Shawn Sent on 02/13/2019

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So much more than our wedding planner

We chose to tie the knot in Italy. So naturally planning from the US was going to be difficult. We entered the wedding planning process completely clueless and we were so fortunate to have met Cindy. She quickly gained our trust and we felt excited every step of the way. She personalized our day to meet our needs and budget. At times we felt like we should be doing more because of how effortless it all seemed. I think there are few words that don't describe how amazing our journey with Cindy was. We believe that our wedding was more than just one day, rather, an incredible year. It was apparent that she had worked hard for her perfect reputation because all the vendors we met were just as extraordinary as the next. We fell madly in love with her creative vision and the actual wedding day was beyond wonderful. The hardest part of the process was having to say goodbye to such a beautiful experience. I would say anyone who is so lucky to work with Cindy is beyond blessed.

Clodagh Sent on 09/16/2015

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Cindy Salgado was not only our wedding planner but is now a true friend. She went above and beyond for our wedding and made the whole planning seem so effortless. We completely trusted Cindy with everything from start to finish and we couldn’t have asked for a better day. No matter what we asked of Cindy she would excel each and every time nothing was too much trouble for her. I would and have highly recommended Cindy for anyone who is looking to get married in the Florence region. Want to say a huge thanks to Cindy for everything that she has provided us with and for making our special day so amazing.

User2254758 Sent on 08/03/2015

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Cindy’s dedication to making our wedding enjoyable for our guests and us was remarkable. We can truly say our wedding was the best day of our lives, and Cindy had A LOT to do with that. Her overall demeanor and organization kept us calm throughout the entire process. She had great insight and fantastic ideas. We knew we could count on her and she always went above and beyond to fulfill our requests, no matter how crazy they were! We were sad to say goodbye, as Cindy had really become part of our lives. We wish we could get married all over again so we could work with Cindy one more time! ☺

Aisha Sent on 10/15/2014

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Coming from the UK were a little nervous about the logistic implications of having our wedding in Tuscany but after meeting Cindy we felt confident in our location choice and instantly fell in love with one of her suggested venues.
Cindy’s caring and enthusiastic approach to her work ensured we got the best wedding and vendors we could have ever imagined. Her attention to detail and willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty paid off in what can only be described as the most magical and beautiful day of our lives and one our guests are still talking about today. Without Cindy we simply could not have celebrated our wedding with the ease and way we did and wouldn’t have such perfect memories to treasure for ever.

Forever grateful,
Doug and Aisha Tannahill

Yelena Sent on 08/05/2014

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When I first began planning my wedding, I was not sure where to begin. Cindy first listened to my dreams and ideas about what I envisioned for the day. She then quickly got to work. Cindy offered her personal opinion and expertise when needed. She made my life easier during the year that the wedding was getting planned. There were even times when I thought to myself that maybe I am not doing enough to help plan. However, she reassured me that everything is under control and that our timeline is still intact. Cindy recommended the most professional vendors and those who are real artists.

The day of the wedding was flawless. Cindy ran a perfect schedule and helped to propel the wedding along, so that I did not have to lift a finger. I was completely speechless when I saw the set-up of my table. Cindy recommended the most perfect florist. I honestly do not think the wedding day could have happened without Cindy’s guidance and support. She is very knowledgeable, professional, and caring individual. Cindy puts in so much time and works out every detail to be perfect. She puts her heart and soul into making your dreams become a reality.

One thing I learned from this experience is to trust. Throughout the year, Cindy presented some ideas that she thought would fit my dreams and visions of the wedding day. Even when I thought what she was presenting was out of this world and may not be exactly what I saw, I gave my trust to her. And boy, am I happy that I did. She presented a picture perfect day.

Aidee Sent on 10/06/2013

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I would recommend this wedding planner to every bride who wants to relax and enjoy this happy time. Cindy takes care of you all the way through, and I can definitely say you can trust her with all the decisions if you needed to.She takes the time to get to know you and what your vision is for the big day, and that puts every bride at ease.

Sandra Sent on 11/20/2013

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I loved my wedding, Cindy was amazing in the planning all the details to gived me a perfect wedding! My family and friends liked a lot and enjoyed every moment!
Thank you very much Cindy for the amaizing work!!

Nina M. Sent on 01/17/2024

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wedding planner nightmare

I am genuinely shocked to find myself writing this review, especially since one of the reasons I chose Cindy was based on her seemingly positive 5-star reviews (which I am now questioning).

I am SO deeply disappointed with the services provided by Cindy Salgado as our wedding planner. I therefore, feel compelled to share my experience in order to warn others against hiring her services. If I could give zero stars, I would.

From the beginning, we had high hopes for a beautiful wedding within a reasonable budget. However, Cindy's inability to respect our financial constraints became evident as the budget continuously increased without any discussion. The final straw was one day I checked the Aisleplanner website and saw the budget had been increased by 20K without any word from Cindy. What began as an initially agreed-upon budget quickly escalated (we're talking 30K more than agreed upon!!). The whole reason we hired Cindy was to have someone who can keep the budget in check and understand how to put together this wedding. Cindy reiterated many times that she could work with our budget.

