Kristen is an absolute ROCKSTAR! Over the course of planning our wedding (which took the better…read morepart of 3 years thanks to Covid) she has become more than just a wedding planner to me, but someone I truly call a friend. She is the sweetest and most caring person and I found myself being able to talk to her about things beyond wedding details. Not to mention, she is absolutely spectacular at what she does. We hired Kristen for Design Planning and Month/Day-of-Coordination for our wedding at Solage in Calistoga. We wanted someone who was not only familiar with our venue but easygoing and fun to work with. Kristen was perfect! She worked with me on design (tablescape, floral, etc.) and helped make our vision come true while always being mindful of what we were comfortable with. When Covid struck, Kristen was a godsend and was there for us with support and guidance. She navigated us through two postponements and each time handled all of the logistics and worked with our entire vendor team to secure new dates and negotiate amended contracts. We didn't have to lift a single finger during that stressful period besides signing paperwork as Kristen did everything for us to ensure a smooth postponement process. As a planner, Kristen has a special way of making you feel like you are her only and most special client. She is incredibly responsive with emails and every interaction I had with her was just so thoughtful. She never once made me feel silly for reaching out even with the smallest of questions. She is creative, detail-oriented and thoughtful. In the weeks leading up to the wedding, she helped me stay organized and executed changes effortlessly. When I was stressed dealing with last minute transportation logistics, she took it upon herself to take over the task and thanks to her many contacts in Napa Valley was able to secure the right post-wedding transportation for our guests. Ironically, when I was first researching Day-of-Coordinators, I recall reading a review from one of Kristen's brides that mentioned Kristen was amazing during times of crisis and helped her wedding go smoothly despite raging wildfires that day. I remember thinking to myself if, god forbid, our wedding was threatened by NorCal wildfires (which at the time was the most realistic scary thing that could happen), I would definitely want a planner capable of handling a nightmare scenario. Low and behold, Kristen didn't just "handle" our pandemic wedding planning, she crushed it. Our June 2022 Solage wedding turned out absolutely beautiful! The day flowed seemlessly and Kristen and her assistant Sonja were so organized and helpful, I never had to lift a finger. Most importantly, both were just all-around delightful to work with. I remember Sonja helping me stay calm right before I walked down the aisle because I was starting to feel so overwhelmed with joy I nearly bursted into tears. When my husband's shoes were starting to give him trouble, Kristen literally helped bandage him up! We've also had so many family members and other vendors tell us just how wonderful Kristen was to work with that day. I am almost saddened to write this review because not only does it mean my wedding is over, but also because my time working with Kristen has come to an end. If you don't read any of what I wrote above, just read this - hiring Kristen was by far the best decision we made for our wedding. From day 1 we were in good hands and while they say no one cares more about your wedding than you do, that cannot be said about Kristen. She cares as much about your special day as you do.

