5.0
Verified reviews from real couples
Firmly Rooted Events
Chicago and Chicagoland Suburbs
Service area
We hired Firmly Rooted Events for our June 2026 wedding for Day-of Coordination/Event Management, and if I had to do it all over again I would choose them 100 times over! Rachel and her team were nothing short of amazing- from months before our wedding until the very end of our event, and even checking in with us afterwards. We were considering a few other options for day-of coordination, but after our first meeting with Rachel we knew FRE was perfect for us! The entire team is so down to earth, knowledgeable, and passionate about what they do- and it shows in every detail. THANK YOU Firmly Rooted for making our day run perfectly!
Emily H.
5.0
We absolutely loved Firmly Rooted Events and would highly recommend them - if you’re looking for a coordinator look no further!! Our wedding weekend went by perfectly and Liz and Phoebe did such an amazing job and helped us with everything that we needed so we could just focus on enjoying our wedding. Liz was our main coordinator and she was beyond fantastic- she is so kind and fun and was such a grounding presence the month or so before our wedding and helped us so much with all the final details and a few venue issues we had. Rachel was also so kind and helpful in the consultation and all the tips she sent leading up to our wedding. The team event sent us a folder of pictures and videos right after our wedding which was such a nice surprise. I truly feel like the whole FRE team went above and beyond and we loved working with them so much!
Andrew S.
5.0
Rachel MacQueen
OWNER
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER (3X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Firmly Rooted Events is a down-to-earth, day-of wedding coordination and planning company based in Chicago, IL. Their goal is to provide you with a stress-free wedding planning journey so that you can truly enjoy yourselves and celebrate and actually focus on the fun with your family and friends. You can always reach out for any advice and help throughout the planning journey once you book with their “open door policy” and expect a quick response time. With their pre-wedding planning and meetings, they will make sure all of your ducks are in a row and that nothing slips through the cracks so you can get hitched without a hitch!
Owner, CEO, and lead coordinator, Rachel MacQueen, is a passionate, Type-A planner that works to provide a smooth, personable planning process for all of their couples. Rachel began working weddings in 2021 because she realized she could put her organization skills to good use and has coordinated and planned over 100 weddings. Her hope is to make sure that her couples are able to enjoy themselves and truly be present with family and friends from their engagement all the way to wedding day knowing that the wedding day is taken care of by a professional who will have their best interest in mind. She and her team also wants to ensure that your family and friends get to enjoy your day WITH you without having to do day-of tasks or think about the details and logistics. When you have a Firmly Rooted coordinator onsite for your wedding day, you will be in good hands and can just have a good time knowing you won't be pulled away from the fun.
Firmly Rooted Events begins working for you as soon as you book them. They offer day-of coordination for couples who just want the wedding to be managed and run smoothly, event management if you want timeline help as soon as you book with us, or partial planning to lower the hours you are spending researching vendors. They get the ball rolling and make sure that all of your details are accounted for so that you, your family, and friends don’t have to manage details on your wedding day. You can be certain that your wedding day will run as smoothly as possible working with them and you will begin your marriage with strong, firm roots! If you are a fun-loving couple in Chicago or the Chicago suburbs that just wants to have a good time at your wedding day, make sure to reach out to Firmly Rooted Events for wedding coordination ensured to handle your wedding day details and logistics.
Woman-owned Business
5+ years in business
Speaks American Sign Language (ASL), English
Details
Planning
A la Carte Wedding Planning
Budgeting
Day-Of Coordination
Wedding Activities
Getting Engaged
Engagement Party
Rehearsals & Parties
After Party
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner
Welcome Party
Wedding
After Party
Ceremony
Cocktail Hour
Day After Brunch
Reception
Rehearsal
Rehearsal Dinner
Awards and Affiliations
3-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2026.2025.2024.
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding
Meet the team
Rachel MacQueen
Owner
I'm Rachel, the owner and CEO and there's nothing I love more than love. I have always been organized and have always enjoyed planning - it only makes sense that I started my own coordination company! I love helping fun-loving couples have an amazing wedding day while being fully present with your family and friends. I also collect house plants, play tennis, and walk my corgi, Pierogi. I have a degree in ASL-English interpreting and I'm fluent in ASL. Congratulations on your engagement - I am so excited for you! I love love stories and would love to hear yours!
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.079 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Firmly Rooted Events is praised for exceptional organization, clear communication, and seamless day‑of coordination that made weddings run smoothly. Reviewers say the team anticipates needs, handles crises, coordinates vendors, and manages setup/tear‑down so couples can relax. They’re thoughtful, professional, and highly recommended.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
Emily H
5.0
7/18/2026
We hired Firmly Rooted Events for our June 2026 wedding for Day-of Coordination/Event Management, and if I had to do it all over again I would choose them 100 times over! Rachel an...
d her team were nothing short of amazing- from months before our wedding until the very end of our event, and even checking in with us afterwards. We were considering a few other options for day-of coordination, but after our first meeting with Rachel we knew FRE was perfect for us! The entire team is so down to earth, knowledgeable, and passionate about what they do- and it shows in every detail. THANK YOU Firmly Rooted for making our day run perfectly!
Andrew S
5.0
6/29/2026
We absolutely loved Firmly Rooted Events and would highly recommend them - if you’re looking for a coordinator look no further!! Our wedding weekend went by perfectly and Liz and P...
hoebe did such an amazing job and helped us with everything that we needed so we could just focus on enjoying our wedding. Liz was our main coordinator and she was beyond fantastic- she is so kind and fun and was such a grounding presence the month or so before our wedding and helped us so much with all the final details and a few venue issues we had. Rachel was also so kind and helpful in the consultation and all the tips she sent leading up to our wedding. The team event sent us a folder of pictures and videos right after our wedding which was such a nice surprise. I truly feel like the whole FRE team went above and beyond and we loved working with them so much!
Any questions?
Anca S
5.0
6/29/2026
Highly recommend Firmly Rooted! We used them as 'month of' coordinators, but it felt like they had worked with us our entire engagement.
