I generally don't write reviews but for Johnell I think she definitely needs an appreciation!…read more We reached out to Johnell for my 3 year old's birthday party recently. We hardly had two weeks for the event day and Johnell worked day and night to get everything planned and coordinated according to the theme of the party. She provided great suggestions like the claw machine, face painting and a magician. It was tough to get a magician in that short time period but she did her magic to find the best one for the event and it was great! All our 50+ guests who attended the party raved about how well the planning and coordination was done for a 3 year old's birthday. It wouldn't have happened without her! She also helped with my baby shower back in early 2020 when Covid didn't hit us yet. My husband worked with her to throw me a baby shower and it was amazingly done. That baby shower event has made us reach out to her again because we knew she will do an excellent job and can trust her because she puts her heart in every event that she takes up. Thank you so much Johnell for all the efforts and an outstanding work even with such short time that you had.

I write this in case it's helpful for others. I sincerely wish I'd have known what I was getting…read moreinto before I entered into a contract with Johnell. If you're not inclined to read the entirety of this lengthy review, I sum my experience up in the last two paragraphs. My wedding was only 1.5 months away. I chose the full package option. As a full-time professional & graduate student, the idea of a wedding planner sounded like heaven. Her reviews were phenomenal. I thought we'd get timelines, help with our vision, several vendor options with differing price points. Instead we got snarky eye rolls when we'd ask about details, sarcastic jokes about us needing to book marriage counseling, disinterest in getting us what we actually wanted, and extremely abbreviated access to her at her convenience. Honestly, it was devastating. The most stressful part of our wedding planning became my interactions, and oftentimes lack of interactions, with Johnell. Price points and vision would continuously get lost in translation. The pattern: Time would pass despite our requests for input on selecting vendors (for example, 3 weeks for florals) and then we'd get an almost finalized contract from a single vendor we hadn't vetted. In the case of florals, at a price of $11K when we'd explained our floral budget was $3K. She was extremely dismissive. Even requests for a quick 15 minute check in call could go ignored. Her preference most of the time was to send emails during peak work hours. And her emails, most times, left things unclear. We explained several times that a weekly 15 minute call was what we needed. But she was extremely resistant. We had, at max, 2 to 3 such calls and then she refused to participate in any others. It was maddening with our 6 week timeline as we felt like our hands were tied about really understanding the status of and options for things. My fiancé and I defaulted to doing the legwork ourselves. When we did, vendors were LOVELY. Bending over backwards to assist us. Supplying us with multiple options and ideas. They took the time to hear us and ask about what we did and didn't want for our day. I was overwhelmingly grateful for their support and availability. I was stunned when Johnell sent an angry email chastising my fiancé for calling a vendor. She reminded us that we'd have to pay her even if we were doing the work. I reiterated to her that this had nothing to do with payment. We'd started doing the work ourselves because we felt handcuffed and limited w/ her at the helm. Over and over we'd discover her "no, that's not possible" would become "sure, we can do that, and here are several other options too" once we'd finally talk to a vendor. The most important thing for me: the wedding to have our unique imprint and flair- were in direct odds with Johnell's priorities. Her priority was the path of least resistance, what's easiest & most convenient for her. Things came together beautifully. But it really was in spite of and not because of our planner. With the vast majority of vendors, we elected to go with others that we'd vetted. This brought on its own drama as we then witnessed Johnell being cold and dismissive with these individuals when they'd attempt to ask questions or share options. I made several attempts to explain to her how poorly we felt we were being treated - via several emails and voicemail when she wouldn't answer or return my call. She would eventually respond in an email days later with a dismissive, "everything will be fine" one-liner. The last straw was her denying us a 15 minute phone call the week of the wedding. Four days after we requested the brief call with her, she emailed, "No, I've done my job already. See you at the wedding on Saturday. Email me a list if there's changes." This transpired despite her contracted description of "unlimited phone calls and emails" and us only having had at most three direct phone calls with her. At that point, we decided to cut ties with her completely. It was an extremely high sunk cost. One that benefitted her (she was paid in full despite not working the week of or day of the wedding) & would cost us greatly. It was worth it though as the thought of this, in our experience, truly unprofessional coordinator running our special day was too disheartening. In sum, I felt trapped in this working relationship. I wound up having to expend more time and energy on fixing things vs had I not had a planner to begin with. All the while being made to feel like a huge annoyance during the brief times when we would have access to her. Her communication style is one tailored to meet her needs and convenience rather than the client's. In hindsight, I never should have hired her. It was the poorest decision of my wedding planning process.

