North Shore Weddings by Ana

cked a venue, and 6 months before the big day. My (now) husband and I live and work in NY, but we had our hearts set on a rustic fall wedding in his hometown, Boston. We found a beautiful venue and happily signed the contract, intending to plan it all from out of state. We'll make monthly weekend trips up, we told ourselves! As we soon discovered, we'd gotten in way over our heads. We booked our caterer and photographer, but then realized we had no clue as to how to pick everything else. Our venue (a working farm) was extremely DIY, and while our contact person there helpfully answered questions about the farm, it was up to us to figure out all the services needed to pull off a 90-person wedding. How would the sound systems work if we wanted a ceremony on a hill, background music for a tented dinner, and dancing in a barn? Would two bathroom stalls be enough for all guests? How would we handle chilly fall weather if we couldn't put heaters in the wooden barn? To complicate things further, my husband and I had busier work schedules than originally anticipated, limiting our opportunities to go to Boston. Wedding planning turned into a stressful task that we dreaded. Finally, 6 months from the wedding, we knew we had to reach out for help, since we had so much left to do. After interviewing several planners, we knew we'd struck gold with Ana. From the first time we chatted with her over Skype (while she was in Vietnam with her family!), Ana was like a ray of sunshine--she was warm, reassuring, calm, knowledgeable, and extremely competent. She wasted no time helping us find the remaining vendors, like our DJ, stationer, photobooth service, and tent rental company (all wonderful). We introduced her to the vendors we'd already hired, and she worked with them seamlessly. We did a walkthrough with her on the farm, where she told us her vision for the event and went through our timeline/to-do's for the next few months. (After this meeting, we started sleeping better again.) Ana took care of the questions we had, thought of other potential issues that we hadn't even considered, and then solved those problems, too. When last-min things came up--like changing tablecloth colors, or me remembering a week before the wedding that we needed soft armchairs in the barn for elderly guests--Ana handled it like a pro. She was fantastic at finding multiple options for us without being pushy for one vendor over another. The day of the wedding, Ana was an all-star. We cannot emphasize enough how GREAT of a coordinator she is. Our venue was very "spread out," with many logistical issues, and though it was Ana's first wedding there, she made sure it was all set up beautifully and that everyone moved from the ceremony to cocktail hour to dinner to dancing in an organic, on-time manner. All of our family, friends, and vendors loved interacting with her--our caterer asked my husband, "Where did you find Ana? I haven't worked with her before but I'd love to work with her again!" In retrospect, it's obvious that putting together our big day without Ana would've been impossible, and we should've hired her even earlier than we did. She is cheerful, upbeat, hardworking, and just lovely to be around. Picking Ana was one of the best decisions we made--thank you for making our day perfect!

e than 3 meetings together. Ana was there with us the entire month leading up to the wedding as well. There were so many things that I wouldn't have thought of and things that I wouldn't have done, had they not been suggested or had I not been reminded of by her. I truly could not have pulled off such an amazing day without her. She is the most kind and calming person to talk to. Even on the rehearsal day, when I started to really feel some stress, she knew exactly what to do to calm my nerves, and my husband's! We could not be more grateful to her.

of the wedding and on the day that you don't anticipate..Ana was able to quickly solve the problems and alleviate any stress we had. She was a calming presence throughout the planning process. I can't speak any more highly of Ana.

endors all over the Northshore and was so helpful throughout the planning process. Ana made planning stress-free and fun!

rents' home so the last thing I wanted was my mother and father taking care of the vendors and details on our wedding day. It was very important to us that my parents trusted the "day of" coordinator" to take over so that they could sit back, relax, and enjoy every moment of the day. Ana and her team made that possible! Prior to our wedding day, Ana was super helpful with suggestions for our big day, and kept us on track to finalize contracts, details, etc. She was always accessible and prompt in getting back to us to answer questions or address concerns. Through our interaction with Ana it was very clear that she was a professional and had years of experience in the wedding planning business, especially on the North Shore. She brought up a lot of great points that a first time bride and groom weren't necessarily thinking of when planning a wedding. During the week of our wedding and through the rehearsal, Ana made sure we were in great shape for our wedding day and that all the details had been discussed. Heading into our big day I knew we were in great hands. However, as great as Ana was leading up to the event, I can't say enough about her and her assistant on our actual wedding day! They both never stopped working! Everything ran sooooo smoothly that I wasn't concerned even for a moment. Ana helped keep a great party going, checked in with us throughout the night and was always right there if we had a question. She was on top of EVERYTHING from start to finish! Based on our overall experience, we would highly recommend North Shore Weddings by Ana without any hesitation. They were incredible and the best money spent on our wedding day. Ana and her team made sure our wedding was completely stress free and a night to remember!

