Because it is all About the Joy (Events)!!!
San Francisco Bay Area, Wine Country, South Bay, East Bay
Service area
Jackie Chaban
EVENTS DIRECTOR
AWARD WINNER (8X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
About Joy Events is a wedding planning service based in San Francisco, CA. Our team is passionate about our work and has made it our mission to create fabulous, fun, and joyful events. We take delight in the details and can't wait to help you turn your wedding dreams into reality.
About Joy Events covers events throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Wine Country. We offer full planning, wedding management, and elopement services. We can help you find your dream venue, select awesome vendors, assist with event design, budget management, and logistics, including guest transportation and accommodation, and much more. Micro wedding and day of packages are also available.
We conduct our business and ourselves with respect for others and the environment. We believe in going above and beyond for our clients to make sure their wedding day is the best day of their lives. About Joy Events will work with you to make your dreams come true.
Woman-owned Business
Prices & packages
No pricing details yet
Reach out to get a customized quote from this vendor.
Details
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Packages
Destination Wedding Planning
Planning
A la Carte Wedding Planning
Budgeting
Day-Of Coordination
Destination Wedding Planning
Full Service Wedding Planning
Honeymoon Planning
RSVP Tracking
Wedding Design
Wedding Website
Wedding Activities
Getting Engaged
Engagement Party
Rehearsals & Parties
After Party
Bridal Luncheon
Bridal Shower
Couples Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner
Welcome Party
Wedding
After Party
Ceremony
Cocktail Hour
Day After Brunch
Reception
Rehearsal
Rehearsal Dinner
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Jackie Chaban
Events Director
I have been planning my friends and family events for many years. My official wedding business started after my own wedding in 2010, when my husband's friends started asking me to help plan their weddings. I have worked in different industries but always feel happiest in the hospitality field. I look forward to working with happy couples planning their dream event.
Reviews
4.9
out of 5.065 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Jackie and her team at About Joy Events receive high praise from reviewers for their exceptional service and meticulous wedding planning skills. Multiple reviewers express their gratitude for Jackie's attention to detail, organizational abilities, and genuine care throughout the wedding planning process. Guests are impressed by the smooth execution of weddings, stating that Jackie's coordination ensured a stress-free and enjoyable experience. The team's professionalism, responsiveness, and helpfulness are highlighted, with many recommending Jackie and Cookie as the ultimate wedding planning dynamic duo for a seamless and memorable wedding day.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 2
- Top reviews
- Newest first
- Oldest first
- Highest rated
- Lowest rated
Sort by
Arthur T
5.0
11/08/2024
Jackie helped us tremendously with wedding planning. We didn't have a great vision for our wedding, and Jackie asked lots of questions and gave us homework to help us refine our vision.
As the wedding day came closer, Jackie kept checking in with us to make sure we've got everything figured out. She printed out signs for us, collected small things here and there (bouquets, speakers, speaker stands, etc). Brought the items to all the locations, coordinated with all the vendors, and made sure everything was in place by the time we got there.
Our wedding went SO smoothly in the end, everyone told us it felt effortless and had a lot of fun. This is largely thanks to Jackie and her team!
Mandy K
5.0
10/28/2024
There are not enough good things to say about Jackie and Cookie. From the moment we signed on with them until the end of our wedding day, they were both, kind, professional, helpful and on it. Sometimes I would text a question or request and I would get a response “on it” and as soon as the answer was available I would have an email in my inbox with the completed request. The day of the wedding was phenomenal and I truly enjoyed my wedding day without having to worry about anything going on behind-the-scenes. I knew I had everything covered because Jackie and Cookie were in charge. Highly recommend.
Any questions?
Rick G
5.0
10/28/2024
👍
Julia C
5.0
10/01/2024
Jackie and Cookie - amazing team! I love love working with them through my whole wedding process. From the moment I spoke to Jackie on the phone I just knew my wedding was going to be amazing. And they went above and beyond my expectations. Everything ran smoothly, if there was anything wrong and there wasn't Jackie took care of it. Not only were they my wedding planner, but I have gained 2 friends.
Erica R
5.0
7/05/2024
We were introduced to Jackie less than 2.5 months before our daughter's bat mitzvah at a time when we recognized our original planner was not going to work out. I feel SO LUCKY that we had an opportunity to work with Jackie and Cookie. Some brides/grooms may disagree, but I honestly believe Mitzvah planning is more complex than a wedding- a service, a party that appeals to both kids and adults, etc.
So, if About Joy could deliver on our event, I am 1000% confident they deliver on amazing weddings.
They listened to our vision and ideas for a broadway themed bat mitzvah party and not only executed but provided suggestions to make it even better...from introducing us to an amazing caterer, to finding our a pianist to accompany our broadway singer, to painting the stage door that we used as the sign-in board to creating a logo for our sweatshirts that every 13 yr old guest wears with pride, there was no detail left undone. We wanted this to be a joyful event and with Jackie and Cookie-- it was an 11 of the 1-10 joy scale. I miss them both dearly and can't wait to do another event with them!
My guests commented on how they saw me enjoying every moment of the event- being so present and engaged- and that was because I knew Jackie and Cookie had all the details handled.
Ryan P
5.0
6/15/2024
My husband, Martin, and I had the pleasure of collaborating with Jackie from About Joy Events for our wedding, and we couldn't be happier with the outcome. Jackie assisted us in organizing both our City Hall ceremony and our reception at Wayfare Tavern, and she was nothing short of outstanding.
Jackie's attention to detail and her organizational skills were remarkable. She was incredibly patient and friendly throughout the entire process, and she made our wedding day stress-free. Her genuine passion for event planning was evident, and it was clear that she brings joy to every occasion she handles. Both we and our guests loved her.
I enthusiastically recommend Jackie to anyone planning a wedding in San Francisco. Jackie attentively listened to our needs and delivered everything we asked for, while also offering excellent recommendations for Bay Area vendors.
Jackie made our wedding day so special, and we are grateful for her expertise and kindness.
Clifford C
5.0
2/19/2024
Jackie from About Joy Events did an amazing job for our SF City Hall wedding. From the moment we engaged her services, it was clear that we were in capable hands. We chose Jackie because she had a City Hall package, which showcased her expertise in organizing City Hall ceremonies and receptions at Wayfare Tavern. And she did not disappoint! As she guided us through the process, Jackie's wealth of knowledge about the venues and her organizational skills put us at ease. She effortlessly coordinated with our chosen vendors, ensuring that everything fell into place perfectly.
