Wedding Planning & Coordination
$2,900 starting price
AWARD WINNER (3X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Located in West Hartford, CT, One for the Books Events is a wedding planning and consulting company. The dedicated team is passionate about helping couples to plan and achieve their dream celebration. They curate every aspect of wedding occasions, from full-scale planning to day-of coordination and management.
The experts behind One for the Books Events delight in orchestrating one-of-a-kind events for to-be-weds throughout New York and New England. You can schedule a consultation with a member of the team and begin sharing your vision and wishes for your big day. A snapshot of packages includes a full-planning package and a day-of plan, so there is something to suit every couple’s needs and preferences.
One for the Books Events looks forward to making your romantic journey as stress-free and effortless as possible. From overseeing logistics such as guest lists and vendor liaisons to acting as your personal assistant on the day, these professionals are versatile and flexible in their approach. Additionally, the team can arrange customized veils and keepsakes for an added special and personal touch during your milestone celebration.
Woman-owned Business
Prices & packages
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Details
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Planning
Planning
Day-Of Coordination
Destination Wedding Planning
Full Service Wedding Planning
Wedding Design
Wedding Website
Wedding Activities
Getting Engaged
Engagement Party
Rehearsals & Parties
After Party
Bridal Luncheon
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner
Wedding
After Party
Ceremony
Cocktail Hour
Day After Brunch
Reception
Rehearsal
Rehearsal Dinner
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.056 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.
Evan, a highly praised wedding planner, is described as exceptional, passionate, attentive, and detail-oriented by multiple reviewers for their wedding planning experiences in New York and coastal Connecticut. Reviewers highlighted Evan's dedication, expertise, budget-consciousness, communication, and flawless execution of events, including complex South Asian weddings and traditional ceremonies. Evan's helpfulness in handling logistics, coordinating with vendors, and bringing creative ideas to life while maintaining a calm and organized approach left a lasting positive impact on couples' wedding experiences. Reviewers recommend Evan and her team at One for the Books for an unforgettable and stress-free wedding planning journey, praising her professionalism, warmth, and personal touch in making their special day truly magical.Review photos
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Andrew S
5.0
2/16/2025
We booked our venue in June for a wedding that December, so we had a lot do to in a short time. Shortly after committing, the panic set in as we begun to realize that we had no idea what we were doing. I am always looking to save a dollar so despite the enormity of the task at hand I was skeptical about using a planner. At my now-wife’s command we started working with Evan in July and my goodness what a difference it made. She made a custom plan for us and guided us through the whole process. She completely took over coordination with vendors in the last weeks, and couldn’t have run the day-of any smoother. We were actually able to participate in the celebration instead of running it. She was unquestionably the best money we spent on the whole process. Even if you are budget sensitive, Evan is an excellent resource to guide you on the best bang for your buck.
I would say the most important thing that Evan provided was peace of mind. Her experienced advice, calm demeanor, and recommendations de-stressed us both considerably after each meeting. For the fellas out there let me tell you: anything you can do to manage your fiancé’s cortisol level throughout this process is… priceless.
Evan is amazing at what she does. We would absolutely hire her if we were to do it all again. We’ll be giving her a call for any event planning we find ourselves involved with in the future.
Ally M
5.0
9/14/2024
Where do I begin with this review? Evan is the most amazing human who I had the pleasure of working with (didn’t seem like work). The moment I got on the phone with her, I knew she would be the best decision I made on my wedding planning. Evan took care of everything and more! She is thorough, detailed oriented and delivers to perfection. She truly wants to deliver your vision and you tell she cares for each of her clients. Our wedding was the best day of our lives and she made it effortless. She took care of everything with the vendors, mishaps, etc. she made the planning process stress free and fun. We had our wedding in New York City and she exceeded all expectations in executing our vision. I cannot recommend a more passionate wedding planner in the industry. I love her so much and she gets a 1000/10 in my book!
Any questions?
Hannah Z
5.0
9/12/2024
Evan is hands down the best wedding planner you could ever work with!! She goes way beyond just being a wedding planner as we look at her as such an integral part of our lives now because of who she is!
We cannot even put into words how amazing our wedding was because of her. Not only was Evan on the ball with every detail and every vendor leading up to the wedding, but she also took care of all last minute communications leading up to the day, which gave us more time to enjoy every part of our wedding.
The day of our wedding went seamlessly because of Evan. She is so kind and caring and loves love! Everyone who crossed paths with her loved her as much as we do. We had a special connection as she had also planned a perfect wedding for a sibling 6-years ago. So, she has the experience needed to think of every last detail and go above and beyond to make YOUR day special! Evan is so talented at what she does, and so enthusiastic and warm hearted, you will feel like your best friend is helping to make your special day perfect. Evan is an absolute delight to work with, and we cannot recommend her enough!
Keely J
5.0
9/10/2024
If you are looking for a wedding planner, your search is over. Look no further than Evan Chestnutt and her team at One for the Books.
My husband, Eric, and I planned our coastal CT wedding from afar. While I grew up in CT, we were living in PA while planning our wedding and quickly realized we would need someone with knowledge of the local vendors & the ability to coordinate & execute the events of our wedding weekend. It was important to both of us to work with someone who aligned with our values. We desired to work with hardworking individuals who take pride in what they do and operate with integrity. These are strong values for us and we felt strongly that we wanted to align with others who upheld them as well. After interviewing several different planners/coordinators, it was clear that Evan was different and we had met our match.
We worked with Evan under her Partial Planning package and it was the perfect fit! We started working together around 9.5 months before our big day and at the time, we had our date, our venue, our photographer and videographer, but nothing else. Evan helped us work through the remaining vendor selection, as well as the design vision for our day! She was incredibly thorough & diligent and always broke things down into bite-sized chunks and kept us on track as we approached the wedding day. We also ended up hiring Evan and her team to assist with the execution of our Welcome Dinner the night before our wedding. Both events were flawless and went off without a hitch - so much so, our guests are asking for Evan’s name!
