We worked with Catrina for two Indian weddings in the Yuba City area! Upon contacting us, she was consistent in her emails and responses, knew what she needed in terms of Indian Decorations and was overall a joy to work with! Our company provided an Indian Inspired Backdrop in a large tent for the Sangeet night and also to be kept up for the entire wedding week - Moroccan seating, a vintage Indian bench, pillows, cushions, jagos and other Indian Inspired items completed the event look! We loved the concepts Catrina came up with for each event and look forward to working with her in the future! read more

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Catriona is literally as good as they come. She made herself available to my wife at all times thorugh out the process, and came through in a pinch, again, and again! My now wife and I had some particular challenges when the original facility we booked for our wedding went bankrupt three months prior to our wedding. Cat was able to not only help us find an even better venue and caterer in the same area, but was able to make the event a truly amazing! To top all of this, she helped keep the budget down with all of our vendors. Without her, our big day would not have come together like it did. In summary, Arcularius Events was the most worthwhile investment we made toward our wedding. read more

If you're like most people, purchasing a house is likely your largest personal investment. But you're not buying just a "house," and it's by no means just an "investment." You're buying a "home," the place where you rest and relax away from the wild world, raise your family and build the rich tapestry that is your life. At the same time, you're putting your financial reputation on the line with an enormous personal loan that holds potently dire consequences. Ryan Rivera, a veteran Mortgage Planner with 12+ years in the business of helping aspiring homeowners realize their dreams, understands the mix of elation and trepidation inherent with taking the gigantic leap of buying a home. Ryan's helped shepherd countless buyers through the home loan process, from start to finish, giving them the opportunity to grab their slice of the American Dream. Originally founding his own mortgage brokerage in his home town of Auburn more than a decade ago, Ryan built his business one deal at a time with careful attention to detail, transparent communication and a client-first mentality, developing a reputation as trusted financial resource and caring member of the community he continues to serve. A fact echoed by Ryan's exclusive source of new business: Referral from area Realtors, financial planners, a myriad of local business owners and a whole lot of satisfied home buyers. And that's incredibly important to Ryan, a hometown boy who, with his wonderful wife Kim, has chosen raise his two daughters in the place he's always called home. read more

Catrina is by far the best party planner we have ever worked with. She put together my brother's birthday party and she did an exquisite job! We couldn't be happier! From start to finish Catrina was professional, kind, available for conversations, really listened to what we wanted, flexible, sent us friendly reminders and to top it off she was so much fun to work with! She put together a wonderful vendor team that truly elevated the party and matched the overall demeanor/vibe of it. We told her a rough vision of what we had in our head and she not only brought it to life but also elevated it. Everyone's jaws dropped when they walked into the party! She set everything up BEAUTIFULLY and we had a BLAST! We never once worried about a thing because she had everything covered. This was the best birthday party my brother ever had, a truly memorable one and it's all because of Catrina. We're so looking forward to working with her again! read more

Catriona Arcularius is an amazing wedding planner. She helped us with the pre-wedding planning as well as the day-of coordination. She also referred us to wonderful vendors who went above and beyond for us. I think the money we saved (or the extra services that were thrown in) made working with Catriona even more amazing. Many people thought we spent thousands of dollars more on our wedding than we actually did because of Catriona's creativity and imagination. On the day of our wedding we were both relaxed. It looked AMAZING and people can't stop telling us how special/beautiful/fun our wedding was. If you are looking for a stress-free and totally YOU wedding, Catriona is the person to call. She was there during little last-minute crises and was a true joy to work with. read more

We used Catrina as a partial planner- a lot of positives, just a few negatives PROS: - very enthusiastic and up for challenges! - flexible with timings/schedules - great at putting out "day of" mistakes/problems - VERY prepared - has great ideas- and will help you edit/develop your ideas as well - great attitude- makes a HUGE difference the day of, when every is stressed CONS: - difficult to locate a few times during wedding day- especially needed something in middle of ceremony and could not find her- pretty important for wedding planner to be accessible to bride during more important parts of wedding day - Out of all the vendors (photo, video, caterer, florist, DJ, makeup/hair)- we only went with two of her recommendations- and those were the two we were the unhappiest with- in terms of price/product - Did not stick to out budget- need to be very adamant about this- made a few comments alluding to our professions/what we "could" afford- need to be very clear about what you "want" to spend Overall- Catrina and her team were great and an indispensable part of our day/planning- most of the cons could probably be avoided with a lot of clear communication. Would definitely recommend her! read more