On the big day itself, Jackie coordinated the ceremony at City Hall, while her assistant Cookie managed the reception setup. Their detailed planning and execution ensured that our guests remained on schedule so that everything went off without a hitch. A few months later, we brought her back to help plan and organize a traditional Chinese wedding banquet. Once more, Jackie went above and beyond, providing valuable support in navigating family dynamics and unforeseen circumstances.
Jackie is so thoughtful, outgoing, and brings a lot of fun to the process. It's clear that Jackie genuinely cares about her couples and their happiness. We are very thankful that we found Jackie and About Joy Events and would 100% recommend their services to the next happy couple.
Thank you, Jackie, for making our wedding day and subsequent celebrations truly unforgettable!
A + C
Katie S
5.0
2/13/2024
Jackie and Cookie were fantastic. From our first call, I felt like Jackie got “us.” She didn’t try to push us in any direction we weren’t comfortable in, and was really respectful of our price point. In fact, she gave us really good feedback about areas that were worth our investment, and others that she would recommend we don’t spend money on. For example, we didn’t want to prioritize florals, and Jackie connected us to a fabulous florist who worked with us to create floral arrangements within our budget that also looked beautiful (and lasted for a long time!). We also hesitated on hiring a DJ, and Jackie talked us through the tradeoffs of not having a DJ. In the end, she connected us to a DJ who was wonderful - in fact, we got a lot of compliments on the music. She also helped us get really good rates on hotel blocks, and recommended our photographer who we loved. Leading up to the day and on the day, Jackie made sure we were completely taken care of. She even helped wipe down all of the chairs when it rained right before our ceremony! If you’re looking for someone who can provide you with quality guidance, support, and vendor recommendations, I highly recommend Jackie. We’re so happy we got to work with her (and Cookie!).
Kathy E
5.0
1/22/2024
We met Jackie through a preferred vendor list and felt a genuine connection with her since our first phone call. We are from Texas and wanted to have our wedding in San Francisco. She helped us navigate around the city and find our dream venue at the Mark Hopkins Hotel. She is extremely professional and has many connections within the wedding industry. We did not have to worry about searching for vendors, she gave us many options and once we picked one, she was on top of it!
She is very genuine and guided us in the best direction, with also making sure to stick within our budget.
Now, I came to Jackie with no vision for our wedding at all, no color scheme, no nothing in mind, just that it needed to be in SF.
She took my blank vision and turned in into a masterpiece of a wedding!
We had our ceremony at City Hall, our cocktail hour at the Top of The Mark, and reception in the Room of the Dons! Top tier service!
Jackie took any stress I had off of me, I didn’t have much to worry about because I knew she had everything under control. The day of the wedding went so well, all of our guest were very impressed with how smooth everything had gone. There was not one mishap and if there was we did not know because Jackie had it all under control. She also had everything on hand that day too, mints for our guest during the ceremony, water and snacks for me, and later I found out she had also sewed one of our guest dresses with floss! She took care of us and our family as if it was her own!
Trust me, Jackie is the wedding planner you want, that you need! You will not regret it!
Lily L
5.0
12/29/2023
Jackie and Cookie are the ultimate Dynamic duo. Jackie helped us plan the wedding to the minute, Cookie had innovative and exciting ideas for our stationery and wedding signage.
Every time I had a question or anxiety crept up Jackie was there to calm it down.
On the day of the wedding, Jackie ran things, kept tabs on the vendors, and made sure the show was moving forward, while wonderful Cookie helped calm me down and helped me change outfits, stayed with me so that I could regulate myself. Cookie’s calming presence was the most wonderful part of the day of. I highly recommend the Dynamic Duo for your wedding planning and wedding day.
Corinna T
5.0
12/27/2023
Jackie is everything you would want your wedding coordinator to be. She is experienced in the industry, kind, assertive, reassuring, and quick to respond. Jackie has your back.
She steered me in the right direction when I needed help with finding various vendors. Through her, I ended up choosing my DJ, florist, transportation, and cake vendors. I loved working with them all.
During the day of my wedding, she was not feeling her best, but she still constantly communicated with me from the start to the end of the day. She showed up to coordinate my City Hall ceremony and though she could not make my reception due to not feeling well (rare in her case), her colleague Cookie handled everything amazingly.
I highly recommend Jackie for your wedding. I miss her now that my wedding is over.
Cynthia C
1.0
12/17/2023
We would not recommend About Joy Events as a wedding planner. We experienced great difficulty getting organized information from her over the three months we worked with her as our “full-service” planner.
Despite having clear dealbreaker criteria for our venues, we routinely received recommendations for venues that did not fit our guest count, or did not permit outside catering. We nearly did not get to book our favorite wedding venue because her communication with them cited the wrong year in the request. It was only after we double checked her email that we discovered the error and had to contact the venue ourselves to clarify.
Jackie regularly forwarded PDFs or long email communication chains from venues or vendors rather than processing the information and determining if they fit our vision or budget. To our disappointment, we never received a single budget breakdown for our wedding, despite many requests.
We found in one email chain she forwarded us that a mere two weeks into working together, she disparaged us to a potential venue. This ultimately caused us to fire her.
I highly suggest looking elsewhere for your wedding planning services.
Vendor response 12/17/2023
We are sorry to hear that your experience continues to trouble you and that About Joy Even...
ts didn’t meet your expectations. We always try to go above and beyond for every client, as we did with you especially with your constant and excessive changes.
To address the comments in this review:
Every venue that was recommended to you absolutely allowed outside catering, and since the guest count was in a constant state of flux, only one venue couldn’t accommodate the ever-changing number.
Nearly not getting to book your favorite venue: Yes, there was a typo in the subject line, but the body of the email had the right date and telephonic communication between the venue manager and myself cleared it up without you contacting the venue. The contract has the right date.
PDF’s and Long Communication chains: Part of our transparency policy about NOT accepting kickbacks or commissions of any kind is that we forward all proposals from other wedding professionals in their original form so that the client has the actual cost estimate for their discretion. Any discounts considerations are automatically passed onto our clients. There was a file folder with a running spreadsheet on costs that were requested from other vendors.
