Elsilu

eather and the Elsilu team 3 months before our wedding, after we decided to move everything to Northern Michigan. Heather and her team never once hesitated to take us on, even with a 3 month turn around time. We explored numerous venues with Heather and completely re planned our wedding within that time frame and was so ensuring and supportive that it could be done. Heather is so professional and truly knows all the ins and outs of the Northern Michigan, all of the right contacts and all of the best vendors. On top of it all, she really knows how to listen and build a personal relationship with her clients. She helped us prepare invitations, design the floral and meet with the florist, help with caterer, hair and make up, help with the cake, linens, design concept, all of the rentals, help with party favors and welcome bags for our guests, room blocks, transportation, the after party, and soo much more! She also communicated with all of our vendors to help ensure everyone was in the loop and on the same page. They seriously took all of the hard and stressful work out of our hands and helped us truly enjoy the planning process and most importantly our wedding day. On the wedding day, Elsilu was there to help with all the little details that you wouldn't think of if you didn't have a planner (making sure we had food and coffee in the morning, helping me bustle my dress, wiping down the ceremony chairs because it rained the morning of, having hairspray and qtips on hand for the wedding party, etc.) Our wedding turned out absolutely amazing and even better than we could've imagined. We had so many compliments from every single guest and we owe it all to Heather and Elsilu! Thank you so much for making our wedding dreams come true and for being the best planning team we could've asked for!

planning. I seriously can’t thank them enough for everything they did for us! They are also so sweet and I’m honestly going to miss texting them about planning my wedding! Also, shout out to Cherell because we left our videographer at the ceremony and she drove him to us so he could ride on the bus with us! They seriously went above and beyond! THANK YOU ❤️

e due to Covid. From this day forward Julie saved the day every step of the way. From booking a new venue 3 months out from our wedding day, to booking a new catering company and all new rentals for the new space I cannot believe how amazing it turned out! We actually are so glad we had to switch spaces looking back. Julie was there to answer all my phone calls and texts throughout the whole planning phase, and even drove 4 hours down state to meet with myself and the rental company I used. When it came to the actual day, Julie was even more amazing than I ever even dreamed she could be! The weather forecast showed nothing but clear skies for over a week out from my wedding day and then crazy enough during the middle of my ceremony it started to thunderstorm and downpour rain! I was so upset since we had a completely outdoor reception venue with no tent. But, yet again, Julie and her team saved the day! For 2 hours they brought everything they could inside to save it and then dried down all the wet tables, chairs etc. multiple times until the rain finally passed and then re set everything back up! All my guests couldn't get over how amazing and hardworking everyone was. I will really miss working with Julie and talking to her all the time! I will always tell everyone I know Elsilu is the best of the best!

day! I know a lot of wedding planners don't do that for you. I definitely felt like they genuinely cared how I felt and wanted the best for us. They went above and beyond. The day of the wedding was so organized, I didn't have to worry about a thing! They assembled all my of welcome bags and once I got to the resort, I didn't have to do anything! I would hire them all over again and I would recommend them to anyone! They travel all over, from planning my wedding in Michigan, Turks and Caicos to then Florida. Thanks Elsilu for making our wedding dreams come true!

ell organized and running smoothly. As a vendor, Julie really made our lives so much easier while filming! She was such a pleasure to team up with and we hope to work more events together in the future!!!

ith the “national” big city wedding planner we’d hired for the big wedding (we come from a large city as well). My goal was to create a “jewel box” wedding as a miniature of the original big wedding and Julie oversaw every detail. DO NOT let the fact that she operates out of a small town influence your decision to hire her because she has close, long-term vendor relationships with large and small vendors across the state of MIchigan and Chicago. They obviously love working with her and performed beautifully. We were a priority with the vendors even though it was a micro-wedding which is a testament to her vendor relationships. She has handled huge weddings in the past (500 plus) and is a powerhouse planner. Some the things we loved about Julie: 1) Exquisite taste in design from the tabletop and florals to the overall look of the day/weekend; She listened very carefully to my daughter’s vision and it was beautifully executed. 2) Her fixed price approach and transparency in costs was so refreshing; she was incredibly generous with her time and extras; she went above and beyond; 3) She was on-site for 12 hours the day of the wedding and made sure every single detail was perfect. She even brought her steam iron and steamed out my daughter’s wedding dress and veil. She can tackle any mishap. 4) She was accessible without fail during the planning process and always responded immediately unless it was during a wedding; 5) fabulous staff support with people she’s known a long time. Most importantly, we fell in love with her personality, energy and kindness. There is not one thing I would have done differently and it was truly a perfect event. She could be running a big company but her love is making even a small event truly spectacular.

