I was planning my small wedding without a wedding planner since we were paying for everything out…read moreof our own pockets and wanted to find a one-stop-shop for music and pictures, and was happy when I got in touch with Mike. Initially, he was personable and thorough and made us feel good about working with him. He worked with our budget and created a custom package that was not offered on the website. I thought, "wow, how nice!" but was quickly led down a road of non-communication, ignored emails, ignored texts, and a dismissive attitude.
Mike was very responsive and helpful when we first inquired about his services. He answered all our questions thoroughly and even created a custom bundle deal that sounded perfect for our needs. However, after we paid the non-refundable deposit, communication became difficult. He backtracked on a few things he had previously assured us would be no problem. Ultimately, he did follow through on what was promised, but only after I had to remind him using screenshots of our earlier conversations.
One of the more frustrating aspects was trying to get him to send proof of insurance directly to our venue coordinator. I reached out multiple times via email and text, but didn't receive a response until he contacted me about the remaining balance. I explained that I couldn't pay until the coordinator received the documents directly from him, as requested. He initially texted them to me instead, and when I reiterated the need for direct email delivery, he claimed my emails had gone to his spam folder. Ironically, he sent me a screenshot showing the email in his inbox, not spam.
Six days before the wedding, I reached out to confirm some final details. When I didn't hear back, I followed up the next day and expressed my frustration. His response was that I was creating the issue, which felt dismissive. He then called to clarify, saying that things can get misinterpreted over text -- which may be true, but it also highlighted why he prefers phone calls, where there's no written record.
Planning a wedding is incredibly personal and emotional, and vendors play a huge role in how smoothly things go. Leading up to the big day, I felt uneasy and unsure about Mike's reliability. I actually wrote this part of the review before the wedding itself, because I wanted to capture my honest experience without being influenced by how things might turn out. I'm hopeful everything goes beautifully, but I felt it was important to document the journey as it happened.
As for the actual day:
Mike was great. He played all the music we loved. The photobooth was great, although the operator of it didn't seem to have a clue. The person setting up the photobooth was late, and actually got into a road rage incident with my husband, little did he know at the time.
Bottom line: I would recommend Mike for your event. Just make sure you get everything in writing to eliminate any confusion for either of you.
