We used An Affair to Remember for our rehearsal and day-of coordinator services for our wedding in…read moreJune 2022. Jena and Audra were wonderful and provided exactly what we needed. Before the wedding, they were open and quick to answer any questions we had, including vendor recommendations and tipping quandaries. Unfortunately, Audra was ill and unable to attend the rehearsal/wedding, but Jena was able to step up and provide 5 star service nonetheless. At the rehearsal, she coordinated with the venue to ensure everything was set up appropriately. On the wedding day, when the weather prevented us from having our first look at our scheduled outdoor location, Jena contacted all of our vendors to let them know of the updated location. She helped our photographer coordinate family photos and wrangle family members, provided setup/cleanup at the venue, and did a whole lot more behind the scenes that I wasn't even aware of-because isn't that the point of having a wedding coordinator? We appreciated all of their hard work and would highly recommend them.

We chose Audra and Jena for our day of coordinators and are so glad we did. They really took the…read morestress out of the day and made sure that everything was perfect. They are friendly and very professional. I'd highly recommend them if you are considering day of coordination for your event or wedding!

I am struggling to put into words how to thank Lindsay Gaeta and her team and acknowledge every…read moresingle detail she knocked out of the park and executed on our wedding day! Throughout the planning process there were so many little behind the scenes details she saved me time on which I am so appreciative! I will miss seeing her monthly on our planning calls! I don't plan to get married again anytime soon but I do hope our paths cross again! I am speechless about her help from the rehearsal to the very last minute of shutting down the after party!! The top 3 highlights that people mentioned to me on the wedding day were 1. Dad's speech, 2. Florals, 3. How hard she HUSTLED!!! My bridesmaids and close family constantly approached me on the wedding day with sentiments of "wow, she's good!!" She exceeded our expectations and anticipated our every move! I have close family in the hospitality business (who are the harshest critics about everything in the event planning world) and were over the top satisfied with her commitment and follow through to make the day as seamless as possible! I am sure there were many hiccups that day that were not brought to my attention and for that, I give Lindsay full credit! I was able to relax, be present and have a B+ personality that evening instead of my typical A- for all things attention to detail! I felt completely comfortable 'handing Lindsay the reigns' and entrusting she would handle everything as necessary, which she did!!!

We are beyond grateful for Kim Weinberg of LivenUp Events! From the very beginning, Kim was the…read moreultimate professional, so patient, kind, and supportive, even when I, as the bride, was feeling overwhelmed. She has this incredible ability to stay calm, cool, and collected no matter what comes her way, always finding solutions effortlessly and proactively preventing issues before they even arise. Her industry knowledge is unparalleled, and her planning experience truly shines through in every detail. From her amazing vendor connections to her creative, thoughtful ideas, Kim went above and beyond to make our wedding not just beautiful, but absolutely seamless. She kept us organized, on track, and stress-free throughout the entire process. But what really sets Kim apart is her heart. She genuinely cares about her couples, listens with empathy, and makes you feel supported every step of the way. We couldn't have asked for a better wedding planner. She is a true gem, and we feel so lucky to have had her by our side. Kim Weinberg didn't just plan our wedding; she made our dream day a reality, and we will be forever grateful.

I had the pleasure of working with Cindy Shanholtz of Effortless Events for our company's 100th…read moreanniversary dinner and celebration, and I cannot recommend her highly enough! From the moment we began planning, Cindy's attention to detail, professionalism, and creativity shone through at every step. Cindy took the time to truly understand our vision for the event and worked tirelessly to bring it to life in a way that exceeded all expectations. She seamlessly coordinated every aspect, from the venue selection and decor to the catering and entertainment. Her recommendations were spot-on, and her organizational skills ensured everything ran smoothly on the day of the event. The 100th anniversary dinner itself was nothing short of spectacular! The atmosphere Cindy created was elegant and celebratory, perfectly reflecting our company's history while looking forward to its future. Our guests were wowed by the thoughtful touches, from the custom table settings to the beautifully designed timeline of our company's milestones. What really set Cindy apart was her ability to handle every challenge with grace and poise. Despite the complexities of planning such a significant event, she kept everything stress-free for our team, managing all logistics and vendors without missing a beat. It was clear that Cindy and her team truly cared about making this milestone event unforgettable. If you're looking for an event planner who can turn your vision into a flawless reality, Cindy Shanholtz and Effortless Events are the way to go. She made our 100th anniversary celebration an extraordinary experience, and I can't wait to work with her again in the future! Holly Both VP Sales & Marketing, Plymouth Tube Co.

This is my 2nd posting for Cindy and her team at Effortless events. I recently hired them for…read moreanother wedding celebration in Chicago for my daughter who got married in DC. Again, they did not disappoint. Cindy's attention to detail is remarkable. She recommended the venue and took the reigns. From the flowers, decor and layout it was perfect. She suggested so many fun things...like a s'mores bar for dessert where guests assembled and "cooked" their own! We had mini individual cast iron skillets with fresh chocolate chip cookies and guests could top them with ice cream. Everyone raved about it and EE did it all...I just showed up and enjoyed it. Thanks Cindy + team!

