Shannon Gail Weddings and Events

tions we had prior to the start date. From the day Erin took over, she kept us on track with to-dos and kept contact with our vendors to free us up a bit in the weeks leading up to the wedding. Erin also came to our Wednesday rehearsal which was above and beyond her duties but was super helpful to us so everyone was on the same page the day of. We had two ceremonies and Erin kept us on time for everything and ran the show(s) flawlessly. It snowed for our Saturday ceremony and Erin was able to execute a plan for our outdoor events as well as make sure everyone wasn't soaked in the process. We also had amazing day of help from Amanda and Kelly and we knew that we always had someone to go to throughout the process. If anyone asks we tell them if there was one vendor we would book again it's Erin and Shannon Gail!

lled “several month planner” amanda made an incredible timeline, to do list, and packing list. She was so organized and helped tie everything together. Thank you for everything amanda you are the best!!!

was Erin, and she is seriously one-of-a-kind. I might go as far to say as I love this girl! She was AMAZING to work with and made this planning process a breeze. Everything was so organized. I felt zero stress the entire day, and entire time for that matter! I don't know where I would have been without Erin and her assistant on our wedding day (probably crying in a fetal position somewhere!) Seriously priceless. I would HIGHLY recommend this team, especially Erin! Best thing you will ever do is hire team SG, you won't regret it!

and the day was flawless! We did not have to worry about a single thing during the entire day of the wedding. If given the chance, we would hire them again in a heartbeat! Thank you ladies for giving us our dream wedding!!

e wedding planning process stress free and smooth sailing! She was always prompt with her responses and provided us with a calming demeanor, which was greatly appreciated especially as we neared the big day. We can't thank Amanda enough for making our day truly amazing. She went far beyond our expectations and provided excellent professionalism. We would highly recommend Amanda and Shannon Gail Weddings and Events to anyone considering a wedding planner!!

sense of comfort and confidence in every decision we made. The wedding planning process is the one area in which you should never, ever cut corners and Shannon Gail is the most awarded, decorated and accomplished wedding and event planner in Chicago. There is no better!

is beyond compare; she was always quick to provide answers and guidance, but always let us steer the boat. While we purchased a day-of package, services began two months before our wedding, and Erin allowed us to email her with questions beginning when we booked our package (11 months before our wedding). We are beyond grateful for Shannon Gail and her team, and highly recommend them to anyone who wants their wedding day and wedding planning experience to be as low stress as possible.

! She’s a true rock star, we can not recommend her highly enough (and shout out to Shannon for assisting on the big day!).

a. I cannot say enough about Samantha and could not imagine our wedding without her. She made the last 2 months of planning seamless and took away a lot of the stress of planning/questions from various vendors. I was specifically impressed with how she came into the final walk through with all of the answers ready for the people at the venue (things I had not thought of nor could have been able to answer). It was extremely nice to have a voice on your behalf. We were able to sit back and relax and take it all in. Not only was she extremely organized and help alleviate some of stresses of planning, her and her assistant, Kenzie were great on the day of. They had such a calming presence and they were on top of absolutely everything. We were able to sit back and enjoy our special day, knowing we were in good hands. I also really liked them both as people as well. They truly cared about our wedding and cared about making it perfect for us. I would highly recommend Samantha and Shannon Gail to make sure you have the same wedding experience as I did.

t that...a perfect fit. After spending 2 months researching and speaking with multiple Chicago-based planners, after getting engaged, I knew after our initial call with Shannon Gail that they were the right fit for us. Their method to planning a wedding was structured, systematic, professional, organized and personal. Bridget was our wedding planner and it honestly could have not been more of a perfect fit. She was accessible, understanding, accommodating, knowledgeable, organized, and just plain sensational. From picking up my husband and I in her personal car to allowing my mom and I to ship stuff to her house she was incredible. My husband and I were with Bridget for almost a year and a half planning our wedding that in that time she started to feel like family. She instantly 'got us' and always steered us in the right direction. She never felt like my questions or requests were demanding or inconvenient, her response was always 'absolutely I'll get working on that right away'. I am forever indebted to Bridget and Shannon Gail Weddings for creating the most wonderful, beautiful, perfect and magical day of my life. Bridget has a true talent/gift for planning weddings and you can clearly see how this is her calling. On my wedding day I told Bridget that she could use me as a referral anytime because honestly that's the least I could do for her. My husband and I were so sad after the wedding because that meant our relationship with Bridget came to an end. There are not enough words to express how grateful we are to Bridget. Our expectations for our wedding were completely blown out of the water, it wasn't a home-run...it was a Grand Slam with fireworks game 7 of the world series amazing (baseball reference). I honestly wish there was another event I could use Shannon Gail or Bridget for because they are incredible. Any couple considering Shannon Gail Weddings or Bridget Rogers look no further...you will NOT regret choosing them. They were the best decision we made when planning our wedding and everything else just fell into place. My husband and I would choose them 1,000 times over.

from their honeymoons, but I wanted to take the time to write the note now (one month out from d-day). If my married friends are any indication, this is the time in wedding planning where I'm supposed to be stressed, sleeping poorly, anxious about to-do lists etc.! Let me tell you that I am nothing but only thrilled and excited for the wedding, and that is largely due to Breanna's guidance, organization and patience over the last ten months. Choosing Shannon Gail, and especially Breanna, was easily the best decision we made. Planning the wedding has been an absolute blast from beginning to end, and it makes me sad for those brides who don't get to enjoy it the way I did. I knew I would love and appreciate my wedding day, but to get a full year of enjoying the planning process was an unexpected gift. Thank you for building such a great team. Best, Ali

ls, and contacting all of our vendors. On our wedding day, Samantha and Shannon made sure everything was flawless, and took care of any issues that arose. They are truly amazing women to work with, we would highly recommend working with Shannon Gail Weddings and Events for your planning needs.

had it all covered!! On top of that she was an absolute pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend them. They will make sure every last detail is taken care of and take all the stress off of you. And they even become your friend through the process. Thank you, thank you so much Samantha!

