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Quality of service
2.0 out of 5 rating
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Average response time
2.0 out of 5 rating
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Professionalism
3.0 out of 5 rating
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Value
2.0 out of 5 rating
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Flexibility
2.0 out of 5 rating
Comparison with other planners
We worked with OC brides on our October wedding in LA. They are one of the preferred coordinator vendor of the hotel we booked. Since me and my husband are based outside California, we want to book a preferred wedding coordinator of the hotel for ease of planning.
We contacted all the preferred organizers and only OC Brides left available on our date so we are on the rush to booked them immediately and so we did.
We booked " on the day coordination" and below are the points that we have noticed during the planning and event phase vs some comparison to the other planners packages. We should have look into more deeply these points before confirming and these can be a tips as well for bride to be what needs to be ask before booking a planner.
Hours of Packages/ Prices
- The on the day coordination (OTD) is based on 8 hours (OC bride packages and month planning are same of the others planners, other type of package will start at 12 hours and month planning options from the other planners).
- No initial meeting + hand over meeting included in the OTD package of OC Bride vs other planners. Other planner includes 1 to 2 meet ups with maximum 2 hours per meeting in their OTD Coordination. More meet up available for other planners if you booked other packages . Other planners breaks the meet up into 1st meet up for the planning-finalization and/or 2nd meet up for the hand over and rehearsal). Our bad we didn't even think about this before booking OC Brides.
- OC brides are charging half of their total travel time for meet up (to and from). We are not informed about this until we need to ask her for the meeting and handover of items. VS other planners will not charge travel time specially if this is within the LA downtown area, and specially if the venue booked by the hosts are their preferred venue. For brides to be, most of the planners will already include their "travel fee" information if the area booked is more than the miles they cover since they knew from start where will be your wedding location so the bride and groom will not have surprises. Bride to be make sure to have this cleared prior to have a clear comunication.
- OC Brides has inconsistency with Tax invoice. Some invoice will have the +8% and other invoices doesn't VS other planners doesn't charge the +8% since they provide service (unless you booked any items such as draping etc).
- They charge +3% in PayPal and credit card payment VS some planners and suppliers charged extra for credit card payment however, Pay pal payment don't have any extra charges.
Planning/ Response Time
- We didn't feel the proactiveness as a wedding coordinator during the event planning and on the day of the event.
- No assistance offered for timeline, checklist etc. (or even just a template) that other experience wedding planners will proactively offered to the bride and groom even you booked only a OTD.
- We asked suppliers from OC brides contact and the rates given where more than double of the costs we recieved from the others.
- We barely recieved emails from the planner that will truly help us with the planning. If we does, seems this is only their way to include and send the invoices for payment. Feels like they will only have the urge to contact you for the payment/invoices.
- On the day of the wedding, we asked them to assist with the distribution of flowers for the entourage. My husband just saw it in the holding room placed in the box and he need to rush and ask my sister run to distribute them in order to have it on time of the photo shoot.
- After the ceremony, we have a cocktail reception and this should be pass around on the same ceremony venue. When me and my husband exit the ceremony venue, the guests followed so we asked our coordinator to inform the guests that the pass around of canapés will be in the upper level. She answered us, " that supposed to be the job of the officiant, but its fine ill do it" . The problem is she didn't do it neither speak to the officiant to do it.
- Most of the information we discussed during the meeting such as the time of the pass around canapés, no cake cutting ceremony, kids menu to be served for the flowers girls, which items we will cover for the alcoholic beverages are asked again to us or somehow missed on the day of the wedding.
- Some guests had to wait for the starter because the adult starter has been served to the flower girls. This could have been avoided if only our OTD coordinator ensured that the captain knew to whom the kids meal to be served as this has been emphasized in the meeting and emails.
- My husband told me that he approached the coordinator reminding her and ensure that bartender is aware that we will cover the house wine and beer, she answered my husband "to whom you said it?" this information has been discussed in the meeting and email correspondence.
- Feels like she didn't read emails that she's copied on (since we never recieved replies or acknowledgement) we need to do separate emails for her to response. The only exception is when the coordinator will proactively email us if we need to book more hours.
These are the challenges we faced. Small issues but on the day of the wedding creates an impact (specially that there are only 44 guests including bride and groom). We didn't feel much to argue with the coordinator because we didn't want to have heavy feeling on or before the wedding.
Just a note that we only booked the OTD and perhaps their approach will be different if you booked higher package. OC brides has other services of decorating and this may be where they excel more.
We worked with OC brides on our October wedding in LA. They are one of the preferred coordinator vendor of the hotel we booked. Since me and my husband are based outside California, we want to book a preferred wedding coordinator of the hotel for ease of planning.
