We hired Lydia for day-of coordination for our outdoor wedding and also purchased extra hourly planning sessions to make sure she was familiar with all the details in advance. Whil...e a few things went smoothly, overall our experience did not meet expectations.
During our calls, we emphasized that our biggest need was help with set up and tear down. We even brought 15–20 friends and family to support, hoping Lydia would take a leadership role in coordinating those resources. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. I personally ended up staying longer than planned, cleaning up trash instead of getting ready for my big day, while Lydia and her team were seen taking a break.
Positives:
- Lydia created a timeline (based on the details we provided)
- She decorated the tables
- She ensured our family photo frames were packed safely, which was important to us
Challenges We Experienced:
- Lack of clear leadership in organizing the volunteers we brought to help with set up
- Vendor coordination challenges did not feel actively managed
- Ceremony participants (ushers, flower girls, ring bearers) didn’t receive direction on where or when to be in place.
- Selective willingness to help when issues arose
- Tear down was incomplete, was coordinated and led by a guest, and trash was left behind despite hiring additional assistants to help specifically with trash and packing up.
- Did not experience the calm, friendly partnership and easy relationship between coordinator and wedding party one would hope for; if anything interactions made things more stressful.
Feedback Shared by Guests and Family:
- Friends helping set up shared the coordination team ate their breakfast food without asking and while everyone was actively working to set up.
- Multiple people shared that when they approached her with questions or problems, she often replied “not my job” or “I don’t know”.
-Trash was still visible on tables as guests were arriving for the ceremony and was cleaned up by a guest
- Guests noticed Lydia making multiple trips through the appetizers during cocktail hour and without having discussed food as a part of the contract.
- A guest shared that members of the coordination team cut ahead in the buffet line, which felt inappropriate since all guests had not yet been served; Though we intended to extend the invitation, it was not discussed.
- When buses were delayed, a guest said they asked Lydia for support in which she didn't seem willing to engage directly with drivers onsite and instead suggested calling the bus owner; therefore this guest spoke with drivers and easily resolved the situation on her own.
While Lydia’s assistants were friendly and had a positive attitude, we did not feel that Lydia herself demonstrated the level of professionalism, problem-solving, or communication we anticipated. Outdoor weddings do have unique challenges, but we still believe the basics of coordination , professionalism, and leadership should be present. Unfortunately, based on our experience, we cannot recommend this service.