Rachel and her team are amazing to work wi...
th and went above and beyond to make sure everything ran smoothly during our wedding weekend. We had peace of mind ahead of our big day knowing that Rachel was involved in our process and had already thought through every single detail we would have otherwise forgotten. Seamless, warm, and incredibly professional - I could not recommend them enough!
Charlotte C
5.0
6/25/2026
Booking with Firmly Rooted for our Day-Of Coordination was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. We had the absolute pleasure of working with Rachel for our wedding da...
y and she went above and beyond our expectations. Leading up to the wedding, she was responsive, organized, and took the time to answer all of our questions and to coordinate with our vendors. She helped us stay organized which gave us peace of mind before the big day. On the wedding day, she made sure every last detail was accounted for and in order. She was an incredible leader and always had a smile on her face throughout the evening. Firmly Rooted are true professionals and we can't thank them enough for managing our big day.
Mikaela M
5.0
6/14/2026
I absolutely recommend Firmly Rooted events for your wedding day. I chose the day-of coordination package, because I have previous experience with event planning and I had a lot of...
time to dedicate to planning my wedding in the months leading up. If you do not have that experience, I would recommend you choose a bigger package from Firmly Rooted so you can benefit from their expertise. Rachel maintained clear communication, and a calm demeanor throughout the entire process.
Tommy P
5.0
6/02/2026
We cannot recommend Firmly Rooted Events highly enough. From the moment we started planning our wedding, their team made the entire process feel organized, manageable, and enjoyabl...
e.
Their attention to detail, communication, and professionalism were exceptional. They took the time to understand our vision and helped bring it to life while keeping everything on track behind the scenes. On the wedding day, they coordinated every detail seamlessly, allowing us, our families, and our wedding party to relax and fully enjoy the celebration without worrying about logistics.
What impressed us most was their ability to anticipate needs before they arose and handle everything with a calm, positive attitude. The day flowed perfectly, and we received countless compliments from our guests about how smooth and well-organized everything felt.
If you're looking for a wedding planning team that genuinely cares about your experience and will go above and beyond to make your day special, Firmly Rooted Events is an outstanding choice. We are so grateful for everything they did to make our wedding day unforgettable.
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 06/10/2026
Thank you, Tommy! We are so happy to hear that you had an enjoyable experience working wit...
h us and that your guests were able to feel it too on your wedding day. You and Cassie were so sweet and lovely and it was a pleasure getting to work with you! Best wishes to you both!
Jamie M
5.0
5/26/2026
Having the Firmly Rooted Events team by our side throughout the wedding planning process was invaluable. Their expertise and thoughtful guidance made all the difference on countles...
s occasions. On the wedding day itself, we felt completely relaxed and at ease, knowing there was a dedicated team working behind the scenes to ensure everything ran perfectly was truly priceless!
You don't fully appreciate just how many moving pieces go into a wedding until you're in the thick of it. Firmly Rooted Events handled every last detail with care, so we could be fully present and simply enjoy the most important day of our lives.
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 06/10/2026
Thank you so much! We are so glad to hear that our guidance was able to make a difference ...
in your experience while wedding planning and that you felt completely relaxed on the wedding day. It was such a pleasure getting to be a part of it and we really wish you both the best in your next chapter together as husband and wife!
Sarah B
5.0
5/18/2026
If you're wondering if a day of coordinator is worth it, the answer is YES and you should be hiring FRE because they are absolute professionals. My neurotic self was able to turn o...
ff my brain, enjoy my day, and leave the worrying and logistics to the professionals.
Rachel and the team at Firmly Rooted Events were BY FAR the most important vendor for my wedding day. They literally averted disaster for me when our guest illustrator (Whose portraits of our guests were going to be their wedding favors) got hospitalized 5 hours before our wedding. Since they have so many contacts in the Chicago wedding space, they were able to find a replacement artist on 5 hours notice!!! Not one guest knew there was a snafu happening.
Rachel navigated the strong personalities of our family members with grace and understanding. Always calmly replied to my rambling emails which were sent on too little of sleep at 2am. And gave suggestions on vendors they worked with in the past and have had success with.
If you're looking for a day of coordinator, you're in luck - look no further.
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 06/10/2026
Thank you so much, Sarah! We are so happy to have been able to help you out in your time o...
f need with that same-day vendor cancellation and getting you a replacement. It was so much fun getting to work with you and help you out during your planning journey! We are so grateful to have been a part of your wedding and we wish you both the best!
Madison C
5.0
5/17/2026
The team at Firmly Rooted were INCREDIBLE!! Even before the day of the wedding, they were easy to communicate with, quick to answer any questions, and provided helpful resources. J...
azz was absolutely a rockstar on the day of the wedding. We didn’t have to worry about a thing, which made the night stress free!! I highly recommend working with this team if you want to feel total prepared, not worry about setting up day of logistics with other vendors, and have a supportive team surrounding you on your special day. Can’t say enough great things!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 06/10/2026
Thank you so much! It was so lovely getting to work with you and John. We are so glad to h...
ear you were able to not worry about a thing with us helping you out for the wedding planning journey and also on the wedding day. We wish you both the best in your next chapter together!
Maggie S
5.0
4/11/2026
From the beginning of the planning process through our wedding day, the entire team was consistently kind, helpful, thoughtful, and incredibly organized. We truly felt supported ev...
ery step of the way.
One of the most meaningful things they did was completely unexpected—since we didn’t have a videographer, Liz took it upon herself to record videos of our speeches. We didn’t even think to ask, and we are so grateful because those moments are something we will truly cherish forever. That level of thoughtfulness and care meant the world to us.
The entire team helped bring our vision to life so beautifully. The space looked incredible, and everything came together even better than we imagined. The timeline they created for the day was flawless, and they were extremely responsive and available both leading up to and during the wedding, which made the entire experience so smooth and stress-free.
We are beyond grateful for their hard work in making our wedding day so special, and we would absolutely recommend Firmly Rooted Events to any couples getting married in the area.