I hired Amy as a partial wedding planner and day of coordinator, best decision I made! I had my…read morewedding my Gallery 1028 in Chicago, Amy had worked with them before, which was a huge plus. She was able to bring my vision to life and everything turned out simply beautiful!! Amy is extremely organized, efficient, and detail oriented, but also keeps it real which I appreciate. Hire Amy, you won't regret it!!!

This review is LONG overdue! Have you ever had such an amazing experience working with someone that…read morefinding the right words to express how grateful/ thankful you are seem impossible? Thats how my husband and I have felt since our 5.18.2019 wedding! From the moment I met Amy I knew she was our wedding planner. After talking to almost every wedding planner in the greater chicagoland area I thought Amy is just too good to be true. So in true OCD crazy bride fashion I asked for references and previous brides to talk to about their experience. Amy did not even blink or make me feel totally insane which is a quality every bride should look for in a wedding planner. We thankfully chose the full planning package, because we were planning our Chicago wedding from across the country. Amy responded to every midnight email, every pacific coast phone call and never made us feel like we were alone. She kept us on budget and when we were going over budget she wasn't afraid to bring us back to reality. Amy negotiated all of our vendors and got us the best deals, I cannot stress this enough! Before Amy we were getting quoted 2-3x the costs, and for brides who hate to negotiate she was a God send. Amys wedding day timeline is better than any book or planning binder you can find, she really knows what she's talking about with a month to month breakdown that becomes like your checklist and makes sure to keep your wedding day timeline on track. Leading up to the wedding she was there to lead our rehearsal, take all of our "extra" last minute buys to incorporate into the decor, and she happily took the role of "bad guy" to nix any unwanted suggestions from our adoring family. She brought our dream wedding to life, flawlessly. She is the definition of a fairy wedding planner! If you are even considering her wedding planning service book now, I have no doubt in my mind that she will be the most highly sought after wedding planner. To this day we have family and friends that our wedding was the funnest wedding they have ever attended. We honestly owe those compliments to Amy and her meticulous planning and attention to detail. From one OCD bride to another book now you will be forever grateful that you did. Thank you Amy & team from the bottom of our hearts we will never be able to express how amazing you are! (sorry its taken us over a year to write this we love you tons!)

My experience with this team was terrible. I also fell for all the glowing reviews online only to…read morerealize that they were very unprofessional. I have also tried to leave reviews on other platforms only to find them deleted or disputed which explains the fake 5.0. I would not recommend this team.

LEGIT ANGELS. Kristin and her team are a bride-to-be's dream. PLEASE snag them up before hundreds…read moreof other brides. They are so well organized and fantastic at taking the lead and making myself (the bride) feel like I can truly kick back and relax before, during, and after the wedding. They truly made the vision of myself, Peter, and my mother come to life. Special shoutout to Gibson for designing such stunning decor, Alan for keeping me calm and holding my bouquet, and Shannon for helping fix my hair throughout the night. We are so blessed by all of you!

Without a doubt, hiring Kristen and EverLasting Impressions was the #1 million dollar decision we…read moremade in our wedding planning process. Kristen and Beth helped make our day run smoothly, flawlessly and like clockwork, and my husband and I never worried about a single thing during the day. We cannot recommend EverLasting Impressions enough and hope that all future couples reading these reviews look no further. We will certainly be recommending them to anyone that is ever looking for an event planner!

How do you write a review for someone who single-handedly made your wedding the prettiest, least…read morestressful, most enjoyable day you have ever had?? Kristen is a goddess. Right away we knew she was the right fit for us. She took the time to get to know us before we contracted, so both sides knew what they were getting into. We picked the Full Planning Package, and that allowed us to occasionally get distracted by buying a house and major job changes without worrying that we were losing track of our wedding checklist and timetable. We met frequently and every time I came away feeling more and more prepared for the day. She brought things up I wouldn't have even considered, she helped give advice but never pushed. On the day of the wedding I didn't have to think about anything but what was happening in the moment. A truly precious gift. Kristen and her assistant really went above and beyond. The day truly felt like us. Thank you Kristen for being a rock for us throughout everything!! If you aren't sure if a planner is in your budget, let me tell you that NOT having Kristen would have been a disaster and we couldn't afford to NOT have her brilliant mind and kind soul working for that one beautiful day. (PS- sorry I didn't eat enough dinner even though you Specifically made time for me to!! lol, SO EXCITED!) LOVE YOU KRISTEN!

