Southern Savvy Events

the experience happily recommending her. There was a shift on wedding weekend. Multiple events occurred as a result of breakdowns in leadership & execution. Afterward, I sent Lauren an email outlining my concerns. She asked for a conversation, which I welcomed. That discussion focused largely on her emotions & struggles. My concerns were met with explanations rather than acknowledgment. I felt my experience mattered less, & that the focus was on her standing behind her work with pride & moving on. After 6 weeks, & a conversation with Lauren, I wrote this review. It’s important that this not be impulsive or emotional. I know what it’s like to run a small business, so this is a last-resort attempt at closure. Below are excerpts prospective brides should consider before contracting with Southern Savvy Events, as I wouldn't want someone to experience what we did. The weekend coordination was subpar, placing responsibility on me & others to manage logistics when I expected a full-service planner to confidently lead & advocate on our behalf. When raised, Lauren said she didn't want to be “bossy,” resulting in a lack of clear guidance. Despite many requests, I wasn't given the schedule until the rehearsal. We received a paper copy, but no digital version. A rain plan was not shared despite being requested. When I asked for a change at the rehearsal, she responded sharply, saying, “Sure, why not?! I’ve changed everything else.” This could’ve been avoided had I been given the opportunity to review. There was a family medical emergency on the wedding day. No plan B was made. When I asked why she didn’t communicate with me, I was told she “didn’t want to bother me while I was with my core people.” The situation lacked clear coordination, & much of the blame was placed on the venue staff. This led to me not having a first dance with my dad. During the reception, the band chose to play through their break. While intended as a thoughtful gesture, several must-play songs—outside the band’s standard set—were agreed to be played during that break. Because the break never occurred, those songs weren’t played. Lauren’s response afterward was most troubling as it focused on defending the decision rather than acknowledging the plan was not upheld. We trusted Lauren & her team with items for setup. Several weren't returned, including the remnants of my mother’s wedding dress, which had been turned into my 2nd dress, & a handmade ring bearer pillow that has been in my family for years. Lauren apologized for leaving the dress behind but placed responsibility on the venue staff for its disappearance. Regarding the pillow, I was told it was “not traditional for her to keep track of those kinds of things,” again shifting responsibility. The role a planner should play was instead filled by other vendors & family. I hoped to hear an acknowledgment that the day was ultimately her responsibility, along with an apology that it didn't unfold as planned. While a reduction to the bill was not expected, that level of ownership would’ve been fair. I’m hopeful that with time I’ll look back without these feelings attached. There were many beautiful moments but the above & conversations that followed afterward leave me feeling taken advantage of & with a negative view of Lauren’s business.