a, she brought a sense of positivity and calm to the entire process, and although she was not formally assisting with planning, she was a wonderful resource and provided many vendor referrals and creative ideas that we would not have thought of ourselves. Ana provided a detailed timeline for the day well in advance, attended the final walk-thru and meeting with the venue, and communicated the timeline to our vendors. As we approached the wedding day, Ana and I were in close touch and I was confident that she knew and would execute my vision for the day -- having this trust allowed me to relax and thoroughly enjoy each moment and not worry about how things were going in the background. We had a few last minute additions to our rental order, and although it was several weeks after the event, Ana followed up with us and the vendor to clarify the invoice. I am so happy that we decided to work with Ana, and I know that the day would not have gone as smoothly or been as stress-free for myself and my mother without her there!

anning process easier every step of the way. On the day of, my now-husband, family and I were able to relax and focus on each other and the reason for the day because we knew she had all the details well in hand. Of course the wedding went off without a hitch. Ana is worth her weight in gold, I could not recommend her more highly.

way. It was such a pleasure working with you from the start. Your kind disposition, prompt responsiveness to all our requests, strong work ethic, and incredible professionalism truly set you apart. One of your most impressive traits was your ability to keep us in check, by reminding us of things we still had to do in the weeks and months leading up to the wedding, while always doing so in such a kind way that we never felt pressured. Ultimately, we could not have done it without you and we will forever be grateful for your work on this unforgettable wedding. For anyone considering hiring Ana, all we can tell you is that you will never regret your decision. She pays for herself, in the sense that she found us better and less expensive vendors, and often even negotiated them down on price. So, not only will you get an amazing and super organized wedding planner that will make your event better than you could have yourselves, but she will save you money in the process! So, it's a no-brainer to hire her. All the best, Anna & Luis (June 2016)

ivate wedding on a remote island off of Buzzards Bay. I was so blessed to have Ana at my side, and my husband was equally as pleased. Everything was on time and Ana paid careful attention to every detail. She was a pleasure to work with prior to the wedding, providing us with ample attention and always returning calls/emails in a timely fashion. I would highly recommend Ana and North Shore Weddings to anyone. Thank you, Ana!!

ery stage of planning. She is always calm and reassuring and works through any unknowns quickly and efficiently. She made sure that everything about our day was perfect, exactly how I imagined, and stress free! I have and will always recommend Ana to all of our friends and family who are looking for someone to help guide them through this fun and exciting adventure!!

mper, not even changes her tones when I shot tough questions at her. She explains, goes through her list of things to do and calmly plans the wedding out. She is just a very kind warm and nice person in nature. Our fantastic wedding was all planned and executed within a short time span of four months, and Ana helped greatly. She tries very hard to make every wedding magnificent. She sincerely cares and listens. Her good and calm nature was perfect for the day-of because everything was so hectic, and without her the day couldn't have gone so smoothly. She takes whatever challenges and questions and solves them one by one. She is also very experienced, knows every little things about weddings, and she works very hard, always answer emails and texts instantly. Overall I think she is definitely worth the investment!

that we were happy and at ease. I would recommend her to anyone, especially those planning complicated weddings. We were married in my aunt's backyard, and everything had to be brought in (i.e. tent, bathrooms, etc.). She handled everything with ease and comfort. You will not be disappointed if you hire Ana!

er attention to detail is precise, her knowledge of all the vendors allowed us to pick from the most talented and reliable. She follows through carefully with both a busy bride and geographically distant MOB. Her demeanor is positive and supportive and we all came away knowing that she would be there for all of us when we needed her. She went above and beyond her job description and in the end cared deeply about a perfect day and a happy wedding party. We absolutely could not have done this without her and I will unabashedly recommend her to anyone considering hiring her. Thank you Ana❤️

edding so I knew that I needed help. I'm so glad that I was referred to Ana because I could not have had my wedding without her! She was very organized, responded to emails promptly, and kept me calm even when we lost our caterer a few weeks before the wedding! As we came up to the wedding date Ana helped me put together some final details and by the day of the wedding I knew I could relax because she had everything under control! There are a lot more moving parts that have to be organized in a backyard wedding and Ana directed them seamlessly! Ana really made sure that my day was perfect and for that I can't thank her enough!!!