Disparaging comment: A comment was made that planning this wedding was “a lot”. That is the disparaging comment that was made that ultimately caused them to fire me. I apologize that this comment was taken so harshly and it was not meant to have any malice or ill will behind it.
Budget: I made 3 different budgets, which were all located in the Google Drive that I set up for them. There was one for the Indian Wedding, the Western Wedding, and both weddings combined. Again, in the time we worked together the wedding plans and events changed over 20 times. Originally, a 3-day event, then a 2-day event, then a 1-day event, back to a 2-day event, then a 1 and half day event, and then back to a 2 -day event. The guest count changed from 250 guests on the Indian Wedding Day and 125 guests for the Western Wedding Day to 200 for the Indian Wedding and then 200 for the Western Wedding with outside catering, and back again, etc. It was impossible to make an accurate budget when decisions were in a constant state of flux.
We can only be as successful as our clients allow. We put in over 120 hours of work including, 78 phone calls, over 300 emails, 10 site visits, unique and innovative ideas for invitations, signage and over all wedding design within the 3 months of working together.
We do hope your August 2024 wedding turns out to be amazing and that you have a very happy life together.
Eleanor N
5.0
10/19/2023
Jackie (and Cookie!) are absolutely fantastic. My husband and I got married in November 2022, and we hired About Joy in the beginning of 2021. We spoke to a number of planners and Jackie stood out from her enthusiasm, honesty, openness, and energy. We could tell immediately that she loved what she did and would really put her all into planning our wedding. We hired them for full service planning, which meant they could dedicate a lot of time and energy into our plans because they don’t have many full service clients in a year. Their pricing was also very reasonable for what we got in the full service package compared to some others.
Jackie was the one who found our venue for us, which in itself was worth the money - I never would have known about it otherwise! Jackie and Cookie made the trip out to the venue (over an hour drive for them) multiple times with us for viewings and tastings. The parts of the wedding that we got the most compliments on - decor, DJ, food, venue - were all Jackie. She has a great eye for design and an awesome network of vendors in the area which made things super streamlined because she had worked with the majority of them before. One thing that sticks out was the fact that we had to make plans for heating lamps less than a week before the wedding date, because the weather was forecast to be colder than expected. Jackie coordinated everything related to that last minute.
We had such an incredible day that went off without a hitch - it was truly the best day ever. I wish I could plan another wedding with Jackie and Cookie!!
Dani S
5.0
10/08/2023
Jackie and Cookie were absolutely God sent!
After attempting to use another planner and the venue fell through last minute I was left scrambling. I called several wedding planners, I kept getting turned away due to such short notice. Not Jackie.
She swooped in and immediately started giving recommendations on venues and caterers. Our wedding wouldn’t have happened without her, I had no idea what I was doing. She found us phenomenal vendors- a photographer, caterers, hair and makeup, and flowers. Everything went smoothly, she is organized, she thinks of everything, she’s honest, and best of all she is passionate and loves what she does. Anytime I felt stressed about the upcoming day she put the wind back in my sail and brought the excitement back.
Aside from marrying my best friend, hiring Joy Events was the second best decision I made for our day. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts Jackie and Cookie for making our day so so special.
Vendor response 10/18/2023
Thank you so much Dani! I am so happy it turned out so well and that you are happily marr...
ied.
Julie W
5.0
9/27/2023
Jackie did an awesome job executing my daughter and son-in-law’s vision for their reception! She was my eyes and hands so that I could relax, enjoy the day and know the details were covered. She was helpful, responsive and knowledgeable!
Vendor response 10/06/2023
Thank you Julie, How could I not do a fabulous job for your daughter named Jacquie! I am ...
so happy everything turned out so wonderfully.
Erin M
5.0
9/26/2023
Jackie at About Joy Events is the BEST! She was able to navigate between the divergent tastes of both the bride and mother of the groom and create the most amazing wedding and reception that was loved by everyone.
Honestly, we could not have planned this event without About Joy Events. Jackies knowlege of the area, vendors and her great taste contributed to such a beautiful day for everyone. Jackie took on all the stress of planning, which allowed both the Bride, Groom & Parents to enjoy the day.
Vendor response 10/06/2023
Thank you, Erin, I am so happy it turned out so well.
Evelynne C
5.0
9/26/2023
We had a truly wonderful experience working with About Joy Events! From the beginning Jackie’s energy was infectious and her enthusiasm for our day really shined through! It was an easy choice to pick her as our wedding planner after just one conversation based off how well we gelled so effortlessly! You can tell she genuinely loves what she does and cares for her clients! Jackie was really easy to work with and her dedication to making us feel reassured about things going smoothly on our wedding day made the day less stressful. We appreciated her creative ideas and her guidance with questions we had. The day of she did a wonderful job (along with her assistant) setting up our venue and even the DIY floral set up we had decided on! We couldn’t have made it through the day without her help! I would highly recommend her to anyone and can guarantee she’d be a great asset to have to ensure your special day goes smoothly! We cannot thank her enough!
Vendor response 10/06/2023
One of MY FAVORITE weddings of all time! The pure joy at this wedding will never be forgo...
tten! I know you and Greg will have the best most happiest life ever!!
Bronwyn A
5.0
5/29/2023
When my now husband and I started planning our 50-person wedding, we were on the fence about hiring a wedding planner. On my consultation call with Jackie, I asked her to help us understand why a planner was a worthwhile investment. Thankfully, we were convinced - I can’t imagine planning our wedding without Jackie’s help!
Jackie was an invaluable resource from the minute we hired her. Most of our wonderful vendors were from her recommended list, and she was so helpful with my many questions throughout the planning process. On our wedding day, Jackie and Cookie made sure everything ran seamlessly. We could relax and fully enjoy our wedding day knowing that we were in Jackie’s expert hands. It was truly a joy to work with her, and our wedding was everything we dreamed it would be. Thank you, Jackie!!
Lydia B
5.0
4/08/2023
Jackie and Cookie were absolutely amazing!!! So professional and helpful throughout the planning process and day-of. They were crucial in making our wedding the fantastic day that it was. From helping me source vendors, giving advice on anything and everything wedding, to sewing me into my dress and so much more... I truly cannot thank them enough. Highly recommend!