and groomsmen colors). The end result turned out cohesive and better than we could have imagined. On the day of the wedding, Samantha and her assistant were 100% in control - they kept everyone on time, and they even went WAY above and beyond in helping out our event staff, who were not experienced with weddings unfortunately. There was no task too big or too small for Samantha and her team, and truly the day would not have turned out as wonderfully as it did without them (seriously - things like pouring champagne for a toast because the bartenders were short-staffed to picking up more alcohol halfway through the reception when we were running short on Tito's). We are so thankful for them, and our memories of the day are stress-free because of their hard work! Finally, Samantha and the whole team were just a joy to work with from beginning to end - you can't find a more professional, polished, experienced, confident, and friendly group of people to help with your wedding day. We recommend them 10000%!

eir partial planning package and in the months leading up to the wedding, Amanda was instrumental in my peace of mind. I knew without a doubt that she was always 10 steps ahead and had every detail orchestrated - literally minute by minute of our big day. Our wedding party & parents were blown away by her detailed itinerary, experience, and positive attitude. She clearly knows what she's doing and truly makes all of your stress just disappear. As the bride - the most amazing part about Amanda is that she allowed my parents and I to attend the wedding as guests and soak in every moment. Not worrying about who needs to be where and if the flowers and cake showed up to my liking. Amanda took care of everything so that I could enjoy the whole day with my family and friends. She is also so incredibly kind and patient and made everyone feel at ease. Amanda blended right into our day as if we have been friends for years and she was just there to make sure everything went to plan. Hands down best decision for my wedding was to hire Shannon Gail!

forget. Breanna was friendly, sweet, easy to work with, and incredibly organized. Even though we technically hired her as a "day of" planner, she was also helpful months prior to our wedding with vendor recommendations. She made an effort to accomodate our busy schedules when planning became overwhelming (we planned a wedding outside of our home city). Needless to say, our wedding day went flawlessly. We had no worries at all day-of and were able to enjoy everything in the moment. I highly recommend Shannon Gail!

ediately answer and provide feedback or suggestions. There were a few hiccups along the way with my photographer and venue and when i explained the situation, Erin handled it all. She exceeded my expectations of what a wedding planner should do and be! I would have been so stressed without her by my side. The day of, Erin knew exactly how to keep everyone's nerves down and made sure everything ran seamlessly. If you are on the fence about getting a planner - here is your sign,- you 100% need one and should absolutely go through Shannon Gail. You will be so happy you did!!! Thank you so much Erin!!!

ng and made sure to compliment ideas with what we already had in mind. Although we only had the day of service (two months total), we felt like her only clients leading up to the day. Questions were answered promptly and we felt taken care of throughout the whole process. When it came to the day of, Samantha made me feel so at ease and I did not worry one second about if that one candle got placed in the exact spot I wanted it, she had every detail taken care of all with a warm and helpful attitude. Great service, knowledgable staff, connections all over the city and customizable packages for whatever you are looking for. Without a doubt the best decision I made was working with Shannon and her team!

ing process, Breanna kept us on track when work got busy and suggested creative ideas that we never would have though of. It was so great having a local expert on our team while planning an out-of-state wedding and her relationships encouraged other vendors to exceed expectations. Day-of she handled problems as the arose quickly, effectively, and quietly (missing decorations and incorrect menu item). As the bride, I'm so thankful I didn't have to worry about the logistics.

them, they always have the clients interest first, taking challenges and turning them in to opportunities!

xactly what I was thinking and was able to translate my style perfectly to our vendors. Beyond the fact that she was an amazing planner before the wedding, she completely made the day of the wedding. I did not need to worry about anything - she made sure that everything was perfectly orchestrated and that I was able to focus on having the BEST night of my life! Love love love this team!!

ould not have done this without the team from Shannon Gail but I need to shout out to my coordinator, Breanna Manzie , we couldn't have done it without you ! The professionalism and organization of time lines and vendors and so many other hats you had to wear ! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts ! It truly was a wonderful weekend and we Highly recommend this company to any one putting a wedding together . Thank you for a wonderful memory ❤️

could not have imagined not having her leading up to the big day or the day of. Lauren was great at communicating with me and our vendors. Cannot say enough good things about Shannon Gail as a company and specifically, Lauren. THANK YOU!!

all the details so my daughter and I could have a stress free day! The morning before the wedding, one of the vendors called my daughter wanting to change the schedule. My daughter text Samantha and she was on it, she worked with the vendor and produced a new schedule. What a blessing for my daughter to not have to deal with this. Also, about a week before the wedding my husband decided he wanted to have a choir come in and sing to my daughter, a childhood dream of her's, we reached out to Samantha and she made it happen. Not only did she arrange everything, but took it upon herself to video the performance so we would have it. What a great experience! There isn't a doubt in my mind that using Shannon Gail and Samantha was worth every penny. Again, I highly recommend them!!

ed, has a great eye for design, and is extremely personable. I loved getting to work with her. She made the day before and the day of the wedding go so smoothly. I couldn't have asked for a better planner. I highly recommend Shannon Gail, their services are worth every penny!!

Breanna - who was my main point of contact, just because I miss her :) I hired Shannon Gail for a custom package - Breanna helped us at the beginning of our planning process with vendor referrals and setting up our budget, which turned out to be the best combo, as Breanna took the hours of internet searching for photographers and makeup artists out of our hands, and gave us 3-4 selections in each category that fit our budget. This was beyond helpful when the "Day-of Coordination" package kicked in 2 months before the big day because she was already familiar with everyone we were working with. She reviewed every contract and jumped in to plan our trolley transportation without me having to talk to anyone, it was amazing! I always felt like I could email Breanna the most random question, and she would get back to me within 24 hours w a solution or some advice. Once the Day-of Coordination kicked in- Breanna stepped into high gear and contacted every vendor to confirm every last detail, from remaining payments to load in/load out times- I never had to worry about one single vendor issue for that day. Her google docs are a work of art. The timeline for our wedding day was so detailed, I had everyone in my family and wedding party read it to avoid and "where should we be when" questions. There were no problems. It was magical. Basically - if you're wondering if you need a wedding planner - GET ONE. It will be some of the best money you spend through this process. I am beyond glad we did a custom package, that was above just the Day-of Coordination because it made things so much easier during that year. My husband and I both work full time and Chicago is FULL of vendors and wedding options - it is very easy to get overwhelmed, and having a planner helped with all of that. I seriously miss Breanna - my day was flawless. She coordinated with my hotel to make sure I had the day-of set up for my bridesmaids perfect, she worked with every single person and was always SO positive and helpful. She even talked to my Dad on the phone a few times, when I just couldn't deal with anymore questions from people. I was really able to enjoy the week (yes, the whole week!) of my wedding - because Breanna made sure we were done with everything well in advance. I had my tips in envelopes, my gifts wrapped, and accessories ready to roll - no last minute madness. She made a packing list for the hotel, the church and reception. I can go on and on about the detail involved I know I'm missing a lot. Just hired Shannon Gail - their entire team is awesome, from my first convo with Shannon 14 months before I walked down the isle, to asking Breanna a questions about my certified marriage license just last week - every interaction has been wonderful. I don't ever plan to get married again, so it makes me sad I can't use their services in the future - all I can do is spread the good word. Shannon Gail for the wedding win! Trust me on this. Delegation is the key to happiness. Don't make yourself crazy. Stress will come naturally, don't task yourself with the rest of the heavy lifting. Hire a planner. Breanna - you are the best. Thank you for everything. :)