tential locations and was unfazed by thinking up atypical ways of making our dream wedding a possibility. During the planning, Ana would check in and give us great notice in what needed to be planned when. All the vendors she provided us were absolutely outstanding! The work and attention to detail in the planning resulted in an stunning and memorable wedding for all. The actual wedding day went without a hitch. Ana’s flawless planning both before and during made it a day that we all could enjoy without a worry. Her professionalism, organization, caring demeanor, and true love of her work is apparent at every turn. Her personalized care made us feel like we were her only client. We highly recommend her services!

by the thought of having a big wedding. My parents really wanted one (150ppl) so I took the plunge. I dreaded the thought of the planning... the linens, the flowers, etc etc. Ana made it so easy AND to my shock.... enjoyable!! She truly listens to what your "vision" is but she also gets to know you and almost literally reads your mind. One anecdote: Ana knew I was obsessed with our dogs and without me saying anything she put us in touch with a cake vendor who specialized in cake toppers.... our dogs were the bride and groom on the cake and it was so, so perfect and "us". She is classy, sweet, elegant and fun... but she is also a mama bear and will stop at nothing to protect her bride and make sure the brides day is perfect. Ana is a professional. She knows the business. She knows the vendors. She knows where to go, who to use, and what to say. She is also a total blast to work with. And, again, this is coming from a person who didn't want to do the "bride thing". Ana was gentle yet forceful and truly only cares that she creates a day where the bride and family will feel loved and so happy. She accomplished this more than I could have ever imagined. Our wedding was breathtakingly beautiful and the best part was it was without stress (for us) and seamless. It truly was perfect... thanks to Ana. You MUST hire her. She is a pro and a joy to work with.

suggestions and alternative ways to accomplish our dream. When she made suggestions, if we said we weren't interested she accepted our decisions without trying to change our minds and make it 'her wedding'. She is competent, artful, creative, elegant, down to earth and really interesting. She is everywhere but never makes it appear as if she is working hard at all ( and she is). Her vendor suggestions are made with great care and thought and were fantastic. She is magical....has a soft touch but is a very tough negotiator. The vendors had so much respect for her. She treated everyone from the wait staff to the bridal party with respect and a smile. She is all over everything.....from dates, times, finances etc. Utmost in her mind is that the couple is happy and comfortable and relaxed and ready to make "the moment" memorable. I don't know how she does it. Ana makes it look so easy......anyone who has been through this planning knows it is not easy. She knows the answer even before you ask the question. She was our security blanket so warm and secure, always smiling. Ana is like family to me. You must hire her. She will make your day be light and easy and fun, the way it should be.

ve and always seemed to have a way to keep me calm during the whole process. She went above and beyond her wedding planning services from the very beginning. Ana was always very responsive especially as the big day drew nearer. She was very involved and helped me to feel confident about the decisions I was making. We met several times and Ana was always calming, reassuring, caring, and professional. I would recommend Ana without hesitation. I can never thank her enough for helping to make all of my wedding dreams come true.

itself as much as we did. We were able to remain stress-free while Ana took care of all the details. We are so happy that Ana was part of our wedding. She is an absolute pleasure to work with. Highly recommended!

difference in the world. With Ana, the overall cost of the wedding was lower than if we had planned it ourselves. She was able to negotiate deals that we would have been unaware of, and she was able to recommend the best vendors without us having to interview and select them by trial and error. She lowered the stress level from the beginning to the end. She recommended the venue, which turned out to be the best venue we could have ever found. She helped choose the vendors, including caterer, make-up artist, hair stylist, linens, florist, DJ, lighting, church, and more, and worked with us on every major decision. Every vendor was as warm, helpful, and excellent as she is and they all worked as a team to make our wedding a huge success. Her experience and organizational skills made the entire process a pleasure from the start. She reminded us of upcoming deadlines and reviewed our choices every step of the way. Her recommendations were consistently on the mark. Her happy smile and reassuring voice was always welcome and just what we needed. On top of all of this, Ana is a wonderful person. She is both professional and personable, efficient and organized. She truly cared that our wedding be the most memorable moment of our lives. And now, she is a true friend.