Planners on Retainer

r for day-of coordination for our wedding vow renewal, expecting the support and peace of mind that were promised. Unfortunately, our experience was the opposite. Instead of reducing stress, Sarah-Jane became the source of it during the final days leading up to our wedding. In early February 2026, we confirmed our rehearsal date and time. Then, just 12 days before our event, Sarah-Jane asked to move our rehearsal to accommodate another event. Given how close we were to the wedding, and considering the schedules of our wedding party and our already-planned rehearsal brunch, this request was both surprising and frustrating. Things became even more concerning 10 days before our wedding during the first and only Google Meet we had throughout our entire service period. During that meeting, Sarah-Jane informed us that both our rehearsal and wedding would be managed primarily by two assistants. We immediately expressed our concerns. Sarah-Jane then disclosed that she would be unable to stand for extended periods for our wedding. Following that conversation, we contacted our venue and several vendors ourselves. Our venue informed us that it had received a timeline for an entirely different couple, and multiple vendors told us they had not yet been contacted by our coordinator. With only days remaining before our wedding, we no longer had confidence that our event would be properly managed, so we made the decision to terminate our contract. For the entire nine months leading up to our wedding, Sarah-Jane was our sole point of contact and consistently presented herself as the lead coordinator. At no point were we told that assistants would be taking over our event, nor were we informed before that meeting that she would be physically unable to perform the services we had hired her to provide. Afterward, we learned that another couple had experienced a similar last-minute situation. After we terminated the contract and requested a refund, we were offered only a small partial refund in exchange for signing a settlement agreement. We declined. I fully expect a response disputing our account. However, everything described above is supported by emails, meeting notes, and communications with our venue and vendors. This review reflects our personal experience. Couples deserve transparency, proactive communication, and confidence that the person they hired will be able to perform the services promised. Unfortunately, that was not our experience with Planners on Retainer.

hiring a professional to bridge the gap, at times, we found ourselves doing the majority of the heavy lifting - even after raising concerns, the 'working rhythm' never materialized. Communication was a consistent struggle; we received only four video check-ins over nine months (majority of the comms was solely via Aisle Planner), and there was a 10-day lapse in communication during the holidays (just 50 days before our wedding) with no 'out of office' notification. Immediately after the wedding, she deactivated our Aisle Planner account without informing us, leaving us unable to download important documents and send thank you emails to guests. Logistics were also an issue, as we were asked to pay for additional assistants than contracted just a month before the wedding due to tight set up windows, we had to coordinate our own first look and arrivals to the venue, and our other vendors (DJ, caterer, MUAs and photographer) reported not receiving information in a timely fashion. The most disappointing aspects were the days leading into the wedding. The rehearsal was disorganized, causing confusion for the bridal party rather than clarity. On the wedding day, SJ and her team were described by our other vendors, bridal party, and family as 'ghosts' during critical transitions. Our wedding party was forced to step in as unpaid labor to cover gaps, and our other vendors felt they had to coordinate themselves to keep the day flowing. If you choose this team, we recommend clearly aligning on communication expectations and roles and responsibilities.

g process. She was funny, creative and so patient. I can't imagine our wedding turning out any better. The vendors were top tier, the decor, flow of the day was magical. There is no way you could go wrong picking Sarah-Jane and her team. It was indeed our best decision for our wedding booking her as our wedding planner.

he day, and were so patient dealing with my fairly chaotic group. Not only do they make sure your vision comes to life, but they are incredibly kind. I would recommend them to anyone looking to have a stress free wedding day!!!

on. They were instrumental in keeping things moving smoothly. Bria played an essential role in rounding out the night's festivities.

nal about your budget, and she was incredible at helping me navigate where it made sense to spend vs save. She provided thoughtful, tasteful, and budget friendly recommendations that never felt like compromises. From vendor guidance to logistics, after wedding activities for our guests, and all the little details you don’t even realize you need to plan for, Sarah-Jane truly had insight on everything. Her support took so much stress off my plate and helped gave me peace of mind throughout the process. If you’re planning a destination wedding (or local wedding) and want experienced guidance that feels supportive, practical, and personalized, I cannot recommend Sarah-Jane enough. Do yourself a favor and book her!!