two months in advance. Prior to our "Day Of" wedding official package starting at the two month mark, I was able to contact Breanna for vendor recommendations. The final vendors she recommended (i.e. hair, transportation) were absolutely wonderful! Leading up to the wedding day, she provided us with a timeline, our weekly "to-do" list, and checklists. There are a lot of things that need to be completed within the last couple months, and it was a relief to know how to prioritize what needed to happen and when. In addition, Breanna was extremely responsive to my lists of questions and tasks I needed assistance in completing. On the wedding day, Breanna was extremely professional. She was there to organize, assist, and direct myself, bridal party, and family as needed. She managed our vendors, made sure everything was set up according to our plan, and every part of the timeline went smoothly and was on schedule. At the end of the night, she took care of packing up all our personal belongings at the reception so we could enjoy dancing and mingling with our guests. Having Breanna there allowed us to be present during our wedding day and just be the bride and groom! Having Shannon Gail Weddings coordinating your day will be one of the best decisions you make!

lier than that and went above and beyond. She came to my home to meet me 9 months before the wedding (and even brought a sweet engagement gift). After that, she checked in periodically and sent some helpful reminders. She was a true lifesaver when it came to our timeline. It was incredibly detailed and helped pull all of our vendor schedules together. I didn't have to worry about a single detail day-of. She set up our candy bar and gift table, coordinated the ceremony timing, and made sure everyone was in place for pictures and our sparkler exit. I am so glad that we had the chance to work with her!

eview: http://www.yelp.com/biz/shannon-gail-weddings-and-events-chicago?hrid=JYmW4bERWlAVMXFUR4isrQ

the need for a wedding coordinator and how fortunate we were use Shannon Gail and have Amanda assigned to us. Amanda was extraordinary. She skillfully steered us to a remarkable, beautiful wedding and reception throughout the entire planning process. Amanda demonstrated masterful organizational skills, absolute professionalism, endless support, and impressive judgement at every step. We are so grateful for her detailed and well crafted timelines, excellent vendor recommendations, expert handling of communications, and her graceful consideration of our preferences and budget. Her positive, caring attitude not only calmed and cheered us, but welcomed family and friends. Many accolades and sincere appreciation for a job well done.

! Amanda provided vendor recommendations which was so helpful. There are so many options for vendors in Chicago and Amanda narrowed down our search to a few within our budget and good to work with from her prior experience. She sent monthly to do lists and made sure we got everything done that we needed to. She responded to my constant emails and questions promptly and always had an answer for us. We had a lot fewer guests than originally anticipated, and Amanda worked with our venue to help make sure we got to the minimum so we weren’t wasting money. She was super organized, professional and very easy to work with. On the wedding day, everything ran smoothly and we could enjoy the day and not worry about a thing knowing Amanda was on top of it. She even brought back our items from the venue to the hotel room at the end of the night so we could go to the after party without a worry. I could not recommend Amanda and Shannon Gail more to someone who is getting married. The process was so much less stressful and enjoyable due to Amanda and all her help!

if you think you're a crazy organized bride, we'd probably be friends; I made flash cards to finally spell boutonnière correctly). I was so incredibly impressed with Shannon's affable nature and ability to connect with me. She was able to truly understand what I wanted so quickly that I canceled the following call that I had. I KNEW Shannon Gail was a perfect match. I specifically worked with Samantha, who is so ridiculously amazing that I don't know how else to describe her. On the day of your wedding, you hear of little things that your coordinator helps you with, but it was the amazing kudos' I heard from guests after the fact, that proved how instrumental she really was. From texting a friend from my phone to grab the table numbers from my apartment (that I forgot), to making sure I was using my family heirloom during my ceremony (that I forgot). She even organized 175 custom cookies with each guest's name on them that got delivered in a box with no rhyme or reason (that one was not my fault). She was organized, on top of it, and thought of all the things I didn't think of. She was always available leading up to the wedding and consistently checked in with me to make sure we were staying on schedule for everything. This made me feel SO at ease and I was able to enjoy the day without being stressed at all. Finally, she felt like a friend throughout the entire process, but especially in the weeks leading up to the big day. My father passed away the Monday of my wedding week, and the things she did to ensure my family's happiness on the day of, is something you can never plan or pay for. I can't recommend Samantha, Shannon and the rest of their team enough (shout out to Erin who helped the day of!). They are absolute PROS and you for sure want them in your corner on your wedding day.

eel at ease on my big day. I would 100% recommend them to take part in your Wedding. They made ours flawless.