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 06/10/2026
THANK YOU! It was such a pleasure getting to work with you and Christian and we are so hap...
py to hear that you felt your experience was smooth and stress-free with our help. We are so grateful to have been a part of your wedding planning journey and your wedding day and it awesome to see how much your guests loved your custom tambourines during the reception! We wish you both the best in your next chapter together as husband and wife!
Allison D
5.0
3/16/2026
Rachel and her team helped us achieve our dream wedding, and made sure the event ran smoothly even with a lot of DIY elements—florals, decorations, chuppah, etc.
From early in our...
planning process, Rachel raised questions we'd never thought to consider, approached our more out-there hopes and dreams with a can-do attitude, and always left us feeling she was just as excited to collaborate with us on our big day. Rachel had an easy working relationship with the vendors we brought on, and helped steer conversations with them for our benefit.
My wife and I had a great experience working with Firmly Rooted Events, would highly recommend them to anyone :)
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 06/10/2026
Thank you so much for the kind words, Allison! It was so much fun to work with you and And...
rew to plan your wedding the way you envisioned it. We are so happy to hear that you were able to enjoy your wedding even with all of the DIY elements that we handled for you. We wish you both the best in your next chapter together!
kristen h
5.0
1/15/2026
I don’t even know where to begin with this review. Rachel and her team were amazing in every way, and I would recommend them to everyone I know. I’d describe myself as a type-B pro...
crastinator, so having a team as thoughtful, detail-oriented, and organized as Firmly Rooted was beyond helpful. They made sure we covered all our bases and truly helped create the celebration of our dreams. They handled so many wedding “puzzle pieces” that a first-timer like me wouldn’t have thought of and had no experience with. They offered suggestions when asked, but more importantly, they took the time to help my partner and me get to the root (no pun intended!) of what we wanted our big day to feel like. The team is thorough, punctual, knowledgeable, and incredibly professional; everything you could hope for in a coordination team. If you’re questioning the value of their services, scroll no further: they are absolutely worth every penny. You will not regret having them involved as you plan your wedding. Wishing Firmly Rooted a phenomenal 2026 and beyond. You truly rock at what you do, and your dedication to your craft is evident in every detail.
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 06/10/2026
Thank you!! We are so happy to hear that we are able to accommodate all kinds of couples -...
even our Type-B folks! It was an absolute pleasure getting to work with you and Joe and we are so happy to hear you were able to enjoy your wedding day with our help! Best wishes to you both!
Olivia S
5.0
1/15/2026
Rachel and the Firmly Rooted team are high quality and I would recommend their services for anyone looking, no matter the size of the wedding. Rachel was detailed, organized, effic...
ient, down to earth, and helpful during the planning process and day of. She reminded us of important details, like eating breakfast on the wedding day, helping us stay on track, but not being controlling or pushy when we were running slightly late. She’s there to make sure the day goes how you want it. We were thrilled we had her and her team supporting us and managing all the details so we could truly enjoy our day.
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 06/10/2026
Thank you so much, Olivia! We are so glad that you felt cared for during your wedding day ...
and that you liked our approach to make sure you had an enjoyable experience. It was such a pleasure working with you and Dimitri and we really wish you the best in your next chapter together!
Hayley R
5.0
1/06/2026
Firmly Rooted Events was truly one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. From the very beginning, Rachel was incredibly organized, thoughtful, and attentive during the pla...
nning process. Her communication and attention to detail gave us so much peace of mind and made everything feel manageable and well-supported.
On our wedding day, Claire and Jaz were nothing short of amazing, even in the middle of a Chicago snowstorm! They went above and beyond to make sure our vision came to life exactly as we had dreamed, and they did it with warmth, kindness, and so much joy.
We felt so cared for every step of the way. We cannot recommend Firmly Rooted Events highly enough and are endlessly grateful for Rachel, Claire, and Jaz for making our wedding day so magical.
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 01/07/2026
Thank you so much, Hayley!!! Your wedding was so much fun and we are so glad that you enjo...
yed working with us and your vision was able to come to life with our help! Even with the snowstorm, everything was so beautiful (and those photos were great too!) and we are so thankful you were able to enjoy your wedding. Congratulations again to you and Spencer and best wishes to you both!
Rachel H
5.0
1/05/2026
FRE was my husband and I's number 1 thing we would do again and again! It is also our number 1 thing we would recommend to others. Rachel was our main point of contact throughout...
the planning process. She was extremely detailed from the beginning. From our initial call she asked excellent questions and made sure to capture what was important to me and husband vs what other people may want. She crafted an amazing timeline, lead our rehearsal, and ensured everyone felt comfortable with their duties for the day of. For the wedding day, Rachel & her entourage were nothing but professional. They set our smaller decor items up perfectly with little direction as I was overwhelmed. They kept everyone on time. Rachel also took photos & video (to my surprise as we did not have a videographer). This was very special to have and I was so grateful to receive after the wedding. She captured things I wasn't able to see on the wedding day that I had spent time planning ahead of time (table settings & flower arrangements, memory table, dessert table). I could not recommend FRE more. Start to finish they were organized, detailed, friendly, responsive, respectful, easy to work with. They truly made our wedding day memorable and run so smoothly!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 01/07/2026
Thank you, Rachel!!! It was such a joy to get to be a part of your wedding day and we are ...
so thankful for your kind words - it means a lot coming from someone in the event industry too! We absolutely loved being able to make sure all of the planning and the actual wedding day ran smoothly and you could enjoy yourselves. Best wishes to you and Dylan in your next chapter together as husband and wife!
Jennifer R
5.0
1/05/2026
Rachel, Claire, and Jazz went above and beyond for my daughter and her fiancé before and throughout their wedding day! From mapping out the timeline, communicating with vendors, f...
ollowing up on details, handling problems calmly and with good humor they made sure that Hayley and Spencer's special day--albeit snowy--was magical!
~Jennifer Reynolds
Mother-of-the-Bride
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 01/07/2026
Thank you, Jennifer! It is such a compliment to get a review as the mother of the bride - ...
we are so happy that you were able to enjoy yourselves and not have to worry about the details! Best wishes to you all!
