I did not want to get a wedding planner because I know exactly what I want...and if it isn't what I…read morewant...then you know someone will get in trouble.
I am glad that my husband (then fiancée) convinced me to hire one.
We interviewed 3 planners but I knew before I met Erin that I wanted her to be my planner. Her website and portfolio embodies the type of wedding I wanted to throw and her knowledge and taste of what I needed was what I was looking for.
Erin was instrumental to making everything leading up to our wedding perfect, especially for THE Day Of. I have heard that no wedding is perfect, but despite the rocky start we had with our makeup artist (she was an hour late with no warning), our ceremony and reception WERE perfect.
Erin gave great advice, made my life easier, and went above and beyond on the day of. She and her assistants were FANTASTIC in making sure everything was perfect for the most important day of our lives (so far). We can easily see that her expertise wedding coordination and she's the best planner we have come across (have worked with other planners for friends' weddings and they were a bit disorganized the day of).
Everything was well orchestrated and when things hit a snag or we were running an hour late, she improvised and the guests didn't notice a thing. We really appreciate all of her assistance from helping me bring my vision to life with your experience, idea for something different on the invite - the wax seal, bringing in the window panes, setting up the centerpieces, placing the name cards in the sand trays to contacting the vendors when we were running late, helping us stay on time as much as possible, and being so positive the entire night. My guests noticed her as the "woman running around gathering everything" but in the background, not distracting from the wedding itself.
Her and her team worked tirelessly on the day of, and were constantly smiling and happy to be there and pull everything off. Because we were an hour late in arriving to the ceremony venue (again, makeup artist's fault) - we missed what the ceremony looked like before guests were seated and we were walking down the aisle. However, Erin was SO thoughtful, taking a photo of it before anyone got there and stepped on the runner with the petals, so that we could get a sneak peek.
We also had no idea what to expect for the decor in reception hall and were taken by surprise when we made our grand entrance. I had communicated how I wanted to alternate flower centerpieces and beach lantern centerpieces, but didn't have time to give her specifics. Erin and her staff took initiative in alternating the decor for the tables wonderfully. It was breathtaking. And I forgot to bring candles, but somehow she managed to get them and add that much more to the centerpiece look. I was really impressed by how Erin took everything in stride and didn't pepper me with small detail questions to make sure we didn't stress out.
Erin's work for the day of really brought to life what I described and so much more. I can't even begin to express how wonderful I felt when I walked into the aquarium. Her positive can-do attitude and support was really encouraging, especially when I was upset by the makeup artist's unprofessional demeanor. (see my review about her shortly)
Many of my friends commented on how calm I was a month before the big day. Having Erin as our planner was the reason why. Although I did get a bit stressed 2 days before the wedding (who wouldn't?) because there was a lot to do, it was reassuring to know that she was available and offering to help with anything left over after the rehearsal. However, I would recommend all brides to lean on their friends during this time as they are willing to help.
Her recommendation for the florist was spot on. She did a beautiful job. I was stunned by the beauty of the arbor, the gold orchids that popped and her attention to detail. She was so accommodating in every meeting and email exchange we had with her, and delivered gorgeous bouquets, boutonniere, and corsages beyond my expectations. Most importantly, she made the last minute addition of having aisle flowers unique.
I am definitely recommending that my friends use a planner, and if they do, they should no doubt work with Erin. I don't give compliments without meaning it, and my friends know that when I give endorsements or recommendations, I am strongly convicted in my opinions. I firmly believe in her abilities to pull off ANY wedding, no matter how complex, or how demanding the bride may get. I also believe that she always want what's best for the couple and is truly passionate about her work. Erin continued to amaze me, helping us find the right decor for our big day to making everything perfect for when we showed up. We had the most amazing wedding we have both been to and a lot of our guests also told us the same. It would not have been possible without Erin and her team!