I must admit, I'm a little embarrassed to be writing this review so late! We hired Kristen for our…read more2019 wedding at Viansa Sonoma Winery. Based on our needs, we went with a day/month-of planning package with event design. While we were only contracted for 3 scheduled meetings together, working with Kristen meant having a trusted professional to bounce ideas off of over email or phone, with basically any and all questions about vendors, timing, rehearsal dinner ideas, etc etc. After having attended a few weddings after our own and seeing some of the behind-the-scenes, what we feel makes Kristen a fantastic wedding coordinator/planner for us was that she not only has a good eye for design and incorporating a couple's individual style into a wedding vision, but she is also incredibly organized, responsive, detail-oriented, trustworthy, thoughtful, and personable - everything that you want in someone who will be working with you to plan one of the most important days of your life! Before planning our wedding, I would have definitely considered myself a bit of a neurotic perfectionist; probably not a wedding planner's first choice of a bride/groom/couple! Despite this, Kristen never once made us feel silly or self-conscious about all the questions we had, and she was remarkably patient when we were indecisive or when we couldn't quite nail down the direction we wanted to go in. She was practical and gave great suggestions on which design details to commit to and leave behind if we felt like we were straying too far from our initial budget, and ultimately, we reached a design that we still swoon about. Prior to the wedding, she got in contact with each and every vendor and created detailed plans/timelines/layouts for our wedding day and venue to make sure everyone could be on the same page. Having all the details/specifics on paper and transparently communicated with us and our vendors put us at complete ease! What really made me come back and write a review over 2 years after our wedding (I am still kicking myself for somehow forgetting to do so right away!), is all the details and stories that have surfaced from friends and family to this day about everything Kristen and the Sugar Rush team were doing behind the scenes. The rehearsal was conducted so smoothly - there was no question about who needed to go where and when, and they left no stone left unturned. Details like - which way should we stand for the best light at the time of our ceremony, giving the bridesmaids and groomsmen visual markers in the ceremony space so they would know where to walk and where to stand, touching base with each speaker and confirming whether they wanted a mic or a lapel, when they would get tapped to mic-up on the day of the wedding and who they should look for if they have questions, where the wedding party could leave their belongings during the ceremony and throughout the night - the list goes on and on! Things you wouldn't even think to consider, Kristen and her team already had covered. I learned Kristen and the Sugar Rush team (Sonja and Madison) were always available to grab and hold onto sunglasses and personal items for our Moms and wedding party and always made sure personal belongings made it back to the right person. When my husband accidentally spilled red gatorade on his white dress shirt, Kristen was there with a Shout wipe to save the day. There were a few super minor hiccups (I think one table had one fewer chair, and champagne glasses weren't set at each table setting since the caterer thought these would be passed), but Kristen and her team quickly remedied the situation and I never even heard about it until months later! We got more wind than we were expecting on our wedding day, and Kristen quickly pivoted some of our design elements to ensure things wouldn't be blowing over during the ceremony and cocktail hour. She just had great instincts and judgment and was so on top of everything! It was like the Sugar Rush team was simultaneously so present, but so invisible throughout the night. I am so thankful to Kristen and her team for their services, both leading up to our wedding, and on the day of. For any couple on the fence about hiring a wedding coordinator/planner - DO IT! I would choose Kristen and Sugar Rush Events again without a question!

We got married at the Golden Gate Club, a Wedgewood property. Our venue had a day-of coordinator as…read morepart of their package, but we wanted a bit more pre-wedding support so decided to add the End Phase Planning by SmittenKiss. It was one of the best decisions we made during planning! We worked with Christine Nguyen starting ~2 months in advance of the wedding. She met with us weekly to lock in our details (most notably, a super tight and clear timeline). We had everything so well planned (thanks to Christine) that our last few months leading up to the wedding were waaaay more relaxed than we would have anticipated. On the day of, Christine and her assistant Jane were on top of everything! I don't think I batted an eyelash the whole day because they were hustling so hard behind the scenes to make everything feel totally smooth for us. On tope of the incredible execution, it's worth noting that we felt Christine's genuine excitement for us all throughout the process. She brought the best energy from day one and we felt it right up to the end of the wedding day. 10/10 would recommend!

Our experience with SmittenKiss was absolutely fantastic!! My husband and I chose the End Phase…read morePlanning Package and our coordinator, Christine Nguyen, went above and beyond to make sure that we had all of our bases covered and that we were taken care of on the day of the wedding. She was so awesome. She sweet, understanding, and very organized. Our meetings leading up to the big day were super helpful, Christine helped us organize our timeline and consider all kinds of things that we wouldn't not even thought about to make the day happen. And on the day of, she did the most to reassure us and make sure that the day was flowing smoothly. We highly recommend Christine Nguyen !

Erin created an amazing 40th birthday fiesta for us. From the initial planning stages to the very…read morelast detail, she executed everything flawlessly. I had a vision for what I wanted, but she truly brought it to life and exceeded all my expectations. We received so many compliments from our guests on the entire event. It was such a memorable and joyful occasion and I absolutely would recommend her to anyone planning a special event. Thank you Erin!

Erin of Your Event by Erin is incredible to work with! Her attention to detail, creativity, & calm…read moreprofessionalism make every delivery & rental process seamless and stunning. We always know it's going to be a great day when Erin's in charge. She comes highly recommended by our Trend team for any event planning needs!

