The A's to Your Q's
FAQ FOR POTENTIAL CLIENTS: BEFORE THE INQUIRY
WHERE ARE YOU BASED?
I am a sunny Southern California-based gal living in the charming town of Little Saigon (Garden Grove). I also serve clients domestically and internationally in the Bay Area and Los Angeles counties. I fly out of state to execute 10 destination weddings annually to service my other couples!
THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOUR MC STYLE?
Agile. Sophisticated. With added flair, that is anything but cheesy. Multicultural weddings have an extra layer of cultural complexity, so you'll need an emcee who can deliver.
WHAT'S AN IDEAL TIME TO REACH OUT TO YOU?
My rule of thumb is this: ASAP. I tend to book out quickly and can take on a select number of couples per year. Currently, I am booking two years in advance. Sadly, I cannot reserve your wedding date without the retainer and signed agreement.
HOW MUCH ARE YOUR SERVICES?
Our core value propositions revolve around integrity and transparency. This is the reason we adhere to a fixed fee model and furnish our clients with a quote after our initial consultation. The package reflects my experience in the event industry and is a testament to the quality of knowledge + service I provide to every couple I service. I offer the highest level of expertise and professionalism to guide you throughout your planning journey. My package varies depending on the degree of detail, including the number of guests, event length, time of the year, and what is selected within each category.
DO YOU OFFER ANY DISCOUNTS?
All quotes given reflect my experience and education and are final and non-negotiable.
HOW COME YOU DO NOT LIST YOUR PRICING ON YOUR WEBSITE?
Hiring a wedding vendor is not like ordering an In-N-Out burger. Giving couples a quote that best suits them is challenging without a detailed inquiry and consultation. Part of my working style includes collaboration, connection, and discussion, so I will need to chat with you first to see if my services fit well with your needs.
ARE YOU A WEDDING PLANNER AS WELL?
Unfortunately, at this moment time, I only offer wedding coordination packages. The biggest difference? A full-service wedding planner is responsible for everything from beginning to end. A planner is in charge of the overall design and vision of your wedding, keeping the couples within their budgets, contract negotiations, hiring vendors, and executing the event.
I KNOW YOU'RE BASED OUT IN CALI, BUT ARE YOU AVAILABLE FOR TRAVEL? I AM PLANNING A DESTINATION WEDDING IN LOS ANGELES/ORANGE COUNTY, BUT I LIVE IN ANOTHER CITY, STATE, AND COUNTRY. CAN YOU HELP ME?
Absolutely! Fun fact, a third of my clients are located out-of-state or live all over the world. We can communicate and plan via email, FaceTime, and Zoom with the right technology in place. I am available for travel destination weddings and events as well. Learn more about my travel packages here.
DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR A CONSULTATION WITH YOU?
Never. Our first meeting will always be complimentary.
WHAT ITEMS MAY REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE?
A significant change in guest attendance. For instance, when the contract was signed, you expected 80 guests to attend, but this number quadrupled. Please let me know if that's the case, as there will be an additional charge.
Your florist backed out last minute, and you need someone to do the floral arch. While I wear many hats and can decorate your wedding altar, there are a few instances in which I cannot replace the hands of a professional in their field. Be very picky with whom you decide to hire. Sometimes it's telling when a package offer is below the market value.
You hired me to execute day-of management but later asked me to complete tasks outside my contract. Some instances are: you wanted to pick my brains on which color linens to finalize, negotiate contracts with other vendors, etc. While these tasks may be minimal, they can also add up, so please be mindful of this.
DO YOU DJ AS WELL? HOW WELL DO YOU WORK WITH OTHERS?
No, I am not a DJ. I wish I could spin the table, but you know what? Teamwork makes the dream work. I have partnered with the best DJs, co-hosts, photographers, videographers, and other vendors alike. Ask me about them ;)
CAN YOU REFER ME TO OTHER VENDORS?
Of course! I keep my preferred vendor list exclusive as they are my tried and true. A list of my selected vendors will be included in my welcome packet for you.
CAN YOU COORDINATE AND EMCEE MY WEDDING?
In short, yes. However, I selectively only offer this combination package to eight couples per year.
BUT I CAN'T AFFORD YOU…
I understand the cost of planning your wedding, and your budget may feel tight. I want to re-frame the narrative and ask you this question: how can you NOT afford my services at the moment? Best case scenario, you hired your wedding bestie whose goal is to provide you with the most fantastic planning experience. You're smiling more, stressing less, and finding joy in the process. If you could have your time and energy back, what would that cost you?
WHEN ARE YOUR BUSIEST MONTHS?
I am typically completely booked during the following months: April, June, July, September, and October. Please inquire early if possible.
HOW DO I GET IN CONTACT AND BOOK YOU?
You can reach me by filling out the contact form on this website. I will get back to you in 48 hours or less.
OKAY, SO WHAT IS A "DAY OF" COORDINATOR: WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT ISN'T, AND WHY YOU'D BE SO HAPPY YOU HAVE ONE!