Fionna M
5.0
1/04/2026
Rachel and her team at Firmly Rooted Events were amazing for our Fall 2025 wedding! They helped so much in making it the day of our dreams. Rachel built and revised our entire time...
line, handled vendor communications, and lead the venue walk-through which helped smooth over so many potential challenges ahead of the big day. She lead the rehearsal with our wedding party and helped make sure everyone knew any key information they needed and were where they needed to be. Rachel also offered to review our contracts in the months leading up to the wedding, and was so helpful answering any questions we had which made us feel so well covered in the overwhelming process of planning a wedding. On the big day Rachel and team did a phenomenal job setting up and breaking down all our decor items so our loved ones could be fully present, and were so lovely to work with troubleshooting any challenges.
We are so grateful that our close friend recommended the Firmly Rooted Events team to us and we cannot imagine our day their efforts!!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 01/07/2026
THANK YOU!!! It was so much fun getting to work with you and we are so happy to hear that ...
you could be fully present on the wedding day!! We wish you and Brendan the best in your next chapter together as husband and wife!
Alex C
5.0
12/12/2025
We would not have survived the wedding planning process or had the wedding of our dreams without the services of Firmly Rooted Events. I believe I stumbled upon them on social medi...
a and immediately felt inclined to reach out. Rachel was incredibly informative, organized, and personable from the start. While we used them for coordination services and not formal planning services, they provided resources to help us finish up our planning in the final months before the wedding. Tori was our lead coordinator and her and Rachel helped keep us on track when my wedding-addled bride brain was getting overwhelmed. When it came to timeline planning, they answered our questions, entertained our ideas, provided their own, and made us the perfect timeline for our day. Tori kept us all on track and task for our rehearsal. Tori and Rachel communicated so well with our other vendors that we didn’t even really realize it and didn’t have to worry about a thing. Our wedding ran very smoothly and I don’t think that would have happened without Firmly Rooted Events. The one issue we did have that day, Tori was able to jump on it immediately and get it sorted. The rest of the team that was there with us that night was also fantastic. They were all fun, engaged, and eagle eyed the whole night. We deeply enjoyed working with them all and if we had to do our wedding over again, we’d work with them again in a heartbeat.
(Also, if you choose to follow them on social media, you’ll get to see pictures of the multiple corgis the team has so that’s a win in and of itself.)
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 01/07/2026
Thank you so much, Alex! We are so glad that we were able to relieve some stress leading u...
p to and on your wedding day. It was a pleasure getting to know you and work with you and Nick and we are so thankful you put your trust in us to set everything up and keep everything running smoothly!
Emma M
5.0
12/01/2025
I used Rachel at Firmly Rooted Events to coordinate my wedding. Hiring a wedding coordinator was one of the best things I did while planning my wedding to ease stress. Before the w...
edding, she helped me review vendor contracts, stay on top of deadlines, create a timeline, provide advice, answer questions, and more. She helped me plan and prepare for things that I would not have thought about otherwise. The day of the wedding was seamless and it was awesome to not have to worry about any details so I could be in the moment. I am SO thankful and grateful for her help. 10/10 recommend!!!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 01/07/2026
Thank you so much! It was so lovely getting to work with you and make sure you were prepar...
ed for the wedding day! We are so happy to hear you didn't have to worry about any details on the wedding day and could be in the moment. We wish you and Connor the best and congratulations again!!
Rebecca K
5.0
11/25/2025
We had the pleasure of working with Rachel and her team for our November wedding. From the very beginning when we signed our contract, she had an open door policy and provided endl...
ess advice and support or us as we navigated wedding planning. The day of the wedding Rachel helped keep us on our tight timeline, as well as providing support on other random things that came up. She helped me bustle my dress, hunt down things that went missing and she was extremely organized for setup and tear down. Rachel also helped me navigate an issue with the church so I did not have to deal with it on the day of my wedding. We loved Firmly Rooted and would highly highly recommend them to anyone looking for amazing day of coordination or wedding planning.
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 01/07/2026
The pleasure was truly ours!! We are so grateful to have been a part of making your weddin...
g day a breeze and it was so wonderful getting to know you and Matt! Congratulations again on your marriage and we wish you the best!! Thank you for letting us be a part of your day!
Mikayla P
5.0
11/25/2025
We worked with Rachel and Liz specifically, and they both did a great job of making sure the day ran smoothly. Leading up to the wedding, Rachel reached out and set up meetings wit...
h us to make sure everything was in place and that we were prepared for all the curveballs. Thank you so much for making the best day of my life (so far) possible!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 01/07/2026
Thank you so much, Mikayla! We are so glad that you were able to have a smooth wedding day...
with our help. We wish you and Anthony the best!!
Kate A
5.0
11/06/2025
We weren’t planning to hire a coordinator, but once we got into wedding planning, we quickly realized how many questions we had and how helpful it would be to have professional gui...
dance. I met Rachel at a wedding expo at our venue, and felt we instantly hit it off. After our phone consultation, I knew she was the perfect fit. She was so friendly, warm, and genuinely invested in making our day go smoothly.
Rachel was super responsive to all my questions and a huge help in creating our timeline. Her resource guides were super informative and led us to hiring an amazing florist. She ran our rehearsal efficiently and made sure everyone knew exactly what to do. On the wedding day, she was absolutely incredible. It was such a relief not to have to worry about the details or logistics.
Having her handle cleanup and pack everything up for us was an absolute lifesaver, especially since my husband and I were totally exhausted by the end of the night.
As a wonderful surprise, she also took candid photos and videos during the day and sent them to us afterward, this was such a thoughtful touch! I love having those candid moments to look at while we wait for our professional photos and video.
Highly, highly recommend hiring Rachel. She made our wedding day stress-free and seamless!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 01/07/2026
THANK YOU!! We are so glad you were able to have an enjoyable wedding experience with our ...
help. It was such a pleasure getting to know you and Larry and we hope you are enjoying yourselves as newlyweds too!! Best wishes to you both and thank you again for the kind words!