Lindsey and her staff were great! Seamless experience from…read moretop to bottom! Delivered all promises promptly and efficiently.

We couldn't speak more highly of Lindsey and her team at Trunks & Tales! She helped with our son's…read more1st birthday where we had over 100 people. Her ideas were so fun, her communication was clear and consistent, and her calm demeanor throughout the planning process and execution of the party made the day run so smoothly. Her team was top notch too! Many of our guests commented on how all the little details were so thoughtful and how attentive her team was throughout the party. We undoubtedly will be hiring her again for future parties!!

Hiring Courtney was easily the best decision we made in our wedding planning process. "Above and…read morebeyond" does not begin to cover Courtney's level of service, care, and thoughtfulness. Throughout the months we worked together, Courtney always made us feel like a priority, though she was no doubt juggling so much. On our wedding day, every detail we worked on was executed flawlessly, and we were truly able to breathe and be present because we knew Courtney had it all under control. We got many compliments from our guests on how smooth and relaxed the day felt, and that is a testament to Courtney's incredibly hard work. I would also note that Courtney was completely respectful of our budget and priorities. She puts in the time to learn what is important to you, and keeps that in mind as she offers excellent, candid advice. Courtney also went out of her way to save us money in ways we simply would not have thought of on our own. A final note to anyone on the fence about hiring a coordinator: Do it! (Specifically, Courtney!) I consider myself a fairly organized and detail-oriented person, so when I started planning, I wasn't sure that I needed a coordinator. But I now believe that the more organized you are, the more you appreciate and value a partner at (or, in Courtney's case, way above) your level. Weddings are truly their own category of event, and there is no substitute for a coordinator's guidance and experience--especially someone as amazing as Courtney!

I don't know where to begin. I am the mother of the bride. I had to deal with my wonderful…read moredaughter, my future son-in-law, and my ex-husband who were all against hiring a Wedding Planner. My daughter was dealing with a lot of stress because of her job at the FDA/politics. Also, the three did not like the extra cost of the Wedding Planner & viewing it as a needless expense. Her wedding plans was not her main priority even thought she wanted a 100 person wedding. One thing her and her fiancé agreed on is they wanted to invite pretty much everyone. That of course scared the living daylights out of me since I knew the couple was not rich. I think at one point I even threatened her that I was going to bring 100 McDonald's hamburgers for the reception if she didn't get on the planning. I asked a good friend who is a successful caterer in her own right (40yr +); who could she recommend. I might add that she has worked with many Wedding Planners through out her career. She instantly said without hesitation that Courtney really impressed her. My friend went on to explain about the wedding planning world. It is expensive and items can be recommended pushing the wedding easily out of budget. She liked that Courtney stayed within the wedding budgets. They did spend a little more but it was reasonable. All I knew was Sarah had to schedule/confirm many different moving parts in advance and she was not doing that. Another thing was to not go into debt or have a wedding beyond her means. I first called Courtney and immediately knew she was exactly what my daughter needed. Courtney and my daughter have the same temperament and easy to get along attitude. She gently gave the bride and groom a reality check about the cost of weddings. I called Courtney and immediately found her professional but with a very warm personality; much like my daughter. Also, I liked her enthusiasm about the project. I felt very comfortable confiding sensitive details regarding the wedding. This was a major plus. I set up a three-way call with Courtney, myself and my daughter, Sarah. I introduced them and ended my part of the call. My daughter immediately hired her. My daughter is pretty darn smart. I loved that I could stop pulling my hair out and gnashing my teeth. Courtney would take care of my daughter and I could just have normal stress free conversations again with Sarah. And the most important thing; Eric and Sarah could have the wedding of their dreams close to budget too! I usually talk to my daughter once a week just to chat. She would tell me that Courtney had assignments she and Eric had to accomplish monthly/weekly. Did I mention Courtney is brilliant! It was so amazing that Courtney orchestrated/worked with the venue, the menu and bar, music, fresh flowers and photography. Each one was performed beautifully. Courtney made it so easy because she did all the work. I think the only thing I was asked to do was to provide about 30 songs to the song list, attend the rehearsal dinner and wedding. Of course my wonderful daughter ask for a mother/daughter dance which include a snippet of MJ, Thriller & George Michael, Careless Whisper. Warning: be careful what you tell your 4 yr old; they might remember. Really that was it. I don't know how to describe this absolutely gorgeous & fun wedding. Everyone in the wedding party was stress-free, which is exactly what you wish for. I loved how Courtney would listen to input. We could trust her to tell us the truth on whether it was appropriate or not and we listened to her suggestions. One thing I insisted on was that the bride & groom give her a generous tip. It was obvious that Courtney worked very hard on this wedding and presented an absolute gorgeous event a little over budget. BTW, the tip is non-negotiable but the amount is. I insisted that the tips were good because the wedding was that great. My daughter later told me I was right to insist on a Wedding Planner. I'm still laughing. The bride and groom, the wedding party will remember a perfect & relaxing event. The chamborg bong was an event in it self and everyone should have a very well behaved coyote attending. It must be said that we adore Courtney. We can never thank her enough and we'll never forget her. Wishing her the very best~ ~No, this is not a paid advertisement.

