5.0
Praised by couples for:
Stress-free planning
Understanding the Couple's Vision
Professionalism and Attention to Detail
Five Star Planner!
New England & Ventura, Santa Barbara CA
Travel area: No travel restrictions See details
Mary's calmness, positivity, and expertise have had a wonderful impact on my wedding thus far. My venue already has a day of coordinator so I was able to utilize Mary to talk through planning in advance of my wedding day. It has been great knowing I have someone I can lean on! She seems to always know what to say including, you can do whatever you want your the bride, which has helped me feel less guilty and more intentional 😄
Chelsea K.
5.0
Having Mary is an absolute MUST when it comes to planning your wedding! I have known her since elementary school, as I grew up playing softball with her daughter, and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to work with her again as an adult.
Mary is kind, sweet, responsive, and incredibly organized. Her calming presence throughout the wedding planning process makes you feel like everything is going to be okay, even when things feel overwhelming! Whether you need help finding vendors, coordinating a timeline with your venue, staying within your budget, or simply getting advice on how to make your big day run smoothly, Mary is there to help every step of the way.
Trust me, you won’t want to work with anyone else! You will be in the BEST hands with Mary, and I cannot recommend her enough! 💕
Sara O.
5.0
Mary P. Karnes
OWNER
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER (8X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
At Mother of the Bride, we do it all, from full coordination to day-of Services.
Based in Glastonbury, CT, Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner is a wedding planning company that can support and advise you throughout your journey. Mary, the owner and wedding planner, is highly organized and professional, allowing her to guide you every step of the way. Her wealth of knowledge from years in the industry informs her decision-making.
Besides being an experienced wedding planner, the founder of Mother of the Bride, Mary P. Karnes is an accomplished novelist. Her stories about weddings led her to discover a passion and talent for helping couples bring their dream day to life. She enjoys working behind the scenes to craft something beautiful and sharing in the celebration of your special moments.
Whether you are planning a civil union or a cultural wedding, Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner can offer you guidance. She has worked with couples to arrange intimate gatherings, grand events, elopements, destination weddings, and even eco-friendly weddings. Mary will help you from the beginning, creating a reasonable budget, timelines, and to-do lists. She can also help you choose excellent vendors. On the wedding day itself, Mary will be there to coordinate and help things run smoothly.
Details
Destination Weddings
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 Website
Wedding Activities
Getting Engaged
Engagement Party
Honeymoon
Rehearsals & Parties
After Party
Bachelorette 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
8-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2026.2025.2024.+5 more.
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.
Hall of Fame
Earned by winning 'Best of Weddings' four or more times.
Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding
Meet the team
Mary P. Karnes
Owner
I started my career as a wedding planner writing a mystery ABOUT a wedding planner, "Simply the Best" by Mary P. Karnes. Next I orchestrated my own daughters' weddings. True love was born. Who wouldn't want to spend one of the happiest days of someone's life with them?
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.0107 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.
Mary and her Mother of the Bride team are praised as calm, organized, and highly responsive, offering vendor recommendations, detailed timelines, and reliable day‑of coordination. They proactively solve issues, keep events running smoothly, and let couples relax and enjoy their day. Highly recommended.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
AC S
Highlighted review.
5.0
Dream wedding achieved thanks to Mary! Multiple guests commented that this was one of the best weddings they have attended. I feel so blessed. Mary's organizational skills and pre-...
wedding planning combined with her day of coordination created a stress free wedding for my husband and I. We literally smiled the whole day.
We felt so held by Mary's calm presence (with a clipboard in hand of course) and how effortlessly she stuck to the schedule, announcing each phase of our evening to our guests so everyone felt comfortable knowing what to expect. She brings structure with softness.
Mary's business name, "Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner" is such a fitting name. Yes, she has 4 daughters but as the bride, I felt like Mary gave me as much attention and care as she would her own daughters. So the name fits.
You can absolutely tell she's been doing this for years and has seen it all because she thinks of it all. Look no further friends, you've found your Wedding Planner and Day of Coordinator in Mary Karnes.
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
AC, what a joy it was to work with, (and celebrate with), you and your beautiful family! J...
ust perfection!
