wonderful experience!!!

I do not even know where to begin. Christie is the most organized, calm, kind and understanding…read moreperson. My daughter's wedding was postponed 8 days before event in 3/2020 due to pandemic. It was a rescheduling nightmare, but Christie in 1 day was able to reschedule everyone from the venue in Malibu to the DJ, florist, vendors , photographer, videographer, live band. Then the 2nd postponement came and went and she did it Again!!! And finally 2 days ago, the most beautiful wedding happened at Calamigos Ranch. She was able to calm my daughter with her experience and finesse. She took charge and her professionalism made literally every person she encountered understand what was needed to be done. Thank you Christie. This wedding would never have been so smooth if it had not been for YOU.

Christie is the best wedding planner around. She planned our wedding in September of last year and…read morewe truly had the best day I could have ever imagined. We gave her plenty of curve balls and sent probably a million emails in the span of the 13 months that we planned together and she handled everything with grace and positivity. Planning a backyard wedding is not easy and she did it twice - once with us and once with my sister in law. Pictures posted above of her beautiful work from our big day. I have recommended Christie to all of my friends since using her last year and all of them have been equally as pleased. If you are looking for the day of your dreams, look no further than Christie Rose events! Do yourself a favor and call her now before she books up.

Only rating this beyond a one star because they arrived on time day of the event. Beyond that…read morethough, this service was not worth the cost. We hired a coordinator because we needed someone to be at our event and make sure everything went smoothly. Saima left before the event even started and said she booked another event the same time. This was very disappointing as she promised before booking that she would be there the entire time. She also promised someone would be there to help set up the rental music equipment as well but since no one was there to explain how to set it up the music portion of the event didn't go great. Also, the quality of the decorations weren't worth the premium. She is a nice person as a human being but as a planning service this was unprofessional and not worth booking.

Saima did an amazing job for my daughter's wedding recently. She is a highly competent wedding…read moreplanner, in addition to being a genuinely good human being. She created an absolutely lovely stage, which was elegant and beautiful. We had multiple meetings with her before the event, and she had great inputs, and took good note of the details that were important to us. She offered excellent advice on what to do and not to do and her advice was very intelligent. We had a mix of old and new traditions at the wedding and she balanced the two very thoughtfully. Overall she is a person who combines professionalism and cultural sensibilities and we are very happy to have worked with her. I enthusiastically recommend Saima to anyone who is planning a wedding.