She came highly recommended by the site person coordinating where we were having our reception. Right from my initial phone consultation with Shannon, I felt taken care of and listened to. I felt assured that Shannon knew exactly what I needed and that made me feel supported. The two planners I worked with (Erin and Breanna) are rock stars, Erin being my main point of contact. They tailored a plan to fit my needs and never made me feel pressured to do anything I didn't want to do. They are both so sweet and easy to talk to. The little things that Erin did over the past 6 months made me feel special and like she was genuinely invested in my well-being. It was those small personal touches such as bringing dog biscuits to our first meeting to give to my dog, always remembering my favorite drink at Starbucks, sending flowers for the holidays and after the wedding, just to name a few. Erin is the most organized and detailed oriented person I have ever met. Every month she promptly sent emails that included my task list for the month. She always made herself available, responded promptly to emails and texts, and periodically checked in to see how I was doing. She even helped when I was having a meltdown as the wedding got closer. Erin always listened to my ideas and provided suggestions when I had no idea what to do. She even saved the day by finding me another makeup artist when mine cancelled a month prior to the wedding. On the day of the wedding, both Erin and Breanna were there the entire day starting with arriving at the hotel to help all the girls get ready and dressed. They took the time out to introduce themselves to the mothers and were available to answer any of their questions. They coordinated behind the scenes with all the vendors so I never had to worry about a thing. At the end of the night, Erin packed up all the gifts, cards, etc. and personally delivered everything to my home that night. This was the best decision I have made. It helped take a lot of the stress out of the planning and I had a strong sense of trust in Erin that I could turn everything over to her and she would take care of everything-- which she did! So not only was I provided with a service in the most professional, competent manner, the personal connection I felt made it so easy to work alongside Erin on one of the most special days of my life.

hrough the planning process. I always felt like she really listened to me and my vision became her vision for our wedding and she was able to construct it into real life. She was amazing at juggling all of our questions/thoughts since as wedding planning goes on there are more and more opinions that are in the pot swirling around. Bridget was able to sift through all of that and pull together our perfect event. All of the options for vendors that she provided were super helpful and the ones we picked worked out perfectly. I would not switch any of my vendors. Bridget also completely ran the day of. My husband and I were able to just float around in our happiness and pay attention to nothing. If anything went wrong, we absolutely didn't know about it. Our memory of our wedding day is just pure happiness and our perfect party. My mom and I could not have done the planning without the help and direction of Shannon Gail Weddings and in particular Bridget who just rocked it and gave us the best event imaginable! Thank you!!

g and everything was perfect, thanks to her!

le on their face. Their knowledge, competence, professionalism, positivity and effectiveness is unparalleled, and they will ensure that your event goes off without a hitch. After months of searching for the right fit, my venue (Adler) finally recommended SG. From the moment I first spoke with Shannon, I knew it wouldn’t get better than SG. We were paired with Breanna, who was an absolute gem… and to say that she was perfect would be an understatement. Not only was she exceedingly responsive, experienced, and hard working – but she was an absolute pleasure to work with. She completely took the stress off of me so that I could sit back and enjoy the process and the big day. My husband and I agree that this was by far the best money we spent on the entire wedding. After all, if you’re going to allocate a tremendous amount of this time/energy/resources on hosting a wedding – you should eliminate your stress so you can actually enjoy it and be in the moment with family and friends. This would not have been possible without the SG team. In addition to being extremely knowledgeable and having impeccable performance – the best characteristic of the SG Team is that they’re a true advocate. With all of the directions you get pulled in as a bride, and with all of the vendors you’re trying to manage and decisions you need to make – you need a true partner who will represent you and your best interest. You don’t always get that in the wedding industry, but you do with SG. With Breanna, we always knew that she had our best interest at heart, and would act as our voice on our behalf. We knew we could trust her with any decision, and that she genuinely cared about us. She effortlessly managed the tiny details as well as the bigger picture – and made sure that we were feeling comfortable along the way. I honestly can’t speak highly enough about the SG Team. If I could give them 10 stars I would. Thank you Breanna and SG team for being phenomenal partners, exceeding our expectations, and making our day perfect. We’ll never forget you and the positive impact you had on our wedding. Keep doing what you’re doing….you are truly AMAZING!!

have a day of coordinator-and I got just that. Samantha navigated everything with grace and a positive attitude. Even when I would start to get the bridal mood swings, etc (which I swore I never would) , Samantha would talk me through it. She would have calls with just me about certain things regarding the wedding anytime I wanted or needed. She also had an assistant on the day of so there were an extra pair of hands. She is so kind and you can tell she loves what she does. I was sad when she left the reception because I was so used to having her around. (Not planning things for me, but because we genuinely enjoyed her!) She is an amazing planner and so is Shannon (and her company). Thank you so much for our beautiful wedding!

ennifer Lopez expectations I had. Consistently throughout the wedding planning process I had moments of "we could not do this without Shannon", and on the day of, Shannon brought to life and flawlessly executed all of our wedding day dreams and wishes, making it a truly perfect day (even with its imperfections). Shannon and her whole team are amazing and I was a very lucky bride to work with them.

d to support us and ensure that everything would go as planned. She gave us great recommendations and suggestions. Whenever I would contact Amanda because I was worried about something, she would immediately calm me down and offer the best advice. I consider myself very organized, but I could not have stayed as organized to the wedding’s timeline without her! She took care of things even when I was not aware of what she was doing. My daughter’s wedding day was flawless because of Amanda. I recommend Amanda and Shannon Gail 110%, if you want the perfect wedding day.

wedding day. Thank you for taking care of everything we asked for and making the day run smooth. We were given great suggestions, advice, and professionalism every step of the way. Amanda clearly has a lot of experience in wedding planning and we would recommend anyone to Shannon Gail for the perfect wedding day!

il. The planner was, in effect, the most efficient and knowledgeable executive assistant one can imagine. In addition to making great recommendations for the caterer, invitation designer, and photographer, she kept track of all the contracts and due dates. She handled all of the details, some of which I didn't even know existed. On the day of the wedding, though an unconventional one, she orchestrated everything to perfection. The timing of all was letter perfect, faultlessly flowing. Best of all, her professionalism allowed me to fully enjoy the event without any worries. She even made sure to have the gifts and other take-home items personally delivered to our home. I rarely write reviews but couldn't resist giving Shannon Gail all the praise she deserves.