Chelsea K
5.0
Mary's calmness, positivity, and expertise have had a wonderful impact on my wedding thus far. My venue already has a day of coordinator so I was able to utilize Mary to talk throu...
gh planning in advance of my wedding day. It has been great knowing I have someone I can lean on! She seems to always know what to say including, you can do whatever you want your the bride, which has helped me feel less guilty and more intentional 😄
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Chelsea, it has been so gratifying and FUN working with you! You are such a lovely person ...
and I wish you a long and happy marriage - you and Brian are a terrific couple. Thank you for your kind words!
Any questions?
Sara O
5.0
Having Mary is an absolute MUST when it comes to planning your wedding! I have known her since elementary school, as I grew up playing softball with her daughter, and I feel so ble...
ssed to have the opportunity to work with her again as an adult.
Mary is kind, sweet, responsive, and incredibly organized. Her calming presence throughout the wedding planning process makes you feel like everything is going to be okay, even when things feel overwhelming! Whether you need help finding vendors, coordinating a timeline with your venue, staying within your budget, or simply getting advice on how to make your big day run smoothly, Mary is there to help every step of the way.
Trust me, you won’t want to work with anyone else! You will be in the BEST hands with Mary, and I cannot recommend her enough! 💕
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Oh Sara, what fun we have had. It is such a joy to work with you and Jon. Exciting times a...
head! Thank you for your lovely words, it means so much!
Karen P
5.0
Mary has been extremely helpful in our wedding planning process! She is very organized, professional, and knowledgeable. After just a few phone calls, she has made the process much...
less overwhelming. I’m confident we’re in great hands and would absolutely recommend her to other couples!
the beginning of our planning, she was a huge help in
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
It was been so fun working with you and Jeremy, Karen. You are a wonderful couple!
Ryan A
5.0
Mary helped the day go perfectly! Her communication and coordination prior to the wedding was super helpful. Her availability for questions and advice made the difference before th...
e big day and on the big day.
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
The pleasure was all mine, Ryan. It was terrific working with you and Sarah, and your wedd...
ing was so beautiful- and what lovely families you both have!
Matt S
5.0
If you want your wedding to be the magical experience you’ve always dreamed of, I highly recommend working with Mary. Not only did she ensure nothing slipped through the cracks, sh...
e helped us plan everything at the correct cadence leading up to the wedding and all with her special, caring, and honestly loving touch that is just rare to find these days when hiring a professional for anything. She guides with grace, not only sharing the highest quality recommendations to fit any budget, and strategies and tips to make it happen, but at the same time having the flexibility and understanding that is needed to also make sure your wedding is truly your own. I cannot recommend Mary enough.
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Thank you for your beautiful words, Matt! It was truly a joy to work with you and your be...
autiful bride on your wedding. I know you two will be very happy, you deserve a long and joyous marriage!
Tabisa M
5.0
Mary made sure everything ran smoothly behind the scenes so me and my husband could enjoy our big day. We had several calls with her leading up to the wedding and she was incredibl...
y thorough. Not only did she ease any concerns we had but she was proactive in providing us with solutions to obstacles we didn't even think about. She truly cares deeply and is such a professional. She is now like family and the first person we recommend to friends and family getting ready for their big day!
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Oh Tabisa! I had so much fun working with you and Matt! You were organized, yet flexible a...
nd the day was just perfect. I wish you great happiness!
Eli B
5.0
From the very beginning, Mary exceeded all of our expectations for a day-of coordinator. Where other vendors we spoke to had strict timelines around when they'd talk to you, when y...
ou could call them, and how you could reach out, Mary made herself available for us and was there for us whenever we needed her.
She'd end every call by telling us that she was always available to talk. This kindness was so wonderful for us as two people quite inexperienced in planning this kind of event.
When we finally got to work with her on the day of, it was like working with a friend we'd know for more than a year. She was so on top of everything and a wonderfully calming presence. We simply can't recommend her enough.
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Eli, it was such a great pleasure
to work with you and Hanako. Thank you so much for lett...
ing me be part of such a magnificent day. Your friends and family were lovely all the guests embraced the joyousness of the day!