, especially behind the scenes for their brides is so appreciated. I would recommend them to any bride or anyone planning an event!

ul, last-minute covid wedding. She helped us put together an at-home/backyard wedding that required lots of logistical considerations. She created the most beautiful, magical, and stress-free event I could have ever imagined. She is warm, positive, and so easy to work with. She is an incredible listener. And her local relationships (with other vendors) are incredible, which makes her a very effective planner. I feel like Julie worked tirelessly to bring our dream vision to life. And it was so magical. I cannot recommend her enough. She is a truly special planner with a heart of gold and immense talent and experience. No one better to work with in Michigan!

our case (after planning a wedding without a planner) they were worth every penny. They were there the entire day and day before to make sure everything went off without a hitch (I don't know if that is typical or just due to all the setup that was required). I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone. Thank you Heather and Cherell!

e to create a Pinterest board in order for Heather & Julie to figure out what I wanted. I said the things I did not want / like and they were able to create our dream wedding. They are not going to waste your time with options outside of your budget. Everything they put together was an absolute dream. I had a classy, timeless ceremony and reception because of Elsilu. It was SO easy to communicate and plan a wedding with Heather, even during a pandemic. Not once did I stress about my wedding. Heather will keep you in the loop but not bother you with things that you don’t need to worry about. Heather will come to you with solutions and options, not problems. Everyone on the team was polite and went the extra mile. Whether you are near or far, if you are planning a wedding then do yourself a favor and let Elsilu be apart of your big day!! They were absolutely the best part of the planning process!

eeling heard about my own Covid concerns and then having such a gorgeous site set up so beautifully.

ommunication, both giving us information and updates early and often, as well as being available to us, responding promptly if we had questions or concerns. She listened carefully to our vision for our wedding: (theme, design, ceremony) and came up with great ideas that fit exactly what we were looking for within our budget. Heather maintained a positive, can-do attitude despite the challenges presented by Covid-19. She did not bat an eye when we postponed our original plans for a wedding in Charlevoix with 250+ guests to an at home wedding in metro Detroit with 20 guests. Instead, she immediately offered to help us plan our min-wedding at no extra charge during the pandemic after already having done a lot of work for our originally planned ceremony. Elsilu was on top of the planning process from the start, and knew exactly what needed to be done and when, giving us a timeline and making us feel very comfortable with all of the logistics. We learned that they have many contacts with high quality vendors, both up north and in metro Detroit. Our original band canceled only a couple weeks before the ceremony, and Heather found us another group in that short timeframe that wowed everyone at the ceremony and on our livestream. In addition, we received many compliments about various aspects of our wedding: including our save the dates, floral arrangement, and farm tables and chairs. Elsilu took safety precautions seriously, and had their staff tested for covid before coming down state. On the day of the wedding, the staff dressed and behaved very professionally, carrying out countless tasks, available to help if needed while remaining in the background. We were very pleased with Elsilu and are already looking forward to working with them again for our large celebration next summer! We enthusiastically recommend them if you’re looking for five-star, full-service wedding planners.

rk. Our meetings were always enjoyable. They made the whole process for someone like me (cannot even plan what I’m doing this afternoon) super easy and fun.

day after the wedding. It all ran smoothly and was beautiful with unique features. Thank you!

on, and I was not wrong. Heather and Julie were my saviors. They communicated with me regularly, eased all of my anxieties and saved me money. They pointed out new ideas and helped my visions come to light. Our wedding at Bay Harbor Village was absolutely perfect, Julie was there all night to make sure not a detail was missed and all my items were packed and ready to go the next day, which was so helpful! Love these ladies!