ed with Breanna from this team, who was a dream - always composed, organized, and knowledgeable. Early on, we recognized we had no idea what we were doing. We knew we wanted to work with wonderful vendors who would feel like extensions of our friends/family come wedding day, but that was it. We put a lot of trust in Breanna and she exceeded all expectations. First, she is proactive. She's an accelerator who immediately provided a workable framework that enabled us to get started. This included a list of suggested vendors with detailed reviews and examples of their work, an outline with proposed budget which highlighted where we could save and where we should splurge, and a timeline with monthly follow-ups that included to do checklists that kept us on track. Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, but breaking up the big stuff into smaller components made it extremely manageable, and even enjoyable. Second, she is always accessible and detail-oriented. Beyond being available for an in-person meeting whenever you need it, she never fails to let you know she's reachable via phone, email, text, what-have-you to you and your family. During vendor selection, Breanna attended the important vendor meetings with us and always asked all of the right questions, questions that would never cross our minds to ask, but were critical to the logistics and operations of the wedding weekend. After everyone was booked, Breanna owned all communication and coordination. When you can lean on someone like Breanna to own all the details and field all the questions it allows you and your significant other to relax and reflect on the once-in-a-lifetime moment. Finally, she is simply a calming, centering presence. Hiring her felt like taking a big sigh of relief. We were confident that we would be taken care of from beginning to end and would leave with a lifetime friend in Breanna. Endlessly grateful for her!

as there to help. All of her hard work was greatly appreciated. I cannot thank her enough for all of her help & making the wedding weekend so perfect.

joy every minute of the day knowing that Amanda was making sure it ran smoothly. It truly ended up being the best day ever!! After the wedding, so many vendors complimented Amanda and how great she was through planning and the even itself!

tle done at a time. They also took care of talking to all our vendors and handling payment schedules and timing for the day. My wedding day was timed perfectly from hair and makeup to pictures and dinner. I was SO happy using Shannon Gail and would recommend them to anyone!

re exchanged. We worked with Breanna Manzie and she left us speechless with all that she did for us. We decided to go with the "Day of Wedding Coordinator" package but she started working with us 2 months before our wedding and honestly, she was there for us with any questions we had even before that. We live in Pittsburgh and were planning a 300+ person wedding in Chicago and we honestly couldn't have done it without Breanna. She was extremely involved, responsive, and was there for us for anything we needed. I am the queen of worrying too much, and she definitely kept me at ease. She took so much stress off of us with taking over full control of communication with our vendors, coming to us with any questions they had, reminding us when payments were due, respecting our budget, etc. The thing that blew us away the most was the schedule she made for us the day of the wedding. It was an extensive, organized timeline of our day that even shocked some of our other vendors with how organized and amazing it was. It included times for everything-down to the point of what time I needed to be in my dress, transportation times, dance times at the reception, cake cutting time....EVERYTHING. I could go on and on... Please know how much we appreciate all you and your team did for our wedding. We will be forever grateful.

wanted to hire someone for our wedding coordination and after speaking with Shannon and meeting with Samantha, we knew we would be in great hands with Team SG. Leading up to our wedding, Samantha took care of all the final details, coordinating with all of our vendors, creating the wedding day timeline and most importantly, keeping me as relaxed as possible. The day of the rehearsal and the wedding, Samantha was completely in charge and made sure our whole day went perfectly. We highly recommend working with the team at Shannon Gail for whatever level of wedding planning or coordination fits your wedding!

d send from the moment we first talked to her. From the initial inquiry phone call, I immediately felt at ease. Before speaking with Shannon and Breanna, I did not realize what a large feat it is to plan and execute a big wedding in downtown Chicago. I felt like I had done as much as I could and got the point where I just didn't know what I was doing anymore. I had no idea how to coordinate vendors, timing, contracts, meals, decor, tips, etc. Not only did Breanna take care of ALL of it seamlessly, she was so positive and responsive the entire step of the process. I so appreciated that she did so well managing our wedding with all of her others. If she was away on a weekend working another wedding when she got an email from me, she would respond so quickly and let me know she saw my email and a timeline of when she would get my response back to me. I can't say enough how thorough and detailed oriented Breanna is. She is certainly the person you want in charge of your wedding, she GETS it. She helped me think of things I would have never realized on my own and helped us work through every decision so it was not stressful for my husband and I. Instead of being stressed the month before, we were just excited and we owe that all to Breanna. She was also so helpful in working with our families. Any emails or requests she got from family members were handled with respect and understanding. I can't imagine what a stressful job it must be but the professionalism, happiness and positively is unparalleled. I can't thank Breanna and her team enough. You made my dream come to life and I will always be grateful.

beginning. As a day of coordinator, they don't take over till 2 months before the wedding date. But honestly Breanna was available to help with any recommendations or referrals I needed throughout the whole planning process. Once she took over though I was so grateful for how organized and timely she was in responding to messages or making sure I got things done that needed to be done at a certain time. The day of the wedding ran so smoothly and with her help I was able to completely enjoy my day knowing that things would be taken care of! If you need a planner/ day of coordinator I HIGHLY recommend this company! Shannon even talked to me initially to understand what I was looking for and she is so super sweet and quick to respond as well! You will not be disappointed with them! Thank you Shannon and Breanna for helping make my day stress free and amazing!

ess. Even though I was an extremely organized and detailed bride, I really needed someone to be my eyes and ears on the big day. Samantha, and her assistant Olivia, made sure everything flowed smoothly and worked hard to ensure every detail was "just so." I knew the timeline of the day's events were in her capable hands, so I could focus on the important aspects of the day and not have to worry about the logistics. Plus, my mom was so grateful for Samantha's assistance, because she could enjoy the wedding without having to be the "point person" for the bridal party, vendors, etc. Even if you plan the wedding yourself (like I did), I cannot stress enough the importance of having someone in your corner on the big day. You spend so much time, effort, and money planning the wedding of your dreams, so put your event in capable hands and let the team at Shannon Gail work their magic. You will not be disappointed!

dding in Sharon’s hands. If you’re not in the habit of planning large events—and no, potlucks and dinner parties don’t compare—you can’t possibly anticipate all the details that need to be worked out. Sharon can, and does. Our wedding in particular benefitted from her expertise since we didn’t have a traditional ceremony, and as a result much of the choreography needed to be worked out from scratch. The final production, even without a rehearsal, felt effortless. Sharon even managed to lead 12 of my cousins under the age of 10 in a parade in and out of the wedding. At the end of the night, she gathered all the clothing and gifts that accumulated backstage and dropped them off at our house. We ended up with no late night responsibilities other than dancing till the band shut down. Sharon is a resourceful and positive force to have on your side. I would recommend Sharon to all my friends getting married in Chicago in a heartbeat.