Tannaz S
5.0
It was a pleasure working with Mary!!! She has an incredibly calming aura and made me feel so much more relaxed during the wedding planning process every time I talked with her. Sh...
e was willing to answer any and all questions I had from the moment I booked her and was flexible when scheduling phone calls. I appreciated her honesty when I would ask questions regarding the necessity of certain vendors/details of my wedding - I always felt like she had my best interest in mind. Highly recommend working with her for your wedding!!
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Tannaz, from day one I enjoyed and looked forward to our planning sessions. We had such a ...
good time! Your wedding was beautiful and I so enjoyed meeting your lovely family. I wish you great happiness!
Caroline F
5.0
Mary was excellent! Every ask we had was taken care of, she was prompt and on time to everything, she made the day go that much smoother! I would hire her 10 times over! I can’t th...
ank her enough for all of her hard work and effort!
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Caroline, it was such a joy to work with you and Nick. The wedding was so beautiful. You c...
ould just feel the magic in the air!
Janice J
5.0
Mary Karnes was an absolute gift to us from the moment we got engaged until the final moments of our July 2025 wedding day. She guided us through every step of the planning process...
, providing unlimited contact via email, text, and virtual check-ins, which gave us peace of mind and constant support. Whenever we had questions, she offered thoughtful, non-biased feedback and creative solutions that helped us craft the most personalized ceremony and reception possible.
Mary provided invaluable vendor recommendations, detailed reminder checklists, and a perfectly curated timeline. She served as a seamless liaison with all our vendors, assisted our wedding party and family members, and skillfully orchestrated the flow of the entire day—from the ceremony to cocktail hour and through the main reception.
On the wedding day, she handled every detail with professionalism and composure, quickly resolving any last-minute hiccups. Mary is pleasant, incredibly knowledgeable, and a calming presence throughout what could easily be a stressful process. We can’t recommend her highly enough to any couple looking for a planner who is as professional as she is personable.
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Janice, I just love your and Kevin‘s love story. I had so much fun working with the two of...
you, and you’re such a beautiful bride! I wish you many happy years together
Emily D
5.0
Two words : Hire Mary!
I cannot say enough good things about Mary Karnes. Mary was the ‘secret ingredient’ that made our day run smoothly from beginning to end. From our very ...
first meeting with her by phone, we fell in love with her personality, her love for her work, and her commitment to doing her job so well. Mary often said, “If it matters to you, it matters to me,” and she certainly took all of our concerns to heart.
Mary did a wonderful job scheduling regular check-in calls, and made sure to provide us with whatever we asked for, from vendor recommendations to answers to basic wedding etiquette questions. She always made clear that she was offering us options based upon her experience, and never tried to sway us in any particular direction.
Mary’s wedding timeline was a thing of beauty! Newly-engaged couples may not realize the importance of a well-planned timeline — without it, I can only imagine the chaos that would have ensued. Mary’s organization in the week leading up to the event allowed us to rest easy knowing that Mary had personally reached out to each vendor with the timeline, and had gone over the necessary details with each of them in advance.
If you’d like your wedding to run smoothly, too, you must hire Mary!
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Emily! What a blast I had working with you! I always looked so forward to our calls. I mis...
s chatting with you. So glad your wedding was so joyous!
Deborah S
5.0
Mary is the consummate professional sharing her expertise both in advance wedding planning calls and during my daughter’s May 17th wedding hosted on her homestead with tent and bar...
n.
Her sense of calm, confidence, and quiet reassurance of “I’ve got this!” allowed all of us to fully engage and enjoy the wedding. That, to me, is priceless.
I am grateful to Mary beyond words and highly recommend her.
Thank you.
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Deborah, what a pleasure it was to work with you and your beautiful family! And what a gor...
geous day we had - your help and support was fabulous. Thank YOU!
Brittany G
5.0
Working with Mary at Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. From the very beginning, she was so friendly, organized, and genuine...
ly excited to help us. She took the stress out of planning and made the whole experience fun and easy.
On the wedding day, Mary was a total rockstar. She kept everything running smoothly behind the scenes so we could just enjoy the moment. Our families and friends were blown away by how beautiful and well-organized everything was — working alongside Mary made it all happen!