I would love to note that in addition to being extremely well-connected and well-respected working with other vendors, Evan was also incredibly respectful of our budget. In fact, in many cases she saved us money by using her vast experience and expertise. We would often have “real conversations” about what would matter/be impactful vs what would likely go unnoticed and just add extra cost. All this, while maintaining our vision for the look and feel of the day - and if I do say so myself, it turned out beautifully!!
Last, the logistics - The night before, Evan ran a flawless rehearsal for our large parties (11 groomsmen & 9 bridesmaids, plus family), all while her team and our vendors worked to set up a gorgeous Welcome Dinner for us and all of our guests at a different location 20-25 minutes away. Additionally, our wedding ceremony was a Catholic mass held in a chapel 30 minutes away from our reception venue and my husband and I did not want to do a first look, so we had a 2-hour “Catholic gap” between the end of the mass and the start of the reception. Evan took this in stride, supporting our more traditional wishes, and helping us to navigate the logistics to ensure our guests were taken care of during the gap. This allowed us to take beautiful family portraits both at the site of the ceremony and at the reception venue and we couldn’t have been more grateful for how she helped us navigate all these logistics and coordination - including a third location - the hotel where we got ready, without us seeing each other!
It’s hard to put into simple words what working with Evan is like, but we’ll try: seamless, organized, and absolutely fun! We loved planning our wedding with Evan and never grew tired of the process or details! We are so lucky to have found & worked with Evan and consider her a friend for life - we hope we are fortunate enough to work with her again!!
Richa C
5.0
3/18/2024
We were slow to write this review for our wedding back in May 2023 because we struggled to find the words to describe the gratitude and pure joy we felt in getting to meet and work with Evan. Evan joined in our wedding planning 6 - 8 months prior to the date, and our only regret is that we didn't involve her from the start. She single-handedly made our wedding weekend run as smoothly as possible and kept us sane throughout the entire process. We had a large (400+ guest) Indian-American wedding spread out over 3 events and Evan and her team were truly phenomenal in helping us make our vision into reality. She had planned South Asian weddings before, and she was both knowledgeable and also incredibly humble, consistently learning from us and ensuring that she was respecting our traditions and wishes. My partner and I are Indian but also wanted some more classic American elements to our weekend, and Evan was able to truly understand the melding of our cultures that we were looking for. When she needed to listen, she listened, and then when she needed to guide us and advocate for us with vendors, she went to bat in a heartbeat. She also did a wonderful job of listening to our families and supporting them through the hectic process. Her attention to detail and her expertise are unparalleled, and she responded to all texts, emails, phone calls generally within minutes to hours and truly always within 24 hours. You don't just get the One for the Books team, you get Evan devoting herself entirely to your event. We always joked that it felt like she was planning our wedding and our wedding alone, because of the level of attention she gave us (though of course, in fact she was booked all season!). Evan will always remain a fond memory and integral part of our wedding experience. On top of her professional perfection and her going above and beyond as our planner, we must also mention that Evan is simply a kind, compassionate, and wonderful human being. We actually enjoyed meeting with her because of this, and consider her a friend for life!
Ester P
5.0
1/25/2024
Evan did an amazing job planning our beachfront wedding. She was intimately involved in every aspect of our big day, and made the process so simple for us. Evan brought great ideas, a great network, and great organization to the event ensuring it went just as we dreamed. I highly recommend Evan!
Lisa B
5.0
1/25/2024
We had absolute pleasure of working with Evan and cannot express how grateful we are for her exceptional service. From the moment we started working together, Evan brought an unparalleled level of joy, professionalism, and expertise that truly made our wedding experience unforgettable.
Evan went above and beyond our wildest expectations. Her attention to detail was impeccable, ensuring that every aspect of our special day was thoughtfully considered and seamlessly executed. What truly set Evan apart was her ability to turn challenges into opportunities. When unexpected rain threatened our outdoor ceremony, Evan's calm demeanor and quick decision making helped me stay stress free and turned our last minute indoor ceremony into a magical experience we hadn't even imagined.
Words cannot capture the amount of magic and joy that Evan and her team brought to the wedding day but to the planning and coordination process as well. I cannot recommend Evan enough, she is the very best!
Michelle M
5.0
11/08/2023
We couldn't imagine having had our wedding day / weekend go as smoothly as it did without Evan's help! We are forever grateful to her, and so glad we took our friend's recommendation to use her for planning services. I am a type A bride who is very organized but wedding planning is a LOT to take on so my partner and I enlisted Evan's help for planning + day of coordination. She was a life saver and really made it so we could fully enjoy our special day when it came and not have to worry about a thing - she handled it all and kept everything running smoothly, coordinated with our many vendors along the way and helped create a timeline that we were able to stick to so that us and our guests had an amazing wedding experience that we will cherish forever! There are SO many other things she helped us with along the way - I couldn't even list them all out here, but she was truly someone we relied on during our planning process.
Not to mention her ability to handle a very non traditional wedding with grace and compassion, we had a fusion Pakistani / Persian / American wedding with so many unique aspects to our weekend. She took the time to really understand the different customs and traditions and make sure we could incorporate the things we wanted and that were important to us!
Trust us when we say you will NOT regret hiring Evan / One for the Books to help you with wedding planning and day of coordination services! A true gem and so worth it to fully enjoy your special day! <3
Bill F
5.0
11/05/2023
Evan & her team were exceptional. We planned a distant wedding as we were out of state and Evan accommodated all of our requests AND over-delivered along the way.
If you are fortunate enough to have her plan your wedding you will be blessed with care, attentiveness and attention to detail. Great communication and care along the way. Truly one for the books!
Katie D
5.0
11/02/2023
I would give Evan 100/5 stars if I could. She is simply THE BEST!! By far the best purchase of all wedding planning. She is so organized and professional. I had her for the final 3 months of wedding planning, and she essentially took my planning mess, and created something beautiful. She was on top of all the final meetings and connected with all my vendors, and created a timeline that worked for everyone, even on a tight schedule. She made me feel like I was her only client, even though she had a wedding the day after ours. She is always in your corner, and works hard on your behalf to make sure the day is the best it can be with no stress. Truly can't recommend her enough!