ers on Retainer—and I’m so glad I listened. From my very first conversation with Sarah-Jane, she was not only professional but incredibly personable. I originally planned to have a local wedding in Virginia, but through our conversations, I began to consider a destination wedding—and that ended up being the best decision I could have made. While I still had my share of tasks, SJ made everything feel manageable and helped me avoid unnecessary stress. We had to pivot a few times with the resort and guest count, but honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing. I had a vision board in mind, but seeing it come to life was more beautiful than I ever imagined. My husband and I are beyond grateful for SJ’s guidance, support, and expertise. After 16 months of planning together, we’ll definitely stay in touch. If you’re looking for a wedding planner (or a planner for any event), don’t hesitate—book Planners on Retainer! You won’t regret it.

ed and coordinated ; leaving us the ability to truly enjoy every moment of our special day.

incredibly professional. She took the time to understand our vision and executed it flawlessly. Every detail, from the floral arrangements to the seating plan, was meticulously planned and beautifully executed. Their expertise and calm demeanor made the entire planning process stress-free and enjoyable. I highly recommend Sarah to anyone looking for a dedicated and talented wedding planner. She truly made our special day unforgettable!

e and showcased high levels of professionalism on my big day! Extremely punctual and had all the logistics of everything down to the smallest detail. Not to mention, Sarah-Jane continued to communicate with me timely from the start of the planning to the day of execution. She was very attentive, detail-oriented, and knowledgeable. She took the time to listen to what we wanted and needed and managed our expectations reasonably. Since she took the time to get to know us, I believe that is how she and her team were able to add such great value to our special day and make it unforgettable not only for us but for our guests as well.

rvices and her team was more hands-off than expected. Some coordination, planning and guest assistance could have been better during the actual wedding.

ened to our ideas and led us to the wedding of our dreams in 7 months. Our event was intimate, beautiful, and an unforgettable day for us, our family, and our friends. We received so many compliments on the delicious food, the DJ, the venue, the photos, the amazing servers, and we owe it all to POR. Sarah-Jane connected us to amazing vendors who deliver top notch service all around and were excited for our union. POR’s level of organization, expertise, and attention to detail made our day very enjoyable. On my wedding day, I just showed up and enjoyed all the things POR planned for us. It was everything we hoped for and much more!

about that and you just focus on enjoying your special day." Those words meant everything to me, I knew she had my back 100%. My most memorable moment was when my hairstylist couldn't be available on my wedding day. Sarah-Jane didn't hesitate to reach out to her old high school friend and ask her to step in as my hairstylist. Not only did her friend agree, but she has now become my regular stylist. My husband and I were both very pleased with the services we received and our special day was phenomenal! There was zero drama! Nothing but smiles, laughter and amazing times. Family and friends still talk about how beautiful our wedding was. Every bride needs an amazing wedding planner by their side to help and guide them along their journey. I highly recommend Sarah-Jane at Planners on Retainer!

her plate (including planning her own wedding). One thing Sarah Jane should be proud of is how comfortable she made us feel on the wedding day and the trust we built throughout the planning process. I'm so proud of the wedding day we had, from how peaceful it was getting ready to the lively grand exit. I'm sure there are lots of behind the scenes things we will never know about, but from our perspective, everything flowed smoothly, allowing both my husband and I to fully be in the moment. That's a memory that will live with us forever. I highly recommend Sarah Jane for your wedding. You will be is great hands. She gave us the wedding we dreamed about. All of her brides are lucky to have her!

ire process. What stood out most was her dedication to understanding and incorporating our vision as a couple. She took the time to listen to our ideas and seamlessly brought them to life, all while adding her own creative touches that elevated the experience. Her deep knowledge of vendors was evident, as she made fantastic recommendations that fit both our style and budget. Communication with vendors was handled flawlessly, ensuring everything ran smoothly on the big day. We couldn't have asked for a more professional, thoughtful, and talented wedding planner! 10/5

ding planning process. She truly became invaluable to us throughout the year we spent planning our wedding. She was flexible with our busy work schedules. She always had the answer and was very understanding with any curve balls we threw at her. She responded to all our questions in a timely manner through email, text, and phone. Her designs and ideas were exactly what we wanted. When it came to the day, it was perfect. It was light, beautiful and easy. We honestly were carefree and knew she had everything under control. There were many times throughout the process of planning that we felt significantly overwhelmed with stress about missing something like transport or catering. Sarah- Jane helped us connect with reliable vendors, a fantastic videographer, and honestly made our dream a reality. We would undoubtedly recommend her 10 times over. If you are concerned about planning then you need to contact Sarah-Jane Bennett from planners on retainer.

ad everything covered! Our wedding day was perfect thanks to Sarah-Jane and her wonderful assistant, Tanisha! They are true professionals, and so kind and fun to work with! I highly recommend you book POR!