Throughout our time with Karolina, she was very unorganized, forgetting many details that had…read morealready been discussed. We spoke to her a few times about her lack of organization, but she didn't seem to correct it. Karolina may need and assistant as she seems too busy. I wrote out all of the details so she wouldn't forget and I also provided the venue with a copy as back up. Karolina did not seem comfortable with conversing via phone so it was difficult to reach her. She sent long emails, ignoring our preference of communicating via phone due to our busy work schedule. Karolina's true lack of organization was obvious during our wedding rehearsal, as she did not know what to do. Everyone was lost because she didn't bring copies of the ceremony schedule. It was very embarrassing for our wedding party and the venue staff to keep telling us how unorganized, overwhelmed, and how much of an amateur she looked, and how rude she was to them when they asked simple questions. I explained to Karolina that she was unorganized and everyone could see it. She stormed off screaming "I am organized. I am organized", which was one of the most unprofessional and bizarre moments I have ever experienced. Karolina disappeared many times during our almost THREE hour rehearsal, leaving us to figure things out. She left without apologizing or even saying bye to me. The rehearsal put us behind 2 hours, which forced us to cancel our welcome reception for out of town guests. We had to be the mediator for some issues Karolina and our vendors had. Our makeup schedule was thrown off because Karolina lied about sending the wedding day timeline to our makeup artist. BUYER BEWARE: She will make up lies about us firing "many wedding coordinators and florist" , which is SIMPLY NOT TRUE. Not apologizing for how much stress she gave us, as SPECIFICALLY cited above, not addressing her performance, and completely making up lies, truly shows her true colors.

Dear Future Bride,…read more I am happy to give you nothing but my utmost recommendation that you book Karolina and book her now! I would like to give you a balanced review in which I tell you all the good things but also mention things to be wary of, but unfortunately I cannot-- I don't have a single negative thing to say! If there is one thing in our wedding planning that was absolutely worth every penny (and more!), it was hiring Karolina on as our day-of coordinator. She is by far the most reasonably and affordably priced day-of that we've seen, and her dedication to your wedding cannot be matched (and will be apparent immediately). As far as "value for the cost"-- look no further! She is priced WAY below the "big name" (and not so "big name") coordinators, and her attention to every one of YOUR details will make you feel like you've gotten away with a steal! She never asks you anything twice-- she will know every detail of your dream and vision as well as you do! While she is a "day-of" coordinator, her work starts the moment you hire her and she communicates with you and your vendors constantly up until the moment you say "I do." Her response time via email is almost immediate, and you never have to wait more than a few hours. In fact, she often emailed me reminders and such before I even had to contact her! I don't communicate very well over the phone, so I can't comment on her availability via phone, but if she is at all as attentive by phone as she is by email, you have will have no problem! The timeline that she creates is very thorough and very helpful. She helped keep everything organized and moving throughout the wedding process. She actively communicates with all of your vendors throughout your planning and the day of your wedding, and I didn't worry about anything on my wedding day-- I knew she had it covered! She is very friendly, and her demeanor is pleasant. This is a plus when she's dealing with wedding issues, as people feel comfortable around her and do not feel like they're being yelled at. She was punctual and professional, and was always there to help with "emergencies," even if it wasn't outlined in her job description (i.e. I forgot vase marbles and she was there with a full bag!!). Overall, I highly highly recommend her as your day-of coordinator!!

Shout out to Karen from Schultz Florists and her team for our gorgeous wedding flowers! Karen was…read moreeasy to work with, offered great ideas, and worked with us to create our dream floral pieces! My bouquet was amazing and just what I had pictured! Thank you for helping to make our wedding day beautiful! -- Chester and Donna

She was unprofessional, missing half the night, and made errors throughout the entire wedding…read moreweekend. although the worst part was her negative and snarky attitude and tone to everyone including the family and friends. Do not waste your money.

Megan and her team are the absolute BEST! Our 300 person wedding was cancelled last May due to…read moreCovid when we decided to reach out to Megan who was able to plan a small, safe 50 person gathering within a matter of only a few months. Megan knew everyone in the industry and ensured that our event was not only magical and perfect but also followed all event safety guidelines. She is the best in the event planning business and we would recommend her to anyone- cannot say enough positive things about our experience!!

Wow!!! What a great place..the place is amazing and I can't recommend it enough! Loved the wine…read morethe ambiance and Jill, Mckenzie and Damen...outstanding

What a gem of a wine destination in Joilet! The building itself is historic, beautiful and…read morecastle-like. The staff encourage you to explore the house before settling in to do a tasting. Each room had its own character. I loved hearing about the rich history of the building as well as how it became the tasting room it is today. There were four of us who visited. A tasting is $20 for (8) sample pours. I was surprised at how good each of the wines were! Our group's favorites were the Sauvignon Blanc, 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, and Bishop's Blend. Jordan guided us through the tasting telling us about each wine and answering any questions we had. He did a great job at keeping our glasses full while also giving us space to enjoy. Overall, this is a great wine tasting option in the area!