michelle and chris wrote me the sweetest review, i had to share:

I can’t begin to explain what a blessing it was to have Heidi there on our wedding day! Without her I don’t know what we would have done. She handled the judge (our officiant and my husband’s boss), who is a handful, professionally but also was able to get across to her what we envisioned and wanted in a very nice but stern way. I was most concerned with the processional since our wedding was outside and it was quite a long walk from the limo to the gazebo but Heidi made it go so smoothly! Also, at the last minute I realized I did not have a tablecloth for the table where our sand ceremony would be displayed. I happen to mention it in front of Heidi at our rehearsal and she said that she had one I could borrow, not to worry. She had that there the next day without me having to even think or worry about it. My guests and our wedding party couldn’t stop saying nice things about her. She’s organized, nice and personable and such a joy to have around! We’re so glad she was there and hope to have a friend for years to come! Thanks again Heidi

thanks chris and michelle! you two are some of the kindest people i know and it was sincerely a special day for everyone in attendance! much love.

i loved this shot:

see the entire blog post here!

the wonderful traci — who i swear is my biggest fan, you’re the best girl! — left me the sweetest testimonial last month. here’s her review:

I hired Heidi about a month before my November 2009 wedding, just as a day-of-coordinator. What I got was that, and soooo much more. From the day we had our first Starbucks meeting I knew that Heidi was there for me, for questions or advice, or even just to send pictures to via cellphone every time I completed a DIY project and wanted to show it off
When it came to my rehearsal and weddings days the best way I could describe Heidi is the glue that held it all together. I wanted to stay after the rehearsal and do some decorating and she was right there with me hanging lights and making the head table look beautiful. When 3 or my girls had the zippers on their dresses break, Heidi was right there helping sew them all up, into their dresses, and she still managed to get us down the aisle on time.
There’s so much I could tell all the brides-to-be out there about my wedding planning experience, it was so fun from start to finish. Having her there at the end to pull it all together with me was the best last minute decision I ever made. Thanks again Heidi

previous posts
traci & chuck – vendor preview
traci & chuck – part 1: rehearsal
traci & chuck – part 2: ceremony
traci & chuck – part 3: wedding

here’s what molly and michael want future brides to know:

For all of you brides to be who are on the fence, I have to be honest with you, Heidi was the greatest asset we had today. She helped relieve so much tension and really just allowed our families to enjoy themselves. I’ve been in five weddings and know what it’s like to both have and not have a DOC and trust me, this is something you need to work into your budget. Heidi set up our candy buffet and it was BEAUTIFUL, she truly has a gift for attention to detail. She showed our band where to set up and made sure they had access to electrical outlets and anything they needed. She placed our table numbers. She set up our escort cards. She assisted our photobooth crew. And this was all during a time when I was getting my hair and makeup done and was able to just relax.
When we got to the church, Heidi calmed down our crazy florist who was overly concerned about us bruising our white roses. She supplied my mother-in-law with both baby powder and clear nail polish. She fluffed my dress and fixed my veil countless times. She diffused tension between all of the women in the bridal party. She taught us how to cut our cake for pictures. Most importantly she kept us on schedule and running smoothly. I can’t even communicate to you how nice it was to just know we had someone there to fix any problems that could have arisen.
The morning after our wedding we got an email with over 100 pictures that Heidi had taken throughout the day. It was so amazing to see how everything came together…the part of the wedding that the bride, groom and family never gets to see. Aside from that, our vendors adored her. They loved having someone there that knew all of the details. It removed so much stress from everyone setting up that day.
Heidi is extremely professional, yet fun. She never failed to answer an email or a phone call within minutes. Her attitude is calm but also excited. She was overjoyed when it was time to send me down the aisle. It showed in every part of her being. It is apparent in everything that she does that she loves weddings. Please do not pass up an opportunity to work with her.
Molly & Michael

again, it was my sincerest pleasure to help make your wedding day as perfect as possible! best wishes m&m!!! xoxo

previous post
molly & michael – vendor preview
molly & michael – part 1: wedding

i was delighted to see comments from a variety of  vendor-coworkers; past brides and groom; past brides and grooms’ family members, friends and bridal party members; future clients; and even some potential clients! regardless of the results of the actual voting (which should post sometime this week),  reviews mean so much more to me.  i am so appreciative for the overwhelming support of my business which is still in its first full season. THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to register their email addresses to vote and/or leave a review for me. and thanks for your patience while i reminded everyone to vote here on my blog, twitter feed and facebook fan page for the past couple of weeks.

here are a few of my favorite comments left:

Heidi is SO helpful, even before I hired her, she was emailing me back and forth giving me suggestions on vendors shes worked with~I don’t know Anyone that would take their time to answer questions for people that arent “paying” them first! She actually cares, and is there to help with Any of your needs~ Shes Great & deserved to be #1 with all the raves ive heard from other girls whom have used her which is why I chose to use her services because of all the good things I hear!!!
~vicky (current client)