151-200 L
5.0
10/04/2023
I had a call with Evan early in my wedding planning process as I originally was searching for venues in the CT area - my fiance lives in NY and I am from RI. We IMMEDIATELY hit it off in our very first conversation. I ended up booking a venue in Hudson Valle yet I STILL insisted on hiring Evan and her team, although states away & despite the fact the venue provided a day of coordinator, because of the impression she made on me that initial call.
I signed up for the 3-month engagement with OnefortheBooks & I can genuinely say it was worth every. single. penny. Evan truly cares. We had countless text exchanges leading up to the wedding, had a great site visit where she drove 2+ hours to see the venue/area with me, spent an hour+ on a final details Zoom call to go over everything so I could just enjoy the final week, & I can honestly say I owe the entire success of my wedding weekend single-handedly to Evan (+Lindsay). She brought the perfect combination of calm + support + execution, exactly what you want on the biggest weekend of your life. Examples? Sure thing - here's 5. 1. I arrived the day of my rehearsal dinner later than expected and was against a time crunch. My parents & I met Evan SUPER frazzled with cars to unload, set up to do, and only an hour to do it. Evan immediately greeted us, insisted she take everything, sent me to my hair appointment, and when I returned literally everything was unboxed & setup for me. 2. The morning of my wedding, Evan went to check in on the reception venue as vendors were getting things set up. She quickly realized that a backdrop that was intended to be behind our head table literally said the WRONG LAST NAME. Evan immediately reached out to the vendor & got it resolved without me ever knowing. 3. During my reception, my bustle completely broke and several times Evan was there to the rescue to resew it up with fishing line. 4. Evan was always looking for moments where my now husband & I could tuck away to breathe and have a moment - something we didn't truly appreciate until after the fact. 5. Evan personally hand-delivered the cards from our guests to our hotel room at the end of the night with a bottle of champagne for us to enjoy post-planning days as a married couple. The entire day of my wedding Evan executed. Plain & Simple. The timeline we outlined, the chaos of so many personalities, 20+ vendors she'd literally never worked with, and everything in between. She truly cares about her brides & I miss her already!! She became such a great friend and made me feel like the most special person in the world. I wouldn't have traded Evan being there for anything. YOU NEED TO HIRE HER - TRUST ME.
Melanie G
5.0
8/08/2023
Hiring Evan as our (full-service) planner was without a doubt the best decision we ever made for our wedding.
Not only is she experienced, organized, creative and professional, but she is also so incredibly genuine, personable and thoughtful (among a million other wonderful qualities!).
Even if you and/or your partner are a type A (like me!), planning a wedding can be really difficult and stressful, but having Evan truly made the experience so fun and enjoyable for us.
She connected us to/coordinated with vendors she's worked with in the past and knew would be a good fit for our vision, budget and personalities (and they were all fantastic!). But she never pushed us to work with any particular vendors and was more than happy to vet/coordinate with any vendors we found ourselves and we ended up with the most amazing team of people.
We wholeheartedly trusted Evan throughout the planning process and most importantly on our wedding day, and I can honestly say it was the happiest, most perfect day of our lives.
We were so lucky and forever grateful to have her as our planner and now as our lifelong friend :)
THANK YOU, EVAN! We love you!
Elena R
5.0
7/29/2023
When my husband and I first got engaged, I knew literally nothing about weddings except for the handful I had gone to. I did not know remotely where to begin to plan one. Naturally, I tried to do a bunch of googling, which only seemed to intensify all I did not know. I then contacted a handful of planners, all of whom would send me a pamphlet with packages and prices and would also tell me how busy they were. Evan was the only one who called - she actually called me the next day. She walked me through everything, asked a lot of questions about me and my husband, and told me that she would be with me every step the way - and she followed through non that promise. She went to all my venue viewings with me, assured me that everything was my decision when I was getting pressure from vendors I didn’t know, and emphasized the things that were most important to us. Evan was very transparent and straightforward when needed, taking charge when we did not know what to do. She was also very loving and kind, knowing that as much as this was an event, it was also a symbol of a new beginning. She did not make us feel like we were just one of her clients, but more like family. If you are in need of a planner and/or a friend, please do not hesitate to reach out to Evan - she is a miracle worker.
Maggie R
5.0
5/24/2023
We can’t say enough about how much we loved working with Evan! Her calming presence, attention to detail, and thorough follow up with vendors put us all at ease throughout the planning process. She was enthusiastic about making sure the day turned out just like we planned and made it possible for us to soak it all in on our wedding day rather than worry about the details. She is so knowledgeable and professional and very fun to work with! We would not have had as wonderful of a wedding without her help!
Cynthia R L
5.0
3/23/2023
Evan is truly incredible!!! I can’t say enough good things about the job she did organizing my daughter’s wedding. She is knowledgeable, professional and TOTALLY PREPARED for every contingency. She was a calming influence for the bride during a hectic day. Let me also add that she is one of the nicest people I have met - just a gem.
Thank you Evan!
Jackie F
5.0
2/18/2023
Hiring Evan was the best decision we made in the lead-up to our wedding, which took place in October 2022. From providing valuable advice, to calming us down when things seemed rocky during the planning process, to all of her crucial behind-the-scenes work on the actual day, she truly helped us pull off our dream wedding. We can’t understate how helpful it was to have someone like her advocating for us and helping everything fall into place. But the best part of our experience of working with Evan was her passion and that she was as invested in our day being as special as possible as we were.
Vendor response 02/21/2023
Jackie! You are such a STAR my friend. It was a true honor and sincere pleasure to be a pa...
rt of your amazing day. Thank you for your kind words and entrusting our team with your wedding details & coordination.
Jillian M
5.0
12/27/2022
If you are debating hiring Evan and her team, do it! Her day of coordination was the absolute most help in making our wedding day a success. Evan went above and beyond in so many ways. She was kind and fit in with my wedding party just like family. One for the books is a flawless wedding planning team!
Joelle L
5.0
11/07/2022
Hiring Evan was by far the best decision we made during wedding planning! She truly enabled us to actually enjoy all of the special moments that happened during our engagement and planning process and wedding day rather than stressing about logistics and back and forth with so many vendors.
