My husband and I both agree that choosing Dana and her team at Keyed Up Events for day-of coordination was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. From our first meeting, Dana provided comprehensive planning resources that proved invaluable. The "details tracker" in particular became our source of truth as we worked through every aspect of the day.

As our wedding approached, Dana scheduled several calls to review our timeline in detail. Those conversations left us feeling organized, calm, and genuinely ready for the big day. Between calls, Dana was incredibly responsive, answering the many random questions I'd send her way via email.

Watching Dana and her assistant Eleanor in action on our wedding day was remarkable. Everything flowed smoothly and stayed on schedule. Dana's coordination skills truly shone when it started raining right before our outdoor ceremony. She calmly presented us with options, then suggested a brilliant solution: swap the ceremony and cocktail hour. She coordinated the change with our vendor team, and our guests immediately enjoyed appetizers and drinks while Dana and Eleanor dried off the ceremony chairs and prepared the site. We then had our ceremony under clearing skies and a double rainbow and continued with the rest of our timeline as planned. The switch worked so seamlessly that I'm now recommending future couples consider having cocktail hour first! Dana understood how important it was for us to have our ceremony outdoors at our planned location, and she made it happen.

Beyond logistics, Dana brought years of experience and sound judgment that guided many decisions. When we were planning to use white linen napkins to match our tablecloths, Dana encouraged us to consider something more colorful and fun. What seemed like a small detail transformed our table decor - we couldn't be happier with the vibrant napkins that Dana also helped rent, pick up, and return.

Above all, Dana is an absolute joy to work with. Whenever we mentioned we were working with Keyed Up Events, our other vendors immediately told us we were in the best hands. We wholeheartedly recommend Keyed Up Events for wedding planning or coordination. Thank you, Dana!

Dana helped remove all stress from our entire wedding planning experience. Her availability, insight, and attention to detail was highly appreciated. We would highly recommend her to anyone who is looking for help because it allowed us to focus on each other rather than the details of the special day!

We are still beaming about our wedding this weekend! When my fiancé and I finally set our wedding date, Keyed up Events were the first people I booked. Dana is just one of the best in the business so I knew we would be taken care of to the max. I cannot stress enough the importance of having a day of planner. Our wedding was more on the "lax" side when it comes to weddings, and it just felt so good to be getting ready knowing the reception and ceremony spaces were being taken care of. Our family and friends could just relax and enjoy the day! Everyone during the wedding were complimenting on how smooth the wedding was going. All I could say is Keyed Up Events is working their magic!

We thought, "we don't need a wedding coordinator, we've got this." The venue comes with a day-of coordinator; they said we didn't really need our own. We hired experienced vendors for a reason. Why would we need a separate coordinator?

We needed our own day-of coordinator. Dana was perfect. (Special thanks to our photographer, Adrian Steinbach, for recommending her.)

She'd have been an excellent full coordinator if we'd engaged her earlier, but for us, it was great to bring her into the planning ~2-3 months before our wedding. She ended up providing day-of coordination and some bonus last-minute vendor coordination and planning documentation in the several weeks beforehand.

She thought of all the little things we wouldn't ever even know to think about. Made sure the aisles were packed at our ceremony. Suggested fair tip amounts/standards and distributed them to vendors day of. Made sure vendors were all in the right place at the right time. Shared planning templates with us.

On the day of, we didn't need to worry about anything. We just trusted that Dana would guide us through, and she did wonderfully.

As a bonus, she brought in her sister the day of the event for additional support! And she made sure we had safe Hora chairs so we didn't fall off.

We trust our vendor team. They do this all the time. We do this once. Trust experts. Put them in a position to take care of you and they will.

Dana was fantastic.

Planning my daughter's wedding was made so much easier thanks to Dana and Hope and the entire team at Keyed Up Events! From the first meeting, their organization was evident. They provided comprehensive checklists and timelines that kept us on schedule and reduced stress significantly. I was particularly impressed with their ability to anticipate our needs and answer questions we hadn't even thought of. Their strong relationships with vendors and deep understanding of the venue were a huge asset. I also appreciated Dana's willingness to attend meetings on my behalf when I was unable to attend. On the big day, Dana and her entire team were true professionals, seamlessly handling any challenges that arose behind the scenes, allowing us to fully enjoy the celebration. I wholeheartedly recommend Keyed Up Events to any couple or family planning a wedding!

