Our 3-year-old daughter had the most magical experience at Once Upon a Mermaid! From the moment we…read morearrived, Kelp made her feel like she had stepped into a real fairytale. Watching her transform into a little mermaid was absolutely priceless. Kelp was so kind, patient, and engaging, making sure our daughter felt special every step of the way. She completely embraced the magic, and our little one was smiling from ear to ear the entire time. The attention to detail, the beautiful dress-up experience, and the way Kelp connected with the children made this so much more than just putting on a costume--it became a memory our family will treasure forever. If you have a little one who loves mermaids, this experience is worth every penny. We can't wait to come back the next time we're in Newport Beach. Thank you, Kelp, for creating such a special day for our family!

Such a sweet experience! So magical and the mermaids are so well in character the whole time! My…read morelittle one is already asking when we can go back... We went two days for summer camp and both days were a blast! The second day the parents weren't allowed to go back to help them change which was a little weird but I'm assuming because it would've been too many people all at once because that day there were more kiddos. Very sweet and my little one said it was better than Bibbidi bobbidi boutique!

Kathryn and her team are absolutely the best for one-of-a-kind events in Southern California. I've…read moreworked and also have been a guest at Kathryn's events in Newport Beach for her Parties at the Sea And also in Malibu for A Walk on Water fundraiser - a non-profit that provides water therapy through guided surf instruction to children with special needs. Kathryn and her team are vibrant and attentive to their guests. Working alongside her, I love her attention to detail and rapid efficiency. As a guest, I love the fun and festive ambiance that she curates.

Kathryn is great! An amazing party planner. I've been to several of her events in OC and LA and…read moreevery party is perfectly executed down to the tiny details. If you need a party for your business or special occasion you'll want to call her. Highly recommend!

This review is for Suhainah and the BEL team who helped us organize our wedding reception…read more The day of our event, Suhainah and a group of 4-5 other women went above and beyond to make sure our wedding reception went smoothly. They coordinated with all vendors well, directed guests and made the experience stress free. Everyone was so sweet to us and our dog, Rocky. We brought Rocky to our party and they made sure she was taken care of the entire time. It was so thoughtful. Rocky says the team gets 5 stars!

Horrible experience, stay away!…read more This is a review for Eliza at BEL Events for her wedding planning services. We met Eliza at our venue 8 month before our wedding date. During the first session she presented herself well, and she talked and bragged a lot about her 18 yrs of experience in event planning and stories about how she handles wedding situations. So, we thought she is the right event planner for us and signed a contract. After signing the contract and making the payment, she was very hard to find and we did not see the expected action from her side, and every time we followed up, her response was: "don't worry I will manage everything before the wedding day". We were asking for the basics of planning such as timeline, vendor recommendations (a few to choose from) and communications (which was part of the contract) but not no action except a quote of her own rental service. We were getting closer to the wedding date and her lack of action made us so worried and very frustrated. Eventually we had to get involved and did almost 90% of the work ourselves. She was very hard to find but even when we could talk to her, she would create more unnecessary problems to an extant that my wife had panic attacks after a few meetings we had with her. 2 month before our wedding she caused so much anxiety and frustration that we decided to end our contract with her and find another planner. Thankfully, our new planner was amazing and our Wedding planning went very smooth after that, and the event was as wonderful as we could imagine! With way lower cost than what Eliza had proposed! After I requested to cancel the contract she disappeared and never responded to our emails, which is very unprofessional. Here is a list of a few issues from our experience of working with here: 1- Accessibility: every time we had a question or needed to talk to her, it was taking several days until she gets back to us. With irrelevant excuses, like she would show me her busy google calendar! 2- Push to use her own services as vendors: Per her contract she had to suggest different vendors so we can choose. But since she has rental and flower services, she was arguing so much to stop us from even looking at other options! She charges unnecessarily expensive! By doing a little research, we found our vendors and saved at least 50% with same or better quality! 3- Nonsense arguments and rude attitude: In many occasions she was just insisting on holding the event the way SHE wants, without paying attention to our request or desire. Every time we requested something, her answer was: "I don't want MY event to be that way or I don't want MY guests to be that way"!!! With a condescending attitude emphasizing that "I have 18 yrs of experience and I know what to do"!!! Any simple request would become a long story and unnecessary argument. In one occasion my wife requested that guests throw flower petals while walking out of aisle, and she immediately said: "No!, you can't do that, I don't want my cleaning crew spend time on cleaning the petals"!!!! In another occasion Eliza was insisting on only using her recommended valet service (which was quoting more than double the price of the service we eventually used) and on top of it she was forcing us to rent extra parking lot out of venue and pay extra for shuttle service!!!! While the venue had enough capacity! And when I respectfully said: I am confident that the venue has enough capacity for parking, she got very angry and said: "in that case tell all your guests to use UBER and they can't drive their own car"!!! It was a nightmare working with BEL Events and I don't recommend her service due to lack of professionalism and decency in her business.

