WillowsAwake Winery

all, my husband and I had a wonderful wedding day. We chose to pay for the venue’s day-of coordination services. The coordinator was kind, flexible, and assisted with some setup and breakdown, but I wish we had clearly discussed expectations and responsibilities beforehand. Communication leading up to the wedding was inconsistent. Emails and texts often went unanswered for days, and although we were told after our March tasting that a final planning meeting would be scheduled, no follow-up ever occurred. During both the rehearsal and wedding day, it was frequently difficult to locate the coordinator. We largely ran our own rehearsal with only a brief check-in, and on the morning of the wedding I was asked to leave my bridal preparations to review details at the venue—something that should have been finalized well in advance. Instead, one of my bridesmaids had to oversee setup and ensure everything matched the detailed plans I had already provided. Before the ceremony, my bridal party and family handled seating guests, assisting disabled family members, coordinating with the DJ, and lining everyone up. Because my husband and I chose not to do a first look, it was important that I remain hidden until the ceremony. However, when it was time for me to walk, the coordinator was unavailable, and a bridesmaid had to leave the altar, find me, fluff my dress, position me, and rush back into line. After the ceremony, we wanted to greet guests in a receiving line before cocktail hour, but again our wedding party directed guests while the coordinator was unavailable. Throughout the reception, my bridesmaids also managed the timeline for dinner, speeches, dances, and announcements despite the coordinator having received our schedule in advance. The coordinator also brought her child to both the rehearsal and wedding. While we understand childcare situations can arise, we were surprised to see both seated behind the bar for extended periods while the coordinator appeared to be on her phone rather than actively overseeing the event. There were also concerns with professionalism and attention to detail. Staff members’ personal dogs were present behind the bar and roaming the reception area without prior discussion. The grounds also had not been fully mowed or cleaned before the wedding, which detracted from an otherwise beautiful property. Several details were also overlooked. My veil ended up in the trash, two promised easels for signage were unavailable, requiring signs to be placed on the ground or tables, and we had to remind staff to move ceremony florals and signage into the reception space. Thankfully, my bridesmaids were incredibly organized and stepped in wherever needed, playing a huge role in keeping the day running smoothly. The venue itself is stunning, the food was excellent, and the service staff were wonderful. We truly had a beautiful wedding day. However, for couples considering the venue’s coordination services, I strongly recommend having a detailed conversation about responsibilities, expectations, and the level of support provided to determine whether it meets your needs or if hiring an outside coordinator would be a better fit.