Heidi is everything you could want in a planner – organized, creative, dependable, and patient. She goes above and beyond for her clients and is truly a joy to work with. Heidi recently coordinated for my wedding, and she was a dream come true – she took care of any and everything so that neither I nor my friends/family had to worry about getting stuff done.
~amber s (past client)

I would recommend Heidzillas because she mentions things for the wedding that you don’t always think of (because you’re too busy thinking of a million other things). She offers to help whenever you need it. She is smart, quick, organized, efficient, friendly and professional. She knows the wedding business very well. She truly helped make my day (sept 4) run so well, I couldn’t find one thing wrong with the scheduling of my wedding day. An absolute must have if you’re a busy girl like me and need some extra help planning and if you just want a stress-free wedding day
~maria b (past client)

Even though I have not booked her yet I will she has been so nice and I think she will be such a joy to work with. I cannot wait to work with her. I know my wedding will be awesome with her being the coordinator..not stress of that I am sure.
~eurasia27 (potential client)

It was delightful to design Heidi’s own wedding and it’s always a pleasure to work with her as a planner. Thank you for your continued support!!
~arne k (vendor)

Recently worked with Heidi and could not believe how much she gets done…all within guidelines and time frames! She works her magic in transforming a plain setting into an amazing room. And talk about calm….have never seen someone with so much to do remain so calm! Wish all planners had her attitude!!
~sharon c (vendor)

well organized, very pleasant with familiy and guests. excellent follow through. professional. lovely smile. Thought of everything!!!!  took beautiful pictures
~fran (bride’s mom)

This past summer,we hired Heidi as the day-of coordinator. I can not compliment her services high enough – she was fabulous and more! She took care of everything with the highest degree of professionalism and graciousness. I was able to completely enjoy the day knowing that Heidi was there to oversee every detail. Heidi was a large part in helping to make my daughter’s wedding day the beautiful day that it was!
~71109 (bride’s mom)

Just an amazing woman with the organizational skills of a P.A. and the brains of an M.B.A.
~devin b (my awesome husband )

here’s what the wonderful carolyn said about heidzillas:

I am definitely a “stresser”. I fret over making decisions, worry about if everyone will be happy and everything will be perfect, etc… Well, as soon as I knew I had the money in my budget, it took me all of 2 seconds to decide to hire Heidi as my DOC. It was the easiest decision I made about my wedding By this time Heidi and I had already emailed back and forth several times and she was extremely professional, quick to respond to any questions that I had, and really easy to communicate with.

Not only am I a “stresser” but so is my mom. Heidi completely put us at ease and took care of all of the details on my wedding day so that my mom and I could sit back and enjoy the moment. She was extremely flexible with what I needed her to do and even changed her timetable around just a few days before my wedding to take care of a few additional items for me. I honestly did not have to worry about a thing at my wedding because I was confident knowing Heidi was there and she took care of everything including corralling and queuing our fun and somewhat rambunctious bridal party, helping with set-up and double checking the details of all of my DIY decor and centerpieces, picking up and delivering my cupcakes, packing my parents car with all of our gifts and much, much more.

Heidi also has such a wonderful personality! She always had a smile on her face. Many members of our bridal party commented on how much they liked her and thought that she was fantastic at what she does. I can’t say enough about Heidi and the job she does If you are thinking about getting a DOC for your wedding “DO IT” and if you live in the Northeast Ohio area you should definitely contact Heidi!!

thanks carolyn! i loved being peace of mind on your day.  i have to admit that i think about carolyn and jim often as i’ve been driving past st. francis of assisi nearly every day.  i also just happened to design a guest bedroom after being inspired by her wedding decor! i saw this clock and said “CAROLYN!” and then decorated accordingly. i hope that’s flattering and not creepy, carolyn! i just LOVED that wedding.

previous post:
carolyn & jim: vendor preview
carolyn & jim – part 1: rehearsal
carolyn & jim – part 2: ceremony
carolyn & jim – part 3: reception

My daughter and I had planned her wedding for over a year. We thought we had thought of every detail, but as the big day approached, everything became a bit overwhelming. We had quite a tight time line due to many events planned on the wedding day, and I realized the amount of coordination that was going to be required in order that everything went smoothly and on schedule. I had visions of having to be the “drill sergeant” to stay on time, along with being the go-to person to answer any questions, solve any problem, oversee all the details, etc, etc, etc. In short, after all that planning,I would not be able to relax and enjoy my daughter’s beautiful wedding.

One of our wonderful vendors recommended Heidi as a day-of coordinator. I contacted her and she responded promptly. We were very fortunate that she had our weekend open. I was immediately impressed with her professionalism, her enthusiasm, her knowledge and her attention to detail. My daughter and I are very detail oriented, and she brought things to our attention that we had not even thought of! She was easily accessible, and always had the answer or a solution to any and all situations.