Robert did a wonderful job of creating a very special day for our daughter. She just graduated from…read morePepperdine and was pleasantly surprised to walk on the beach to find a very coastal and elegant vibe to celebrate her special day! Thank you so much! One thing that would be helpful would be the communication after requesting and placing a deposit. Everything was done online via email, but I would have loved to actually speak or text with a live representative during that time and after they asked for the final payment before the actual day. They also asked for a tip prior to the day, but we opted to tip on the day because again, I had already paid for the entire experience before the experience. Thanking God it all worked out!

I contacted the Picnic Collective about an event in San Diego…read more Below is a copy paste of our text correspondence to read for yourself: Me: Hi! I'm just wondering what Oceanside parks (not on sand) you are allowed to host on assuming 8-10 people. PC: I apologize I am not familiar with the city of Oceanside. I think just googling the parks would be your best bet for finding a location Me: Oops sorry I mean ocean side - meaning anywhere in San Diego. Any park that's near an ocean. PC: The only one I am familiar with is South Embarcadero Park Me: Ok so I guess then my question is do you have suggested locations? Or do I research and propose that? Where are you typically hosting picnics I mean? It seems there's a lot of rules so I can't figure out what is and isn't allowed. PC: I think you have to pick a place and then call about that specific place is how it works. Me: Ok no thanks looking to pay someone to do that legwork for me. Thanks. PC: Happy to do that for you. We offer location scouting which we charge $499 for this I was surprised at the price to provide me a list of allowable locations. So I pinged another company to see if they had a list of sites. I got a reply in 5 min with a list of locations that only the county allows. It's a very short list and easily posted online by county. Picnic collective charging you $500 to send this list is a scam and also you should seriously second guess they don't know or supply this to you with your inquiry. When I brought this to PC attention, instead of acknowledging the feedback - they proceeded to engage in a combative back and forth with me. I wonder how many suckers they've gotten for this $500. They're other untrustworthy & ripping people off or unknowledgable. The pure fact they wanted to argue with me on this simple issue was also indicative of what might have happened running a large event with them in recognizing a mistake. Be very careful committing thousands of dollars to an event with them and the county kicking your event out.

This review is long over due. I was one of many brides in the pandemic that pushed their wedding…read more2-3 times.. I booked Adina I believe in 2018 and she is not only professional but she is sweet, humble, and genuine. She worked with us every step and hurdle the pandemic caused. Meaning canceled venues, pushed wedding dates, special requests and even changed wedding design. I can't relay enough of my gratitude to her and her team. When the day of happened all that I dreamed of came to life. She worked with our budget and was realistic with us on what was worth getting to achieve the look and experience we wanted on our special day. All of our guests not only loved the venue, which is one of the exclusive venues of Event Loft, but they said the food and staff were impeccable. We have guests that continue to tell us that the venue was a gem to find and that everything was well scheduled. We booked everything with Event loft, except for the DJ and sofreh designer. She was very kind to the other vendors and helped them when needed. We have the most memorable photos, video and the flowers were beautiful and excellent quality. I couldn't imagine not having Adina and her team working our wedding. I simply can't thank them enough.

Adina and Sara saved our day! 2 weeks before our wedding we had to change our venue and Adina and…read moreSara came to our rescue. I contacted them on a Sunday morning and they responded within the hour. That afternoon they were able to show us the space at the Gray Matter Museum. We decided to think on it for a day but after discussing it further with Adina and ensuring we could use our same plans, wedding designs and ideas it was a no brainer to have our wedding at this venue. Adina was so helpful throughout the process and the venue was so absolutely stunning. It fit my wedding design so perfectly and I felt like it was truly meant to be. Our wedding was a dream and we couldn't have pulled it all together without their quick responses and help to make our day amazing.

I was lucky to have had my baby shower at this beautiful place and it is stunning! It was catered…read morewith the best taco caterer that I have ever had with lots of sides and offerings. The Rosè was delicious and one of the best I think I have ever drank. The surroundings are just breathtaking with you feeling like you are in a little oasis in Newport Beach. They have lots of animals on the property, goats, chickens, tortoise, ponds with beautiful koi fish, bunnies. It's an animal lovers dream. All the animals are very happy and friendly. You can tell they get lots of love and attention, and are very well kept. The landscaping is like no other like you are in an exotic jungle mixed with a beautiful winery. The service was great! The owner and staff are very welcoming and were a lot of help with coordinating the shower and getting what we needed for the set up. I would definitely recommend hosting an event here. It's a private winery so it's open for groups and events. I will definitely have another event here!

I attended a gorgeous wedding at this venue. The scenery, landscaping and atmosphere was…read moreincredible. The wine cave was my favorite! Such a unique and hidden gem!!!

