First Coast Weddings and Events 4.1 out of 5.0 4.2/5.0
Creating Weddings Without Worries
8640 Philips Highway, Jacksonville, FL 32256
Check Availability
904-739-8003
  Profile   Reviews (4)   Website   Map   Blog        
Overall Rating
Quality of Service:
   4.0 out of 5.0 (4.0/5.0)
Responsiveness:
   4.2 out of 5.0 (4.2/5.0)
Professionalism:
   4.2 out of 5.0 (4.2/5.0)
Value For Cost:
   4.2 out of 5.0 (4.2/5.0)
Flexibility:
   4.1 out of 5.0 (4.1/5.0)

Endorsements
"Over the years we have been fortunate to work with Heather Canada and her staff together to create the most beautiful events for our brides, knowing that not a detail will go left without special attention. It is always a blessing to know that the bride and family is in such good hands with First Coast Weddings and Events. Jacksonville is fortunate to have such talent backed by years of experience in the event planning industry. If you want to ensure that your wedding is flawless, there is no other choice than First Coast Weddings and Events."
"As a Catering manager I have worked with Heather over the years and have always found her to be professional, organized and full of great suggestions. Her attention to the details creates a sress free event for her client; allowing them to focus on the guests, family and friends that have been invited instead of worrying about event details. A great team player, I look forward to working with her in the future."
"Working with First Coast Weddings is an excellent decision for brides, it makes the day go so much smoother. In our experience, the brides that use a professional planner like Heather and her team are less stressed on the wedding day and can actually relax and enjoy their day sooo much better."
"Heather is a great person and really cares about every detail of each wedding. We have worked together on numerous occasions and she is always prepared and in order. Through good communication, she makes my job as a ceremony musician easier. Thanks Heather!"
"I have worked with Heather or a member of her staff on several occasions. I always breath a sigh of relief when I hear the Wedding Planning is First Coast Weddings, because they are so easy to work with. I have worked wit a lot of planners and they are not all tha pleasant. I give them two thumbs up!"

 
Sort By:
Lauren
Wedding: 07/11/2009
Reviews: 6
5.0
out of 5.0
Quality of Service: 5.0 out of 5.0(5.0/5.0)
Responsiveness:5.0 out of 5.0(5.0/5.0)
Professionalism:5.0 out of 5.0(5.0/5.0)
Value For Cost:5.0 out of 5.0(5.0/5.0)
Flexibility:5.0 out of 5.0(5.0/5.0)

Heather,

Thank you so much for all your help during the last month and a half of planning. It was so nice to have your additional staff at the wedding day. It made my parents and I feel completely relaxed and we were able to really enjoy the day/evening. I know that you changed personal plans to be at our wedding and I cannot thank you enough. You went above and beyond what was expected.

Thanks again!

Reviewed On:
07/27/2009

Services Used:
Wedding Planning

Blushing Bride
Wedding: 2 years ago
Reviews: 6
1.8
out of 5.0
Quality of Service: 1.0 out of 5.0(1.0/5.0)
Responsiveness:2.0 out of 5.0(2.0/5.0)
Professionalism:2.0 out of 5.0(2.0/5.0)
Value For Cost:2.0 out of 5.0(2.0/5.0)
Flexibility:2.0 out of 5.0(2.0/5.0)

I am sorry to say that I was very disappointed in my wedding planner. While before the wedding it seemed like everything was going well, it turned out that my wedding planner was a more of a "yes man" who would smile and nod and then roll her eyes when I turned away. I would not recommend this company to anyone.

1. At the rehearsal, I asked my wedding planner to help us walk through the procession etc. She acted like I was being a crazy bride and wouldn't speak up to my wedding party. It ended up being that we had to organize things ourselves while she stood by, too embarrassed to look bossy or something? Isn't being "bossy" a wedding planner's job?

2.Wedding planner LEFT MY CEREMONY to go to another ceremony DURING the wedding.