Henry P
5.0
1/02/2023
You know that feeling when everything clicks on a first date, and you know that relationship's going to work out wonderfully? And then you go on one or two dates with other people because you're "supposed to see what your options are", but you know right away that those aren't going to work out?
That was exactly how my wife and I felt after our first call with Jackie.
We got in touch with her while looking for help with wedding planning after our jobs devolved into twelve-plus hour days of corporate mayhem, and we couldn't be happier that we did. (We had two other initial calls with other planners. They were lovely people, but we knew we were set on Jackie.)
From the first call, it was clear Jackie understood what we wanted our wedding to be and the kind of support we'd need to make it real. And boy, did she follow through.
Every single one of her vendor recommendations (photographers, florist, makeup artist, DJ) worked out amazingly for us- both in terms of the quality of their work (top notch!) and in their personalities (absolute gems of people!).
Every phone call left us confident nothing had slipped through the cracks- Jackie's excitement and attention to detail really shined through. If we had a particular opinion about something, she made sure it happened; if we didn't, she had tons of beautiful ideas for us to consider.
Her dedication to making sure our wedding was perfect was unreal: One of our signature cocktails featured cucumber, so she special-ordered ten pounds of it from "her guy at the farmer's market" to make sure we'd have plenty day of. We wanted dim sum desserts for our wedding, so she toured dim sum restaurants all around San Francisco to find the best ones she could. (Spoiler: my very-much-a-tiger-mom mom was impressed.)
As for the wedding day itself: utterly seamless. (I really mean this: people from our wedding party have since been in other weddings, and continue to comment on how calm and organized our wedding was. We did none of that; it was all Jackie.)
We were able to relax, stay present, and enjoy each moment of our wedding, and we can't thank Jackie (and Cookie!) enough for all of the work they put into making our wedding day the best it could be.
Lana S
5.0
1/01/2023
It is always a pleasure to work with Jackie and Cookie on events!!!
Every time I get a date request if my floral service is available for a potential client, I know that everything will be planned, coordinated, and worked out if something occurs.
We've worked together on at least five events, and I trust About Joy Events due to their professionalism in detailed planning, timely communication with vendors, and their care for clients and guests.
In addition, Jackie and Cookie are easygoing and fun to work and talk with.
I look forward to creating more events with you, Lana from Dream Flowers.
Adreanne M
5.0
12/16/2022
About Joy Events, specifically Jackie Chaban was heaven sent on our wedding day. From the day of our meeting, Jackie was so much fun and very professional. She made planning so enjoyable everytime we spoke. On the day of our wedding, Jackie took in all the decision - making with her expertise and delegated each task according to the plans my fiancé and I presented. She has an eye for decor and has so much wisdom in what she does.
My sister (maid of honor) felt peace after meeting Jackie becaus Jackie took on so much for us. Jackie is quite exceptional and went above and beyond for me and my fiancé. My fiancé and I highly recommend and we give so much PRAISES to About Joy Events!
Vendor response 10/06/2023
Thank you Adreanne, your wedding was so much fun and I loved the Christmas theme
Sara C
5.0
10/12/2022
We are so grateful that we found Jackie and About Joy Events for our wedding! Jackie was there for every step of the process and provided great guidance and vendor recommendations. Our wedding day was seamless and we were able to enjoy every minute. We would absolutely recommend!!
Angela W
5.0
9/12/2022
Working with Jackie has been such a great pleasure!! She recommended fantastic vendors to us. She went ABOVE AND BEYOND for every single call. She provided us with so many useful documents and sheets which helped us organize everything from budget to tracking vendors to day of coordination.
She helped ease my nerves when I texted her at like 4am the morning of my wedding that I didn't think I could walk down the aisle with my dress with m parents (because it was too big and poofy). On the big day, she said to my wedding party that she apologizes for putting her mean face/attitude on, but I didn't think she was mean at all. She was professional and she got things DONE. The day couldn't have gone on without her and her sister Cookie.
Even after the wedding, Jackie is still there for us to help us navigate some logistic issues we had with one vendor. Jackie pointed out to us that the vendor didn't deliver common services and she wanted us to make sure we wouldn't be overcharged.
Highly recommend her. We love you Jackie!
Haley A
5.0
6/27/2022
We got married in June and had an amazing experience working with Jackie, Cookie, and Kaylin at About Joy — we really couldn’t have pulled it off without them and they truly live up to their joyful name!! They were each creative, attentive, and took every detail into account when we were planning. Their creativity and attention to detail were key for communicating about our complex, multi-event wedding in Oakland. As soon as we signed with them, they helped us hire all our other major vendors, making sure we got to work with their (and now our!) favorite people during the extra busy summer 2022 wedding season. And not a day went by in the final weeks of preparations that we didn’t say to each other “thank goodness we hired About Joy.” We cannot recommend About Joy strongly enough for your upcoming wedding!
Vendor response 06/27/2022
Thank you so much, Haley!! Cookie and I loved working with you and Frank. We love when ...
clients become friends. We can't wait to hear of your next milestone, whatever it may be. Cheers to more backyard celebrations in the future!!
Laura C
5.0
6/22/2022
I had the time of my life (as all brides should) thanks so much to Jackie and her team at About Joy Events! The moniker could not be more accurate-- they truly cater to joy. Talking with Jackie, even about the most stressful parts of planning, was frequently the highlight of my day because of what a great energy and spirit she brings to every interaction. I could just go on and on forever--she always had brilliant ideas for every scenario and hiccup. You can tell in the back of her mind her wheels are always spinning to come up with more ideas, thoughts and touches to make sure your event is as special and personalized as it can possibly be. She knows the industry and its vendors backward-and-forward. Our engagement was rather protracted due to COVID-19, (and we had a last-minute venue change, yikes!) but Jackie never lost her patience nor her zestful energy, and instead remained steadfastly dedicated to the event, constantly going above and beyond. I felt from the first phone call she truly values getting to know a couple and figuring out what's going to make them happy. I'm eternally grateful to About Joy Events for ensuring that such an important event was truly special, memorable, and stress free day-of-- particularly as stakes and tensions can tend to run high for weddings these days. Last thing I'll say: Jackie is magic. She doesn't eyeroll or get defeatist, dismissive or negative-- she embraces input and makes things happen! I simply can't express how glad I was to have her magic on my side leading up to, and through, our wedding day.