Really beautifully run charter boat service around Newport Harbor with very friendly staff,…read morestabilizer on the boat for smooth sailing and beautiful views all around with comfortable places to sit inside or outside. Restrooms also available as well! Bar option was included as part of our hosted event as well as charcuterie. As a SoCal resident I haven't had a chance to do this so I'm glad I got the opportunity to enjoy the California coastline on this vessel!

Had a wonderful time here this past Sunday night. Evening cruise for a wedding reception…read more Catered buffet was continental food. Everything was quite tasty and well done. The bar could have bigger glasses (I had to opt for paper cups, to avoid multiple refills). The stairs are very steep from level to level, be careful. Bathrooms are tiny but very tidy. Service staff were all very kind and helpful. This is my 2nd time and it was a blast!

Abby is an absolute rockstar wedding planner! Where do we even start? From our very first call with…read moreAbby, we knew she was different. She wasn't just trying to sell us a package - she genuinely wanted to get to know us as a couple, our story, and the kind of vibe we wanted our wedding to have. That first impression stuck with us. Over the next two years of planning, Abby and her team brought our ideas to life and helped to make our dream wedding a reality. Design: We told Abby we wanted an "East Meets West" theme that blended our cultures in a way that felt modern and elegant, a tough balance that could've easily come off as cheesy in if executed poorly. But Abby nailed it of course, her design sense is unreal. From color palettes and floral choices to the way she tied together modern décor with cultural elements, everything was cohesive and elevated. She has an incredible eye for detail and always found creative, out-of-the-box ways to make our ideas work. The end result was a wedding that felt truly felt like us! Communication: Throughout the entire process, Abby and her team were consistently on top of communication. She kept us updated between meetings, sent friendly reminders, and made sure we were always aligned on next steps. It's easy for things to slip through the cracks when planning something this big, but Abby kept everything organized and stress-free. We never once felt out of the loop, she was always calm, professional, and genuinely fun to talk to. Vendor Management: Abby's vendor management skills are next level. She has deep connections and knows everyone in the wedding world. When we needed vendors for flowers, desserts, or décor, she already had a curated list of the best options with pros and cons ready for us. Some of our vendors were booked more than a year in advance, but Abby and her team were always on top of follow-ups, contracts, and logistics. By the time the big day arrived, every vendor was perfectly coordinated. It really felt like we had assembled the Avengers of wedding vendors! Working Style: We can't say enough about how enjoyable it was to work with Abby and her team. They're so friendly, positive, and genuinely care about their couples. You can tell they love what they do and that they actually enjoy working together - it felt like they were more of friends than coworkers. Whenever unexpected hiccups came up (and they always do in wedding planning), Abby handled them with grace and a sense of humor. She's done hundreds of weddings, so she always had the experience to guide us to make informed decisions. It was so fun working with the entire team and it made the stressful process of wedding planning feel less stressful. Execution: This is where Abby and her team truly shine. Planning is one thing, but executing flawlessly is another and they did it all seamlessly. From coordinating vendors to keeping our timeline on track, they were everywhere and nowhere all at once, putting out fires behind the scenes before we even knew they existed. The day flowed perfectly. At the end of the night, we were blown away to see how they had already packed up all our belongings, made sure our ride was ready, and tied up every little loose end without us lifting a finger. That level of thoughtfulness really showed how much they care. Budget & Financial Management: The truth is weddings are expensive, and it's easy for costs to spiral if you're not careful. Abby was phenomenal at keeping everything organized and transparent. She tracked every expense, set reminders for upcoming milestone payments for vendors, and even handled tipping for all our vendors so we didn't have to stress about it on the big day. What really stood out was her honesty and foresight -- anytime a decision could push us beyond our budget, she proactively flagged it and walked us through the financial trade-offs before we committed. Thanks to her meticulous tracking and planning, there were zero surprises at the end. Everything was clearly outlined and accounted for, which gave us complete peace of mind. In short, Abby and her team are the best in the business. They bring design expertise, organization, and heart to every step of the process. You'll see what we mean once you have the first introductory call with her. She's the kind of planner who truly loves what she does, doesn't settle for anything less than perfect, and it shows in every detail. We highly recommend her for anyone looking for a top class wedding planner!

I had the pleasure of meeting Abby and her team at a wedding that I assistant photographed. I…read moreremember how organized and professional the entire team carried themselves that night. As my wife and I were planning our wedding we both knew we wanted a team to support and guide us through the planning process. Working with Abby and Amanda definitely made the entire wedding planning process seamless. From our very first meeting they really helped put things into focus and laid out a clear milestones and goals throughout. On the day of our wedding and weeks leading up to it, Abby and Amanda ensured that our decorations and everything came out according to plan. Despite us throwing any changes or last minute requests their way. My wife and I had absolutely nothing to worry about and was able to enjoy our wedding completely stress free. Thank you Sugar Plum & Co for helping my wife and I plan and execute the wedding of our dreams!