Katie M. Sent on 11/19/2023
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Quality of service
3.0 out of 5 rating
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Average response time
4.0 out of 5 rating
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Professionalism
3.0 out of 5 rating
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Value
3.0 out of 5 rating
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Flexibility
4.0 out of 5 rating
Lack of professionalism
Really bummed to be leaving this review. I had my wedding in September at The Westin and had Valerie booked for a year and a half before my wedding. It was for a partial coordination so we would connect once in awhile over the year and a half but didn’t really start working together until a couple months out, as planned. I flew to San Diego and ended up meeting with Valerie a couple months before my wedding to finalize most of the wedding plans, in person. We went thru the schedule, vendors, and saw the venue to make sure everything was set. We went thru my top priorities at the wedding, who my bridal party was and what their roles would be that day, how I wanted to flow of the wedding to be, etc. This all went well and Valerie was easy to work with. My family spent days on the seating chart, making a clear table graph of exactly where everyone was suppose to sit. We had everything organized and sent over to Valerie.
The day before my wedding, I get a text from Valerie’s assistant telling me that she would be the one helping me go through the rehearsal walk thru. I thought that was odd, but didn’t ask any questions. She said she was there to help and I wasn’t worried about it. It wasn’t until the next morning while I’m getting ready for my wedding that I find out Valerie was not coming to my wedding at all and it was just going to be her assistants. I was told by The Westin Coordinator that she double booked for my wedding day (which again was planned for a year and a half), so she couldn’t make it. Valerie never once called me, texted me, or reached out to tell me she wouldn’t be there.
The assistants were great and as helpful as they could be with day of. However, I had been communicating with Valerie for the past year and she had all the emails, seating charts, and understanding of how I wanted everything set up and to be and that was not communicated to the assistants that were there. My parents were running around before the wedding resetting the tables because the assistants did not get the table chart and were not apart of our many conversations. They didn’t know that my bridal party was suppose to stay around the dance floor for my grand entrance, so I had to coordinate that with them and tell everyone the plan before we all walked out. My mom had to be in charge of running around getting my bridal party together before walking down the aisle. There was just nothing communicated to these other two ladies. My day of coordinator at the Westin stayed later than she normally would have because she felt bad and wanted to make sure everything was perfect.
I really hate leaving this review as Valerie was always nice. This whole situation just seemed extremely unprofessional and disappointing
Really bummed to be leaving this review. I had my wedding in September at The Westin and had Valerie booked for a year and a half before my wedding. It was for a partial coordination so we would connect once in awhile over the year and a half but didn’t really start working together until a couple months out, as planned. I flew to San Diego and ended up meeting with Valerie a couple months before my wedding to finalize most of the wedding plans, in person. We went thru the schedule, vendors, and saw the venue to make sure everything was set. We went thru my top priorities at the wedding, who my bridal party was and what their roles would be that day, how I wanted to flow of the wedding to be, etc. This all went well and Valerie was easy to work with. My family spent days on the seating chart, making a clear table graph of exactly where everyone was suppose to sit. We had everything organized and sent over to Valerie.
The day before my wedding, I get a text from Valerie’s assistant telling me that she would be the one helping me go through the rehearsal walk thru. I thought that was odd, but didn’t ask any questions. She said she was there to help and I wasn’t worried about it. It wasn’t until the next morning while I’m getting ready for my wedding that I find out Valerie was not coming to my wedding at all and it was just going to be her assistants. I was told by The Westin Coordinator that she double booked for my wedding day (which again was planned for a year and a half), so she couldn’t make it. Valerie never once called me, texted me, or reached out to tell me she wouldn’t be there.
The assistants were great and as helpful as they could be with day of. However, I had been communicating with Valerie for the past year and she had all the emails, seating charts, and understanding of how I wanted everything set up and to be and that was not communicated to the assistants that were there. My parents were running around before the wedding resetting the tables because the assistants did not get the table chart and were not apart of our many conversations. They didn’t know that my bridal party was suppose to stay around the dance floor for my grand entrance, so I had to coordinate that with them and tell everyone the plan before we all walked out. My mom had to be in charge of running around getting my bridal party together before walking down the aisle. There was just nothing communicated to these other two ladies. My day of coordinator at the Westin stayed later than she normally would have because she felt bad and wanted to make sure everything was perfect.
I really hate leaving this review as Valerie was always nice. This whole situation just seemed extremely unprofessional and disappointing
Beatific Events's reply:
Hi Katie,
I’m very bummed as well to see this review from you. I do wish you would have brought it to my attention directly in the last two month since your wedding date before taking to a public forum. I would have loved the opportunity to find a solution with you. I’ve attempted to reach out to you, but unfortunately have not heard back, so I will respond here.
I understand you are disappointed and felt things were unprofessional. Please let me know what I can do for you now or in the future. I certainly never want that to be the experience for any bride and hope you will accept my sincerest apologies. I want our couples to have the same or better services than I would want for my own wedding day.
I do also understand that there is a reasonable expectation that brides think they will work with me on the day of their wedding, and I try so hard to deliver on that, but it isn’t always possible. That is why in our contract we specify that we have a team of expert coordinators each with over 10 years of experience and we will provide you with who is scheduled before your event takes place.
I’m sorry to see you say that I never communicated this with you. My husband and I talk about how sometimes verbal communication or messages sent are not received in the way a sender intended. It sounds like we had an unfortunate miscommunication. I emailed you, your dad and the Westin team on 9/5 regarding who was scheduled to be the two day-of coordinators.
“Hi Katie,
That schedule is perfect. That is when your guests will be transitioning inside so it’s the best time for bar service to be paused.
Would love to jump on a call with you and review your day. I have availability on Thursday: 9:30am-1:30pm PST, and Friday: 12pm-2pm, or can do either evening after 6:30pm. I also have weekend availability if that is easier for you.
There will be 2 coordinators on-site from our team for you. I am sorry I thought I mentioned this when we met on-site….Kristyn Hailey our Lead Coordinator who “lives” at the Westin as much as I do, will be your main contact day-of. She knows the whole crew from Julia, Tina and all of the banquets staff. Sheerah Haywood will be assisting her who has also done several weddings at the Atrium. Kristyn will join us on our call as well.
Looking forward to chatting with you soon!”
Additionally, I emailed you on 9/6, and 9/18 with each your vendors indicating who would be on-site along with your workbook listing their names and numbers. Admittedly, after combing through my emails, I noticed a copy paste error on my template that could have caused a tiny bit of confusion, but feel like it is still very clear from my 9/5 email, and my text to you with the girl’s cell numbers so you had them at hand for the day-of.
I would never dream of not communicating with a bride about who will be there to support her the day of her wedding. The thought of doing something like that actually makes me sick. Regardless, of whether I feel like it was clear or not, going forward, I will make sure there is zero confusion regarding scheduling and I’m sorry it was your experience for the day-of your wedding.
Regarding the remainder of your comments, I will follow up with our team directly on day-of execution to make sure couple’s days are seamless.
Thank you for sharing your concerns and experience so that we can strive to do better in the future.
Thank you,
Valerie
User2584727 Sent on 04/21/2016Beatific Events helped my wedding day flow super smoothly! Valerie was caring, attentive, professional, organized, and was absolutely wonderful to work with! Beatific Events would be the ONLY wedding planners I would recommend, especially if you're looking for the BEST! My wedding day was that much more perfect thanks to the phenomenal job by Beatific Events! Thank you!!