er excited to work with and just knew we “were in good hands”. We were ahead of the game, on top of the planning, and were comfortable about where we were at and headed. BUT, hiring Breanna as our planner/day-of coordinator was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. From our very first meeting with Breanna, she made us feel special and shared in our excitement for our wedding planning process. She had great style and fantastic ideas for little details to personalize our day and tie in our venue theme. As our wedding day got closer, we didn’t realize how many details we had to finalize and all the little things that would come up. Breanna kept us on track with a to-do list, a packing list, put our day-of timeline together, and communicated with all vendors to make sure everyone was on the same page and everything would run smoothly on our big day. If there was ever a question on whether we would be able to do something as planned, she was immediately all over it. On the day of our wedding, we never felt rushed, never looked at a clock, never had to worry about anything – which was truly a great feeling. You always hear people say “enjoy it, it goes fast”… and we can genuinely say for us, it did NOT “fly by”, it was NOT a “blur”. We were able to live in the moment surrounded with the people we love and enjoy our day to the fullest, and we owe that all to Breanna and her team. THANK YOU, Breanna & Shannon Gail!!! Whitney & Ben

t one. I had a majority of my vendors booked, and needed someone to help keep me organized and on top of “to-do” lists. From the very beginning, Shannon listened to my needs, helped create a custom planning package for me, and paired me with my wedding angel, AKA, Breanna. Breanna went above and beyond what I had expected, and kept me in check with my deadline dates, put together a “Wedding Style Guide” that fit us perfectly and the vision we had (and threw in ideas I never even thought of!), answered all the random questions I came to her with, helped with vendor referrals we hadn’t yet booked (and suggested wonderful people), and most importantly, kept me sane (my now husband thanks her the most for that). She even came to our first meeting with a flash drive that had photos of a wedding they did previously at the venue we chose to show us what could/can be done. Like, what?! It was so thoughtful, and made me leave that meeting saying to myself at least a hundred times “I am so happy with this event planning company”. Breanna was truly one of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with, and I honestly can’t say enough great things about her. She made me feel at ease throughout the whole planning process, and was even more incredible on the day of our wedding. If anything went wrong the day of, I was none the wiser, which I think is the sign of an incredible planner. She kept everyone in check and happy, and made our wedding day one of the best days of our lives. I'm happy to have a new husband after a beautiful wedding, but I'm sad it's all over because I don't get to work with Breanna any longer. The team at Shannon Gail is truly worth the investment, and I don't think anyone could be disappointed when working with such an incredible group.

he planning process Bridget was so helpful, not only in providing guidance on ideas and being extremely organized, but also in managing everyone’s stress level. We were never worried that things wouldn't end up coming together, because she clearly has a ton of experience and she knows how to make a good list! As a result, she was on top of every single detail, so there were no bad surprises. On the day, we were always within 10 minutes of the timeline, which gave us the ability to really just enjoy the moment. Literally, the only thing that strayed from the plan was us accidentally cutting the cake too early! Bottom line, we could never thank Bridget enough for making the whole weekend completely stress-free. Investing in a good wedding planner can seem like an unnecessary expense, but oh my goodness, it is SO worth it!!

kept me organized and on-track during the planning process and I never once felt stressed about the big day. From the months leading up to our wedding, she answered every email right away (even at midnight) and I felt so comfortable with her assisting in planning my wedding. Not only was she the main contact with each vendor, coordinating schedules and payments, she created a perfect timeline for the day-of. Each "issue" that arose during our wedding day, she handled with ease and grace (so good in fact that I wasn't even aware of any issues on that day!). I could not have imagined my wedding day without her! I'm so lucky to have worked with such an amazing team! Highly, HIGHLY recommend!

uable to us. She took what felt like an overwhelming task & turned it into a manageable & fun experience. Samantha had great ideas, was timely in her responses, was always willing to meet with us, took care of many details, ran errands, kept us organized & was a pleasure to spend time with. We are especially grateful to her for her management of the entire wedding day (so many details!) and rehearsal so WE could enjoy ourselves. After the wedding we felt immense joy & complete satisfaction because Samantha helped ensure that we took care of the many details important to us. WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT HER! Our family will miss her. Thank you Sam! Kris S., Geneva, IL

ly listened to the ideas we had about our day. We were mixing two very different cultures and with Shannon's help, it went off great! She was able to help guide us through everything, including all of the drama that unfolded between family and bridal party during the planning process. I am glad to consider her a friend! And you would be a fool not to hire her! :)

derful, but also because her guidance and suggestions made the 1,000+ wedding planning decisions that followed so much easier. Shannon is responsive, and adaptable. Her monthly timelines reduced stress, as I imagine that, without her guidance, I would have been overwhelmed trying to decide what to do next when there are so, so many things to do. I also found that Shannon was determined to make sure that my vision was executed, rather than making choices that aligned with her or other vendors' preferences. (Luckily, Shannon also has great taste and introduced me to vendors that not only understood, but ultimately enhanced, my original vision.) Shannon is always professional, but also personable and genuinely enthusiastic about every aspect of your wedding. She definitely becomes a friend when you work together. Her team is equally lovely. Breanna made it possible for my high-maintenance pup to participate in our engagement shoot, and Sammi helped make sure that every detail on the day of the wedding was executed flawlessly. I couldn't recommend Shannon and team more highly!

mail/phone before the big day. Amanda was extremely professional, had every detail covered and helped ensure all the vendors were on the same page. She created a meticulous timeline and was able to help trouble-shoot the day of. It was extremely helpful to have her as the main contact leading up to the event and on the day-of, as I was able to be a stress-free bride able to focus on celebrating the day with friends & family which was priceless. I wish I could hire Amanda to help coordinate my everyday life!

ere looking for in a wedding planner. I knew after that initial phone call with Shannon that we were going to work with this company, and scheduled a time to meet with Carolynn Powers, who would be our day-of-coordinator (with this company, day-of-coordinating involves so much more than just one day, and begins months before the big day). From the moment we met Carolynn, my fiancé and I were sold and knew we were in great, capable hands. Carolynn is not only incredibly detail oriented, organized, and quick to respond to all forms of communication, but she is also so fun to work with and really makes an effort to build a relationship with her clients and get to know them, outside of the wedding details. About two months prior to our wedding, we realized that the initial florist we selected was not a good fit for what we were looking to achieve with the floral/décor for our wedding. Carolynn came to the rescue! She connected us with a new florist (Ryan with Stemline Creative - amazing!), and ensured that we were well taken care of and happy with every detail - we could not have been more thrilled with the end result! My fiancé and I, along with our families, did not have a single worry throughout our wedding day/night, because we knew we were in great hands with Carolynn. She handled every detail, and worked closely with all our vendors, to ensure that our day was executed perfectly without a hitch. I really can't say enough great things about Carolynn and our experience working with Shannon Gail Weddings & Events, but to sum it all up, Carolynn helped make our dream wedding a reality!