There are some people that have the luxury of figuring out what their passion is in life: Catrina and her team are prime examples of those folks. When my Fiance and I first got engaged, I shopped around for wedding planners and interviewed three different ones. There was something about Catrina that made me feel like not only did she know the wedding industry inside and out but she LOVED making couples' dreams come true. She was easy to talk to, never spoke negatively about any other competing coordinators, and made me feel so at ease about this whole daunting wedding planning process. I knew instantly that I wanted to hire her... like when I knew instantly that I found my perfect wedding dress... it was that same feeling! We chose to do the 'month of' package. Catrina took so much time and care into making sure she knew what our vision was for our wedding and to be honest... there was so much I wasn't sure of and she gave me a lot of wonderful ideas. Throughout the process Catrina was available to chat about the small things and the big things.. from asking her for cake baker recommendations to getting advice on the length of time for our photographers to stay, to calling her to help me deal major and minor situations. Whatever came up, I'd give her a ring. She'd always be ready to help in any way and as the wedding got closer, I would call about a lot of last minute changes. No matter what, she always made me feel like I was her only and most important client. I also had the privilege of also working with Nicole from CMD. She accompanied me to my final dress fitting to learn all my bustles... all 17 points!!! She was also my go-to girl the entire day of the wedding. She was there to help with whatever I needed and I was so glad she was. My BMs were all starving by the time we got done taking pictures, I told her and she went to grab snacks for them! She was my runner since I couldn't really go anywhere. She was awesome and just so sweet! On the day of our wedding rehearsal, we arrived to find that my venue had double booked. Right outside of our reception was a beautiful vast grassy area that was COVERED with pop up tents because my venue thought that it would be non-obtrusive to have a Native American Pow-Wow from 6pm to midnight. Awesome, right?! I was really disappointed because a lot of my photos now would remain indoors. I won't lie, I had to excuse myself to cry alone and try to get over it. Not to worry, Catrina flew to action and tried everything in her power to try to relocate the Pow-Wow... then when that was not an option, she had them drape 150 yards of curtain to block out the other event. They ended up not being able to keep the curtains up due to the wind but she managed to change the whole flow of the entrance so that our guests would not see the LOUD and very obtrusive Pow-Wow going on simultaneously. I didn't have to worry about a thing while all that last minute change and planning occurred. I just went to the rehearsal, then to dinner, then had a restful night's sleep knowing that I was in great hands. Catrina had my back. Wedding Day: The ceremony was BEAUTIFUL!!!! The reception was AMAZING! The way Catrina changed the layout made it seem like we were the only party at the venue! She added the most amazing touches and made it so 'us', it was as if the CMD team had jumped into my brain and took exactly what I wanted and made it a reality. I really could go on and on about Catrina and her team but I have written a lot already... just know that she was the best money we spent.. best part was, that after the wedding was over, my new Hubby and I were able to go to the after-party with all our friends and not have to worry about cleaning up and packing up! I didn't find this out until later but she had been in constant communication with my Maids of Honor and was at their service as well! She and her team are beyond amazing. You will not be disappointed!!! read more

If you are considering hiring a planner or coordinator, do it, and make sure you hire Catrina! Catrina was my "month of" coordinator for my wedding this August and she was a joy to work with. I planned most of my wedding with a lot of diy details and I'm not sure what I would have done without her the day of. She did an amazing job of going over the little details with me before the wedding to make sure I had everything she needed to make the day run smoothly, which it did. A few of our guests even commented on how seamlessly the day was and one of my bridesmaids is seriously considering hiring Catrina for her ability to manage people in stressful situations. Her advice and some of her decorations were crucial to creating the beautiful day we had been trying to achieve. My husband and I were able to enjoy our wedding knowing Catrina and her staff had everything covered. A couple special things that Catrina did that make me super happy to have worked with her is that she helped me book a photo booth last minute, which ended up being one of the highlights of the evening, and she also helped me finalize payment/tip matters that my frazzled bride brain couldn't handle. If I could go back and change anything, I would hire her as a planner instead of just a coordinator, because she is that good at her job. read more