-wedding walk through we had to do almost everything again, linens, layout, drink menu, etc. Thankfully Lily kept us on track, made sure we hit all the big points and reduced my stress level significantly! Day of, I could relax and be in the moment because she made sure everything ran smoothly, everyone was where they needed to be when they needed to be there, and made sure not just me and my husband had what we needed but our parents and bridal party too. If things went wrong I didn’t know.

e and beyond to make your day as perfect as it can be. My husband and I had nothing to worry about, enjoyed every moment of our wedding weekend, and felt beyond loved, all thanks to the amazing POR staff. You will find nobody better!

an exquisite celebratory evening. I can always expect top-tier professionalism, attention to detail, and bringing our vision to life. Working with Sarah-Jane has been a delightful experience; she has perfected her craft. POR has the unique ability to carefully plan our event(s) while managing expectations, which is no easy undertaking, and Sarah-Jane has done it again and masterfully. Thank you, Planners on Retainer!

he was not just a professional but also someone who deeply cared about making our wedding week a truly magical and unforgettable experience. One of Sarah's most remarkable qualities is her incredible ability to manage vendors and ensure the smoothness of the wedding day. The month leading up to our wedding was filled with last-minute details, and she handled everything with grace and precision. Knowing that she had everything under control was truly a weight off our shoulders. Every vendor was seamlessly coordinated, and our wedding day went off without a hitch, thanks to her meticulous planning and execution. Beyond her professionalism and organizational skills, it's clear that Sarah has a passion for what she does. If you're looking for a wedding planner who not only excels at her job but also genuinely cares about her clients, Sarah is the one. We feel blessed to have had her by our side on our special day, and we recommend her to anyone embarking on their own wedding journey. Thank you, Sarah, for making our wedding week an unforgettable experience filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories. Continue to run your business with grace and love for every single bride that comes your way! With heartfelt gratitude, Kayla and Jeremy Paulino

and really helpful in guiding us through the final steps in the wedding planning process. They helped make sure our rehearsal and wedding day went smoothly and according to plan, we couldn't have done it without them!!

e started planning a wedding that this was beyond my strengths. I was scrolling through the internet and instagram looking for a planner. I originally wanted a destination wedding but circumstances changed for us. When I met Sarah Jane we hit it off immediately. Her positive, supportive and bubbly personality made every step of planning that much more fun and relaxing. Her team handled everything for us till the day of the wedding, and it was the best decision we made! She also had amazing recommendations for things to include that we hadn’t even considered. I couldn’t have asked for a better planner. I definitely recommend Sarah and her team on your special day!

ting all wedding day activities with said vendors to constant check-ins to make sure we weren’t forgetting anything, she truly made our wedding come together in the best way possible. We constantly got compliments about how well run things were, how meticulously planned out the details were, and how beautifully everything came together. From our own perspective as a couple, the POR team were always there to answer our questions and help us with the smallest of decisions to main vendor selection. They would bring options and do the heavy lifting; all we had to do was say yes/no! The actual wedding day went by so smoothly and she was working magic in the background; we barely even noticed because she gave us the ability to focus on the day and enjoy everything we had planned. So if you are looking for a planner that will bring a sense of professionalism and fun to your wedding planning and take all the stress away of making decisions, you can’t go wrong!

out the process, and created an absolutely beautiful day. The event ran totally smoothly, and even where there were minor hiccups, Sarah-Jane fixed it before I could even ask for help. We would recommend POR a thousand times!!

to address/discuss). She reached out to our vendors in advance so they all knew where to be and at what time. She basically took the reins and I didn't need to be involved unless she needed my input on something. It was very helpful because my anxious brain has trouble turning off! I knew I could trust her and the day of went by so smoothly.

wedding if we wanted it to happen anytime soon. As soon as we started working with SJ it was like a weight lifted off of my shoulders. She and her team were dedicated to finding the right vendors for us, and everyone we worked with was amazing. SJ was incredibly patient, responsive, and supportive, and talked me down from many a ledge. Sarah-Jane made excellent suggestions that really made the day beautiful and we got so many compliments from our guests. She's truly an expert at her craft and I'm so grateful that we found her. I know that without her our wedding would have been nowhere near as amazing as it was.