For our wedding we decided on a church ceremony and reception at a second location. Evan seamlessly coordinated all of the details from the hotel for our guests to stayed at, to transportation, to both venues, and evan made possible some special photo opps that we dreamed of. During the day plenty of things went wrong but Evan resolved all of them without us ever knowing there was a problem! Two days before the wedding our transportation company cancelled and Evan didn't miss a beat. Immediately she started contacting other companies and found two other options for us. We ended up booking one of them the day before the wedding and everything was seamless the day of.
From setting up our decor to getting our bridal party food during the day Evan was on top of every single detail. At the end of the night she even packed up everything so that we didn't have to return to the venue the next morning. Beyond the wedding day Evan helped us to arrange our rehearsal dinner, welcome party, and farewell brunch. When we got to brunch on Sunday we saw she had taken all of the centerpieces from the wedding and set them up so they wouldn't go to waste! She truly handled every detail of the weekend so that our family, bridal party, and us could all just enjoy and take in the weekend.
Evan also worked to fully understand our vision and taste. She recommended great vendors that she knew could help us achieve our vision. She even put together presentations to show the vendors with our inspiration to ensure everyone was working towards the same goal. When I first saw how everything came together at the reception I immediately began tearing up. It was like my vision and pinterest boards had come to life!
If you truly want to plan your dream wedding and then actually be able to enjoy it hiring Evan is the best decision you could make!
Megan T
5.0
11/01/2022
Evan is truly one of the best humans I have ever met! She is a phenomenal wedding planner and coordinator. We had a fully DIY wedding venue and Evan was amazing to work with leading up to the wedding and the day of. She saw my vision, improved upon it and kept me on track when I needed a kick in the butt. She coordinated all vendors and took over full contact with them in the weeks leading up to the wedding. Evan and her assistant Mel set up everything the day of and made sure I didn’t have to worry for one second. I’m forever grateful for them. If you’re on the fence about hiring a planner DO IT, it’s so worth the investment.
Vendor response 11/04/2022
Megan!! I adore you, my beautiful bride. Your vision, your great attitude, your love for J...
oe and of course, Sandler... and THAT DRESS. What a babe!! Thank you for the kindest review. Don't be a stranger!
Chloe N
5.0
10/23/2022
Where to begin on our amazing experience with Evan?!
Planner of the century!
Evan jumped in head first after our first meeting and continued throughout the months leading to our wedding by being detail oriented, communicative, organized, thorough, and thoughtful with everything she did.
Evan was looped in with all our vendors and immediately took charge so we didn't have to sweat any of the little details..all the behind the scenes stuff that no one wants to worry about on the day of. Evan also listened to what we wanted and what our wants/needs were and she made sure that when she was working with our vendors that she emulated our vision.
We had multiple check ins & she was always available for a quick text or call if we had a question at anytime. She reassured us that everything was confirmed and created an extremely detailed timeline that was spot on for our day of -- helpful for me learning that i needed to add an additional H&M stylist !
We could not have had our amazing wedding as perfect as it was without Evan. She came in and saved the day multiple times at the Wedding...moments before we walked down the aisle she sewed a button on a groomsman shirt- I mean come on!! Evan you are a gem!! Following our wedding we heard from numerous family members and guests about how much they loved Evan - they saw her helping, jumping to every task and making sure everything was constantly on point.
We truly recommend One for the Books Enough-- Evan as she is a perfectionist and we can't thank her enough for making our wedding absolutely perfect !!!
Maria C
5.0
10/15/2022
I had the pleasure of working with Evan on one of my weddings in New Haven. Even was professional, helpful and just an all around wonderful person to work with. Even though the location was not available for a rehearsal, she made a rehearsal possible for the couple. She ensured that their special day was carefree and that we all were able to provide the bride and groom the best day ever.
Jessica O
5.0
10/11/2022
I had the pleasure of working with Evan for an October 2022 wedding at Lighthouse Point Park. She emailed me in advance to check in with my schedule as the photographer and took everything I needed into consideration. She was prompt in her responses and was knowledgable with her answers. The day of the wedding I was able to spot her before she introduced herself. She stood out because I could see her managing everything that was being set up and her close attention to detail. She made the wedding day a breeze and everything fell smoothly into place. As a fellow wedding vendor I appreciate when I can work with someone I just met, like a team member. I highly recommend her services and look forward to working with her in the future!
Meagan M
5.0
10/10/2022
Such a pleasure working as a linen vendor (I Do Linens) with Evan! She is organized, detailed and truly wants the best for her clients and knows how to pick the right vendors to do so! Look forward to many more weddings together!
Chris P
5.0
10/10/2022
Absolutely a pleasure to work with Evan and the whole team. Smooth, easy, fun and professional accross the board. As a fellow wedding vendor, it's important to have the right team for the client, I can say with confidence I'd recommend One for the Books to any of my clients!
Maria G
5.0
7/08/2022
We were connected to One for the Books Events through our caterer (Emily's Catering - highly recommend!). After chatting with Evan, I know she would be a good fit for my husband and I, along with our families who were super involved in our event.
Our ceremony took place in a church, and our reception was a tented affair at a private home. Our event had many moving parts, ranging from parking to transportation to weather, etc. We also had a large number of guests attending the wedding. Evan crafted the timeline of our event and found creative solutions in our timeline to make our day flow effortlessly. She asked me what pieces of the day were causing me the most angst, and took those pieces on herself, paying extra attention to them to give us a level of comfort going into the wedding. She also worked seamlessly with all of our other vendors leading up to our event and the day of. My bustle broke within the first two songs of dancing, and Evan sewed me into my dress using fishing line. I was only off the dancefloor for two songs, and my bustle wasn't going anywhere for the rest of the evening! Huge shoutout to Evan for that - thank you!
I also want to note that Evan & her team (thank you, Robin!) were on site the evening before our wedding, and assisted with our ceremony rehearsal. Having One for the Books Events at the rehearsal was a huge benefit, and having more sets of hands the day before our wedding was a massive help.
I would hands down recommend hiring One for the Books Events. Evan is extremely communicative, organized and experienced. She's prepared to run your event and make it go as smoothly as possible. She will have a positive impact on your planning experience and the day of your wedding.