nd also kept our timeline moving forward in every way. She was a delight to work with and such a nice person as well. I would recommend Shannon to any bride. Everyone raved about my daughter's wedding and we have Shannon Gail to thank for that.

o, what we envisioned for our wedding, etc.) and immediately felt comfortable and assured that we were in good hands. Samantha, who was the direct coordinator for our wedding, was so nice and so friendly...we really got a sense that she cared about getting to know a bit about what makes us tick as a couple and how we would want to see our wedding day come to life. Following that first meeting, Samantha was so helpful with keeping us on track for getting planning done. Despite our millions of questions, she was so patient and eager to help, truly going above and beyond the basic ask (for example, she picked up donut holes for our dessert bar on the day of the wedding so they were fresh!). And, now that the wedding is over, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that working with Samantha was the best decision we made for the wedding planning process. We didn't want to be stressed out, nor did we want anyone else helping us to be either, and working with Samantha essentially eliminated all stress. The entire week leading up to the wedding and then the wedding day itself was really enjoyable, especially since we were able to see all the planning and organization pay off. Yes, there were of course nerves, but she helped us plan everything so perfectly that we weren't stressed at all about any loose ends (which, there weren't any anyways because she helped us take care of them way ahead of time) and truly were able to enjoy the day/evening with all our family and friends. We had met with a few other wedding coordinators before we decided to work with Samantha and her personality really sealed the deal for us. Some coordinators were a little too high-strung and just their personality alone would have made us stress out. Samantha is so on top of her game without being overbearing or stress-inducing. She kept us on track and organized, but in a fun way that made her really easy to work with. This really came across on the day of the wedding, too. She was calm, cool and collected, which in turn made me feel that way, and my groom as well. If we had gone with someone with a more intense personality, I could see their stress intensifying our own nerves and rubbing other people trying to help out, such as moms, bridesmaids, etc., the wrong way. The wedding planning process should be fun, and doesn't have to be stressful. Samantha was instrumental in us truly being able to enjoy the ride and this special time in our lives. Her help was great peace of mind and I really, really can't recommend going with Shannon Gail Weddings & Events more!

e end, she made it possible for us to have a dream wedding on what was a fairly tight budget. She truly understood my vision and made it a reality. Also, she's a total sweetheart- sooo nice and easy going! It felt like one of my girlfriends was our wedding planner! She was always easy to reach via phone, email, or text and very quick to respond. I can't imagine what the wedding planning and the wedding itself would have been like without her. She was worth every penny!

ether for about a year to pull off this wedding and we were very pleased with the outcome. My sister and I flew out to Chicago a few months into the planning process and Amanda drove us around to look at our four venue finalists. With the exception of a few long calls early on in the process most of the time we communicated via email, and that worked really well for us. Amanda is personable, very responsive, is a good listener and has a great sense of humor so we hit it off with her right away. She is very detailed oriented, which is key for this kind of work. She was able to juggle not only the timeline, the style guide, the vendors, the deposits and payments, but also managed to keep us on budget, which was really great. The day of the wedding went like clockwork and it was great not to have to worry about all the details since we knew Amanda had them well in hand. I would highly recommend Shannon Gail and especially Amanda!

and knew we'd need some local help during the planning process. Bridget was great! She made herself available for calls at crazy hours, she was always around the two or three times I flew in to Chicago to do crazy planning, and was a lifesaver day-of. She has great relationships with and was even willing to work with them directly to negotiate discounts. She kept me organized and on track! My fiance (now husband) and I would look forward to our calls with her! Every call we thought we were prepared and she'd have another suggestion or reminder. She's knows her stuff and would ask the questions we would never have thought! The rehearsal night and day-of were perfect! This may sound incredibly lazy, but with Bridget, I was able to relax and (almost) not think about the details! I have to say, it was such a wonderful feeling. Bridget allowed me to really enjoy the day, and trust me when I say, it's flies by! There were a few hiccups, but every time I heard about them, they were already solved or figured out! For instance, we planned to take pictures outside in Lincoln Park. Due to the negative temperatures, the photographer called Bridget and recommended we find space somewhere inside. This was Friday night before rehearsal. By the time Bridget talked with me, she had a plan, had approved it with the hotel for their public space (who in contract doesn't allow pictures in public spaces) and had also worked out a private event space for some shots. Like I said... it felt flawless on my end! Thank you for everything Bridget and team!

Shannon. I was first looking for assistance for the day of our wedding, unaware that I was soon to consider her services and presence at our wedding priceless! From the start she was responsive, prompt and very thorough – no detail was left unattended. Shannon provides sophistication and class to the most exquisite wedding, with warmth, trust, and a comfort level I appreciated more with each potential problem solved in advance. Her opinions were wise and welcome, she offered the most unique ideas generously, and her interactions with our vendors were assertive, respectful and kind. She handled everything in a cool and professional manner and made me grateful and proud that she was part of our memorable day. She also connected us with other vendors who proved their excellence in quality and service as well. In addition to all this, she is conscious of controlling costs and quite creative and resourceful in helping you adhere to your budget. Shannon is exceptionally organized and detail minded; I truly do not know how she does all that she does –and with such enthusiasm and passion – she is gifted in her profession! Do not hesitate to choose Shannon Gail for your most special wedding large or small; she has superb industry relationships and will ensure your peace of mind and happiness – I would not have any other by my side on this monumental day!

rtunately, at the time of my wedding, my coordinator had recently suffered a terrible family tragedy. As a result, I had a lot of trouble getting in touch with my actual coordinator. On more than one occasion I had to email Shannon to check in (who was always great about responding quickly) and on the day of my wedding, my bridesmaids called my coordinator but she never picked up. I had only paid for the day-of coordination (as I did most of the planning work myself) and in the end everything worked out, but my particular experience was not extraordinary. However, all that being said, Shannon did reach out and express how important it was to her that this type of situation never happens again. Given her level of dedication, I think it's safe to say that's true. You won't make a mistake booking with Shannon.

