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Weddings

About

Kelly Kennedy Weddings and Events is a wedding planning company based in Bradenton, Florida that services the surrounding Tampa area. Kelly Kennedy seeks to provide a stress-free planning process not only to the couple, but also to the parents, family and the bridal party. She offers an initial consultation to allow you to get to know her and see if she is a good fit to help plan your dream wedding.

Experience
Owner Kelly Kennedy boasts over 12 years of professional experience in the event industry. She graduated with a degree in hospitality management from the University of Florida in 2006 before starting her career in catering sales at a high-end country club. She has since assisted with planning and managing hundreds of weddings, galas, parties and other events. She uses her knowledge and experience from working in the catering and events industry to help plan and execute weddings seamlessly.

Services Offered
Kelly Kennedy Weddings and Events offers three wedding planning packages, a wedding management package, a partial planning and design package and lastly a full-planning package. The wedding management package starts six weeks prior to the wedding, allowing last minute details to be handled by the professional planner. Planning services can include:

  • Budget analysis
  • Day-of coordination
  • Event design
  • Guest list
  • Referrals
  • Timelines
  • To-do lists
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Frequently asked questions

What is the starting price for day-of wedding coordination?

$2,250

What is the starting price for partial wedding planning?

$5,000

What is the starting price for full wedding planning?

$8,500

Do you offer an hourly rate?

Yes

What is the hourly rate?

$200

What wedding events do you provide services for?

Ceremony
Reception
Rehearsal Dinner

What wedding planning services do you offer?

Day-of Coordination
Full Planning
Partial Planning

What weddings do you have experience planning?

Civil
Cultural
Destination
Eco-Friendly
Military
Non-Religious
Religious

Reviews of Kelly Kennedy Weddings and Events

This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

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The team is professional, organized, and highly responsive, making planning smooth and stress-free. Their flexible packages, vendor recommendations, and design guidance brought couples’ visions to life. On the day they calmly solved problems and executed flawless timelines—highly recommended.

Review summary

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This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

The team is professional, organized, and highly responsive, making planning smooth and stress-free. Their flexible packages, vendor recommendations, and design guidance brought couples’ visions to life. On the day they calmly solved problems and executed flawless timelines—highly recommended.

Devin
Devin Sent on 01/27/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Best Wedding Planner Ever

My husband and I hired Kelly right when we got engaged and had her with us the whole way. This was especially great because we moved far away during our wedding planning. Knowing she could continue things and take the reins when my brain was consumed with packing tape and boxes was a huge relief. Even if you don’t have her for the full package, even just a few weeks out or day of will truly give you peace of mind and let you enjoy your family.

Here are things Kelly is amazing at: finding a venue that meets your style and guest count; making you feel like you are the ONLY client; helping you come up with a decor plan that meets your budget and level of effort (For instance, I was not super into decor so I was really happy to have someone suggest items here and there I wouldn’t have thought about. If you love decorating, she does too, and I foresee you both having a decorating jam session); coming up with a layout for the tables; making the schedule for the day (Who the heck knows when to have speeches and have first dance? Kelly. She does. And she'll confirm all this with your vendors, HOORAY!); and recommending vendors (Do you know how many hours you can spend online going down research rabbit holes? Stop that. Put it down. Let Kelly help.).

Unfortunately it looked really rainy for our outdoor wedding, and the day before I almost cried from stress. Then the day of my wedding I almost cried because of HOW BEAUTIFUL she had made everything around the on/off rain. I’m so glad I didn’t have a friend running the wedding and stressing over whether or not to put everything inside or outside and calling me about it. Instead, we were able to walk in all dressed up and ready to party.

I could write pages about how much I loved working with Kelly. She will answer all of your calls and emails as if you are the only bride. She’ll remove your stress. And she’ll talk to you like a friend; she’ll adjust your wedding vision as you do, and will never push recommendations that are outside of what you want. Schedule a meeting today! You will be so glad!!

Thank you for all your hard work, Kelly! :)
Heather
Heather Sent on 04/23/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Great resources and they saved the day!

We had great resources to help us in the planning (we chose the day of service) and then when it came time to the fine details I cannot emphasize enough how much they helped! Vanessa was our main coordinator and literally saved the day because so many things went wrong with the venue that I can’t imagine my day without her. You NEED to hire them!!
Cassandra
Cassandra Sent on 02/22/2026
5 out of 5 rating

10/10 Recommend KKWE!

We cannot recommend Kelly Kennedy Weddings and Events enough! Vanessa was our lead wedding planner, and working with her and Kelly was worth every penny.