Ann Saavedra was our day-of wedding coordinator. Our wedding was a great success. I felt that Ann…read morewas not adequately detail oriented for the size and complexity of our event, although ultimately everything turned out great. Pluses: 1. Ann is friendly and professional. She made me feel special during the planning process. 2. We technically had not paid her for wedding planning- only for the day of coordination - but she was happy to meet with me at length before the wedding and also met with the florist and my sister who was involved in the planning. She made a special site visit and made helpful suggestions to my sister. 3. Ann appears to be very experienced. She thought of issues to consider during the wedding planning which I never would have thought of including considering how to position readers in the ceremony seating arrangement, where parents most likely should sit, etc. She similarly gave helpful suggestions for the order of the procession. She recommended making lists of people to pick up centerpieces, leftover cake, and other equipment from the wedding so that the day of went more smoothly. I felt that her suggestions helped us feel more relaxed on the day of the event because many things were "taken care of." 4. When my sister discovered at the last minute that the chairs that arrived were incorrect, Ann spent time with the vendors and helped correct the problem. Behind the scenes, she took care of everything and I didn't even know about it. Minuses: 1. During the pre-wedding preparation periods, I started to notice that she failed to read most of the emails I sent her or CC'ed her on to update her on changes in plans. 2. At the rehearsal I was shocked to find that she had a beautiful timeline and outline of all the details of the wedding which she didn't seem familiar with (I heard her daughter puts the packet together for her). She was inefficient in conducting the rehearsal due to lack of familiarity with the details. 3. The day of the wedding she was often not present or readily available, even when we called her cell phone. 4. She failed to make sure corsages and bouquets were available for the photos even though we followed her timeline so she should have known when to bring them. 5. I heard afterward that she snapped at a family member who came to kindly ask why the candles for the ceremony had been removed. 6. When the time of the bouquet toss came I realized that she had not made the toss bouquet available to me and she was unavailable at that time. I ended up using my real bouquet which luckily i was ok with parting with. Overall, I will say this- my wedding turned out beautifully. I didn't feel that this was really because of Ann, but I think that she may have done some behind the scenes work that helped. There weren't any major disasters, but I wondered if she would have been able to handle it if there had been. A simpler and smaller wedding may make for a different story. In addition, her strengths may be more in helping with the planning process than in the hectic day of coordination.

As a professional photographer and have worked with Ann I always thought how smooth things flowed…read morewith her taking care of details. Organized and and always on top of things. When my daughter was married in May 2013 we were lucky that Ann Saavedra was on board. Ann only wants it to be one of the most happiest days of your life. Details and getting things done so the bride wont worry why the salad is not there or when is the first dance. She is a lovely person and I highly recommend her to all my clients.