3. My wedding planner told us that she had contacted the car service. This was clearly NOT the case. The morning of the wedding, my groom was contacted by the car service asking if we were going to send a contract! Needless to say, my wedding coordinator DID NOT contact the car company, and we had no car the day of the ceremony.

4. The wedding planner said that she would contact each vendor and work out the specifics of the contract. My maid of honor and I also spoke with her many times and asked if things were on track. She would say "yes" but clearly wasn't listening. While we paid the caterer for meals for out band, and the caterer put those meals out, the band was never told by the wedding coordinator that food was available. Embarrassingly enough, the band was not fed.

5. Just when everyone started dancing at the reception, my mother and father also got up to dance together, a very special moment. My groom and I really wanted pictures of this moment, and looked around for the photographer--- nowhere to be seen. We looked around for our wedding planners--- also nowhere to be seen. We LEFT THE RECEPTION to look for them. They were in the back eating.

6. After the ceremony, the wedding planner was contracted to stay and help clean up. This did not happen, and my parents were brushed off.

7. You would think that with all of these mistakes occurring, the wedding planner would have contacted us expressing some sense of remorse. No. In fact, we left 3 messages and 2 emails before we had any response. This response did not address any of the mistakes that she had made. She did not offer to follow up with the car service to get our money back.
I understand that mistakes can happen, but a professional should address those mistakes, not ignore them.


I wish that I could leave a better review here. My wedding was beautiful and unforgettable. But I truly feel that this was due to my own efforts and the efforts of my bridesmaids and catering service, not of my wedding planner.

First Coast Weddings and Events responded with the following comments:

This review is completely false. If you want to hear the real story, give us a call.

Reviewed On:
09/20/2008

Services Used:
Wedding Planning

Clover007
Wedding: 07/26/2008
Reviews: 5
4.9
out of 5.0
Quality of Service: 5.0 out of 5.0(5.0/5.0)
Responsiveness:5.0 out of 5.0(5.0/5.0)
Professionalism:5.0 out of 5.0(5.0/5.0)
Value For Cost:5.0 out of 5.0(5.0/5.0)
Flexibility:4.5 out of 5.0(4.5/5.0)

Danielle Gregory was my wedding planner. I must start by saying that without her services, my 6 months I had to plan the wedding would not have been possible. She is a extremely organized, which I need, planner that would meet with me and would have the BEST ideas for my money. She not only was my planner, she was my design consultant, all in one. She was up to date on the must-haves in the wedding world. Her experience with local vendors in the Jacksonville area only worked to my advantage. Since we were limited on time, she made sure she was able to book the best vendors for my event. Luckily, they all knew her personally, which I'm sure worked to my advantage. She was always just a phone call or email away. Thorough in her scheduling and making sure I was on track with all I was supposed to do, which I needed.
The wedding day, she had the idea of my husband and I talking to all the guests at their tables, avoiding the typically line at the Bride & Groom's table. We went to our guests tables while each table was being dismissed to the buffet. This was the number one thing that we received feedback on from our guests. Most guests said they had never been to a wedding where the bride & groom did not start eating FIRST and then talked to a few guests. Thank you to Danielle for all her great ideas and professionalism. She really knows her stuff!!!!

Reviewed On:
08/27/2008

Services Used:
Wedding Planning

Kirsten
Wedding: 05/27/2007
Reviews: 5
5.0
out of 5.0
Quality of Service: 5.0 out of 5.0(5.0/5.0)
Responsiveness:5.0 out of 5.0(5.0/5.0)
Professionalism:5.0 out of 5.0(5.0/5.0)
Value For Cost:5.0 out of 5.0(5.0/5.0)
Flexibility:5.0 out of 5.0(5.0/5.0)

I would recommend First Coast Weddings to anyone and everyone. Heather and her staff are amazing. She really helped me to get things done since I was so far away. She also helped to find some great vendors in the area.

Reviewed On:
01/26/2008

Services Used:
Wedding Planning