In Mary I found a coordinator and a friend. If you want a coordinator who is genuine and kind, yet knows exactly how to effectively run a show, keep the ball rolling, and think on her feet, then you want Mary.
Mary was our day-of coordinator ...and florist. My husband and I took a minimalist approach to flowers for our nautical-themed wedding, as we did glass vases with sand, candles, starfish, and sea shells for our table centerpieces, and starfish ropes for the ceremony chairs. We only needed flowers for our bouquets, corsages, sign-in table, gift table, and some petals for the ceremony isle. When I began calling florists for quotes, the typical response I got was "Well, I have a minimum order of $$$". That minimum was way higher than what we needed and wanted to pay. When I called Mary, her immediate response was, "Let's not worry about minimums, just tell me what it is you need." Then and there, I felt relief! Mary was great. She offered suggestions about things I hadn't thought of, and she put together a very detailed plan for the flowers within a day. Just from one phone conversation and one email I knew I also wanted her as my day-of coordinator (a task I was originally going to assign to a couple of my family members, but boy am I glad I didn't!). As my day-of coordinator, Mary flawlessly set up all of my decor (all made by my matron of honor and myself) going off of mock-ups I had put together the week before the wedding. She directed our wedding party at rehearsal (the officiant didn't attend), got us all down the isle in order and on time (including my 2-year old ring bearer), helped my ring bearer blow the bubble machine during the recessional, and made sure cocktail hour was going smoothly while we were getting our pictures taken. She called all of my vendors the day before the wedding, made sure they were all good to go, and pulled strings to allow my guitarist/DJ to set up earlier than the venue told him he could.
Mary is more than reasonably priced, has superior communication skills, and one of the kindest people you will ever meet. When I told my bakery person, photographer, and venue sales manager that Mary was my coordinator, they all said the same thing with a big smile and enthusiasm: "WE LOVE MARY! SHE IS GREAT TO WORK WITH!". Need I say more? Hire Mary!! You will not be disappointed!