Jillyn Sent on 05/06/2020

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

A Dream Come True!

YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST HIRE LINDA! SHE IS THE BEST!!! My husband and I got married in January 2020 before all the craziness of the pandemic hit. Linda handled all the details of our reception at the Aquarium of the Pacific. From the moment I met her, I knew she was going to be great, but man, did she exceed all of my expectations! She gave us excellent recommendations on vendors and because of her reputation in the wedding community, was able get us affordable prices. She more than paid for herself with how much money we saved on all of the amazing vendors. She handled all the day of details so that my husband and I could just enjoy our beautiful day. Because of Linda, we had the most perfect wedding. It was like a dream come true! Never would I have imagined how incredible everything turned out. Our guests were astounded by the results and still compliment us and tell us how our wedding was the best they had ever been to. Thank you Linda for making that possible!

I say it again: Hire Linda! You won't regret it!

Megan Sent on 12/03/2019

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Tiki-tastic Linda - AOP Wedding

My then fiancé and I were recommended Linda by the Aquarium of the pacific where our ceremony and reception was held. She is the best you can get in my opinion. Personable, head strong and brutally honest. She is a name in the wedding community that was evident by how she was treated be vendors and we ended up reaping all the benefits from here connections. She's hilarious and ads to all the enjoyment as she seemed to love the wedding coming together as much as anyone else.

She saved us much more than she costed to organize and her expertise will ensure your one shot at this party for your friends and family isn't fraught with regretful missteps by that one vendor who will do their best to mess everything up.

We love Linda and hope to keep in touch with her, which should be a testament to her abilities in this realm of nuptials!

Cynthia Sent on 09/04/2019

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

For a dream wedding of a lifetime, you must hire Linda Gray, owner of A Wedding Store!

Words cannot express how grateful I am to Linda Gray for all she did for our daughter's dream wedding. It was a wedding that looked and felt as if we were in an exciting, glamourous and romantic movie. It was due to Linda's hard work and attention to detail that enabled us to provide such a beautiful evening for our daughter, son-in-law and all our family and friends. I am not exaggerating when so many of our guests commented that it was the wedding of the year! It was a tremendous compliment that I will always cherish. This was all due to our wedding planner extraordinaire, Linda Gray!

I actually first encountered Linda as she was working a wedding on the Queen Mary, which I went to observe. I was able to see Linda in action, and I literally said to the Queen Mary wedding manager, "I want her!". I was not disappointed we hired Linda as our daughter's wedding planner!

From our first meeting in her lovely home up until the actual wedding, Linda was full of ideas, advice, wisdom, reassuring words and money saving strategies. She was always available 100% of the time whenever I had questions, concerns or doubts. She was like a best friend you go to for moral support and guidance. I also appreciated her fun personality and humor. I knew whenever we met or talked on the phone that the process would be a positive and productive encounter that would ultimately lead to a beautiful and memorable wedding.

What I also absolutely LOVED about Linda is that she is a problem solver master. My daughter's wedding was extremely large with a wedding party of 24 bridesmaids/groomsmen, 2 maid of honors/best man, 8 flower girls/ring boys and 300 guests. This absolutely did not alarm Linda. As a matter of fact, she embraced it and told me all would be wonderful, fun and exciting! She was right! From the delicious appetizers and drinks, the mouthwatering dinner, the fabulous Photo Booth, the awesome candy bar, the incredible decor and tables and even the way she worked with the DJ and Queen Mary catering staff, everything was perfect! She kept everything moving, on schedule and Linda didn't miss a beat. She was constantly in motion making sure to cater to our needs, and most importantly, to the needs of the bride and groom and our guests.

One of my fondest memories of my daughter's wedding is the joy and happiness emulating from her and my son-in-law's expressions and body language. They were truly happy, in love and very excited and overjoyed with the reception. They danced, laughed and thoroughly enjoyed themselves until the recption ended at 12:30 a.m. And who was there until the very end to pack everything up and make certain we had all that we needed? Linda Gray! I feel as if we not only hired a fabulous wedding planner, but that we also gained a new best friend.