in the northeast, and despite the distance, POR made themselves available to support us from beginning to end. During the planning process, Sarah-Jane, Felicia, and Ciera were communicative, organized, and supportive. They recommended excellent vendors while also helping us to incorporate vendors that we desired. They are clearly knowledgeable and experienced with the ins and outs of the wedding planning process – from reviewing vendor contracts with a careful eye, making suggestions about important considerations with selecting venues and vendors, and so much more that we were unfamiliar with. We could comfortably rely on their expertise to guide us. Leading up to the wedding date, Ciera was an impeccable leader who was responsive, responsible, and caring as she organized the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, and entire wedding day, with the additional support from Winnie too! With everything lined up and in place, the unpredictability of the weather made me feel nervous, but wow – Ciera and Winnie were flexible, made thoughtful decisions, and immediately took care of things that we didn’t have to think or stress about. We had planned for a mostly outdoor wedding, and with the magic of Ciera and Winnie, we were blessed to have a wedding that accommodated guests to move between indoors and outdoors seamlessly (as if that were the plan all along)! As another example, during the ceremony, we realized too late that we forgot to bring the cutting cake from home, and I was totally ok without one. When we entered the reception for the grand entrance, there I saw a cake, and later learned that Winnie ran out to the store to pick up a cake for us. It was moments like this like many others from the wedding weekend that exemplified how trusting we were with the POR team to seamlessly execute an incredible day and experience for us and our guests. In moments of feeling overwhelmed, Ciera and Winnie stepped out and helped me to feel calm and find joy in the day, which I was so grateful for. My family, bridal party, and guests were thrilled with the hard work and commitment of POR and they couldn’t stop raving about them too. Thank you for everything, POR. We are so blessed to have had the opportunity to work with you!

the resort wedding coordinator, and booked flights and hotel for 100 guest! Sarah-Jane was professional, friendly, responsive, and listened to our wishes and executed. Don't hesitate to book her!

ndria, VA. Being that we were having a destination wedding, we knew we would need full wedding planning services and someone we could fully trust and work well with. Sarah-Jane is INCREDIBLE! From the moment we talked to her on the phone to hear about her services we loved her professionalism, vibe and interest in working alongside us to create the wedding of our dreams. She was very communicative, prompt and clear in deadlines and any information she needed. She provided excellent vendors! They were all superb and provided the services we wanted and more. Sarah-Jane worked behind the scenes to coordinate meetings with vendors, ask follow up questions for us and reviewed contracts ahead of us to ensure all was in line. We also got to work with the lovely Ciera who helped us in so many ways! From securing a rehearsal dinner location, finalizing invoices well before the wedding and being present and hands on the day of our wedding, we really loved working with her. On our wedding day there were a couple of unexpected things that came up, but Sarah-Jane and Ciera promptly resolved all issues before we even knew there was a potential problem. Our wedding day ran smoothly and was the literally the best day of our lives. Our guests laughed and danced the night away. It was a day we will never forget and we sincerely appreciate Planners on Retainer as they helped our vision become a beautiful reality. I HIGHLY recommend using Planners on Retainer for your wedding or other planning needs. Thank you Planners on Retainer! We appreciate you so much Sarah-Jane and Ciera!

's wedding day. Additionally, if you do not plan weddings as a profession, there is no way for you to know all of the specifics and nuances to planning a wonderful wedding. That is where Sarah Jane came in. She was the ultimate professional. From the very beginning she asked all of the pertinent questions and more. Many things I had not even considered prior to her mentioning. The planning process with Sarah Jane was great. She is super responsive, and her attitude was always pleasant and helpful. She listened fully to all of my thoughts and weighed in with her expertise. She provided very thoughtful insight to all aspects of the wedding. Additionally, she gave great vendor recommendations. I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist so it was a relief to not have to worry about the quality of their work. On the actual wedding day, she functioned like a well-oiled machine who made sure that everything was handled and that I, as mother of the bride, did not have to concern myself with the details and could fully enjoy my daughter's day.

entire day was a dream. Can’t wait to have them plan the next family wedding.

ent perfect. So sweet and personable. I could not have had a more perfect day.

heir clients and and also to not overstepping boundaries of their vendor. I know that when working with them I'm guaranteed to receive payment and SIGNED contracts on time.

they recommended was top notch, from venue to catering to DJ, just amazing. Our guests kept asking how we were able to put it all together and it was all thanks to the amazing POR team!!

. I have had friends retain their services to plan their weddings and they truly raved about their professionalism and how seamless the wedding planning was using them. I will continue to use their services as well as refer them whenever I can. Sarah-Jane and her team get it right.

rofessional, flexible, quick response, work with you wedding planner

does and her couples, as well as her knowledge and relationship with other vendors, she will help make your day everything you dreamed of. She is an absolute joy to work with and we can't wait to work with her again. :)