home. Let me finish this sentence by saying we never could have planned our wedding without Shannon Gail herself and her wonderful staff, Breanne and Hillary at Shannon Gail Weddings and Events. Shannon left no detail uncovered. Everything from Decour, colors, wedding cake, venues, apparel, flowers, invitations, photographers, Videography. Everything and everyone had their own individual to do list with the timeline associated with it. The vendors that Shannon connected us up with are the top vendors in the Chicago market and we could not be more pleased with the services and goods they provided. Shannon, you and your staff are world class! All the details, big and small, you made sure were covered on our wedding day and leading up to it were handled with perfection.

n all of my day of stress by managing everyone. She's a rock star; we couldn't have pulled it off without her!

ommendations. Those questions were answered promptly and honestly and I ended up using the photographer and florist she recommended. There was no "I can't give you a recommendation as I am just your day of planner" and I was super impressed with that. Shannon truly wants your big day to be amazing. From the first call to the day after the wedding she was responsive, prompt and just plain fun to work with. I felt like she just swooped in a couple of months before the wedding and took so much off my hands, made sure we were organized and made the last few weeks before the wedding much less stressful and, dare I say it, fun? The day itself went off without a hitch (at least I don't know if there was one) and it allowed me and my husband as well as our parents to enjoy the day. Shannon and Hilary literally took care of EVERYTHING (Including chasing down my husband when he thought pictures were over and disappeared) . If you're thinking of getting a planner of day of coordinator (which is really a lifesaver) look no further than Shannon and the team at Shannon Gail.

onths, and Shannon was key to our success. The attributes I valued most in Shannon were as follows: • Work Ethic: Shannon does not shy away from working hard. She strives to exceed your expectations and she will tackle any project or challenge with great energy and tenacity. While I’m sure she came across some frustrating situations planning our wedding, I never once heard her complain. She truly has a can-do attitude. • Experience: Shannon was able to provide us relevant vendor referrals so we didn’t have to waste our time sifting through the hundreds of vendors in Chicago. For instance, when we were looking for florists, she gave us 3 recommendations of who we should go to and WHY she likes working with them. The “why” was a huge value-add and time saver for us. She provided this for every vendor we needed. Additionally, Shannon has a great network of wedding planners, so if she comes across a vendor she doesn’t know, she can get really good insight quickly. • Positive Attitude: Shannon was on our side every step of the way, gently guiding us and pushing us along when my husband & I got behind on our to-do list. Shannon had a nice way of nudging, without adding stress or making us feel bad. She was our #1 cheerleader and remained positive throughout the entire process. Shannon was always a pleasure to have around. Finally, I would add the day-of support Shannon and her assistant provided on my wedding day was invaluable. I just glided through the day oblivious to all the details and timeline. She was there for me, my husband, and my family at every turn. She took charge so the rest of us could enjoy. Thank you, Shannon, for all you did, known and unknown, to make our wedding day so special.

vendors as the months went on and checked in to make sure I was doing ok! She handled all of my last minute questions promptly! On the day of the wedding, she offered to get the bridesmaids food since we didn't have time to go out and get food ourselves. Everything went as smooth as possible, and we could not have asked for anyone better to be in charge of our wedding! Thank you Amanda and Shannon Gail Weddings!

e the time to vet them all: "We’re only doing this once, right? Why not ask someone that has experience with this sort of thing? We don’t need a full-on wedding planner, just a little help to get us started.” From the start, Shannon was completely flexible with us about her level of involvement, offering us a short list of locations and vendors in exchange for a small fee. No pressure about additional services, just some recommendations based on our style and a great spreadsheet breaking down spending allowances for venue, photography, etc. based on the overall budget we gave her. (Shannon started her career in finance, and that experience shows). We packed our bags and flew to Chicago to check things out. Shannon’s venue recommendations were SO much better than the ones we originally had in mind: all beautiful locations with great staff that were extremely accommodating to our needs and well within our budget. By the end of our trip, we had enlisted Shannon to be MUCH more involved in the planning, and to be our coordinator on the day of our event. And at every step, she completely exceeded our expectations: 1) Her vendor recommendations are amazing: From the florist, to the graphic designer who created our stationary, Shannon assembled a really outstanding team. Even the vendors we had already selected, like our photographer and our live music, kept raving about Shannon and what a joy it is to work with her. 2) She's great at keeping us organized and on schedule: Even though we’re out-of-state, and we’re both complete work-a-holics, she was able to keep us on task in the most friendly, low-stress way possible, and always with such enthusiasm for our big day. She was so easy to work with! 3) She's always going the extra mile: We ordered this great wooden wagon, so one of the flower girls could pull the other, baby flower girl, down the aisle. Shannon had us ship it to her house and assembled it herself, so we didn’t have to lug it from California. 4) She's always looking out for your budget: We had a late change to our guest count, and it put us below the minimum for our venue, so we were going to be paying for guests who would not be there. Incredibly, Shannon was able to get a last minute price change from the venue that saved us a SIGNIFICANT amount of money. 5) She makes sure you have what you need, even before you know that you need it: Right after our ceremony, Shannon whisked us away to a small, private barrel room at our venue, where we could spend a few moments alone with each other. We had a bottle of champagne and a collection of the hors d’oeuvres that were being served during our cocktail hour. It was one of the few moments we spent alone together all day, and it was the perfect opportunity to take in what we had just done. We hadn’t asked for that moment. We hadn’t even thought of it. But Shannon made it happen, and it was one of the best moments at our wedding. She provided all of this guidance while still allowing us the control to create the wedding of our dreams. She was an absolute joy to work with, and we’re looking forward to the next time we make it back to Chicago, so we can see our dear friend, Shannon :)

sent Bridget who saved the day a hundred times over. I am so thankful to the team for helping make our day so memorable. They were on at all times and even picked up the birthday cake for my mom (it was her birthday that day). They were so high touch and I can not speak more highly of my experience with them. You all are miracle workers and I am so thankful I made the right decision in picking you:)! Future brides, you will be so thankful you chose Shannon Gail to help with your wedding day!