I would say the first red flag was that despite expressing our desire for a non-traditional American wedding, Cindy failed to deliver on this front. Her recommendations were disappointingly mainstream and ones we were already aware of from other couples that had gotten married in Italy. However, I was willing to look past this.

Second red flag was meeting Cindy in person. My mom and I invested significant time and money in traveling to Florence, eagerly exploring venues with Cindy. We were optimistic and excited, especially when we fell in love with one particular venue. However, our enthusiasm quickly turned to disappointment when we realized that venue was unsuitable for our budget with our guest count. I was not aware of the exact price of this venue as Cindy never shared this information with me but I trusted her and had given her an estimated guest count before looking for venues.

My mom had expressed concern to me after meeting Cindy in person. Cindy's behavior and handling of the situation during our face-to-face interactions left my mom with the impression of unprofessionalism. This didn't help my confidence in her ability to manage our wedding but I again decided to overlook it.

The main frustration stems from the fact that we had clearly communicated our guest count and budget expectations to Cindy before the trip. Her actions resulted in wasted resources but also shattered the initial excitement and trust we had placed in her as our wedding planner. This lack of foresight and consideration further exemplifies Cindy's unprofessionalism and raises serious doubts about her competency as a wedding planner.

Having worked with Cindy for seven months and paid her nearly 5K, it's disheartening to realize that her expensive fee does not align with the quality of services provided. Despite the significant financial investment, the lack of professionalism, budget mismanagement, and unfulfilled promises have compelled us to terminate our services with Cindy.

Despite our willingness to forfeit the initial deposit, she has refused to return the second deposit (despite no additional work being done on her end). She promised she would return a small portion of the deposit as a "gesture of goodwill". Apparently this was a lie as she has never returned a single euro!

In addition to her failure to provide adequate services, Cindy has demonstrated a lack of integrity by not initiating the promised refund. This entire experience has been a severe blow to both our finances and emotional well-being.

To anyone considering hiring Cindy Salgado as a wedding planner, I strongly advise against it. Her lack of professionalism, disregard for budgets, and unresponsiveness make her an unreliable and regrettable choice. Save yourself the stress, disappointment, and financial loss by looking elsewhere for a wedding planner who truly values your vision and respects your budget!

Cindy Salgado Wedding Design & Events's reply:

Dear Nina,

Thank you for sharing your perspective, and I appreciate the opportunity to address the concerns you've raised:

1. Budget Adjustments:
I understand your frustration with the budget adjustments. Initially, a budget was provided, taking into consideration your initial guest count and preferences. Subsequently, there was an increase in the guest count by 30%, and I provided an estimated budget that factored in the villa you were interested in and the expanded guest list. This estimate was intended to offer insight into potential costs if that venue was chosen, not as a finalized budget that required immediate payment. Additionally, there was a nearly 20% reduction in the overall budget.

2. Venue Preferences:
To clarify the venue selection process, I proposed two venues that could fit within your budget and vision—one in Lucca and one in Florence. Despite my early communication that Florence tends to be more expensive than Lucca, you expressed a strong desire to have your wedding there, making it a top priority.

Throughout our discussions, you independently conducted online research, reached out to additional venues not recommended by me, and directly obtained quotes from them. Following your expressed preference for a Florentine venue, you communicated your interest in visiting the venue I suggested (which was priced at half the rate of the venues you personally contacted) along with two other venues of your direct inquiry. While I offered to resend information about these venues, you confirmed already having the details.

Your interest for one of the venues you had personally inquired about led to my adjustment of the budget to accommodate the costs associated with that specific venue.

3. Catering Recommendation:
One of the villa options had catering restrictions, requiring the use of their trusted caterers. To streamline the process and avoid additional costs, I recommended what I consider the best catering option available. It's unfortunate that you were unable to experience their excellence in Italian cuisine firsthand, as they cater to a diverse range of cultural preferences. Moreover, I would like to clarify that the catering establishment is run by Italian owners, and the chefs are also Italian. Your decision not to conduct a tasting or meet them in person might not reflect the true essence of their offerings.

4. In-Person Meeting:
I regret if there was any perception of unprofessionalism during our face-to-face interactions. My intention is always to provide a positive and collaborative experience. I appreciate your feedback in this regard.

5. Deposit Refund:
While the contract stipulates the non-refundable nature of the deposit, I initiated a partial refund, exceeding the initially discussed terms. It's regrettable that the phrase "as a gesture of goodwill" was interpreted differently; my intent was to demonstrate my commitment to our client-planner relationship. I kept my promise and processed the refund the next day after our discussion. Unfortunately, it appears that the refund may have gone unnoticed in your bank account.

I am disheartened that our collaboration did not meet your expectations, as I take pride in my ethical and professional approach. It's reassuring to reflect on the positive relationships built over the past 14 years in the industry. I genuinely wish you the best in finding a wedding planner whose vision perfectly aligns with yours.

Best regards,

Cindy Salgado

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