Catrina did an outstanding job in helping me to create a wonderful 50th birthday celebration for my husband. I wanted to utilize our backyard, but wanted it to be special -and not our usual backyard party. She was able to take my initial vision and transform it into a beautiful event! Everyone was blown away and in awe. So many people mentioned that it looked like our home was a resort! While creating the event design and floor plan, she was always sensitive to my budget. She guided me thru all the details and even created custom pieces herself that would work within the limitations of an outdoor event. She was so easy to work with and responsive -- it felt like I was working with a longtime friend! Thanks Catrina - I look forward to working with you again soon! read more

It was magical! Everyone had a wonderful time. Catrina Maria Designs helped make this all come together. We're still getting rave reviews about how beautiful and fun our special day was. Catrina was incredible. Just to mention a few things that we noticed and truly apprecialted--- Very personable and professional with all throughout the process. Good listener with creative suggestion. Always accessible, organize and prompt with responses to requests and concerns. Great vendor referrals. Did a super job with rehearsal. Wedding Day- Catrina and her assistant gave 110%. Beautifully staged photo props, quest book area and all the little last minute details. Very attentive to needs of Bridal Party and guests Time line was impeccable. All worked smoothly and flowed amazing well. Catrina was great and worked her magic. We are so pleased with how beautiful the wedding was and most definitely recommend Catrina Maria Designs. read more

When I started my wedding planning I thought I would be able to do everything myself, but about 2 months before the wedding, I realized I was in over my head. A friend had recommended Catrina Maria Designs and I am so happy I called Catrina! Catrina Maria Designs is absolutely amazing. I was married in November and we hired Catrina for the "month of planning" service. My husband and I both say it was the best money we spent on our entire wedding. Catrina was very professional, organized and creative. I had an idea of what I wanted for the reception, and Catrina turned it into a dream come true! When I walked into my reception venue (the Old Sugar Mill) I almost cried. It was more beautiful than I ever imagined it could be. Catrina also helped organize our church ceremony and made sure everything went smoothly. We hired transportation for our guests from the church to the reception and Catrina made sure that everyone knew where to go and what to do...not easy with a 200 plus guest count. Catrina has great suggestions and I literally dont know what we would have done without her. Needless to say, I highly recommend Catrina Maria Designs, you will be so happy you called them. read more

Well, I can't say enough about Catrina and her team- she made my dream wedding come to life! I will always be grateful! We recently got hitched and Catrina was with us every step of the way- I booked her very early on into the planning process and I got in between the mid and full package but in the end I think it was more like the full package..... Let me start from the beginning: - When we first met Catrina, we immediately felt at ease. She was not pushy or salesman like- she seemed like she really enjoyed what she did and was good at it. I instantly felt a connection with her and knew she would be a perfect fit for us! I met with several wedding coordinators and she gave the impression of being just a nice person overall but also someone who really cares about her profession, cares about you and your wedding and will do everything she can to make your dreams come to life. - Throughout the entire wedding process, she was so professional but also very easy to talk to and connect with. It was never a problem getting a hold of her. She kept me on task and let me know about things that were not even on my radar and made a big difference in the planning of the event. When deciding on themes and colors and special touches, she was right there with me and I could see the cogs turning in her head as much as they were in mine. - She recommended the absolute best vendors to us- she could almost tell who we were going to pick, she's that good. We are so happy with everyone involved in the wedding and it's because of her that we found them! - I had alot of elements in my wedding that are non-traditional, some Indian themed things and just some other touches and Catrina never told me "we can't do that". She always presented the pros and cons and managed to get all of my crazy ideas into place on the day! - She made several on site visits without me, conferred with the other vendors frequently, got me several discounts on large purchases and had several ideas that I used in the wedding that really added to the atmosphere and made the day perfect. - She made several suggestions that really helped to enhance the wedding and the day. She has a creative spirit and is so knowledgeable about the etiquette and "rules" so she was my go-to on any such questions. - On the day of the wedding, even though she was running around getting things done, anytime I needed something she was all smiles, not stressed and fully capable of providing whatever I needed. She was a real calming influence. I couldn't believe my eyes with how her and her team and our other vendors transformed the wedding venue. There were minor emergencies that don't even seem like emergencies because they were handled so fast by Catrina and her team. - Bonus, I noticed after the wedding that I had forgotten to pay my String Quartet, and instead of bothering me with this on the day of, she took care of it and billed me later- which was such a huge help because I have been a bridesmaid in other weddings where this was not the case and the bride and groom were tied up with paying vendors during and after the wedding- which is the last thing you would want to be doing at that time. All in all, I had the absolute perfect wedding and I couldn't have done it without Catrina. People are still coming up to me and remarking that it was the best, most organized wedding they have been to. She really loves what she does, has a very organized mind and is a pleasure to work with. I was sad when the wedding was over since I won't get to see her anymore but that is the only downside. I would recommend her to anybody, when my sister gets married, we will be calling her again and if we renew our vows, we will definitely be calling her then too! Honestly, I could go on and on but I'll just end with the fact that I think she is the best of the best and deserves an award! read more