study abroad for the bride and schooling for the groom that would put him out of touch for weeks at a time. Add the normal angst associated with planning a wedding, which none of us expected to experience, and you have a recipe for, if not disaster, at least a melt down or two. Possibly an ulcer. Six months to plan a formal, destination wedding, rehearsal dinner, bridal shower... Secure venues, accommodations, photographer, florist.....find THE dress...not as simple as we first thought. The bride and groom were stressed. Moms were stressed. A weekend in Petoskey for the bride and groom and all of our difficulties were a thing of the past! The ladies of Elsilu stepped in and all became right in our collective world. These ladies are really angels in disguise combined with therapists, and champion negotiators. My first conversation with Heather felt as though I were catching up with an old friend. The process only became easier. Heather and Julie took over and took off! They knew what we and our children wanted almost before we knew ourselves. From the most minute detail to the big picture, the joining of our families was an exceptional experience. Our bride and groom relaxed, enjoyed, mixed and mingled, then danced the night away. We would have had a wedding to remember if we had proceeded alone. The addition of Elsilu gave us perfection. From arrival in Petoskey to departure, their signature abounded. No detail was overlooked. All events ran seamlessly. Our vendors were coordinated. We were able to enjoy this special time in our lives. Overall, our experience with Elsilu was phenomenal!

flow seamlessly & perfectly. My daughter & I had actually personally arranged for all of the vendors ourselves, & had chosen to use Elsilu for the "Day-Of" & for "assistance w/all our vendors". But, I will say that Elsilu had all the vendors coordinated perfectly, w/detailed timelines several days prior to the wedding. Elsilu set all the tables up beautifully while the florist set up flowers, & the club/venue set up all their details...but Elsilu made it all come together. During the ceremony & during the reception, Julie & Michelle were on top of EVERYTHING...making it a wonderful, relaxed event for myself, & especially for the bride & groom to totally enjoy the entire event. I do want to add, for those who question renting table linens, I originally was thinking that this was not really worthwhile since the floral arrangements would be the focus. I was totally wrong, & I'm so glad that Julie & Heather suggested coordinated linens, that went so nicely w/the rustic decor of our venue. They also made arrangements for bringing in several farm tables to make up the head table, where it stood out beautifully in the setting, complimented also by their draping of material, & the florists' flowers & candle accents. The minimal cost for all the linens (in the scheme of the cost of a wedding)was TOTALLY worth it. It was really beautiful! We received so many compliments on all the decor. Having sung the highest praises for Heather & Julie, we would like to just make a comment, that may seem petty, but during the months before the wedding, we found worrisome & a little bit frustrating. We would often wait many days before we would get an email response from Elsilu. They told us they were best at text messages & would answer those right away. However, our questions were much too detailed to type on a small phone screen. We even would text & ask them to check their emails for our questions, since we knew they did not check emails regularly. Often we would still wait several days. Nothing was terribly urgent, but when you only have a few months to plan a wedding, every day is a countdown, w/deadlines & orders we needed to personally place or decide upon...so to us, we really got worried when consistently, several days would go by before we would get responses to questions. I write this so that Heather & Julie can understand that despite Elsilu's busy schedules, a bride & her mother always feel that their wedding is important, & replies to questions should always be sent at least within 24 hours. These delays made us very worried that this would be a problem on the wedding day...and at that point (w/only a few months before the wedding), there was no time to start over w/a new planner. Now, you know from the rave reviews we gave Elsilu for the wedding day (& the week before the wedding day) they did an OUTSTANDING job... but I will say that we did have some anxiety that could have been avoided if responses during the months prior to the wedding were more prompt. All in all, it was a wonderful day loaded w/fabulous memories, & Elsilu was a HUGE reason for that. We certainly recommend Elsilu for any future brides (& mothers)!

or us. Her willingness to meet often and accessibility via phone, email and text never wavered. She remained always available to us over our 15 month planning period and worked hard to make my daughter's dream wedding a reality. Julie, Heather and their team worked tirelessly over our entire wedding weekend and took every bit of stress and worry off of us so that we could enjoy every moment. We couldn't have pulled off such a perfect weekend without them.

e the day went off without a hitch. Bride, groom, and families did not have to worry about one detail which made for a stress-free and super fun evening for all. We would highly recommend Elsilu to anyone in need of event planning.

it up a notch. I could not believe how kind they were about our last minute request. I would highly recommend contacting them the moment your Daughter/Son becomes engaged you will not be disappointed!