Therefore, if you want a dream wedding filled with beautiful decor and flowers, fabulous and delicious food and drink, lively music and entertainment and a great time had by all, especially the bride and groom, then you absolutely need someone to coordinate and direct it all. That person is Linda Gray, owner of A Wedding Store. I highly recommend her as one of the most competent, passionate, hard working and knowledgeable wedding planners in the world! You will not be disappointed! Thank you, Linda, for everything! We love you dearly!

Frederick Sent on 06/04/2019

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

You don’t know it, but you need Linda!

To make a long story short: Linda is incredible and will make your special day absolutely magical. If I could give her more than five stars, I would!

The long story:

Linda was recommended to us by the Queen Mary, where we had both our ceremony and reception. At first, my mother, who put A LOT of work into preparing for our day, was trying to “do it all” herself. As amazing a job as she could have done, she wanted to be able to enjoy the day without worrying about this and that. Enter Linda Gray!

After choosing Linda as our coordinator, she immediately opened her beautiful home on Alamitos Bay to us, having us over for sweets and lemonade to go through our “wish list.” From the start, she was like a friend who only wanted the best for us and our wedding day. We came to Linda with a general concept of a “nautical” theme (to match with the Queen Mary) and lots of ideas for how to decorate, but we didn’t have all the details hammered out. In our first meeting with her, Linda asked us some questions to get an idea of our personal story and started helping us work through the plan for our wedding day!

We already had some vendors picked out (DJ, photographer), but where we had missing pieces, Linda always had a highly qualified person to fill in. The florist she works with created absolutely stunning centerpieces and flowers for our ceremony, guided by Linda’s suggestions. She worked with the ideas my mother had to make the Royal Salon (our reception site on the QM) truly worthy of royalty! Despite what any negative review on this site might say, Linda does her best (and trust me when I say her best is awesome) to work within the budget you have. People who state otherwise don’t realize quality doesn’t come cheap!

In planning with my mother, Linda provided input here and there to create a beautiful and memorable day for us. The day of the wedding, my mother was able to bask in the experience of her son and his partner celebrating their marriage instead of worrying about whether things were set up properly or people were where they were supposed to be. To some (overly dramatic reviewers on this site), Linda may come across as a bit forceful, but this is actually a reflection of her passion for the work she does and her dedication to your wedding being its very best.

What I haven’t mentioned is that, at least if you have your wedding on the Queen Mary, EVERYONE knows Linda Gray, and they respect her. This goes a long way in making sure things go absolutely seamlessly on the wedding day. She also set up the favor table (which my mom put lots of work into) EXACTLY as my mom had requested.

Some examples to show Linda’s creativity and ability to improvise: when our cake was delivered on the wedding day, there was no “topper” to the cake, as this was a detail my husband and I had overlooked. Linda took red roses from our ceremony flowers and beautifully decorated the cake. Another example: since we are a same sex couple, we had originally decided not to do a bouquet toss. On the wedding day, when we realized this would be an important “event” for our single lady friends, Linda improvised and grabbed some arranged flowers from our cocktail hour to fill in!

Linda is wonderful and has become like family to us over the past several months. No one will do your wedding better than her!

+2 photos

Cassie Sent on 03/23/2019

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing Planner

From the absolute first second I met Linda Grey I knew our wedding would be fabulous! She helped me with everything down to the finest detail and made sure that we had everything we wanted all while being very budget savvy. Three weeks before our wedding my future father in law had multiple massive heart attacks, which is a nightmare for any bride. Linda jumped in and not only helped me plan our wedding but became a emotional support system for me during an extremely stressful time. Our wedding went perfectly! Her genuine concern for me and my family, her amazing work ethic and her fabulous attention to detail make her the absolute best! Thank you so much Linda!

Kathryn Sent on 03/14/2019

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Brighter than 5 stars Linda is top in her field at Client Relations, Operations & Client Advocate!

Thank you Linda!! You were able to crown me Queen of The Queen Mary on my wedding! My Family and guests were flawed and so grateful for your tireless work. And my stole...well it stole the show! Aside from incredible taste, talent and top level experience that Linda delivered from day one-- after & through "I do" there are some key areas in particular where Linda shines brighter than 5 star ratings:
1. Client relation skills (comprehensive full circle care for bridezillah and family--always smiles hugs and speedy solutions A+ 5 star);
2. Operational expertise (she knows how & why it works: there was seamless integration of vendors with venue A+ 5 star) resulting in a flawless 3 day affair that still has local guests buzzing in my ear and my Instagram blowing up wondering how we made it happen: Linda Gray is all I can say. When it's all said and done and the new husband and wife look at the numbers side of things, we start our lives with such relief because of her third strength.
3. Our consumer advocate--at every corner Linda was successful at saving us money yet making sure each moment sparkled with million dollar magic. Brides to be everywhere, your one stop shop is Linda@aweddingstore.net!