Vendor response 06/27/2022
Thank you, Laura! I miss you so much. I loved everything about you and Mike. You always...
made me feel so appreciated, and I always say, those who feel appreciated always do. more than expected. Your wedding was amazing and I am so grateful that I got to be part of it. I can't wait for the baby shower!
Tara L
5.0
6/18/2022
Jackie made my dream wedding possible. We first started working together before the pandemic, and from the beginning she was an amazing advisor that helped me deal with the difficult decisions a bride-to-be has to make. I was very impressed by her proactiveness, professionalism, and wealth of knowledge about how to make the day special. She checked in with us regularly over the 2+ year delay and helped us manage the challenging process of rescheduling multiple times.
As we got closer to our wedding day, Jackie made sure we had every detailed lined up, including things my husband and I didn't even consider. She helped take care of signage, shipping, confirming with vendors, table/space set-up, and more. On the day of our wedding, she directed vendors, guided guests, and dealt with unforeseen emergencies. Our wedding could not have gone smoother and it was in a large part because of Jackie! We are incredibly thankful and can't recommend her enough!
Vendor response 06/27/2022
Thank you so much Tara! I am SO VERY HAPPY you finally got to have the dream wedding. It...
was so joyful and I loved your parents and friends so much. Best wishes to you and Potter!!
Renee C
5.0
5/29/2022
First things first - this review is long overdue! But no matter how much time has passed, hiring Jackie was one of the best things I did for my February 2022 wedding. We took a handful of calls with other wedding planners and it was Jackie's friendliness and warmth that sold us on About Joy Events. We had a year-long planning timeline in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and no matter how anxious I got, Jackie was always able to calm me down and for every problem that popped up in my mind, she had a solution. She made me laugh on our calls and when I was faced with a problem with one of my vendors, she was quick to validate my feelings, work through difficult conversations with the vendor and when it resulted in having to fire that vendor 3 weeks before the wedding, Jackie was already sending me suggestions for replacements. There was never a moment where I felt like she didn't have my back. And the day of the wedding...she and Cookie were so supportive! My mom had rave reviews and was so thankful to have their support on my wedding day. I highly recommend About Joy Events!
Vendor response 05/31/2022
My pleasure, I loved you and your whole family so much!
Your wedding was so wonderful and ...
joyful and I loved every minute of it.
I miss you, Renee and I hope you and Jordan are living the best life ever!
Michelle C
5.0
1/24/2022
Jackie and Cookie were the best! We had a 25 person micro wedding but quickly realized we still needed a day of coordinator to help our day run smoothly. Working with Jackie and Cookie was one of the best decisions we made for our day. From the start, Jackie maintained a helpful timeline and was always available to discuss details or provide vendor recommendations. The day of our wedding Jackie and Cookie allowed us to completely relax because they took care of all the details. Jackie brought our bouquet and boutonnière to the hotel and oversaw all the transportation logistics of getting our family to and from multiple locations across San Francisco. Cookie ensured our vendors dropped off the cake and flowers to our dinner reception, made sure the table was set with place cards, candles were lit and music was playing. When we walked into our dinner reception it was exactly what we had hoped for. We would highly recommend Jackie and Cookie for your wedding day needs.
Vendor response 02/22/2022
Thank you so much Michelle, we loved you and everything about your wedding!
Ana B
5.0
1/20/2022
I am in love in About Joy Events. Although I have never visited California, Jackie made it extremely easy to communicate and keep me updated. Jackie and Cookie are amazing at what they do and are there to guide you with whatever you need. I truly enjoyed my journey with them and was really sad to leave them both. I HIGHLY recommend About Joy Events!!
Vendor response 02/22/2022
I am so sad the wedding is over and I miss our calls, but one last time:
HELLO Beautiful B...
rides!
Amy H
5.0
1/03/2022
When you hire a wedding planner – not a coordinator – you're essentially hiring a friend for a year. You should look for someone who exemplifies trust and kindness, who genuinely cares for you and your husband's needs. Jackie was an excellent hire! She's now become a good friend now that my wedding is over! Woohoo!
Jackie, and her assistant Cookie, were a great help at our wedding in late October 2021. They set up my wedding exactly as I imagined, though I recommend that you as a bride organize and label everything clearly. Up until that date, Jackie had been consultive since the very beginning of the contract. She and I would have regular calls monthly then closer to the date, weekly. While Jackie isn't the most organized person, she acts with urgency and she genuinely cares about my needs. Jackie was basically a therapist, who not only gave advice on love and navigating planning with my husband, but she also gave great advice on whether vendors were a great deal, her opinions on the industry, and recommended excellent vendors including our DJ, florist, and more. My only regret is not paying a bit more to get an extra hour or so for her help with cleaning up our BYOAlcohol wedding!
All of her recommendations were top-tier vendors – and that's extremely important when planning your wedding! You want your wedding planner to work well with other vendors, but you also want to trust that your planner knows good people who will show up on time and produce A+ work.
Hire Jackie.
Addie R
5.0
12/21/2021
Jackie is amazing! We hired her for our Dec 2021 wedding and we said multiple times it was the best decision we made throughout the process. She has amazing ideas, helps find the perfect vendors, and takes all of the details you don’t want to worry about off your plate. On our wedding day, we didn’t have to think about anything other than enjoying the day because Jackie and Cookie made the day go seamlessly. Jackie brings genuine excitement to every event she works on, and you will thank yourself over and over for hiring her.
Vendor response 02/22/2022
OHHHH ADDIE!! I love this review and YOU and Alan. I miss you so much I wish we could pl...
an this wedding all over again!!!
Sarah S
5.0
11/17/2021
Jackie is an incredible wedding planner - capable, professional, personable, creative - and we are so glad we had in our corner as we planned our wedding! She hooked us up with some excellent vendors (a few that we never would have found on our own); she advised us on matters of etiquette/tradition; she took things off my to-do list whenever I was overwhelmed; she handled all day-of logistics so I could just be in the moment; she thought of creative solutions when we ran into problems; her assistant did some amazing graphic design work for us; she handled my aunt, who was intent on inserting herself in unwelcome ways into our wedding logistics; and she helped me manage my divorced parents so no one's feelings got hurt! Plus, she is just so lovely and enthusiastic and so genuinely excited about our wedding - she was our biggest cheerleader along the way. Now that the wedding is over, I don't miss all the planning tasks, but I do miss talking with Jackie!