n up north wedding!

re occasions I was in Michigan. Julie fully decorated our venue and her vision fit exactly what my husband and I wished for. It was breathtaking to step into the barn and see all of the gorgeous details. The day of ran so smoothly, there was nothing I would have changed about it. Thank you so much Julie!

eamwork led by Heather, who was constantly working behind the scenes the ENTIRE night! This was my first child to be married and I was treading new territory along with it being a destination wedding. There are a lot of small details that can easily be missed. I am confident that Heather’s assistance along the way is a significant reason that our entire family is still smiling 3 weeks later! It was a WONDERFUL night! Thank you Elsilu!

is made our wedding week all the more enjoyable and I was able to RELAX! We as bride's want to simply enjoy this once in a lifetime event, and these ladies made that possible for me. Thank you Heather and Julie!

ed that they had forgotten to collect their Marriage License from the County Office. Elsilu went above and beyond, took charge and with their local connections they were able to retrieve the most needed, license from an office that was closed for the next two days. Elsilu's design and creativity is as great as their energy and determination . Elsilu saved the day! Thank you for always giving 150%.

r & Julie started their own wedding planning company because this is exactly what she said she wanted to do for some many years. Both Julie & Heather will make sure all your ideas are brought to life and everything will run smoothly the day of the wedding! :) xoxo

s a must! Thank you Julie for making my job easier and always being there with a smile and solution to every need!

since we reside in Texas. Julie and Heather put our minds at ease and made this whole process exactly what it should be... An experience to remember, love and cherish! They come with a list of wonderful vendors tried and true to them. Flowers, photographers, specialty foods, music, cakes and desserts, etc. Every one of our vendors was over the top amazing in every way. Mainly because they love working with these two girls and their team. Any issue that may have confronted us was handled calmly and with assurance. And to our surprise was resolved. Our weekend was a 4 day event involving bridal brunch, golf tournaments, cookouts, parties, wedding, reception, brunch, and an after party. All ranging in guests from 380-420 people on any given day. Along with coordinating activities throughout the days, transportation and accommodations for guests and vendors! Pretty impressive to see for this hands on team and still they always appeared calm and happy! I could go on and on about this experience. Isn't that exactly how it should be? My wish for all future brides and their families is to be able to enjoy their special time no matter how grand or intimate your dreams are... Elsilu is the one for you!

had a very large destination wedding weekend of events with many moving parts. Julie and Heather took charge and had everything accounted for and executed perfectly. There wasn't one thing I felt I wished I had done or forgot to do because these girls were on it! They are well loved by the local businesses which made planning so fun. My wish for all you future brides and mother of brides is to be able to find your team to work with and enjoy every moment of this process! If you are planning a Michigan wedding... do yourself a favor and call ELSILU!!

ther more magical than I imagined! With being an out of state bride, Julie and her team were constantly filling me in and keeping me updated with all the details, timeline, vendors, and more. Julie and her team are so well known in the Northern Michigan area that every vendor we worked with or inquired about only had positive things to say about Elsilu Events. I wouldn't have trusted anyone else to plan, coordinate, and execute the greatest weekend of my life!

a lot of it is because of Julie and Heather.

ay off of each others skill sets and backgrounds so well. We were planning our wedding from Chicago and they made every step of the planning process feel so much easier. They did a great job handling everything on their end and communicating what/if anything they needed from us. The week of, and day of, Julie and Heather worked tirelessly to execute our vision and make everything so perfect. Thank you again!!!!

d them at the beginning!!! Keep one thing in mind, they will help you with contracts with vendors!!!! They know their busyness very well!!!! They will make sure you get what is due to you!!

ered!!! Our event was flawless- Thank You Julie, Heather and all at Elsilu Events. 💕💕

orthern Michigan as we knew we’d be in great hands. Heather wasn’t just our day-of coordinator, she truly helped us in any capacity needed leading up to the wedding, always available to brainstorm, solve issues, and help us any way we needed. The week of, and day of, Heather worked tirelessly to make our day a dream come true. She had a solution for every situation that arose, whether it be moving ceremony locations, bar tab issues, or my crazy vision of string lights hung in and outside of the tent, handling it all while making sure we were happy and enjoying our special time. Heather made our dream wedding a reality and we could not have done it without her.