Since our wedding was a destination wedding, it was incredibly helpful to have a planning team who was so knowledgeable about the area and local vendors. We did the partial planning package and their planning process was so seamless and extremely organized. I always felt informed and knew exactly what was happening every step of the way, which made the entire experience so much less stressful. Vanessa was also always available to answer questions or talk through any idea I had, which made me feel so supported throughout the entire planning process. Because of their recommendations, we had a top tier vendor team who was so easy to work with and adapted quickly to all the last-minute changes on the wedding day due to weather.

When it came to the design aspect, Kelly and Vanessa truly helped bring my vision to life. They guided us through the design elements and made everything come together beautifully in a way we honestly could not have done on our own. We are also beyond thankful for all the work they put in during the days leading up to the wedding to make sure every detail was handled.

Unfortunately, our outdoor wedding was met with some wild weather (extreme winds, freezing temps, rain), and Vanessa truly went above and beyond. She worked tirelessly to secure tents and heaters and handled so many last-minute changes and pivots without ever making us feel panicked. She handled so much behind the scenes with such calm and grace. Because of her, we were still able to enjoy our day and focus on what mattered most.

There really are no words to describe how grateful we are to have had a wedding planner like Vanessa. If you are considering hiring Kelly Kennedy Weddings and Events, DO IT! They are professional, organized, and genuinely care about making your wedding day perfect.
Melody
Melody Sent on 10/20/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Flawless Planning and Execution!

Vanessa Mauricio with Kelly Kennedy Weddings & Events is truly amazing! She is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met and has the perfect personality for a wedding coordinator — always calm, cool, and collected. Vanessa organized every single detail of our wedding day down to the minute, which allowed us to completely relax and enjoy every moment leading up to and during our wedding.

She began working with us about a month before our big day, and once she came on board, she took the reins with every one of our vendors to make sure everything went off without a hitch. She and her assistant even took care of all of our wedding décor — from unpacking our boxes and beautifully decorating the venue to packing everything up again at the end of the night.

Vanessa also greeted guests, guided them between our rooftop ceremony and 3rd-floor ballroom reception, and made sure every part of the evening flowed seamlessly. There wasn’t a single detail she didn’t oversee or execute perfectly. I honestly can’t imagine what our wedding would have been like without her. She made everything work with such ease, professionalism, sincerity, and kindness. I would recommend her to absolutely anyone getting married in the area — she’s the best!
Yuliya
Yuliya Sent on 06/02/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Book them for your wedding, you won't regret it

Kelly and Vanessa made a fantastic wedding team for us. We opted for a quick engagement period and they were able to pull together a stunning wedding for us in just a few months. I could not imagine not having them for the wedding day itself where they organized and managed everything without a hitch. Also, their vendor networks and deep industry expertise allowed us to make quick decisions. They are just all around fantastic, awesome people so I'd highly recommend them any day!
M
Mariel Sent on 01/03/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Event Management Review

Kelly Kennedy Weddings & Events could not have been more helpful! We chose the event management package which started ~6 weeks before the wedding day. Vanessa was absolutely amazing from start to finish! She was always available and responsive. She quickly learned my vibe and knew exactly how to handle things on the day of. I could NOT possibly be MORE grateful for her help and for all she did for us!
A
Annika Sent on 11/20/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Kelly made our dream wedding come true!!

Where do we even begin to describe how amazing Kelly Kennedy and her team are? From the moment we started planning our wedding nearly two years ago, Kelly was our guiding light. She was more than a wedding planner. She was our rock, our cheerleader, and our creative partner.

Immediately 5 minutes into the intro phone call when we were picking out our planner, we knew Kelly was the one. She was on top of every single detail, from coordinating with all our vendors to responding to us so quickly it felt like we were her only clients (even though we know she’s in high demand!). She worked so seamlessly with our vendors that the entire planning process felt smooth, stress-free, and even fun. It was clear that Kelly’s professionalism and warmth earned the respect and cooperation of everyone involved in our wedding.

She took my endless Google Docs full of scattered ideas and random DIY projects and turned them into the most breathtaking, cohesive wedding vision we could have ever imagined. Her ability to understand exactly what we wanted and make it a reality is nothing short of extraordinary.

When there were several unexpected downpours right before our outdoor ceremony and reception, Kelly and her team worked their magic with lightning speed. What could have been a stressful disaster turned into a seamless and unforgettable day, all thanks to their quick thinking and flawless execution. I remember feeling completely calm, knowing that our wedding was in good hands, even when it rained four times and delayed our wedding, but Kelly was a superhero and we still had the wedding of our dreams.