Austin C
5.0
7/08/2022
Collaborating with One for the Books Events as a videographer for a recent wedding was a wonderful experience that went smoothly from start to finish!
Jenny E
5.0
6/21/2022
Evan was the key to a successful event especially as relates to all of us - mother, daughter, son-in-law, mother-in-law - enjoying not just the wedding event, but the process leading up to it. Knowing someone was on top of all the details, and taking the lead in managing all the vendors, was a great relief.
Frank D
5.0
6/07/2022
Evan is the absolute best. She was the wedding planner for a long time friend of mine‘s wedding. Evan had sent me a beautifully detailed itinerary weeks before the wedding and asked me if I needed anything to please let her know. I spoke to Evan a couple times before my friends big day and she was so on track with everything and so well organized!
During the wedding she was all over the place making sure everybody was where they were supposed to be and making sure everything was going smoothly! She has a great personality, runs a great business and I cannot recommend her enough!
Erin R
5.0
5/31/2022
I am so grateful to have had Evan as a coordinator for our wedding. Her amazing energy and passion for weddings helped bring my vision to life in ways I never even imagined. Effortlessly taking tasks off my plate, handling last minute changes, and then sewing my dress with fishing line she had in her bag when an unexpected wardrobe malfunction occurred. Evan is a delight in every way and her thoughtfulness is unmatched. She is simply THE BEST.
Colleen V
5.0
5/29/2022
Where to even begin. Hiring One for the Books to plan our special day was hands down the best decision we made for our wedding. We honestly cannot recommend Evan & her team more to couples looking for someone to plan their wedding.
Our wedding was not an easy one to plan. Our wedding was intercultural (American & Indian), and Evan was so respectful and created an event where the cultures were woven beautifully together. My husband and I were living out of the country for 99% of the wedding planning process. However, we felt that our wedding was always in such good hands, and whenever Evan needed to make a decision on our behalf, we knew it was the right one. One for the Books sourced the BEST team of vendors for our special day, while at the same time being very mindful of our budget. Evan always came up with amazingly creative and cost-effective solutions for us. We also faced some significant hurdles along the way. First, due to Covid, we had to postpone our Sept 2021 date to May 2022. It was a big disappointment for us, but Evan swiftly jumped in and took care of all the arrangements. Then, three weeks before the wedding, due to my husband’s international travel (visa) issues, it looked like we would have to postpone for a second time. Luckily it was all resolved, but throughout those last few very stressful weeks, Evan guided us along with such grace and empathy. She kept us grounded and always reminded us that at the end of the day, the most important part of the wedding was our relationship with each other.
Her attention to detail is incredible, and her enthusiasm for wedding planning is infectious. Evan took all the stress out of the wedding process and made it a fun experience. She was always extremely responsive and got back to us with any details and questions as soon as possible. We always looked forward to our planning calls with her. No matter what stress we were facing, we always felt better after talking with Evan. One for the Books was there the entire process to celebrate the small wins and help us overcome any obstacle standing in the way of our big day.
Evan guided us through every decision and helped create a day that not only perfectly fit our vision but who we are as a couple. The day-of execution by the One for the Books team was absolutely flawless. After the wedding, both of our families specifically remarked that it was one of the best events they had been a part of. We are so grateful for the experience we had with Evan and her team at One for the Books, and could not have been happier with them.
Jennifer C
5.0
5/19/2022
As a photographer it is always great to work with a wedding planner who is efficient, sticks to a timeline, and keeps the ball rolling when plans change at the last minute. Evan hit all of these marks and more! We had to change locations for some our formal portraits because the original spot was too crowded and she instructed everyone to the new location seamlessly. She was so kind and easy to work with it honestly felt like we were already friends. There were so many beautiful details about this wedding and I know Evan put in a lot of hard work to make the day truly perfect. If you are looking for a wedding planner do not hesitate to contact One for the Books Events!
Lacey D
5.0
11/13/2021
I've been photographing weddings for over 10 years and have worked with hundreds of vendors. A good wedding vendor always stands out and I can honestly say that it was a delight working with Evan and her mom! They were kind and kept us on time even though there were some hiccups beyond their control on the wedding day. I would highly recommend her for your next event!
Vendor response 11/13/2021
Thank you so much Lacey! It was such a pleasure working along side you. Can’t wait to reli...
ve their beautiful day through the photos.
Julia B
5.0
11/10/2021
Evan was an absolute gem to work with.
I wanted and had the motivation to plan the majority of our wedding but needed guidance with timelines, final communications and day of logistics. That’s why we chose her event management and coordination package.
Planning a wedding from across the country is hard but Evan made it so much more stress free. She accommodated our communication needs with zoom or phone meetings, when applicable. Her genuineness shined through on our first meeting and we knew right away that we wanted Evan a part of our big day. She truly cares about the couples she works with. If you hire her for your wedding you’ll understand why!
Evan was responsive of our needs, anytime we had a question or a concern we could rely on Evan to answer them with a timely and detailed response.
She dealt with the less fun parts of planning a wedding like contacting difficult vendors and helping me get the services I was promised & wanted for the wedding. She always made me look like the easy-going fun bride that I am.
Evan has a wide network of vendors and people she can recommend. The outside vendors you hire will love working with her. She is very professional and kind but can be assertive when getting things done the right way. She contacts all our your vendors and executes a timeline so everyone is on time and knows what the plan is.
I would say that Evan is a full time event planner and a part time therapist because she was always there for me when I was worried about the wedding. She knew the right things to say and had solutions for everything.
The day of the wedding was executed so well and everything was better than I could have imagined. She helped with anything and everything with the best attitude. My husband and I could enjoy our day without worrying about a thing. I don’t know what we would have done without her help. We are recommending her to all of our friends!
Vendor response 11/10/2021
Wow, Julia! You are so sweet - thank you so much for trusting me with your time, your visi...
on and of course, your day of details & execution! It was a pleasure.
Stay in touch my friend!