Always fun to work with, organized, smiling and willing to make anyone's day a success. You rock Cat! :)

This review is looooong overdue - my husband and I just celebrated out 1 year wedding anniversary! We used Catrina as a full-service planner and I can't imagine what it would have been like without her by our side. She helped us with design and set up vendor meetings (got both done in one weekend!), listened to our priorities and ideas (even reviewed my Pinterest board), kept us on task and on budget, and reassured us that everything would be ok. She put together a great day-of schedule that kept everything flowing at a good pace, and was all-around on top of things during the wedding weekend. Case in point: the Thursday before our Saturday rehearsal BBQ for 150 people, we checked out the space (backyard of a vacation property in Tahoe), and realized that it would be too dark and too cold for our 7 pm BBQ. In a panic, we called Cat at 8:30 pm on Thursday, and, presto, extra candles and outdoor space heaters were added to the party equipment rental truck set to deliver on Friday morning. Total lifesaver - kept our guests from eating in the cold/dark. On the wedding day itself, having Catrina meant that we could focus on our guests and the party, which is priceless. I definitely recommend her! read more

Catrina and her staff, Nicole and Katie, from Catrina Maria Designs were absolutely wonderful to work with and made our wedding day perfect. I met with Catrina just after I got engaged and instantly knew she would be the perfect fit for my fiance and me. She is easy going, has a great sense of humor and is always professional. We booked Catrina for the full planning package and worked closely with her for seven months as we planned our wedding. She was particularly helpful for someone like me who felt overwhelmed by the thousands of vendor and style choices and provided great recommendations for DJs, florists, and bakeries and helped whittle down decision making into easy to manage projects. She was key with keeping us mindful of our budget, and kept us going through each and every minute task. Nicole, one of her staff, came to all of my dress fitting appointments and was incredibly helpful with style and fit recommendations, as well as suggestions for alterations (ie what was necessary and what wasn't). I knew that I could pick up the phone at anytime and she and her staff would quickly address any and all of our inquiries -- they made me feel like I was their only client, although I know they were busily planning multiple other weddings at the same time they were planning ours. Catrina Maria Designs always went the extra mile and even provided planning assistance to my parents and my in-laws to make everything run smoothly. Although I'm biased, I thought our wedding day was perfect. It was such a relief on the actual day that things just happened and my now husband and I just got to concentrate on each other and our guests. I'm sure plenty happened behind the scenes to make it all happen, but I wasn't aware of any of it. I highly, highly recommend Catrina Maria Designs. read more

I can honestly say that when I look back at my wedding day, it was truly perfect and I have to give Catriona Arcularius 99% of the credit (I had a little something to do with it!) From our first emails to phone chats and in-person meetups, Catriona was nothing but a joy to work with. She helped me take all of the ideas I'd had swimming in my head and make them a reality. She listened to what I wanted and was always conscious of my budget and tastes and helped me create a simple, yet beautiful and personalized wedding. Her extensive wedding planning and design experience helped to make all the details of our wedding unique, always beautiful, and most importantly, representative of who were are as a couple. I loved working with Catriona and am actually sad that it's all over. The wedding planning process was almost as fun as the wedding day itself! If I'm ever in need of an event planner again, I will most certainly be calling Catriona again ! read more