Kelly uses Aisle Planner, which became our planning lifeline. It kept everything organized—guest lists, seating charts, ceremony layouts, reception details—all in one place. She also created the absolute perfection of a timeline that spanned from the reception to the day after the ceremony. Every single person in our wedding party knew exactly where to be and when, which allowed us to relax and truly enjoy the day.

Kelly’s kindness and dedication blew us away. She even drove hours to visit our venue with us months in advance, just so she could help us bring our vision to life. It’s hard to put into words how much that meant to us—she wasn’t just planning a wedding; she was creating something deeply personal and special for us.

Kelly and her team poured their hearts into every single detail of our day, and it showed. She made what could have been an overwhelming process feel joyful, exciting, and completely smooth from start to finish. Hiring her full planning services was hands-down the best investment we made for our wedding.

Kelly, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You didn’t just plan our wedding—you created the day of our dreams, and we’ll treasure the memories forever. Thank you for making us feel so prioritized (even though we’re sure every one of your couples feel this way!) We can’t recommend you enough to anyone planning their big day. You are truly one of a kind, and we are endlessly grateful for you.

Love,

Annika and Liam
J
Judith Sent on 11/08/2024
5 out of 5 rating

exceptional, personalized wedding planning experience!


We hired Kelly and her team in January to help plan our October wedding, and I can’t recommend them enough! Living overseas and planning a wedding back home in Sarasota could have been incredibly challenging, but Kelly made the entire process smooth and stress-free, making me feel like everything was under control even from halfway around the world. Kelly recommended fantastic vendors and seamlessly coordinated with some of the independent vendors I brought in. Working with her on the design and decor was a joy. As someone involved in arts, design, and events in Africa, I had some unique requests to incorporate, like hand-painted pottery vases and Rwandan baskets for a custom photobooth. Kelly embraced these requests with incredible creativity, fully understanding our vision and weaving together every detail to bring a stunning design to life. She was like a friend, mentor, and event maven all in one, supporting us every step of the way and making each detail feel perfectly tailored and meaningful.

Despite having a partial planning package, Kelly was always responsive, handled my many questions with patience, and never made me feel like I was asking too much. Her warmth and professionalism gave me complete peace of mind from afar. When a family member fell ill on the wedding day, causing unexpected delays, Kelly and her team managed everything with grace and professionalism, keeping us calm and making sure the ceremony still started on time. She was also flexible and incredibly cool when our family members added last-minute surprises, like a traditional dance and a personalized song, into the reception timeline. I can’t thank the KKWE team enough for bringing our wedding dreams to life and highly recommend them to anyone looking for an exceptional, personalized wedding planning experience!
Rose
Rose Sent on 06/17/2024
5 out of 5 rating

The best wedding planner!

We had the pleasure of working with Kelly Kennedy Weddings and Events for our wedding in Sarasota at the Powel Crosley Estate, and it was one of the best decisions we made in the wedding process! We chose the Event Management package to provide flexibility with handling some of the planning ourselves but needed someone like Kelly to pull everything together seamlessly! From our very first video call, Kelly was incredibly organized and proactive. She kept us on track with regular emails and shared documents, making sure no detail was overlooked.

On the day of the wedding, we didn't have to worry about a thing. Kelly and her team took care of everything, and it was all set up perfectly without us lifting a finger. Our wedding day went flawlessly, and we could truly relax and enjoy every moment thanks to Kelly. If you're looking for a wedding planner who is professional, attentive, and a joy to work with, we highly recommend Kelly Kennedy Weddings and Events!
L
Lauren Sent on 05/08/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Would hire again and again!

My husband and I cannot say enough good things about Kelly and the entire KKWE team! Kelly is the real deal and will make all your wedding dreams come to life. We utilized the partial planning package as this fit perfectly with our wants and needs. From the get go, Kelly was incredibly patient in listening to our many different thoughts and ideas. She took our vision and helped us create a beautifully cohesive look for our wedding that was better than we could have dreamed of. Her timeline-based planning was crucial to keeping us on track throughout the entire wedding planning process as we always knew what was next on our agenda. As our wedding day approached, my husband and I couldn't believe how calm we felt but it was because Kelly was taking care of everything behind the scenes. Kelly worked diligently with our vendors to create the most perfect wedding day for us. On the day of our wedding, Kelly and her team made us feel so comfortable and helped us with everything and anything we needed. From keeping us on track with our timeline to helping my mom and bridesmaids figure out how to bustle my dress, Kelly was there every step of the way and we would not have known what to do without her. If you are looking for a wedding planner that will give you 110% and exceed your expectations, look no further than Kelly Kennedy.
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Awards

112
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2025 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

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