She came to our rehearsal and was with us for six hours on the wedding day. I cannot put into words just how much stress she took off of my shoulders! Heidi is amazing. She has the rare gift of knowing exactly what to do and how to do it in a very professional, competent, unobtrusive, friendly and fun way. We stayed on time, and everything went perfectly, thanks to Heidi. Most importantly, I enjoyed every minute of my daughter’s wonderful day-stress free! We received many compliments from guests and the wedding party alike,as to how much they enjoyed Heidi.

Hiring Heidi was one of the best decisions my daughter and I made. It was such a relief (and a blessing!) to have Heidi with us on that day to oversee everything. Even if you think you have planned and thought of everything, the peace of mind that Heidi provides is priceless. That day passes so quickly, believe me, you don’t want to miss one minute. We give her our highest recommendation. 

Bonnie

(c) linczaks photography

here’s tara’s:

Heidi was a GOD SEND. Way back when in the planning proess, I never even considered a DOC. I was organized and enjoying the planning process, so why would I need someone else’s help? After meeting Heidi, though, and learning more about what she did and how she helped people, I started to reconsider. Why be a planner on the wedding day when I’m supposed to the bride? So, Heidzillas was added! And I am SO thankful that she was there to help us, because she was a HUGE help. Huge. My mom and I are still talking about how great it was to have Heidi there. She was doing so much that we may not have gotten to, or would have had to sacrifice attention to something else in order to tend to it. Looking back, having Heidi DOC was one of the best things we could have done. She is a behind-the-scenes magician, and, when her presence is visible, she’s professional, happy, and easy going. Thank you Heidi! You were awesome.

and here’s robin’s:

As our day of wedding coordinator, Heidi was fantastic! Her attention to detail, organization, and upbeat personality really helped to make my daughter’s wedding day special and free of stress. She has a knack of knowing what to do, where to be and how to do things appropriately. Heidi has an excellent knowledge of wedding vendors, and can easily advise you in helping to choose the right vendor for your wedding. She’s encouraging and easy to have around on the day of the wedding. Heidi also helped me with the Brunch the morning after, by picking up the pre-ordered food and set-up. I would totally recommend her for any bride getting married. She can do it all, or just for the day….whatever your need!

i’m so lucky to now call tara and robin “friends” now that i can’t call them”clients” anymore. the last few months were a real joy working with such nice people!

tara and cj’s wedding definitely goes down in the archives for one of my faves! those two radiate love. if you missed it, linczaks posted their blog recap of tara and cj’s big day. you might need a tissue before you clicky here! clicky here!

(c) genevieve nisly photography

and then to get a sincere review like this only makes me love my job even more. thank you so much for kind words, erin! wish we could do it all over again.
 

I cannot rave more about Heidzillas’ service. I had planned most of the wedding myself and wanted to enjoy my wedding day, so we decided to hire a day of coordinator. Heidi came well recommended by The Knot community boards and I sent her an email. Her reply was quick and informative, just as all of our correspondence would be. We met two weeks before the wedding and went over my expectations, needs and questions. Heidi had all the answers and posed many helpful questions to me. Her experience with weddings definitely helped my fiance and I realize that we had not thought of everything.

The day of the rehearsal Heidi got to know our parents and wedding party and saw to everyone’s needs while explaining what exactly we should be doing without ever sounding less than friendly and extremely polite. The day before the wedding, I received an email from my florist who had typed in an incorrect wedding date. I immediately emailed Heidi, who called me and said that if the florist would not be ready the next day that she would figure out something and not to worry. Just knowing we had someone so committed to her job and our happiness really made me feel at ease. 

For our reception, Heidi put together somewhat intricate centerpieces and decorated the hall with our supplies in a way that truly took our breath away when we walked into the room. Heidi kept track of our gifts and had my dad’s car packed with them before 9 p.m. She kept us on schedule and made sure our glasses were always full. She literally saw to all of our needs. I cannot say enough about Heidi. The next day my husband and I were out with some friends, two of whom are getting married next year. We both told them they had to hire Heidi. We feel comfortable saying that anyone who does so will be extremely satisfied with his or her decision.

previous posts:
erin & david – vendor preview
erin & david – part 1: rehearsal
erin & david – part 2: wedding

thanks for the kind words sarah! i hope i’m able to work at springvale ballroom again soon, it was a lovely venue with a great staff.

previous posts:
jillian & kevin – vendor preview
jillian & kevin – part 1: rehearsal
jillian & kevin – part 2: ceremony
jillian & kevin – part 3: reception
jillian & kevin – testimonial from the mob

Heidi, “Thank You” for the great attention and detail that you spent on helping plan “The Best Memory a Bride and Mother could ever imagine and then Some!” Everything was beyond perfect, and my phone has not stopped ringing from guests…. they all can’t believe how spectacular everything was….even down to some that had been to a wedding there a few weeks ago and commented that they could not believe they were at the same hall??? Every little detail was just perfect, and the flowers and decorations were beyond fantastic. Everyone had so much fun in the photo booth! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

thank YOU kathy! that was EXACTLY our mission!

previous posts:

jillian & kevin – vendor preview
jillian & kevin – part 1: rehearsal
jillian & kevin – part 2: ceremony
jillian & kevin – part 3: reception