Therese C
5.0
11/02/2025
Rachel and her team were so helpful as coordinators! They were very responsive with any questions or proposed timeline changes we asked about. Jazz was our lead coordinator and she...
kept the night running so smoothly! The also sent us some pictures and videos they had taken throughout the day, which was so nice to receive the day after our wedding!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 01/07/2026
We are so happy to hear that - thank you so much!! We loved getting to work with you and P...
aul and it was such a pleasure making sure your wedding ran smoothly!!
Kaitlyn S
5.0
10/25/2025
Rachel and her team were easily one of the best parts of our wedding day! She set up all of our DIY decor, packed it up while we were still partying, and had it all ready to go for...
us to leave with! She is so professional, sweet, and experienced beyond her years! It was so nice to have her for more than even just on the wedding day being that she was there for our final walk-through, for a timeline meeting, and at the rehearsal! It truly felt like we had a friend looking out for us the whole day, which felt so good! You need Rachel on your wedding day!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 01/07/2026
Thank you so much!!!! We are so happy that you and your family didn't have to worry about ...
the setup or teardown and that you were all able to enjoy yourselves! We are so grateful to have been a part of your wedding day and it was such a pleasure getting to work with you and Will!
Mariel T
5.0
10/20/2025
Working with Rachel was the best experience. Any questions we had she had answers for. On our day, she kept every piece moving and we didn't have to worry about a thing. Booking he...
r booked us true peace of mind. And my family loved her too!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 01/07/2026
Thank you so much, Mariel! We are so glad we were able to provide you some peace of mind -...
happy to hear your family enjoyed us being there too! Best wishes to you in your next chapter together!
Molly S
5.0
10/08/2025
Rachel was our day of coordinator and she did an amazing job. She was so organized and professional. She helped us to build the perfect timeline and kept everything on track the da...
y of.
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 01/07/2026
Thank you so much! It was such a pleasure getting to work with you and Evan - best wishes ...
to you both!!
Gabby V
5.0
9/28/2025
I’m forever grateful that my photographer recommended firmly rooted events to be our on the day coordinator!! The hard work, patience and kindness they brought to our wedding expe...
rience will forever stand out when I think back on my wedding. They’re all so helpful, organized, accommodating and were truly a rock in the storm of stress that comes with wedding planning. I would recommend these lovely ladies to anyone who’s planning their wedding, I don’t know what I would have done without them!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 09/29/2025
Thank you so much, Gabby!! We are so happy that you felt the experience working with us wi...
ll stand out as something that really helped you enjoy yourselves!! It was wonderful getting to work with you and we wish you and Jon the best now as husband and wife!
Sarah P
5.0
9/13/2025
Rachel and her team exceeded every expectation we had for day-of wedding coordination, because they did SO much more than that. Starting months out from the wedding, they kept us o...
n track during the arduous planning process, and consistently reached out to give us tips, resources, and support. They executed our lofty vision with grace and expertise. Despite a few mishaps and stressful moments, Rachel was able to think on her feet, pivot, and made sure our experience was still fantastic. Thank you all so much for being kind, calm, and organized. It's exactly what we needed for our big day!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 09/29/2025
We are so thankful for your kind words, Sarah!! It was so much fun being a part of your we...
dding and your love story. It was wonderful helping make sure we could pivot with anything that came up so you can still enjoy yourselves!!! Best wishes to you and Callen!!
Rachel S
5.0
9/07/2025
Rachel and her team at Firmly Rooted Events were essential to making our wedding so incredible! She is extremely knowledgeable and made our lives significantly easier. Not only did...
she help with finding the best vendors (and as someone with decision fatigue, this was huge), she helped make everything work within our budget, and was so helpful and prompt with all of the questions we had. On our wedding day, she and her fellow coordinator, Jazz, made sure everything ran smoothly. They made sure I had my reception shows on time, that we had something to eat as soon as the reception was done, and even helped fix our signature drink quickly when we realized we gave our bar tenders the wrong recipe. Our wedding day was amazing and we credit Rachel and Firmly Rooted Events for allowing us to take it all in while they took care of the details. We highly recommend working with Firmly Rooted Events for your wedding day!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 09/29/2025
Thank you SO MUCH!! Working with you while planning your wedding, finding your vendors, an...
d making sure the wedding ran smoothly was such a joy for us. We are so grateful you were able to enjoy your engagement by having less decision fatigue and enjoy your wedding day together! We wish you and Josh the best in your next chapter together!
Sydni D
5.0
9/06/2025
We cannot recommend firmly rooted enough! From start to finish, they went above and beyond to make sure our day ran seamlessly. They handled every detail with professionalism and c...
are, taking the stress off of us and our families so we could truly enjoy each moment.
They anticipated our needs before we even realized them, coordinated with all our vendors flawlessly, and solved small issues quietly behind the scenes without us ever having to worry. Their calm presence and organizational skills kept everything on track and made our celebration feel effortless.
If you are considering hiring a day-of coordinator, do it—and hire this team. They were one of the best decisions we made for our wedding.
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 09/29/2025
Thank you so much, Sydni!! We are so thankful to have helped your wedding day and planning...
be less stressful. We had such a lovely time at your wedding and we wish you both the best in your next chapter together!
Brigid M
5.0
8/19/2025
Rachel and her team were absolutely amazing to work with! From the very start of the planning process, Rachel was incredibly reliable, communicative, and always willing to answer q...
uestions or offer helpful advice. She made everything feel so much more manageable and stress-free.
On the wedding day itself, it was clear that things would not have run nearly as smoothly without Rachel and Tori. They created a timeline that prioritized what we wanted and stayed calm and solution-focused, even when the unexpected happened.
For example, when one of our vases broke during photos before the ceremony even started, Tori rushed to the store to replace it without hesitation, making sure everything looked perfect before guests arrived. And when I realized I had forgotten to put on my veil just minutes before walking down the aisle, Rachel found it and brought it to me in no time at all.