Kelley R
5.0
11/06/2021
Evan is incredible. We had the pleasure of working with her as a venue. Her communication during the entire planning process was wonderful. Evan just gets it. She embraced every aspect of what the couple wanted while also offering guidance and suggestions through her professional experience and expertise. On the day of the wedding, she worked so well with our staff, it was almost as having an additional set of hands. She brought the bride's vision to life that it was almost like having the bride working her own wedding (even though the bride was present on her wedding day having the most wonderful time). She genuinely is incredible at her job and I would recommend her ten times over if you are looking for a wedding planner.
Vendor response 11/10/2021
Kelley!! You are such a delight to work with and I am so honored to execute these special ...
events alongside you & your team!
Mary D
5.0
11/06/2021
I am so delighted to provide a review for One for the Books Events! From the moment we connected with Evan, we knew we were in good hands. We engaged One for the Books for Wedding Coordination for our daughters wedding in September and were absolutely amazed at the extent of Evan's knowledge and expertise on all things wedding. The wedding was held at an historic site that required us to hire many outside vendors including catering, tents, portable restrooms, music, flowers, photographers,etc. Although we did much of the initial vetting, Evan was a great resource throughout the process with referrals, contract hints and tips, and negotiating strategies. It was so comforting throughout the process to hear from all of the vendors how much they admired Evan and enjoyed working with One for the Books Events! As the wedding date approached, One for the Books kicked into high gear and took the reins from us; confirming all deliverables for each vendor and coordinating day of time line and activities. This allowed us to enjoy the ramp up to the wedding and focus on our family! We had complete confidence in the team we had put together with One for the Books! The wedding was exactly what we had hoped; an elegant celebration of love in a gorgeous historic garden setting with a rustic barn for a rockin' dance party! It took lots planning and attention to detail for us to choose the right partners and I credit Evan and One for the Books Events for helping us to strike the perfect balance. Like every event, we had a hiccup or two but neither the Bride or me(Mother of Bride) had to fret about anything. One for the Books was on the scene and handled everything with grace and complete professionalism. I believe that in all of our planning for this grand celebration, the single best decision we made was choosing One for the Books to be our Wedding Coordinators! From the bottom of our hearts, thanks for your expertise, positive energy and attention to every last detail!!
Vendor response 11/10/2021
Mary!! You are the best!! It was an absolute honor and pleasure working with you and your ...
lovely daughter in the planning of this very special celebration for all of your family & friends!!
I’m so thankful for you and your trust in me. Can’t wait to see more photos and relive the day!
Butch G
5.0
9/23/2021
Evan is such a kind and caring person. She went out of her way to make sure the couple had a fantastic wedding day!
Ling M
5.0
9/12/2021
We worked with One for the Books at a wedding recently that we photographed. Since we know planners do offer different levels of services.... with the event Evan worked it involved finding the vendors (us!) and communicating with the planning stuff. One for the Books stood out very much because she was very quick to communicate, and took the initiative or first steps in finalizing the timeline and asking us any questions. Some planners are not as detail-oriented, but it all comes down to caring about every aspect of a wedding, the clients' wishes, and communicating thoroughly and politely with a positive attitude if there are any changes. Loved how Evan was super positive and also took control of some last minute necessary changes due to weather. If you are a bride or groom uncertain about hiring a wedding planner or not, you can ask yourself, who is the #1 person at your wedding that will be the mom/boss/assistant/friendly person who will call the shots and be the "go-to" for everything? Don't put that stress on your family member or friend to do it (we've seen this soooo many times) but it's the wedding planner's job + burden + delight + mission to ensure that all the little logistics that goes into your wedding fall into place. Hire Evan and her team!
Ish K
5.0
8/22/2021
After postponing our wedding reception due to COVID, we were so fortunate to bring Evan in to help coordinate our reception in August 2021. We engaged Evan several months ahead of the event, and she began exceeding our expectations immediately. Evan was professional, extremely responsive, and extremely thorough and detail-oriented. She helped us frame a clear vision for the day and work towards what was ultimately an amazing celebration.
Evan was especially impactful early in our process, when, shortly after we brought her on, we had a major dispute with our florist. Despite repeated meetings with the florist and advocation from Evan, we decided we would not be able to move forward comfortably. Within 24 hours, Evan had secured reasonable quotes from multiple competing florists, and handled what had been a months-long headache in a matter of days. The flowers ended up incredible, and came in below what we would have had to pay the other florist in fees.
Throughout the rest of the process, Evan continued to shine. She handled coordination with difficult vendors with ease, thoroughly planned ceremony details, and handled issues on the day of without us ever knowing. She even pre-folded all our napkins to ensure that setup would go smoothly. She did all this with a joyful attitude, constantly keeping our interests in mind, and generally being a pleasure to work with.
I cannot recommend Evan highly enough. She was absolutely wonderful. Anyone would be fortunate to have her coordinate their event!
Amber D
5.0
8/05/2021
If you are looking for a Coordinator in Connecticut, look no further. Evan is simply the best! The whole planning process was seamless and Evan steered the ship ensuring not one detail was left out as she is extremely pro-active and organized. I received numerous compliments from my other vendors expressing there appreciation for her being such an amazing Coordinator to work with. On our Wedding day there was unforeseen weather which put a huge damper in our ceremony plans. Evan took control and went straight into action to help us execute an unplanned "Plan B". On top of Evans great work she is extremely personable, sweet and such a pleasure to work with. She made the whole process easy and fun for us. Please consider Evan & Team for your planning and coordinating needs!
Ashley B
5.0
8/03/2021
Evan & her team were amazing! I am a wedding photographer and have worked with many planners throughout the years and can attest that they are the some of the best in the biz! When things didn't go exactly as planned (Mother Nature throwing in a rain shower mid ceremony) Evan jumped into action and quickly moved the guests and decor to an alternate ceremony location without skipping a beat. You can count on OFTB to run your day smoothly no matter what hiccups may inevitably occur. They are there to handle it all and keep your wedding on track so that you can relax, party, and enjoy the best day of your lives!
Yen and Stacie T
5.0
7/21/2021
As a makeup company, we meet many planners during our time. We had the opportunity to work with Evan on July 10, 2021 and she was amazing! She was very punctual on responding to our concerns and kept in touch with us throughout our client's wedding planning. She is such a fresh breath of air and relates so well with her clients. We are so excited to work with Evan again in future weddings!