Vendor response 02/22/2022
Thank you for this review, I find myself missing you and our zoom meetings. I loved your ...
wedding! One of the most joyful events I have planned!
Shelsy Z
5.0
9/22/2021
I couldn’t say enough good things about Jackie and cookie if I wanted to. From first hiring them in august of 2020 in the height of a global pandemic to actually pulling off my 90 person wedding with a variant raging outside. Jackie was the most understanding attentive and wildly supportive person I have ever met. My vendors we’re so well coordinated by this woman there were absolutely no questions to be asked. Everyone and I so mean EVERYONE from the vendors to the caterers to the wedding party to myself and the groom knew exactly what to do and where to be. My day was seamless. When I interviewed Jackie she asked what my biggest concern was and I responded that the day would be full of kinks. Well there were none it was gorgeous I adore about joy events. If I could do it all over again I would hire them first without even knowing what else was needed because I know they would get me through it all
Vendor response 11/16/2021
Oh Shelsy, there are not enough thank you for choosing me as your planner. One of my favo...
rite weddings ever. I love you, your family, your friends and your ideas. I miss you a lot and I can't wait for the next event!!!
Kathryn L
5.0
9/19/2021
Jackie was a professional. I met Jackie when she helped in planning my daughters’ wedding three years ago. When we started planning my wedding two years ago, covid intervened and her team, which included the florist, were able to plan again. Jackie was on top of everything and had great suggestions. Her assistant Justine kept us on track day of the wedding and it was the most perfect wedding that I could have hoped for. Of course beautiful setting and weather helped. Everyone had a wonderful time.
Vendor response 11/16/2021
I am so happy for you Kathy! I loved Dianna's wedding and your wedding and all the happin...
ess and joy. Thank you for this wonderful review and letting Cookie, Justine and me be part of your best day ever.
Arryn D
5.0
8/04/2021
I don’t know how to put into words how amazing Jackie and Cookie are. Jackie made sure our day was PERFECT after such an insane year. She helped keep all our vendors in order, made sure all vendors were responding and answering questions including our rehearsal dinner.
She helped us keep everything together with 3 wedding dates due to CoVID and even helped me find the most amazing make up artists after a last minute drop out.
All I can say is, if you are looking for someone who is amazing, organized, understands a couples needs and will end up being an amazing friend look no further than About Joy Events.
Vendor response 11/16/2021
Thank you Arryn, you and Ryan were a joy to work with and while I am so happy that you FIN...
ALLY got your day, I miss our calls! Lots of love!
Roxanne S
5.0
7/22/2021
Justine was incredible and really went above and beyond our expectations for a wedding planner! She was energetic, organized, attentive to details, and flexible to any of our needs. She was eager to tackle any challenge and came up with creative solutions (she even helped to disassemble and transport our chuppah!). Our wedding day was seamless and perfect thanks to her help.
Vendor response 07/23/2021
Thank you, we are happy Justine could help you the day of your wedding.
Becky B
5.0
2/26/2021
Jackie is truly the most amazing wedding planner out there. I had consultations with 7+ planners for my SF wedding, and Jackie stood out. She has so much experience in event planning, is personable, asks all of the right questions about your event, and knows what you need. Because she's so experienced, she knows exactly what to look for in venues, vendors, etc., and also knows how to make your wedding personal and authentic to you. Working with Jackie will not only make planning your event fun and stress-free, but will also likely save you money and headache in the long-run since she knows how to get the best deals for the services you are getting. You can trust her always. Highly recommend Jackie.
Jason B
5.0
1/08/2021
Jackie was a tremendous help in planning our wedding last year, and a pleasure to work with! Jackie brought so many great ideas to the table and was so on top of everything. The Covid lockdowns hit right before the wedding and unfortunately the event did not take place (which was out of everyone's control), but Jackie was so level-headed throughout all of it and I don't know how we would have navigated the experience without her! Jackie and her team are great at what they do and I wholeheartedly recommend Joy Events for wedding planning!
Amy A
5.0
9/09/2020
Jackie was absolutely amazing from the get go! She has a positive attitude and such an infectious laugh, you will never not feel supported, and she will take all the stress away!
Rachel C
5.0
9/05/2020
Jackie has been the wedding planner of our dreams! She is enthusiastic, organized, and timely in her responses. Everything was going according to plan then COVID hit us less than 3 months before our wedding. While our world was falling apart (my fiancé and I both work in healthcare) Jackie was our support and lead us to making the right decisions when we had our blinders of disbelief up! Even though we postponed, our enthusiasm remains strong because we know Jackie will remain committed 100%; just as she has been through the most difficult challenges. Jackie contacted every single vendor during the crisis and made sure they could all agree to our new date. She removed what would have been a major headache and allowed us to focus on our jobs and merely get through. You will not regret booking Jackie along with her sweet sister Cookie! They're a great team & you would be lucky to have them on your side! Thank you Jackie!!!
Vendor response 02/16/2021
Thank you Rachel - I cannot wait for your wedding dreams to come true this Summer!
Michelle H
5.0
7/12/2020
I cannot begin to describe how helpful Jackie was. My husband and I had been planning a big wedding with tons of logistics. We hired her (which we should’ve done much sooner) and our stress levels decreased drastically. She was on top of everything with a wonderful attitude! We felt our wedding was in wonderful hands. She was super informative and professional. With all the the hard work she was helping us through, we were so insanely excited for our reception and ceremony.
Our wedding was cancelled about 2 weeks prior to our date due to city restrictions in regards to COVID-19. Everyone involved (us, family, wedding parties, Jackie, etc) was devastated. It was definitely one of the craziest times of my life. I am so thankful Jackie was able to help us through this.
Since we are waiting for this pandemic to ease, we’ve got some celebrations on hold. Once we start that planning, I know Jackie, and Cookie of course, will keep being our go-to planners!