They were thoughtful, responsive, and truly on top of everything. We felt so supported every step of the way and genuinely couldn’t have asked for a better team. If you're looking for someone who will go above and beyond for your wedding, Rachel and her team are it!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 09/29/2025
THANK YOU!!! Your wedding was so much fun and we are so thankful to have been a part of ma...
king it run smoothly! Getting to help with things like the broken vase and the veil are definitely the best part - knowing we were able to make sure you could enjoy yourselves instead of working out solutions is the best!! We wish you and Zach the best too!!!
Caroline C
5.0
8/16/2025
We really enjoyed working with Rachel! It was so nice not having to worry about anything on the day of the wedding because we knew Rachel and her assistant Jazz had it covered! Hir...
ing Rachel really took the work away from us/our moms/other family members - everyone was truly able to enjoy themselves the morning of and throughout the day.
Rachel is very organized and didn't miss a single detail when preparing the timeline for our wedding day. She is also so kind and easy to work with. You can really feel the passion she has for her business and we were very impressed with her communication throughout the whole process!
Even before the wedding day, it was helpful having her at the final walkthrough a few weeks before the wedding - from there she took over vendor communication so I did not feel stressed about any details the weeks leading up to the wedding. It was also helpful to have Rachel at our rehearsal to coordinate the processional and go over last minute items for the next day.
If you are looking for a day of coordinator, I highly recommend Firmly Rooted Events! Hiring Rachel ensured we were able to enjoy our wedding day.
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 09/29/2025
Thank you, Caroline!! We are so glad that your family and friends were all able to enjoy t...
he wedding day with you and you could feel our passion for the work from the start!! We with you and Tyler the best in your next chapter as husband and wife!
Dayana K
5.0
8/07/2025
We used Firmly Rooted for our elopement and wedding celebration party a few months later. Both coordinators that we worked with were quick and clear communicators, provided tons of...
support and details about how to stay on track with planning, and helped everything run smoothly the day of. They helped bring our vision to life! The day of our celebration party there were a few unexpected hiccups but Nikilett handled everything super well to the point that I didn't even realize things were being dealt with behind the scenes! She even save the day by having some spray on deodorant on her :) Truly so happy with our experience!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 09/29/2025
Thank you so much, Dayana!! It was so lovely to work with you not only on your wedding day...
but also on your elopement! We are so thankful to have made sure both days were set up well and that things ran smoothly. We wish you and Jake the best!!
Matt S
5.0
8/07/2025
I highly recommend Rachel and the team at Firmly Rooted Events! From the very beginning, they were incredibly organized and thoughtful, helping guide us through everything. Rachel ...
also played a key role in coordinating with all of our vendors leading
up to the wedding, which took so much stress off our plates.
On the day of our wedding, Rachel and Jazz worked behind the scenes to make sure everything was perfect. They helped with setup and made sure every detail was in place before guests arrived. Their support allowed us to be fully present and soak in every moment. We’re so grateful to have had them by our side and can’t recommend them enough!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 09/29/2025
That is so sweet of you!! We are so grateful to have made your wedding day look and feel e...
xactly as you imagined. It was such a lovely day to be a part of and we truly wish you both the best!!!
Sarah S
5.0
7/07/2025
Rachel and her team were so wonderful to work with and put our minds at ease for our multi-cultural wedding. On more than one occasion, she went above and beyond to ensure our day ...
ran as smoothly as possible.
She made sure to check in with us. Got everything set up the way we wanted it to. She has many years of experience in the wedding industry and helped us put together the perfect timeline.
We received bonus picture and videos throughout the day which we loved.
We highly recommend her team for your next event! Thank you Rachel!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 09/29/2025
Thank you!! It was wonderful being a part of your day and tackling the multi-ceremony wedd...
ing day with you!! We are so happy you loved how everything looked and that creating and managing the timeline worked out perfectly! Best wishes to you and Chris!!!
Maggie B
5.0
6/23/2025
I truly can’t recommend Tori and Rachel enough – they were absolutely essential to making our wedding day everything we hoped for and more.
From the moment we began working with t...
hem, they were organized, responsive, and genuinely invested in making our day special. Rachel was a huge support throughout the planning process. She answered all of my (many!) questions with patience and care, helped us build a detailed and realistic timeline, and offered thoughtful advice every step of the way. She made the planning feel manageable and less overwhelming, which meant so much.
Tori stepped in as our point person in the weeks leading up to the wedding and was a total rockstar. She communicated with all of our vendors to walk through the timeline, troubleshoot any potential issues, and ensure everyone was on the same page. On the wedding day itself, she kept everything running smoothly behind the scenes so that we could truly relax and be present. I didn’t have to worry about a single thing because I knew Tori had it handled.
Their coordination, professionalism, and genuine kindness made the entire experience feel calm, clear, and joyful. I can say with complete confidence that our wedding would not have been possible without them. If you’re even remotely considering a coordinator—hire them. It was hands down the best decision we made during the planning process.
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 09/29/2025
Thank you so much, Maggie! It was lovely being a part of your wedding day and we are so th...
ankful to have the opportunity!! We wish you and Matt the best in your next chapter as husband and wife!
Rachel S
5.0
6/21/2025
Rachel and Team were absolutely amazing! They were incredibly communicative, prepared, and so much fun! I cannot imagine trying to do this without her. Thank you Rachel for your th...
oughtfulness, attention, and care. I deeply appreciate you!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 09/29/2025
Thank you so much - you're so kind! It was wonderful to be there on your wedding day and w...
e are so glad you had a great time!
Lexi T
5.0
6/18/2025
If you are looking for an amazing day-of-coordinator or wedding planner, look no further! Rachel and her team are truly amazing. From our initial phone call, to the wedding day - I...
felt incredibly supported by this team. Even though we only booked day-of coordination, Rachel is available for questions and help every step of the way. All team members I worked with were extremely communicative and provided quick responses. You can tell they strive to provide above and beyond service, and they certainly succeed at this! Our wedding day was seamless, and our day-of team was on top of every little detail. If there were any issues, I was not aware of them. I can't imagine our wedding without the Firmly Rooted Events team. I truly credit them as being a very big reason as to why our day turned out so perfect!