Taylor S
5.0
7/20/2021
Evan is amazing! As a videographer, I can’t emphasize enough how helpful it is to have someone like her as a wedding coordinator. She was incredibly friendly, clear, and helpful every step of the way -- from emails leading up to the big day to welcoming me when I arrived at the venue. Evan went out of her way to make sure that all of my needs were met. On the wedding we worked together (July 10th @ Aria), it started to rain in the middle of the ceremony when no rain was expected(!), and she was able to calmly and efficiently relocate the ceremony to another covered location to ensure that the wedding continued without missing a beat! If it was my wedding I would have been very thankful for having her in charge. If you’re looking for a great planner, look no further!
J H
5.0
5/05/2021
Evan is your person! When I first spoke with Evan, we had a long phone call and I felt connected to her immediately. She felt like a long time friend and ended up serving as every type of support system that one needs during this time. Evan has a great presence and energy, a great sense of humor, top-notch organization skills, and is an overall pleasure to work with. My meetings with Evan and Robin were some of the most fun parts of the process and they consistently helped to assuage any stressors that came up. We had some difficult decisions to make for our wedding as Covid guidelines were continuously changing. This included a need to cut the guest list. There were times when the pressure of these decisions felt insurmountable with all of the feelings of our friends and family to be considered. Evan and Robin supported us in ways that gave us the confidence to make these decisions while knowing they were the best choices we could have made given the circumstances. With all of the Covid concerns and changes, there were times where I considered canceling the wedding entirely. Evan and Robin provided the motherly type of support that was so desperately needed at that time. If there was such a thing as wedding psychology, they would be masters! They're extremely confident people with a presence you can feel, and they will step right in and handle situations for you that might otherwise feel uncomfortable. We had our wedding on our original date, and I was happy to know we had this team behind us. Evan and her team are the best of the best at their craft and I wouldn't recommend anyone else!
Deva J
5.0
3/02/2021
This goes without saying, but it's nearly impossible to plan anything in COVID times, much less a wedding. When my (then) fiancee (now husband) and I made the decision to turn our 80+ person indoor wedding into a 20-person outdoor wedding in our backyard, Evan had our backs right from the start! She was with me every step of the way as we interrogated all of our vendors about their COVID protocols and researched how to keep all guests safely distanced both during the ceremony and the reception. She was my personal cheerleader when I felt like I was drowning in details - which was most of the time. She proofread all of my (many) emails to guests to make sure I wasn't leaving out pertinent information. She was available for questions, comments, concerns, via phone, text, email, owl, pony express, however I needed to get in touch with her. And that's all BEFORE the actual wedding. On my wedding day Evan hit the ground running with face mask, hand sanitizer, and clorox wipes in hand. It was an absolutely gorgeous day. By the time I showed up to my house at noon, things were rocking and rolling. Photographer knew where to go. Family all ate lunch. Caterer was on site cooking dinner. Guests were all wearing face masks. I literally showed up, put on my dress, got married, and Evan handled the rest. I've never felt so taken care of. Even with the circumstances of COVID, I felt like things were going to be A-OK because Evan was in charge. She managed it all. And, as if dealing with COVID wasn't bad enough, we hit a major snag with our bartender - but my husband and I had NO idea during the event. Evan took care of it.
Just thinking back on all Evan did for my husband and I brings me so much joy and appreciation for her warm spirit, her generosity, and the endless love she has for her work. I absolutely cannot speak highly enough of Evan's wedding planning and day-of coordinating skills. Working with Evan was hands-down the best decision we made. 10/10!
Mary S
5.0
2/02/2021
My son and daughter-in-law asked Evan to help plan their wedding 6 months into the pandemic, after many of their original wedding plans had to be changed. Evan and her partner Robin made such a difference in their day! They are both an amazing combination of organized, detail oriented, problem solving, hard working, warm, fun loving women! Their goal is to help the bride and groom relax and focus on each other, so they can enjoy their day. Evan and her team then take care of the many, many details behind the scenes. When I read all of the other reviews here, I can definitely say they are spot on. I highly recommend Evan and her team for planning any event!
Kristin T
5.0
2/01/2021
Hiring Evan was the best decision we made! She helped us on so many levels, and went above and beyond the duties of wedding planner. She was a therapist, friend, and problem solver. I don't know what we would have done without her. We had an entire wedding planned then Covid hit…. We had to completely start over, our wedding on 10/10/2020 of 200 people turned into a backyard wedding of 30 people! She was always coming up with new solutions to problems we didn’t even anticipate.
We can't thank her enough and couldn't be more grateful for having her help plan (and single handedly run) our day! If you are looking for wedding planner to get you through ANYTHING (including overly involved parents and a global pandemic) she is your girl!
Jessica D
5.0
10/28/2020
I was the hairdresser at two weddings Evan coordinated. I was so impressed how calm the brides were the day of their wedding I immediately could tell someone had everything under control. We also appreciated the schedule for the hair and make up for all the ladies. It made it so much smoother. The attention to detail was impeccable. I also loved how cheery Evan was to be around. I would highly recommend Evan and her team for a perfect wedding.
Brewport B
5.0
9/30/2020
We don't even know where to begin - working with OnefortheBooks was an absolute breeze and an undeniable pleasure. If you're looking for an event planner that is exceptionally organized, detail oriented, and overall incredible to work with - look no further. Evan made everything so easy and streamlined. The event went off without a single hitch. Thank you, Evan!
Nick K
5.0
8/17/2020
Evan was extremely professional reliable and absolutely PERFECT! She handled my vision with care and made sure it was done perfectly. Couldn’t be happier that I found her! HIGHLY recommend!
Andrea D
5.0
8/10/2020
Evan is the sweetest and most organized wedding vendor I've worked with. She was a breath of fresh air in the uncertainty of these times, and I was never worried that something would be left out or missing. As a photographer, we rely on the day going smoothly, and Evan made sure everything and everyone was taken care of!