Let's be honest; maybe you love DIY-ing or might not have the budget to hire a full-service planner. On average, a wedding takes approximately 250 hours to plan. A coordinator will save you time planning and confirming your vendors, designing a timeline, and being there to ensure you are enjoying a stress-free day! I will also be logistically focused and available to you to get everything organized as you lead up to the wedding day. The package is designed for couples who have completed most of the planning. It is the couple's role to make sure that their hired vendors know that I will be a part of the coordination process. Couples must be transparent about their wants and needs when picking this package. Keep in mind, "day/month-of" are not complete planners by any means; therefore, I am not responsible for other vendors that are not vetted by myself since I cannot stand by their professionalism. This means that if the DJ ignores your music selection or the cake is the wrong color, I will try my best to resolve any last-minute changes, but I can only do so much. Ultimately, having someone there to run behind the scenes is priceless. Your venue will provide you with a venue coordinator, but they work for the venue, not for you. The biggest benefit? You'll have peace of mind when all the details come together as you've dreamed of.
CAN'T I JUST HIRE A FRIEND OF MINE TO DO WHAT YOU DO?
Like you, your friends & family members will want to enjoy your special day and celebrate with you rather than work your event. I'd highly recommend hiring a professional to help manage and execute your vision.
DO YOU HAVE OTHER SPEAKING EXPERIENCES?
As the school district's baccalaureate speaker, I graduated from high school, competed and won 3 speech competitions, shadowed KTLA5's veteran entertainment reporter, and led dozens of public speaking, seminars, and fundraisers. I've hosted the Los Angeles Short Films Festival and tech seminars at the WeWork space.
On this page, you’ll find the most common questions I receive from my couples.
WHAT ARE SOME IMPORTANT CLIENT-VENDOR ETIQUETTE I SHOULD TAKE NOTE OF?
- Our Appointments: Please be timely. If you cannot make these appointments, do give me a 24 to 48-hour notice. For instance, if you are 10 minutes late to our venue walk-through, our meeting is still set to end within the scheduled time frame.
- Random calls/text messages: I am fortunate to have a full-time job by day that I absolutely cherish! For those reasons, I cannot pick up clients’ and vendors’ calls if they are not scheduled in advance. Any communication received after hours or on the weekend will be replied to the following business day.
MY GOODNESS. I FORGOT TO BUY SHARPIES AND PENS FOR THE GUESTBOOK TABLE. WILL YOU RUN ERRANDS FOR ME OR RETRIEVE FORGOTTEN ITEMS FROM MY HOUSE?
I’ll always have your back, but if I’m out running last-minute errands, I won’t have enough time to manage event setup, put final details in place, advise on etiquette questions, and combat any potential disasters ready to strike effectively long-distance from Target.
WHAT IS CONSIDERED OUT-OF-SCOPE?
Designing and styling your event, returning your tux rental, finishing up your last-minute DIY projects, moving ceremony chairs, determining the seating assignment, looking after drunk guests, transporting your personal items, babysitting, handling your alcohol & food, selecting your officiant (this is an extremely personal decision), hang decors that require a ladder, move items that are too heavy and requires machinery, and so forth.
CAN YOU CUT AND SERVE MY WEDDING CAKE OR ALCOHOL FOR ME?
I cannot. Unfortunately, I don’t have a catering or liquor license that will cover for me if your guests fall ill from eating the wedding cake/drinking the signature cocktails. However, I will ensure that the cake table is stocked with serving supplies before the cake-cutting ceremony and confirm with your caterer if the servings are served or saved.
ARE YOU INSURED? MY VENUE REQUIRES ALL VENDORS TO PROVIDE A CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE.
Please let me know if your venue requires an event liability insurance policy. I can provide a copy to the venue coordinator two weeks before the scheduled event date.
ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEANING UP MY VENUE?
What your venue handles internally and what they expect you to have taken care of by other vendors will vary and is always spelled out in your contract with them. Major event striked items such as breaking down chairs and tables or sweeping/mopping are never a coordinator's responsibility and generally fall under the venue or rental staff. It’s important that you share with me a copy of the venue code of conduct, if applicable. At the night's end, I will help facilitate and pack up decor pieces and ensure that the tear-down is organized and that nothing is forgotten.
CAN YOU BRING MY GIFTS HOME FOR ME AND I’LL PICK THEM UP THE NEXT DAY?
I’ll double-check the bridal/groom’s suite and ensure nothing important is left unaccounted for. I’ll even hold the doors for your designated gift transporter while they load and even unlock their car for them while their hands are full. Although I’ve never dropped or mishandled a gift, I want to ensure that the important items are in safe hands.
CAN YOU TALK TO MY MOM BECAUSE WE DO NOT SEE EYE-TO-EYE?
Sometimes the people closest to us have the best intentions and yet somehow cause the most stress during this time. Emotions are heightened. You want things one way, but your parents want things another. It's important to set proper expectations from the beginning. Pro Tip: Meet with your parents and future-in-laws, ask them what they care about, and list those items. Start assigning them roles proactively so they feel like they are a part of the process. When you have these hard conversations earlier on, it gives you more time to mitigate and compromise. I can definitely give you more tips on handling these situations; however, out of respect for your parents and for you, I'd prefer to take steps back, look at the bigger picture, and give you my honest feedback based on my experience. Still, it's your wedding day at the end of the day. Let me know earlier on about any unique family dynamics so we can address them together.