Zakkai D
5.0
11/16/2019
Jackie has been nothing short of wonderful during our entire time working with her. About 2 months before our wedding, my partner and I reached out to Jackie to ask about day-of-coordination and quickly recognized that she was the coordinator we wanted. Jackie was super-fast at communicating, very well-organized, and able to help us plan out everything we needed! Even though we only hired her for day-of-coordination, she helped us with tons of logistics during the full two months leading up to the wedding including setting us up with a spectacular florist, finding a stylist and make-up artist, coordinating with vendors, and getting final logistics planned for the day. She was a huge lifesaver and our wedding wouldn't have been nearly as smooth and fun without her.
For the day-of-coordination, not only did Jackie and Cookie make everything seamless and easy for my partner and I, but they also made everything in our wedding look absolutely stunning. They managed everything from setting up the flowers and coordinating with the caterers on timing to figuring out the layout for ceremony and handling the rearrangement of the backyard for the reception.
Honestly, my partner and I have been so happy with how the day went and that's in no small part due to the amazing work from About Joy events. We 1000% recommend hiring them :)
Vendor response 01/08/2020
Thank you Zakkai, you and your friends and family and especially Nam will always hold a sp...
ecial place in my heart. Your vows and speeches filled my heart with joy and inspired me to write things down to remember at my son's wedding.
Joumana A
5.0
11/01/2019
My husband and I used About Joy Events as a partial wedding planner - mostly for help the day of the wedding, but also for vendor recommendations, schedule planning, and general questions leading up to the big day. About Joy Events was a pleasure to work with, and made my husband and I feel so at ease going into our wedding week and on our wedding day. Throughout wedding planing, Jackie was always so responsive and helpful whenever we had questions or needed help. She offered her advice and opinions while always staying true to the vision that we had for our wedding. Jackie always had a positive attitude. We worked well together because we both had the mentality that if something went wrong on the wedding day, we would simply pivot and figure out an alternative. Thankfully, nothing went wrong and we had a great day. But knowing that we had the same outlook on the day was very reassuring. My husband & I had a perfect wedding day - this was in large part to Jackie's vendor recommendations & all of her assistance leading up to the wedding. I highly recommend working with About Joy Events as a wedding/day-of coordinator.
Vendor response 11/12/2019
Thank you, Joumana! It was a wonderful, joyful affair and I am actually sad it is over, b...
ut happy that I got to be part of it!
Hope R
5.0
10/28/2019
Recently attended an event planned by Jackie at About Joy and it was fabulous. Every detail was so well thought out. You could tell she puts her all in all she does. She puts unique touches on everything and thinks about the needs of all of the different guests in attendance. The event was beautiful and had such a fun vibe. I wouldn't hesitate to hire her for any event, such an amazing day!
Ellie R
5.0
10/28/2019
I was so overwhelmed by the wedding planning process that I was seriously thinking of canceling my wedding, then someone suggested I hire a planner. I interviewed several planners and decided on hiring Jackie. I am so happy I did after we started working together I felt happier and relieved. Jackie helped me pick out my dress, my invites, the linens, the flowers, she basically did everything since I have problems making up my mind. The wedding itself was near perfect, everything came together beautifully. My family and husband were pleased with the outcome as well.
Vendor response 10/28/2019
Thank you so much for letting us be part of your day, it turned out so well!
Marina A
5.0
10/25/2019
Jackie is absolutely amazing and her energy is contagious. Recently attended an amazing party organized by Joy events and every detail, to the smallest bit, was carefully thought through and organized extremely well.
Jackie puts her heart and soul into everything she does and it is definitely can be seen and felt.
Highly recommend Joy Events.
Hector S
5.0
10/24/2019
Jackie and Cookie were a phenomenal help - our day was perfect and we could not have done it without them. We originally signed them up for day of coordination, but About Joy Events ended up helping us with much more from a wedding management angle.
About Joy helped us find new vendors and negotiated strong rates on some of our selected vendors. Net-net I think we saved money by using About Joy Event. As the day came together, the vendor coordination was impeccable, and we got great feedback from our vendors on About Joy.
For the day itself, everything ran like clockwork and a number of our guests commented on how friendly and welcoming (and fun!) both Jackie and Cookie were.
Thanks again - highly recommend!
Vendor response 10/25/2019
Thank you Hector - your and Katy's wedding was so joyful that I always smile when I see th...
e pictures!
Lauren C
5.0
10/24/2019
Jackie only has one level - perfection - for her parties. We just got back from one a couple weeks ago that was phenomenal, great food, so many tiny details that made us comfortable, taken care of, and seriously impressed, and most importantly we had a great time. Jackie was completely ON and clearly knows what she's doing.
Vendor response 10/25/2019
Thank you for the lovely words, Lauren.
Laurie B
5.0
10/24/2019
This fantastic, delightful and unique party was expertly planned by Jackie and Cookie! It featured a gorgeous venue, yummy food, a festive atmosphere and was perfectly customized. Seamless planning made attending as a guest relaxing and effortless as their thoughtfulness and attention to detail was impeccable! Also, I greatly appreciated the environmental sustainability aspect which sets a great example.
Vendor response 10/25/2019
Thank you for noticing the eco aspect of the party! it was my favorite part....
Gloria K
5.0
8/07/2019
Jackie is the best, she plus Katie and Cookie made my brother's wedding a great success even when difficult and incompetent vendors who were friends of my parents were extremely late and derailed the schedule for the evening. Jackie handled everything so well and very professionally, it was such a monumentally good decision to hire her and her team at Milk & Honey Special Events. Thank you so much to them all!
Moral of the story: go with the pros - pick Jackie and her team for your special events.
Anna D
5.0
7/31/2019
Hiring Milk & Honey Special Events was, hands down, the best decision that I could have made for my wedding (other than the groom, of course). Working with Jackie was absolutely fantastic! Not only was she a professional in every sense of the word, she was also wonderfully fun and energetic. Jackie often said that she hoped to "spread joy" through her work: the joyfulness and love that Jackie brought with her transformed the entire planning process. Before I hired Jackie, I was behind schedule, stressed out, and overwhelmed. Jackie completely changed the game. She not only got things organized, she also worked directly with the vendors, was unbelievably flexible and generous in her time, and was so incredibly helpful in everything from brainstorming ideas (Jackie is INCREDIBLY creative and has so many beautiful ideas!) to addressing any problems that came up during the planning and during the event itself. She turned stress into excitement, and worry into joy every step of the way. Every time I got off the phone with Jackie, I felt inspired and optimistic. The team that she brought with her on the actual day of the wedding was wonderful: Cookie and Katie were kind, supportive, and all-around awesome. Jackie, I cannot thank you enough for everything that you did for me. I am so grateful to Milk & Honey Special Events for making my wedding happen.