If you're looking for someone who really gets your vision and goes above and beyond to make it happen, Mary is your person. We’re so grateful for everything she did to make our day absolutely perfect!
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Brittany, it was a joy to work with you. You made it easy and all your creative decor was ...
just perfect!
Jessica B
5.0
I had the pleasure of working with Mary for our wedding on 02/01/2025 at The Branford House, and I couldn’t be more grateful for everything she did. From the very beginning, she wa...
s incredibly responsive and available, always ready to answer any questions or offer advice. I was nervous about the whole process, but Mary immediately put me at ease with her calm, organized approach.
On the wedding day, Mary was an absolute lifesaver. She coordinated with all the vendors, kept everything running smoothly, and ensured every detail was perfect—leaving me to just enjoy the day. I didn’t have to worry about a single thing.
Thanks to Mary, our wedding went off without a hitch, and it was more beautiful than I ever imagined. I’m so grateful for their hard work and dedication to making our day special.
If you’re looking for someone to help make your wedding perfect, I would highly recommend Mary. You’ll be in great hands!
Bridget D
5.0
From start to finish, working with Mary and Julie was an absolute pleasure. I can’t thank them enough for making my wedding planning process so much smoother and less stressful. Th...
ey were incredibly responsive to all my questions and helped guide me through every detail with professionalism and care.
As the big day approached, I felt much more at ease knowing they were handling the logistics. On the actual wedding day, Julie went above and beyond, paying attention to every detail and ensuring everything ran seamlessly. I didn’t have to worry about a thing – they took care of everything, from timing to coordination with vendors, allowing me to fully enjoy the moment.
If you're looking for someone who is organized, attentive, and truly cares about making your wedding day perfect, I highly recommend Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner. They made all the difference in ensuring everything went off without a hitch!
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Bridget, Thank you for the lovely review!
I so enjoyed our frequent chats. You were organi...
zed, prepared and fun to work with. Thank you for making our time together so easy. Can't wait to see more photos!
Beth D
5.0
Mary did an amazing job helping my daughter plan her wedding which took place this past weekend! The attention to detail and caring thoughts did not go unnoticed. Mary was proactiv...
e with anticipating what "could go wrong" and did her job to prevent any issues which was a stress reliever. She was proactive, sharing her experiences with my daughter to educate her and also calm any worries.
Julie was was our coordinator for the rehearsal and the wedding day and she did a great job of keeping everyone on track so things moved along in a timely manner. She even assisted with first aid when a guest took a spin getting off of one of the shuttles.
"Always expect the unexpected" but fortunately Mary and Julie have got you covered! Highly recommend!
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Beth, it was such a joy to work with you and Bridget. Your kindness and organization showe...
d in our phone calls and meetings. I wish Bridget and Peter a lifetime of happiness. Thank you for your lovely review.
Caitlin G
5.0
Mary is a wonder! I was convinced by a friend to hire a wedding planner several months before my September wedding, and I'm so glad I took her advice as Mary was a godsend from the...
very start of the planning process until the very end.
Whether it was calling for weekly check-ins, orchestrating events great and small, or helping to dream up ideas to make our outdoor ceremony as memorable as possible, Mary's warm and serene demeanor both reassured me and gave me great peace of mind during what could otherwise have been a feverish time for our family.
I can't thank her enough for listening, for her incisive input, and for making herself available for any questions we had along the way. I recommend her unreservedly to any brides-to-be; you couldn't be in better hands.
Tess S
5.0
Mary, Julie, and Kim exceeded every expectation when planning and executing my wedding. I’ve heard from many guests that it was the best wedding they had ever been to. I wasn’t the...
easiest client, often changing my mind and struggling to share the vision in my head. Mary just understood what I gave her, understood the venue space and knew what to do to make my vision happen. I even miscalculated the number of boutonnières needed, leaving us one short — and I didn’t find out until the next day. Mary and her team had made one out of her own supplies and extra flowers, and no one could tell. I couldn’t imagine a better end result—if you want to have the perfect wedding (where you don’t know about the inevitable mishaps that occur) then you need a Mother of the Bride wedding planner!