We contacted all the preferred organizers and only OC Brides left available on our date so we are on the rush to booked them immediately and so we did.
We booked " on the day coordination" and below are the points that we have noticed during the planning and event phase vs some comparison to the other planners packages. We should have look into more deeply these points before confirming and these can be a tips as well for bride to be what needs to be ask before booking a planner.
Hours of Packages/ Prices
- The on the day coordination (OTD) is based on 8 hours (OC bride packages and month planning are same of the others planners, other type of package will start at 12 hours and month planning options from the other planners).
- No initial meeting + hand over meeting included in the OTD package of OC Bride vs other planners. Other planner includes 1 to 2 meet ups with maximum 2 hours per meeting in their OTD Coordination. More meet up available for other planners if you booked other packages . Other planners breaks the meet up into 1st meet up for the planning-finalization and/or 2nd meet up for the hand over and rehearsal). Our bad we didn't even think about this before booking OC Brides.
- OC brides are charging half of their total travel time for meet up (to and from). We are not informed about this until we need to ask her for the meeting and handover of items. VS other planners will not charge travel time specially if this is within the LA downtown area, and specially if the venue booked by the hosts are their preferred venue. For brides to be, most of the planners will already include their "travel fee" information if the area booked is more than the miles they cover since they knew from start where will be your wedding location so the bride and groom will not have surprises. Bride to be make sure to have this cleared prior to have a clear comunication.
- OC Brides has inconsistency with Tax invoice. Some invoice will have the +8% and other invoices doesn't VS other planners doesn't charge the +8% since they provide service (unless you booked any items such as draping etc).
- They charge +3% in PayPal and credit card payment VS some planners and suppliers charged extra for credit card payment however, Pay pal payment don't have any extra charges.
Planning/ Response Time
- We didn't feel the proactiveness as a wedding coordinator during the event planning and on the day of the event.
- No assistance offered for timeline, checklist etc. (or even just a template) that other experience wedding planners will proactively offered to the bride and groom even you booked only a OTD.
- We asked suppliers from OC brides contact and the rates given where more than double of the costs we recieved from the others.
- We barely recieved emails from the planner that will truly help us with the planning. If we does, seems this is only their way to include and send the invoices for payment. Feels like they will only have the urge to contact you for the payment/invoices.
- On the day of the wedding, we asked them to assist with the distribution of flowers for the entourage. My husband just saw it in the holding room placed in the box and he need to rush and ask my sister run to distribute them in order to have it on time of the photo shoot.
- After the ceremony, we have a cocktail reception and this should be pass around on the same ceremony venue. When me and my husband exit the ceremony venue, the guests followed so we asked our coordinator to inform the guests that the pass around of canapés will be in the upper level. She answered us, " that supposed to be the job of the officiant, but its fine ill do it" . The problem is she didn't do it neither speak to the officiant to do it.
- Most of the information we discussed during the meeting such as the time of the pass around canapés, no cake cutting ceremony, kids menu to be served for the flowers girls, which items we will cover for the alcoholic beverages are asked again to us or somehow missed on the day of the wedding.
- Some guests had to wait for the starter because the adult starter has been served to the flower girls. This could have been avoided if only our OTD coordinator ensured that the captain knew to whom the kids meal to be served as this has been emphasized in the meeting and emails.
- My husband told me that he approached the coordinator reminding her and ensure that bartender is aware that we will cover the house wine and beer, she answered my husband "to whom you said it?" this information has been discussed in the meeting and email correspondence.
- Feels like she didn't read emails that she's copied on (since we never recieved replies or acknowledgement) we need to do separate emails for her to response. The only exception is when the coordinator will proactively email us if we need to book more hours.
These are the challenges we faced. Small issues but on the day of the wedding creates an impact (specially that there are only 44 guests including bride and groom). We didn't feel much to argue with the coordinator because we didn't want to have heavy feeling on or before the wedding.
Just a note that we only booked the OTD and perhaps their approach will be different if you booked higher package. OC brides has other services of decorating and this may be where they excel more.
OC Brides's reply:
Thank you for your review Judy. All comments are greatly appreciated as they can help us provide better service for our future brides. We’re usually known for our exceptional customer service and we regret that we didn’t live up to those expectations for your long distance event here in So Cal.
It is evident that there was a communication barrier that caused misunderstandings from pricing to expectations, and from our responsibilities to the specific responsibilities of the venue.
We value your opinions and are working to achieve clearer communications between us, the venue, and our clients in an effort to give them a seamless experience.
It was truly a pleasure being a part of your destination wedding.
All the best,
Cindy