Vendor response 08/01/2019
Anna, Thank you. I really loved working with you, Bobby and your families so much. Your ...
wedding put Cookie, Katie and me on a "love high" for weeks. The pure joy of this event was epic, and I will always remember this wedding and your fantastic families and friends. The ultimate compliment came from Freshte after you and Bobby left - she said I could do your sister and brother in law's weddings too!
Chella N
5.0
1/20/2019
I thought I could plan my wedding all by myself, silly me. I was racked with stress from making decisions and finally I gave in. A month before the wedding, i started looking at wedding planners with little hopes I could find someone last minute. I had lost all the enthusiasm of getting married and just wanted it to be over with. I called Jackie and I was honestly taken aback by how excited she was, despite being last minute. She was thrilled to take over the wedding planning and was overflowing with passion for the job. I was excited again, thanks to her. Jackie and Cookie were absolutely amazing the day of the wedding, too. I didn’t have to worry about a thing!
Vendor response 01/22/2019
Lovely Chella, Thank you for your kind words and I am so happy that Cookie and I got to he...
lp you be excited for your wedding day again. It was a wonderful, joyful day and I will never forget you, Ruben, your family and friends and the pure happiness....
Chelsea W
5.0
11/13/2018
From the planning to helping me destress, the many ideas, working so much with preparing decorations (which you did not have to do!) her wonderful assistant cookie and many other tasks with working on making sure my vendors supplied what was needed - everything was wonderful thank you a million times over for all your help! We love Jackie you really were the best for us!! Thank you over and over!!
Vendor response 11/17/2018
Really happy we got to do your and Daniel's wedding and it came off so successfully!
I wi...
ll never forget the airshow of the Blue Angles - like we ordered them to perform especially for you!
Dianna L
5.0
11/11/2018
Jackie and Cookie made themselves available 24/7 before our wedding and we’re always upbeat and helpful. I couldn’t have gotten through planning a San Francisco wedding from Los Angeles without them!!
Vendor response 11/17/2018
Thanks Dianna, so happy you found us and we were able to get everything together to make y...
our wedding amazing !!!
Katy R
5.0
9/17/2018
Jackie is the best! She has a lot of great vendor connections and is committed to making sure you stay within budget. She made the entire planning process as organized and streamlined as possible, handling any hiccups that happened quickly and smoothly. My only regret is not hiring her sooner!
Vendor response 09/17/2018
Thank you, Katy, we loved your wedding and you and Chase AND LOGAN.
Katie C
5.0
8/28/2018
I had initially discarded the idea of having a planner for my wedding very early on during the planning process due of budgetary concerns. The planners that I had spoken to on my initial search had been more than what I had thought I could afford. So I proceeded to plan my wedding step by step, using The Knot for guidance during the entire process. But about 6 months to the wedding, I started to get concerned about whether we would be able to actually enjoy our wedding if I was still coordinating it. It was at that point that we dove into the search for a planner for day-of coordination. This time I had a better idea about what we could afford and what we were looking for.
This is when we reached out to Jackie. We scheduled a call to discuss what Patrick and I were looking for, the services we needed, and our concerns. Jackie listened to us, and was willing to work with. Jackie and Cookie were FANTASTIC. Jackie was always there to listen to us, to allow us to bounce ideas off, to help us with a few vendors that we still hadn’t secured.
Hiring Jackie was one of the best decisions we made about the wedding. I could tell from the first call that Jackie was “my planner.” I knew that she would be just as invested in making our day as “perfect” as I was. My wedding would be like her wedding. I could count on her to bring our vision together and to life. And we were right. On the big day, we didn’t have to worry about anything. Jackie and Cookie had everything well in hand. And it was great knowing that we had someone there that was looking out for our interests and what we wanted.
Working with Jackie and Cookie was so great! I almost want to plan another wedding just to work with them again!
Vendor response 09/05/2018
Hands down, one of my favorite weddings ever!
Thank you, Katie, it really was just so much...
fun!
Amanda S
5.0
7/29/2018
I was the matron of honor in a wedding and Jackie and her assistant Cookie were PHENOMENAL. The bride is extremely organized and efficient and so she took care of the pre-planning tasks on her own, but I'm so glad she hired Milk and Honey for their "day of" package. Jackie and Cookie came to the wedding rehearsal and also took care of everything on the wedding day and it made everything so much easier so all of us could enjoy the day and really be in the moment and witness such a special day without any stress. Jackie and Cookie are lovely ladies with a great sense of humor, I highly recommend them to all couples for planning a wedding!!
Vendor response 07/29/2018
Thank you, Amanda! Hands down, one of the best weddings we have done to date. SO MUCH FU...
N!!! A great venue, a great theme, a fun, happy and joyful day.
a member
5.0
7/08/2018
We hired Milk & Honey for our son's Bar Mitzvah and it was the best decision we made, worth every penny. Jackie made sure every detail was thought of, and carried through and brought a theme to life. She's exceptionally creative, thoughtful, professional and her enthusiasm will carry any bride or client to the finish line! Thank you so much Milk & Honey Special Events!!
Vendor response 07/09/2018
Thank you, Annie, "Club I" was so much fun to plan, I can't wait to do your kids weddings...
!
Charles G
5.0
7/07/2018
Jackie and Cookie were such a great team to have for our wedding. From our first meeting, they were brimming with ideas and eager to help us realize our wedding day vision. Jackie was always enthusiastic and responsive in emails prior to the wedding. Her experience helped us anticipate and address many potential issues, for which we are so grateful. She provided insight on not only the visible parts of the day, but on logistical details that are crucial to things running smoothly.
Jackie helped us run through our rehearsal and create a schedule for the wedding day. She was the point of contact for all vendors and even helped us deal with an unexpected no-show, following up with the vendor after the event. In every way, she went above and beyond.
On the day of, we knew we were in good hands and were free to absorb our wedding day. We are very glad we chose Milk and Honey to help us and would highly recommend them for any event planning and coordination.
Vendor response 07/09/2018
It was our pleasure!!! Thank you G & C, for letting us be part of the best day.
Vanessa G