Let’s start with the positive and work backwards..
Samantha was very organized and knew our venue. She isn’t the warm fuzzy type if that’s what you’re looking for, but if you want your wedding to go to plan, she’s your planner. Our biggest iss...ue that we had with her was her need to insert her opinion into everything and her lack of flexibility on ideas. She likes things her way, so you have to fight for what you want. For instance, my bride wanted to throw the bouquet over the railing of the birchwood reception space down to the grass area because the ceilings in the room were too low. The railing area was 10 feet and an easy walk for the ladies and her biggest concern was how much time it’s going to take for the women to walk down and back up. It wasn’t that serious and we must have insisted 3 or 4 times until she said “okay” reluctantly. She was the same way about the the ring bearer actually carrying the rings. He was 13, mind you. She thought he would drop them in the water. The water wasn’t anywhere near the walk way down the aisle. Once again, not that serious. She finally gave in to that too. Also, if it’s rehearsal, it’s okay to wear spanx and a casual top. She and her assistant were not dressed for a wedding during our wedding. They looked like they went to brunch at a local coffee shop after yoga. Not appropriate. Also, right before the wedding, she made my bride feel more stressed because she seemed stressed about finding people in the wedding party. Not my bride’s problem 30 minutes before she walks down the isle. She was also not really nice to us as we were lined up ready to walk down the aisle. It was very business as usual, if that makes sense. But speaking of business…my niece had to explain to guests about the wedding sign-in book and how it works. She also told my niece, when the Polaroid camera ran out of film, to refill it herself. And my bride specifically asked her to make sure guests that arrive early don’t come into the venue because some had already come in and attempted to get drinks. That was not fixed at any point. People came in. Also, nobody told the guest that the flowers next to the isle were to be tossed while we walk back, for camera shots. These are just some of the issues we had. Honestly, I have a list, like table numbers and seats not being accurate until a couple hours before the wedding because I walked the venue early myself, but I’ll stop here.
Lastly, I know she’s high in demand but if you have to cancel a meeting with Calamigos Ranch, the last thing we want to hear is that you double booked and the one you have to go to is a “really big event with 300 people on Catalina.” You might as well tell us that we aren’t paying you what this other one is so you are following the money. Also, you sign a contract that she will be available by phone, text and email 5 weeks out until the wedding, but that isn’t completely true. She gets more involved closer to the actual date but she isn’t exactly happy about a call when an email is better for her. Oh, and our final walk through, which was on a Wednesday, was an additional fee if she was to show up. I’ve never heard of that. It should be customary for the wedding coordinator to attend a final walk through two days before the wedding. She was going to charge us to come which she decided to mention in front of the Calamigos Ranch staff. Felt inappropriate. She asked us to write a review. I’m sorry if it was not what she wanted, but that’s our review.
At the end of the day, the wedding was epic and she did her job. But I will add one more thing. Our wedding stuff returned to our room by her team but was left outside of our room with the door opened! Glad people staying at the hotel didn’t take anything. When I called her about it she said they drop off stuff at the valet and they returned it inappropriately. You wouldn’t return it to our room like you said? Okay. Look, my bride thinks she’s bites off more than she can chew and maybe it’s because she’s almost about to pop (she’s pregnant) but this was not the way we expected to be treated or how a preferred vendor in the Calamigos wedding book, with such high reviews, should run her business. I really hope she looks at this review and fixes this so this doesn’t affect others in the future.