I have had a hard time determining whether or not to write this review. Brooke is a sweet girl, but our relationship just didn't work out. When we started the wedding planning process, trying to find a venue was extremely stressful. I knew that... I needed some outside help. I received Brooke's name by referral and we agreed to meet.
It was clear from the start that Brooke had a great deal of experience coordinating weddings and really seemed to love what she did. She also, as every reviewer of hers will mention, responds to inquiries with lightning speed. This is a very good quality. Because of her high ratings and her amazing responsiveness, we went with Brooke.
However, what I struggled with from the beginning is that it seemed as if our rapport was strained. I felt that I had to prompt all of the communication rather than her being proactive with suggestions. Ultimately, I signed up for her middle package which included help with planning as well as coordination. The big thing that I was seeking was help with envisioning the look and feel and deciding on decor elements. While Brooke was quick to respond to my questions about specific items, she rarely offered any suggestions for decor.
As an example, when we went to the ceremony venue, I asked what she thought we should do, and she said that we shouldn't do anything more than the aisle runner that I suggested because the (outdoor) venue was already beautiful. No suggestions on chairs, flowers, arch, etc. It didn't sit well with me, but I didn't know where to go with this.
Brooke and her designer did prepare an inspiration board for us but there were no suggestions on how to implement the elements on the board (other than a link to etsy to buy the place card holders). We were left to seek out how to create menu cards, programs, place cards, etc. on our own.
Ultimately, we canceled our contract with Brooke and went with another planner. It was a difficult decision because she really is a sweet person. When I mentioned to her that I wanted her to be more proactive, she continued to state that she would have answered any questions that I had to ask. The problem is that I hadn't had a wedding before and didn't know which questions to ask.
On another note, after the fact, she said that she would have helped to design programs, menu cards, etc. This was not included in our contract, but her website was later updated to include this in the suite of services to which we subscribed. The contract also included budget creation and maintenance. While she created a budget spreadsheet, only I added information to it.
Brooke seems to be well-connected in the wedding industry. and referred us to our florist, photographer, and videographer. I think that at the end of the day, Brooke is great for a certain type of wedding -- typical, traditional.
I think that at the end of the day, she's organized and I'm sure that on the day of the wedding, she would have been on top of everything and things would have gone smoothly. Unfortunately, we were looking for more help before the big day rather than just planning. Ultimately, I think that when looking for a planner, having the right rapport and the right fit are extremely important.