I am genuinely disappointed to write this review and cannot recommend Ren Newey or 36th Street…read moreEvents. Our kids hired this planner, and from the very beginning there were warning signs-but the scope of the issues that unfolded went far beyond anything we could have anticipated. From not remembering meeting the groom after a one-hour introductory call, to ongoing disorganization, to inconsistent and frequently changing pricing, the experience was stressful throughout. We were quoted inflated costs for items such as generators-significantly higher than what we were able to negotiate ourselves-and were directed to vendors whose pricing was nearly ten times higher than identical products available on Etsy. Despite being repeatedly reassured that all details were handled, several critical failures occurred on the wedding day. The string quartet never arrived because 36th Street Events sent their information to an outdated email address. Instead of notifying the bride, groom, or any parents about the mistake, recorded music was played without explanation. Requested site visits never happened, staffing was not confirmed, and as a result dinner was delayed by 60-90 minutes, guests had no water available, and the wrong song was played for the father-daughter dance. These operational missteps were extremely disappointing. However, the most troubling aspect was the unprofessional and at times blatantly rude behavior displayed by Ren toward parents, guests, and even the priest officiating the ceremony. Multiple guests approached us asking why the wedding coordinator was so dismissive and why, as family members scrambled to help guests during a sudden rain, she stood by and watched. Prior to the bride and groom entering the reception, Ren told the groom he should button his jacket so he "didn't look fat." All of the above are just a few examples of the disappointment. For an event as meaningful as a wedding, professionalism, organization, and care matter enormously--and sadly, these were consistently lacking. After our bad experience, I did see another similar review for Ren on this platform.

Ren Newey was a top notch wedding planner and I can't recommend her or 36th Street Event enough!…read moreShe spent so much extra time making our wedding feel like her sole priority. She had the best recommendations for all vendors the best being the band. Multiple family and friends have said it was the best wedding they have ever been too. Being a type A bride, Ren was there to answer any and all questions and calm any nerves about plans going into the weekend. Once I stepped on site at our wedding venue I could take a deep sigh of relief as I knew we were in great hands with Ren. She is a rockstar!!

Such gorgeous and unique set ups! Beautiful! This business truly caters to your wishes and makes…read moreyour dreams come true!

From the owner: Prestige Picnics is a luxury picnic service that creates…read more unique and unforgettable experiences filled with beautiful decor, tasty treats, and picture-perfect opportunities. Whether it be date nights, birthdays, brunches, proposals, bridal showers, etc…we do it all! We can set up anywhere in Austin and even in backyards or inside your living room. We believe that life is all about making beautiful memories, and we want to help Austinites make these special moments extraordinary through our custom picnics.

I am a self-professed DIY Wedding bride. I certainly scoffed at the idea of spending money we…read moredidn't have to get a coordinator. But after reading some suggestions that if you don't get a coordinator at least designate a family person, friend, relative, dog to be the wedding manager.... I had second thoughts. Thankfully, that's where Mandy came in. Modern Whimsy is amazing. There are not words sufficient enough to describe how incredible Mandy and her team were. From the very beginning Mandy was attentive and helpful far beyond what I expected from a coordinator, let alone one that we were getting at a discount for a prize we won and for just day of coordination. She went FAR above and beyond what I think any one person would do and she was instantly a friend in the end. The details she stayed on top of were just incredible and perfect. Letting go of the reins for this OCD person was difficult, but I couldn't have asked for someone better to trust with my vision and allow to orchestrate the wedding of my dreams. If you're getting married and don't want to have to worry, stress, or cry on your wedding day, hire Modern Whimsy. The best investment we've ever made was for that peace of mind on our wedding day. Honestly.