Carly P
5.0
2/01/2025
Rachel and her team made the day run flawlessly. She not only supported us throughout our day but in the months leading up to it, making sure that we had thought through all the sm...
all details so that everything ran smoothly. She made sure that any issues did not come to us so that we could just enjoy the day. We highly recommend Rachel to anyone looking for planning/coordinator services!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 06/09/2025
Thank you!!!! It was so much fun getting to work with you and Jon and we had an absolutely...
amazing time making sure all of the small details were managed!! We hope you both are enjoying your time as newlyweds and are able to look back at your wedding day fondly!
Alex R
5.0
12/02/2024
Working with Rachel and Firmly Rooted Events was one of the best (if not the best) decisions that we made. Although we hired Rachel for Day-of Coordination, she was with us through...
out our entire planning process. Rachel reviewed ALL of our proposed contracts with vendors – venue, caterer, hotel, florist, DJ, transportation – catching little details that we would have missed and raising questions we didn’t think to ask. She provided suggestions on vendors and answered any questions we had at any point in the process. A few weeks before our wedding, we had a call with Rachel to co-create an extremely detailed and thorough timeline for the day of the wedding. This timeline alone was well worth the cost of hiring Rachel/FRE! It wasn’t so much about following the timeline to the minute; simply having the timeline gave us so much peace of mind and allowed us to go into our wedding day knowing that we’d thought through all the important logistical/timing aspects and had a plan – a rock-solid one – for the day’s events. Come rehearsal and wedding day, Rachel and her team were on top of everything and helped put all the final pieces into place, working seamlessly with all of our other vendors. (Rachel, by the way, also contacted each of our vendors in the weeks leading up to the wedding and made sure they had copies of our timeline.) Rachel also provided a host of other resources that helped at various stages – a budget template, a tipping guide for vendors, suggestions for an emergency kit for any day-of issues, a last-minute checklist. On top of all this, Rachel is a joy to work with personally. She’s kind, patient, warm and smart and has great planning instincts. We truly cannot recommend Rachel enough. Hire her! You won’t be disappointed.
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 12/11/2024
We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed working with us - thank you SO MUCH!! It was so m...
uch fun getting to know you both and we had such a good time helping you plan your wedding day to be perfect for you both. We absolutely loved having a hand in making sure your wedding day was wonderful and that you both could enjoy yourselves without worrying about any logistics! We hope you and Annie are doing well and we wish you a long and happy marriage!!!
Sara O
5.0
11/17/2024
Rachel and her team were absolutely amazing to work with!!! They created a timeline for us and coordinated everything with our vendors, as well as look over all of our vendor contr...
acts to make sure that we weren’t missing any important deadlines. Rachel was super responsive, and always willing to answer any questions that we had. We super appreciated that we could have open communication with them for a couple months before our big day, and that it wasn’t limited to the month of or few weeks before. They also created a few checklists for us, to make sure that we weren’t forgetting anything. If a planner or coordinator isn’t in your budget, absolutely 100% recommend finding a way to make it work. Totally worth the money!!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 12/11/2024
Thank you so much, Sara!! It was such a pleasure getting to work with you and Chris and ma...
ke sure you had a wedding day you could enjoy together!! We loved all of the personal details you had added into your wedding and we are so glad that you got all of your questions answered before the wedding so you didn't have to worry about anything! We wish you and Chris the best in your next chapter together as husband and wife!
skyler h
5.0
11/15/2024
Rachel was an absolute dream to work with, she was able to piece together our dream wedding within our budget and we could not be happier! She was extremely thorough, helpful and p...
ersonable. I cannot thank Rachel enough for everything she did for us throughout the whole planning process of the wedding. She ensured our day went off without any issues and everything timing wise was perfect. I could not recommend anyone better than Rachel and Firmly Rooted Events. Thank you, Rachel!!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 12/11/2024
Thank you!!! We are so glad that you and Rob were able to have a lovely wedding day. It wa...
s wonderful getting to work alongside you and making sure you had the wedding day you envisioned! We hope you are both doing well in North Carolina and we wish you the best!!
Aubrey S
5.0
11/15/2024
Rachel and her team made not only our wedding day run smoothly, but the entire planning process. I always felt supported and I knew I could trust Rachel with anything! She's so eas...
y to talk to and she was always happy to answer any questions or concerns that came up. Having her and her team there on our big day to handle the logistics made the biggest difference in the world. I really don't think we could have pulled off such a wonderful day without them!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 12/11/2024
Thank you so much, Aubrey! It was truly a pleasure getting to know you both and being a pa...
rt in making your wedding day wonderful. We loved seeing you both so happy and best wishes to you with a happy and healthy future together!!
Nikki D
5.0
11/08/2024
Out of all the decisions that have to be made for a wedding, working with Rachel as our day-of coordinator was easily one of the best ones we could have made. We joked that we want...
ed to get married again exclusively to just work with Rachel again, and that thought still sounds like an absolute dream.
Of course, she made our big day a dream, too. She went above and beyond since the moment we signed our contract months before - immediately emailing us detailed notes after reading through each and every one of our contracts (we didn’t even read them as closely as she did!), introducing us to her perfect dog during our initial virtual meeting, staying in constant communication with tips, advice, and just general cheerleading as we worked to plan this crazy big event.
As we got closer to the event, Rachel, who was already doing way more than we thought a day-of coordinator would ever do, did that much more. We spoke for over 2 hours as she worked through our timeline with us practically to the minute, and revised, revised, revised so patiently when we kept throwing new thoughts and ideas out there.