Working with Jacqueline from Truly Loved Events (TLE) was one of the best decisions we made for our…read morewedding. From the moment we first spoke, I felt an immediate connection -- I remember getting off the call and turning to my partner like, "How do I secure her right now?" She just instantly understood us -- our vibe, our vision, and the kind of day we were hoping to create. Throughout the planning process, Jacqueline brought such a grounding, joyful energy that made everything feel less overwhelming and so much more fun. She helped turn what could've been stressful moments into smooth, manageable ones -- and she did it all with so much care, calm, and heart. Her attention to detail, thoughtfulness, and the professionalism of her team were above and beyond. On the wedding day, her team was everywhere they needed to be without us even noticing -- checking in, helping family, managing transitions, and just making everything flow beautifully behind the scenes. We've heard from so many guests how seamless and meaningful the day felt, and we know that's in large part because of the TLE team. They truly went above and beyond for us, and we'll forever be grateful to their team for making one of the most important days of our lives so incredibly special!! -Maria and Angel

We worked with Jacqueline and her team from Truly Loved Events for our wedding party in June and it…read morewas such a positive experience from start to finish. While we didn't have the budget to hire her for the totality of our wedding planning, we hired her for week-of coordination, yet she went above and beyond to help us feel supported throughout the entire process and of course on the day itself. We were not a couple with a clear vision from the outset, yet she guided us in so many ways and we were so thrilled with how everything turned out. She is so professional, warm and effective at getting the job done. She was an incredible and instrumental addition to our team and we couldn't have pulled off our special day without her.

2 Friends Events made it possible for our wedding day to go exactly to plan and exceed expectations…read morein every way. It was an absolute pleasure working with Carissa after booking the month-of coordination package. She went above and beyond from our initial meeting all the way to load out the night of the wedding. She took the time to understand my vision fully and provided invaluable insight throughout the process. She worked seamlessly with our other vendors, taking the weight of all the logistics so we could enjoy the weeks leading up to the wedding. When we got to wedding weekend she brought a calm and competent energy to the rehearsal and day-of that really set the tone and allowed us to relax and enjoy. We are so grateful for her collaboration and can honestly say booking with 2FE was one of the best decisions we made. If you're looking for a coordination team who will lead with professionalism and translate your vision to reality, look no further!

We are so happy with how our wedding went thanks to Rachel at 2 Friends Events! Rachel helped us…read moreplan and prepare for our big day, coordinating with us and our vendors to ensure every detail was in place. She was so thoughtful and enormously helpful in setting up the venue before the event as well as making sure we kept on track with the timeline throughout the party. She was so professional and thought of details we might otherwise have missed. We truly appreciated all her wonderful help so much. I highly recommend 2 Friends and Rachel to help make your wedding both special and organized.

Christina and George are amazing, could not recommend them enough!! They were so much fun to work…read morewith, and captured our day beautifully!! We went with their Storytelling Style package, which exceeded all of our expectations. Leading up to the day, we walked through the timeline with Christina to align on the schedule and highlights we wanted to capture. When the day came, they were so professional and knew exactly how to capture the moments to translate the tone of our wedding into the video. Thanks to them, we were able to enjoy our day stress free and have all our special moments captured. Less than a week later, they shared the highlight video with us and sent out the full video. Thank you Christina and George!!

We had the pleasure of working with Christina from Filmman Video for our wedding. We booked Filmman…read moreover a year in advance after finding a recommendation for them on Reddit! They have a very extensive portfolio on their website, which I loved as it really gave me a sense of the style of filming and editing they do. Once I sent an inquiry, Christina was very responsive and informative. She was also great with communicating with us and our other vendors the few weeks leading up to the wedding, making sure her team's equipment would work with our DJ's audio setup. On wedding day, Christina was absolutely lovely to work with. As someone with no experience being on camera, I loved that she gave tips on suggested movements to make that appeared really natural and beautifully on camera. She made us feel at ease with all the advice. Christina's ability to speak Chinese was a great bonus - it made coordinating with our Chinese-speaking family members much easier and kept everyone on the same page. The finished products turned out amazing. I couldn't be happier with the videos provided and how well everything turned out. Thank you so much to Christina and the team for making our wedding day so special! I'd absolutely recommend working with Filmman Video for anyone looking for a wedding videographer - you definitely won't be disappointed with the results.