We just finished having our wedding in Austin and worked closely with Mandy on day of wedding…read morecoordination. From the first moment we got on the phone, we knew she would be great. First off, Mandy's experience means she thinks of all the small details you might forget. In the weeks leading up to our event, she came to us with small questions that had a big impact. She also did all the background work to organize details like flower delivery, scheduling conflicts and floor plans for the caterer. She was also able to help with a few etiquette questions that we had - always a plus. For the rehearsal, that attention to detail had her even pointing out small details like moving a microphone so people could see us kiss. She came to the hotel to drop off and pick things up in advance. She made herself available during the process via email, phone and text - all the ways we like to communicate! During the entire process Mandy was upbeat, helpful and made us feel like our event was as special to her as it was to us. Fees were also right in line with what I expected - excellent value for money. Now, we just need to find another event that she can help us to plan! Would love to work with her again.

Alexandra and her team of fabulous girls are AMAZING!!! Everyone is friendly, helpful, professional…read moreand they're all just great people! My daughter wanted a "spa party" for her birthday, and Austin Dream Factory delivered! The party went great! It was completely stress free for me(really!!), and the girls had such a wonderful time! They arrived on time, did all of the set up and clean up, and even had lunch for the girls that was tailored to my kiddo's favorite food! It was obvious that they wanted to be there, and are passionate about what they're teaching the girls, it's not just a business. I will definitely be using Austin Dream Factory again!

From the owner: The Dream Factory's objective is to grant anyone's dream, for a reasonable price. We aim to take…read morethe stress off of the parents while bringing your children the party of their dreams. Austin Dream Factory can do anything from mobile spa parties to sweet sixteen celebrations to boys sports or gaming parties- you name it we can nail it. Our team is broken up into two groups. Each group consists of two Party Hostesses and two Party Coordinators. From start to finish the Dream Team takes care of it all. The assigned Party Coordinator will handle all the intricate details of your event. The Hostesses help to pamper your little ones while assuring their having the party of their dreams! Our goal is to make your custom party experience perfect.

They responded to my first email in a very timely and enthusiastic manner and then unfortunately…read moreghosted me. Timely initial communication was nice. I put maybe because I didn't use them, but probably wouldn't reach out unless in a pinch.

Bash Atx was incredible to work with. So grateful to Maggie for taking the time to work with us…read moreand plan our bachelor party -- even with all the COVID delays. As soon as we showed up, everything was taking care of and on schedule. Couldn't have asked for a better time

She great and friendly! She brought her own table and set up equipment and art work was great!read more

Jasper was the most special addition to my son's 3rd birthday party. His balloon art was a treat…read morefor the kids and parents alike. As the party went on, the balloons became more and more creative, it was so much fun to see what would be coming next! Scheduling and booking was a complete breeze. Jasper arrived right on time, setup quickly and got to work. It would be hard to imagine a better experience. I would recommend him for any event that needs a bit of fun and whimsy.

Kandi with KR Creations created my invitations and programs for my recent wedding. My family and…read morefriends are still talking about both my invitations and programs! I later hired her as my coordinator after firing the one that I had up until 3 months before my wedding date. Kandi not only created very lovely stationary for my wedding but she came on board as the coordinator full speed ahead. My compliments on Kandi are very high because she works very well under pressure and you can count on her to get the job done! She made sure everything that I had envisioned happened with the exception of a few things but none of my guest knew what was missing because when she was given "lemons she made lemonade"! There's no such thing as a perfect wedding but I believe that your day will be close to it as possible when you're dealing KR Creations! When you think or hear event planner or coordination you usually think expensive but believe me it's well worth it! Call KR Creations and Kandi will give you a complimentary consultation so you're well aware upfront what her fees are. KR Creations services are affordable, with the work that was done with my event my husband and I feel that she may not have been paid enough for all of her hard work that she did for our wedding!

From the owner: KR Creations & Events is a full service event planning company that offers planning, coordination…read moreand styling services. In addition we offer sweet treats true our KR Candy Bar and beautiful stationery products through KR Paperie. We have fifteen years experience coordinating weddings and providing memorable stress free events. We are able to step in at any stage of the planning process and are experts at creating events that are a true reflection of your vision and your personality.