Kirsten P
5.0
10/29/2019
One for the Book’s Events will not only deliver the seamless coordination and sense of ease that you’re looking for on your wedding day, but Evan Chestnutt will keep you laughing all along the way, too! Her positive demeanor and charming sense of humor make every interaction an enjoyable one. She is always thinking two steps ahead, and makes sure that nothing is overlooked on your end, or by any of the other vendors involved in planning your special day.
As a wedding caterer, and fellow industry professional, she always makes my job easier with her immediate responses to emails, fantastic organization, and uncanny desire to “take the bull by the horns” in any situation. I would absolutely recommend her to every couple I meet.
Erica S
5.0
9/26/2019
Working with Evan is like having a friend by your side who happens to have impeccable organization skills, a hard work ethic, an amazing sense of style, a way of communicating that is clear and compassionate, basically she will be your rock. She is more than a wedding planner. Her wedding planning skills are just the beginning. She will take a ton of your ideas and distill them down into what is the most meaningful to you. She pulls it all together with such grace that you will almost think it was effortless. But don’t be fooled! Under the calm exterior she works so much. I have seen her go from shorts hauling decor in the heat, to a black dress and heels directing guests seamlessly. I work with Evan as a photographer and knowing that when my clients have her on their side they will be at ease and in the moments of their day. If you are lucky enough to have Evan on your team, you will enjoy living the most beautiful wedding day that you can’t imagine until you experience it!
Brittany S
5.0
9/25/2019
I had the pleasure of working with Evan as a fellow vendor and cannot say enough about her and her services. From planning to execution she was remarkable and knew all the right questions to ask to ensure the couple was the top priority and got exactly what they wanted and needed. She pulled together a team of vendors that worked together flawlessly and was so easy to work with. She is incredibly professional and her attention to detail is impressive. Highly recommend!
Vendor response 09/26/2019
Thank you, thank you, thank you! It was so much fun working with you. Making dreams come t...
rue - that's what we do!
Chloe M
5.0
9/15/2019
We had a backyard wedding at an estate. It was a beautiful home, but figuring out how to convert a home into a functional venue space for 200 people was beyond me!
When we first started planning our wedding we thought we would just have a day of coordinator so that way we could be in the moment on the day of. I researched our vendors and started the process. Just in my first conversation with Evan I realized there was so much I didn’t know to even ask the vendors that we were starting to interview and hire. We discussed the space of the home and how it would be able to functionally flow as a venue. I realized there was no way we could do this without Evan.
In our very first conversation Evan was able to determine where we were in the process, what we needed help with, and ultimately what our goal was. She customized her coordinating services to exactly what we needed. Evan was beyond a day of coordinator, she was our person throughout this experience that would listen to us, guide us, and make us feel like we were on track. We were constantly impressed with how she found solutions for what we thought were potential problems. Planning a wedding can be stressful and Evan took all the parts that were difficult for us and gave us the tools to plan it and enjoy it! Her main goal was to make sure we were feeling good and loving this experience.
Evan was everything we needed. We were still very much involved in planning, but we wanted someone to check our work, to let us know what questions we should be asking, review the contracts to make sure it looked good, to help us with the layout, my list could go on and on. As the wedding was getting closer all the tiny details began to feel overwhelming. Evan knew how I was feeling and knew when to take over as we were leading up to the wedding. She created the entire timeline for the wedding! This is not an easy task. From vendor coordination, to guest coordination, to wedding party coordination, event times, the entire day, speeches! This was everything for us. Her involvement before the wedding made her so successful on our actual wedding day. Evan and her partner Robin got there while we were getting ready and set up all the tables, coordinated the bridal party, vendors, and guests. She did not allow the vendors to ask me questions, she just jumped in and handled it. All the vendors loved Evan and Robin! This just added to the positives vibes to make the day that much more perfect.
With everything I just said, you would think Evan and I had meetings all of the time. Nope! Evan did not even live in the same state as me. She was able to help me plan the entire wedding from out of state and then flew into town a couple days before the wedding. We had phone meetings, emails, some venue videos, google docs were our thing, and good old fashion texting. Both my husband and I are beyond impressed with Evan and are so grateful for the wedding experience we had that would not have been possible without her. We can’t sing her praises enough and highly highly recommend her to anyone!
Chloe & Mike
Ashley W
5.0
6/29/2019
Evan is a professional and a class act through and through. I'm very Type A and sometimes a walking stress ball, but Evan is like my wedding knight in shining armor! She eliminated my stress and made the planning process fun and enjoyable. No matter what I threw at her or what dilemma I faced, Evan had solutions and a calming energy. Our wedding was perfect and went off without a SINGLE hitch. Evan is extremely organized, detail-oriented, and just a pleasure to work with. She kept us on track, made recommendations for flowers, set up our decorations and basically made all of our wedding dreams come true. Our wedding was smooth and silk and everything I could have hoped for! Hiring Evan was the best decision we made and I highly recommend her to every bride and groom!
Vendor response 06/30/2019
Ashley! I can't thank YOU enough for the opportunity to be a part of your day. I loved eve...
ry minute of working with you two, from beginning to end. So happy that your day was ONE FOR THE BOOKS :) - you two deserved it!
Catherine O
5.0
11/06/2018
Evan will exceed all expectations!!!! She was a godsend the entire time she helped us, but especially the week leading up to the wedding. We worked with Evan about 8 weeks out and up to the wedding day. She was available whenever I wanted to talk, she came to our tasting to see the venue, and most importantly she always reminded us that this was our day and the most important part was that we were getting married to each other. We had a hefty storm in the forecast for our wedding day and Evan played a huge role in keeping me calm and helping find a plan b for pictures. The morning of the wedding she ran errands, picked up breakfast we ordered, and made sure we were on schedule. She is totally down to earth and my guests commented on how great she was as well as my bridesmaids. I did not think I needed a wedding planner, but my friend used Evan and said it was priceless and I agree. She makes the entire timeline for you, communicates with all vendors, thinks of things you would never think of, and makes sure all things go as planned on the wedding day. There are absolutely things that happened on the wedding day that I am sure Evan dealt with and handled and my family will never even know because she was SO GOOD. In all the decisions I made during wedding planning using Evan as a wedding planner was the BEST one. Highly recommend!!!!
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One for the Books Events
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