Robert Y
5.0
Mary was great to work with. We hired her as our day-of coordinator but I also really appreciated her contract arrangement, via which we could ask her questions/get planning advice...
leading up to the wedding as well. Mary was always kind and responsive and it was great to meet her in person at the wedding, which went smoothly. Thank you Mary!
John K
5.0
Mary was wonderful through our entire wedding planning as well as being our day of coordinator. She cares and listens to all of your questions and concerns and we highly recommend ...
her for all of your wedding plan needs! She was always there whenever we needed her. Thank you so much Mary!!
Brooke and John
Kat B
5.0
Mary was an unbelievably amazing help as our day-of-coordinator! She was extremely communicative and supportive the months and weeks before the wedding, and the day of, she was suc...
h a calming and helpful presence that made our big day that much more enjoyable! She was there to set everything up, guide our guests on where to go and when, and even jump in to handle a few last minute stressors so myself and my mom didn't have to worry about them. Mary's daughter also attended our wedding to help with coordination, and she was an absolute delight and huge help as well!! They were such an incredible team! We are SO grateful for Mary and highly recommend her services!!
Deb C
5.0
While Mary was unavailable to officially assist with planning a large wedding in our backyard, she spoke to me for over an hour pointing us in the right direction on many large and...
small details!!!! All her advice was on target and throughout the planning process she continued to respond to my many questions always same day! Her help and regular support has been invaluable!!
Sells B
5.0
Mary was available anytime and every time we needed her. No question was silly or unanswerable. Wonderful with suggestions as well. Recommend her to make your day easy and no worri...
es.
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Wonderful to work with your beautiful family - I had such a great time and your wedding wa...
s just gorgeous!
Laurel L
5.0
We hired Mary as our day-of coordinator and couldn’t have been happier. We knew we couldn’t afford a full-service planner but we were nervous about only having access to her for on...
e day. Well, we shouldn’t have worried because Mary made sure we knew that she was available to us from the moment we signed the contract. We spoke on the phone frequently (weekly in the month leading up to the wedding) and also asked questions via text and got prompt responses. Mary has a wonderful calm, competent, yet warm energy and kept things running smoothly on the wedding day. I highly recommend her!
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Thank you Laurel! I so enjoyed working with you and Tyler! You were organized, cheerful a...
nd fun to chat with - and your wedding was devine! I miss our chats!
Erin S
5.0
My husband and I used Mary’s services as our day of coordinator. From our phone calls to the day of the wedding, Mary was able to give us advice and help structure to assure everyt...
hing would go as smoothly as possible. Originally, we had booked Mary for our reception only, but do to a last minute concern during our ceremony, I asked Mary if she could come to the ceremony as well to assist. Mary was extremely helpful with many things you’d often forget during the wedding planning process. If you’re contemplating using a wedding planner, definitely don’t hesitate to reach out to Mary!
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Thanks so much Erin! You made my job easy - and I so enjoyed working with you on your wed...
ding. I feel so lucky I was able to attend the ceremony too. You were a beautiful bride!
Ellie A
5.0
Mary was helpful, calm, and caring with each step of our wedding planning process. Mary is organized and timely and made sure we had every detail completed leading up to the big da...
y. She is available essentially 24/7 for her brides’ needs and questions. She was especially helpful with more challenging parts of the planning process such as transportation and day-of timelines. Mary listened to our wishes and helped us execute the wedding of our dreams without going overboard on unnecessary expenses. I would recommend Mary to any bride looking for guidance, planning, and coordination for her special day!
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Ellie! Thank you! It was just fantastic working with you - I so enjoyed our chats. Your d...
ay was spectacular and so were you, what a beautiful bride you were!
Emma T
5.0
I couldn't have done it without Mary! She really helped me execute the perfect day and kept me calm and confident, and I was able to focus on what was really important: getting mar...
ried. I love her!
Lisa T
5.0
Mary is such an amazing person! As a MOB herself (multiple times!), in addition to being there for many brides who are not her own daughters, she is an incredible resource! My da...
ughter and are so grateful we had Mary “on our team”!!