If you are weighing whether you think you need a day of coordinator or even if you think you don’t need one - you do! Booking a day of coordinator is essential with the number of vendors and the increasing complexity and expenses of the wedding industry. Dana and her team were FANTASTIC to work with and so on the ball! This is the team you need on your big day so you can be as relaxed and in the moment as possible. Dana and the Keyed Up Events staff are experts in the twin cities area and with anything wedding related. Even though we utilized Dana’s day of coordination services we really benefited from all of her knowledge and recommendations throughout the entire planning process. They were so quick to answer questions and help with any and all troubleshooting questions. Keyed Up Events also has tons of planning resources that make wedding planning more approachable, efficient, and will put you in the best possible position for as smooth of a wedding day as possible. I would also very HIGHLY recommend booking Dana to be present on the day of if possible. She is the ultimate point person for venue staff and all of the many vendors you will have. Time goes at warp speed on the wedding day and Dana somehow managed to keep us right on track without us having to watch the clock or worry about it. Regardless of organization and planning there will be multiple things and details that come up the day of and Dana is well prepared to handle them all so that the bride, groom, and their families can enjoy the day and guests without having to be the go to person or worry about logistics. Booking with Dana and having her there on your big day is the best gift you can give to your parents and your wedding party.

Dana Allison was such a wonderful addition to the wedding planning team. We hired her as a "Day Of" planner, but this included helpful planning information, email communications, two Zoom meetings, a ceremony rehearsal, and help with set-up/decorating. She also scheduled time to visit the venue. So much more than just the wedding day! She was excellent with communication, support, creative ideas and organization. She had 22 attendants, bride, groom and parents/grandparents to organize, and maintained a calming presence on the wedding day when weather required a change for the ceremony location. She kept the whole day moving along as planned. We definitely recommend Dana Allison for your event. She'll do a great job!!

“To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge” Confucius. I do not know much about creating a fabulous wedding, but Dana and KeyedUp Events do. Dana and her team offer resources, exceptional talent, and directly attend to worries natural to the wedding planning process.
Here, and without hesitation, I emphasize that a good wedding coordinator is money well spent. An exceptional wedding coordinator such as KeyedUp and Dana’s Team is both a bargain and a blessing.
As trusted guides, KeyedUp took the reins and created an unforgettable experience. Reflecting on the impact of KeyedUp, I could write more details highlighting how Dana and her team brought joy to my daughter’s special day, but space does not allow it here. Dana and team KeyedUp were “spot on”. Dana is responsive, respectful, and a fierce vendor negotiator. The KeyedUp team knows how to make a wedding “the best day”.
For my daughter’s wedding at the Lumber Exchange, the KeyedUp team was outstanding. Their work allowed our families and guests to stake claim in joy of the day—trusting and knowing that KeyedUp “has got this”. Doing so freed up a lot of headspace for me as a MOB. There were roadblocks Dana and her team seamlessly detoured. KeyedUp made sure we knew nothing about any trouble (like the venue running out of some supplies). KeyedUp found solutions and implemented them, so the families and guests could enjoy the celebration. The KeyedUp team’s talents, skills, organization, and management coupled with legitimate care for their work crafted blissful memories that my family will cherish. Even small details like having a special team member astute in bridal gown bustling was far beyond what I imagined possible from a coordinator. A joyful day thanks to Team KeyedUp. Dana is the one-of-a-kind person who not only makes sure the couple experiences a marvelous wedding day, but also that the guests are relaxed, catered to, and astonished.

I truly cannot imagine planning a wedding without Dana and her team. When we first got engaged, we were so overwhelmed by the planning process. Then Dana swooped in like a superhero to take care of every detail, work out every minute in our timeline, and find all our vendors. This made wedding planning very relaxing and fun. On our wedding day, I did not feel stressed about a single thing because I knew Dana was handling everything. I could not recommend Dana and her team more.

If you're on the fence about hiring a wedding planner, let me make it easy for you: YES, you should absolutely do it, and Keyed Up Events is the way to go! We had the pleasure of working with Dana and her fantastic team for our ceremony and reception at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, and they turned our special day into pure magic.

From the get-go, Dana and her team were amazing. They shared the best planning tips and tricks, held Zoom meetings and phone calls to tackle any pre-wedding jitters, and even handled real medical emergencies like pros! Seriously, if you want peace of mind on your big day, hire Keyed Up Events!

Dana and her crew are the sweetest people ever. Dana guided us through the planning process like a seasoned pro, and Randella was our rehearsal superhero. Together, they made sure our reception was flawless and swooped in to fix any hiccups along the way.

Dana's planning tools, tips, and timelines were lifesavers. She made sure everything had a backup plan (and a backup for the backup) so we could relax and enjoy every moment. Thanks to Dana and her team, our wedding was the most magical day we could have ever dreamed of!

So, if you want your wedding to be stress-free, fun, and absolutely perfect, go with Keyed Up Events. You'll be so glad you did!