Day of, we were reminded just how lucky we were to have connected. She was everywhere! Ensuring our room flip was perfect, getting us some time to decompress after our ceremony with our signature drinks and appetizers, introducing herself to our families, and running our ceremony effortlessly as she had during our rehearsal. She was ready for it all: me wanting to change into converse but forgetting socks? Don’t worry, she had brand new socks in her car. Spill on the dance floor? Don’t worry, she had found maintenance and had it cleaned within minutes. And every bride’s personal favorite: the wedding dress bustle that broke not once, not twice, not three times, but four times? Don’t worry, Rachel’s handiwork with some safety pins is unmatched as the main bustle strings just didn’t want to hold.
On top of all of this, Rachel sent us so many behind-the-scenes videos and pictures after the event, flooding our phones with captured joy we got to cherish all over again the next day.
Rachel is so grounded, so kind, so unbelievably patient and easygoing - include her in your day and it will sparkle.
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 12/11/2024
Thank you SO MUCH!!!! It was an absolute joy being a part of your wedding and making sure ...
that everything was running smoothly so you could enjoy yourselves. We loved how happy you and Kevin were throughout the whole wedding planning journey and your whole wedding day and we are so grateful to have had a hand in you having a wedding day you could enjoy! We wish you the best in your next chapter together as husband and wife - you both deserve the best!!
Sydney A
5.0
10/14/2024
Hiring Rachel as my coordinator was the best money I spent on the wedding day! I was iffy on whether I needed a coordinator for the wedding and oh my god was I wrong. Rachel did ev...
erything from run the rehearsal, set up my welcome sign and guest book, make sure the wedding party was on time, coordinator with all the vendors, and so much more! She created the entire days timeline which was so helpful. The day went so smoothly because of Rachel and her team! I can’t recommend Firmly Rooted enough!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 10/23/2024
Thank you so much, Sydney!!! It was such a pleasure to be a part of your day and make sure...
everything was running according to plan. We definitely are glad you were able to be truly present on your wedding day and we wish you and Macintosh a very happy marriage!!
Margot B
5.0
10/09/2024
Rachel was so amazing throughout our planning process! She went above and beyond with helpful information and day of set up and tear down. She was so knowledgable in every aspect! ...
Highly recommend her!
Amelia W
5.0
10/03/2024
Rachel and her company were an invaluable resource leading up to and on our wedding day! The information and resources she sent us ahead of time were very helpful, as was her input...
on the various vendor contracts we signed. Her experience shone through in her organization and the details she thought of that weren’t even on our radar. She reminded us to have a plan for breakfast day of during getting ready, was at our ceremony rehearsal walk-through (which I wasn’t expecting, but it would have been much less useful and helpful without her there to ask the right questions!), and coordinated to make sure our schedule was sent out to all our vendors. The morning of the wedding was more of a whirlwind than I was expecting, but when I arrived to our reception, all the décor was set up exactly how I envisioned, thanks to Rachel and her assistant.
There are countless examples of how she worked in the background to make sure everything ran smoothly, many of which I didn’t even find out about until after the wedding because of how she just got them done! To list a few: I didn’t realize our cake stand didn’t come preassembled, and she had a screwdriver on hand to assemble it; she noticed that the sun was shining in our eyes at our head table during speeches and subtly asked the venue to put the blinds down; she made an in-the-moment assessment and recommended that we reorganize our schedule slightly to do cake cutting before dancing (which ended up being a great call). I am so thankful that we hired her as it helped relieve so much stress day of from both me and my family, and I would strongly recommend Firmly Rooted Events to anyone looking for a day-of coordinator (or anyone undecided about whether they need one!)
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 10/23/2024
Thank you SO MUCH!! It was so much fun getting to know you and Kalash and helping you be a...
s prepared as possible for your wedding. We are thankful that we could help you remember all of the logistics for the day and then put everything together for you so you could enjoy yourselves! We wish you and Kalash nothing but the best!!
Rebecca F
5.0
10/02/2024
Rachel was phenomenal! She made our day stress-free as she coordinated with countless vendors and created a timeline to keep everything and everyone on track. She also was great at...
anticipating our needs and was always responsive and knowledgeable about all things wedding-related. We would 100% recommend her to others looking for a day-of-coordinator or planner!!!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 10/23/2024
Thank you!!! It was such a pleasure to get to be a part of your wedding day! We loved bein...
g able to help you along the way and on your wedding day and we wish you and Ben the best in your journey together as a married couple!!
Nikki B
5.0
9/29/2024
Rachel and her team at Firmly Rooted Events were absolutely phenomenal as a day of/month of wedding coordinator. She is so organized and detail oriented. She sent over checklists, ...
helpful personally written blog posts and coordinated with allll of my vendors that I had previously engaged with-to make sure everyone was on the same page for wedding day. She always had ideas or insight to questions I had about timelines, decorations, wedding vendors etc…. Rachel is so personable and truly has each bride and groom’s wishes and best interest at heart. The day of the wedding she even brought my husband and I plates of food to make sure we ate the night of our wedding. My event space coordinator was changed three weeks before my wedding and I knew things would run smoothly at my wedding because of Rachel. If you’re looking for a kind, knowledgeable, organized event planner who will make your Chicago wedding day go seamlessly-hire Rachel!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 10/23/2024
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! It was an absolute joy getting to help you have a smooth wedding da...
y even with all of the changes!! It truly was so much fun and we loved seeing your dance floor fully packed and ready to party. We are so happy that you had a lovely day and we wish you and Matt the best in your next chapter together as husband and wife!!
Michelle F
5.0
9/09/2024
I had the pleasure of working with Rachel (owner) and Tori (a lead coordinator). Both were very professional and easy to work with. They made communication a priority before and du...
ring the day of. They assisted with the final walk through, timeline, and keep everyone/everything on schedule. ON my wedding day Tori actually kept us ahead of schedule to ensure we had more open dancing time, something she knew was very important to me. I would high recommend Firmly Rooted events to anyone looking for seamless help on their big day!!
Response from Firmly Rooted Events on 09/10/2024
THANK YOU!!!! We are so happy that you enjoyed working with us - your wedding was so much ...
fun and we are glad you were able to party a little early too!! We wish you and Connor a lifetime of love and happiness!!
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Firmly Rooted Events
Rachel MacQueen
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