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Such a pleasure to work with you. Lisa. You were fun and always ready to learn. I was able...
to learn from you as well! Win/win!
Caroline R
5.0
Mary has been wonderful! She's helped me calm my nerves as we plan for the big day, is organized and thoughtful, and always makes herself available. I've loved getting to know her ...
and work with her so far.
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Thank you for your lovely words, Caroline! What a joy you have been to work with. Can’t wa...
it to have coffee and see those wedding photos!
Kate K
5.0
The best investment that our family made in planning my daughter’s wedding was to hire the “Mother-of-the-Bride” wedding planner, Mary Karnes! Mary set herself apart from the start...
with her professionalism. She was organized, and always readily accessible to answer questions. Throughout the 9 months that we worked with Mary we forged a supportive, productive relationship that brought us to the the wedding day!
Mary was nothing less than a shining star on the big day! She masterfully managed the flow of the celebration with an exact awareness of timing, attention to detail and subtle finesse! Because of Mary, my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed all the festivities , sitting back relaxed and proud. we were in good hands !
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Our Sunday chats were the highlight of my week, Kate. You and Caroline were a joy to work ...
with!
Kevin W
5.0
Mary was very helpful in coordinating our wedding. Without her insight and guidance, our wedding would have been hectic! She has the experience to help wedding rookies become pros!...
I would recommend working with Mary to anyone who is getting married!
Madison W
5.0
Mary was undoubtedly one of the best parts of our wedding experience. Throughout our planning process, she always emphasized her 24/7 availability no matter the inquiry, and schedu...
led frequent check ins to make sure we were all on the same page. We could really feel how much she cared about us, our wedding day, and ensuring it was everything we wanted. She was organized and offered such valued input on details from vendors, to timeline, to traditional and non traditional aspects of a wedding. Day off, Mary’s professionalism, expertise, and preparedness were incredible. She was efficient, coordinated with the vendors, and was prepared with things we hadn’t even considered. I know for a fact that the reason we enjoyed the day so much is because we had such a competent and lovely coordinator keeping everything going smoothly. It really allowed us to take in the day and enjoy our friends and family. Above all, Mary is just so … sweet. She has such a calming and warm presence, which is so needed for a wedding! We had so many friends and family comment on how wonderful she was. I truly cannot recommend Mary enough. Any couple who books her is so lucky!
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Oh Maddie, you made it so easy! I just loved working with you, I felt like I had an additi...
onal daughter. I know you will be very happy and have a wonderful life ahead. ♥️
anonymous u
5.0
Words cannot describe how wonderful Mary was in the planning of our special day, as well as on the day of. She is an incredible wealth of knowledge in terms of all that goes into m...
aking your wedding a seamless, organized, and blissful event. She is extremely professional and personal, going out of her way to get to know you as a client, and your vision as the bride. Her organization skills are top notch and will keep you feeling on top of things with checklists, to-do's and constant communication with her to make sure you're both on the same page about what needs to be done. On the day of our wedding, Mary had an amazing way of keeping the flow of the event cohesive with our timeline, while still being so gracious with our guests. Mary was our best decision we made as far as our special day went! She cares about you as a person and not just a client!
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Caroline, I loved working with you and your mom, Katie. We had such a good time planning o...
n Sunday mornings, didn’t we! It was just a joy. Happiness always to a lovely couple! ♥️
Allison S
5.0
Right from the moment we spoke on the phone, Mary just put me at ease. She was so calm and collected throughout the process and when we got to the day of, I felt confident knowing ...
she was keeping an eye on things behind the scenes and making sure all went smoothly. She’s kind, attentive, and just a wonderful person. Highly recommend her. Thank you Mary for everything!
Amanda R
5.0
Mary was instrumental in having our wedding planning be as smooth and stress-free as wedding planning can be. It's difficult to put into words how much my husband and I appreciate...
everything Mary did for us. Helping us choose our vendors, answering our many questions promptly, checking in with us regularly to make sure we were on track with our milestones and timelines, and being supportive and with us through the whole process. Mary is the best and we would recommend her to anyone planning their CT wedding.
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Amanda! Thank you so much for your kind words. What a pleasure it was to work with you and...
Will, and be a part of your joyous celebration. I wish you great happiness - I know it’s yours!
Brooke B
5.0
When my husband and I first started planning our wedding, we knew we wanted it to be a little more DIY than what a lot of folks opt for. We were able to plan this way because we ha...
d confidence in ourselves and in our family and friends - my family in particular has always loved putting together a good event! When I was talking with potential wedding planners / day of coordinators, almost all of them discouraged us from doing this. While I know they were doing so out of support and experience, it often left me feeling discouraged and dismissed. What drew me to Mary was her ability to really listen and connect with what I was sharing and what our vision was. Mary never once tried to convince us of something other than what we wanted, and in fact offered her unconditional support in bringing the vision to life. Mary was always available when I wanted to talk and brought me a lot of comfort in the final month when things started to feel a bit stressful. Ultimately, we had our dream wedding come true, and I owe so much of that to Mary for helping support us every step of the way.
Pam H
5.0
We highly recommend Mary without any reservations as she far exceeded our expectations. Her expertise, professionalism and calm demeanor were outstanding and just what we needed f...
or our wedding. She is very kind and easy to work as well as always available and responded to any inquiry punctually and with great insight and information. Lastly, she was spot on with the day of wedding logistics and flow. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves as Mary took care of everything .
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Pam! Thank you so much for the lovely praise. You and your family made it so enjoyable, an...
d just a good time to work together. Thank YOU! Hope to see you soon.
Lynn G
5.0
At first, my daughter and I thought we could do all of the wedding planning ourselves. And then we began to worry about "the day of" the wedding....how could we be responsible for...
organizing the day when we were trying to enjoy and savor it?! Then Audrey found Mary, the most perfect solution to our problem. We enlisted Mary for "day of" wedding planning, but it was sooo much more! Mary made herself available to us months ahead of the event with phone meetings, texts, emails and helpful checklists that let us know... what we didn't know enough to ask about yet!! She was always available, always organized and always reassuring to us. I couldn't recommend her services more highly.
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Oh Lynn! Your kind words made my heart sing! I so enjoyed working with you, Audrey and Vir...
gilio - and it was so fun getting to know your family. Thank you for letting me be part of such a joyous occasion!
Janet B
5.0
As mother of the bride I started to get worried about all the things that might fall on me on the wedding day. I found Mary and after working with her realized how many details we ...
weren’t even thinking about! She is so sweet, was always available and responsive, and orchestrated everything perfectly on the wedding day.
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Thank you for such a lovely review, Janet. Lauren and Ross’ wedding was so beautiful, and ...
I so enjoyed working with you. It was a real pleasure and I felt like we got to know each other well - thank you for allowing me to be a part of such a special day!
Ross H
5.0
Mary was amazing! She was attentive, on the ball, and kept us on track the whole way. She made us feel like our wedding was the only one that ever mattered. Although very professio...
nal, we were able to work with Mary like a lifelong friend. And by the end of the wedding day, she certainly became one!
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Ross! Thank you for your kind words - you made it so easy. It was a joy working with you, ...
Lauren and Janet. Your wedding was so beautiful and I enjoyed our frequent chats with “the team”! I hope our paths cross again.
Janelle M
5.0
There are not enough words! Mary was a complete savior in making our day run smoothly. Her guidance through wedding planning was amazing and she was always available for any and ev...
ery conversation needed. I would highly recommend asking Mary to work with you, she went above and beyond! I am extremally appreciative! It really doesn't get better than Mary!
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Janelle, thank you thank you for your kind words. What can I say, it was just so darn fun,...
and such a great pleasure to work with you. You made it easy! You are an inspiration!
Hannah O
5.0
Mary was so helpful in helping coordinate logistics prior to my wedding as well as on the day of. I bounced ideas off her and with her advice and guidance I was able to plan my dre...
am wedding.
Mary went above and beyond when I had trouble hearing back from vendors and helped me to lock down critical information from them.
I would recommend Mary to anyone! Her calm nature helps you stay calm as well.
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Hannah! Thank you for your lovely words… I can’t express how much I enjoyed our check-in c...
hats - I felt as I really got to know you. Your wedding was so beautiful and heart-felt - your vision was amazing! Thanks for letting me be a part of your magical day.
McKenna K
5.0
I cannot recommend Mary enough! I was planning a chill, 50 person backyard wedding and knew I needed someone to help keep track of the day and help me plan the day, so that I could...
truly enjoy my wedding day. Best money spent! We had a few initial calls talking about details and planning the day out that I never would have thought about. Leading up to the big day, we talked about once a week and it was so helpful! I have been told this was one of the best and thought out weddings our guests have ever been to and that I attribute that to Mary. She goes above and beyond for her clients and allowed me to enjoy my big day! Thank you Mary for everything’s
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
McKenna, thank you for your kind words! What a great time I had plannng with you. Your at...
tention to detail and fun spirit made my job easy - and your wedding was so beautiful!
Alison S
5.0
Mary is so kind and wonderful. She really helped keep me on track during the planning process and thought of little details that slipped my mind. She was on top of everything day o...
f and her communication with me and the other vendors was excellent. I’m happy to have had her there for my special day and anyone else would be lucky as well
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Alison, it was such a joy to work with you, and I was honored to be a part of your wedding...
. I wish you great happiness!
Samantha M
5.0
Mary was a huge part of why my wedding day ran so smoothly. She was so helpful from the very first phone call until wedding day. She was always available if I had any questions and...
responded very quickly. Mary was wonderful to work with and I’m happy to have had her apart of my big day :)
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Oh Samantha, I had such fun working with both you and Karen - and what a great day your we...
dding was! From the guests to the vendors, everyone had a wonderful time! Pure joy.
Karen H
5.0
Professional, organized, went beyond our expectations to make sure all activities went smoothly from start to finish. Not only did we enjoy planning our son’s back yard wedding w...
ith Mary, our vendors were very pleased working with her too. Since this was a back yard wedding there was a huge amount of coordination needed - Mary made sure everything was in place and that let us relax and enjoy the day!
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
You and your entire family were a joy to work with, Karen. You made it all so easy. Thank ...
YOU for such a fun day, and your fantastic organization!
Hannah K
5.0
Mary is awesome. She was always available to help me figure out details before my wedding, and was an excellent on-the-ground coordinator that day! She did everything on the list...
of tasks I gave her, and much more! My wedding party was one that clearly needed help with directions- and Mary provided that much needed support.
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Thank you so much for your kind words, Hannah. I had so much fun working with you and at y...
our wedding! It was a great time - and I wish you much happiness.
Katrina R
5.0
Mary was incredibly helpful throughout the entire planning process. She helped us prepare for our special day and was incredibly engaged and responsive. She helped us think through...
details we never would have thought about and was always accessible when we needed her. Thank you Mary for being a part of our special day!
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Thank you Katrina! Your wedding was so beautiful and so joyous. It was a pleasure working ...
with you!
Quinn F
5.0
Mary was amazing! She helped me so much with the wedding planning process. She made the perfect timeline for my ceremony and reception, and she even typed it out for me. She is ver...
y professional, genuinely kind, and extremely knowledgeable about weddings. She told me a lot of things I never would have thought of. She really goes above and beyond and you can tell she takes a lot of pride in her work. I highly recommend her to anyone planning a wedding.
Response from Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Thank you Quinn! I have had just the best time working with you and your mom - it has been...
such a pleasure.
Service area & Contact info
New England & Ventura, Santa Barbara CA
Typically included in the starting cost
Travel area: No travel restrictions
Additional charges may apply
Want to book a visit?
Start the convo
*=Required
Use this secure form to reach out and share your wedding vision.
Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Mary P. Karnes
|
Owner
Typically responds within 24h
Wedding vendors in Glastonbury
Mother of the Bride Wedding Planner
Why use The Knot to message vendors?
Messaging our verified vendors on The Knot is free, safe and secure. Conveniently track vendor messages and planning details all in one place. Our mobile apps make it easy to stay in touch with vendors while you're on‑the‑go. For personalized pricing and package details, sending the vendor a message is the fastest way to get info.