Amy P. Sent on 01/29/2019

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Best wedding coordinator

Thank you Linda!!!
Everything was so beautiful I am so glad we came in contact. I could not have done it without you. It truly was my dream wedding come true. Everyone was in awe!! they kept saying how beautiful everything was. I'm sad its over but sooo happy with how everything turned out.

Lewis Sent on 01/11/2019

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Amazingggggg!

LINDA!!!! We can not thank you enough for everything that you did for is at the wedding. You were absolutely incredible! The day was so perfect and we couldn’t have done it without you. As always, you were such a delight to work with and we couldn’t have imagined getting married without asking you to help. We hope you had a good time too!

Susan Sent on 06/26/2018

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

When my (now) husband and I were thinking through possible wedding options, we were all over the place about what we wanted to do. We weren’t even sure we wanted to do a full wedding/reception. We had visited the Aquarium of the Pacific as a potential venue - an idea we LOVED but were really unsure about when it came to how to tackle setting up a wedding in such a location.

Then we met Linda. My (then) fiance leaned over to me and said, “I know now for sure I want to have a wedding, especially since we can have her involved.” DONE AND DONE.

She has a strong personality and is full of sass and I adored EVERY minute of working with her. With Linda, there’s no bs - she’s upfront about things, lets you know what to expect and delivers exactly what she says she will. Bonus points that her sense of humor matched ours completely.

Linda answered each of my crazy (borderline planning-obsessive) emails, talked me off the wedding-planning ledge more times than I’m proud of, and generally made the very stressful process (dare I say?) fun. She knows the right people to connect you with to make your day great and loves finding special touches to make your day uniquely you.

On our big day, things ran like clockwork - even ahead of schedule! Not an easy feat when you have bride and groom, family members, guests, vendors, etc to keep on track.

It’s so very personal with Linda, which makes the whole process so special despite the inevitable stress that occurs as the big day approaches. I will forever cherish our wedding day and will always think of Linda as being a huge part in helping make our day as special as it was.

I know it’s crazy to say, but I’m a little sad that I now don’t have a reason to email her 9 times in a day with random panicked thoughts about my wedding. Knowing Linda, though, I’m sure she’d still email me back, every time.

TL;DR - pick Linda, because she’s committed to just the best for you, always.

Alfie Sent on 12/15/2017

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

My wedding was at the Aquarium of the Pacific (AOP) in Long Beach, CA. Linda was recommended to us by AOP as a day coordinator.

I needed up hiring her as the day coordinator and planner. She streamlined the process for us. She was really helpful with arranging vendor meetings for us and with multiple vendors at a time so that we don't travel often as we aren't local to the area.

We couldn't have such a great wedding without Linda. Her personality made this process super fun! We appreciated that she took the time to listen to our rants about the family drama and the chaos!

We had great compliments like "what a dream wedding" or "beautiful and memorable". One couple was like, "are you a millionaire?" because it looks so fancy that they thought we had to spend $$$$. But we know that we had great vendors and great prices that we can do within our budget.

Now that the wedding is over, it is sad to think we have to part.

Tips:
She will make an itinerary for you and also give resources like how to make a budget etc...

Meagan Sent on 06/24/2017

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda made sure our wedding was a fantastic and memorable experience!! I came to her a month out from the big day and she worked her magic to get us the best flowers, linens, DJ, decor, cake and everything!! Her relationships with local vendors is amazing and she was able to save us a ton of money. Linda was awesome to work with and we can't thank her enough for everything she did to make our big day the outstanding event that it was!!! If you are having a wedding, big or small, Linda is the one you want planning and coordinating. Once you hire her, you'll wonder how you did anything without her. Thanks again, Linda!!

Eric Sent on 06/23/2017

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda, Linda, Linda!
Summary:
Hire Linda, you will not regret it! She will keep your wedding on schedule, she will work with vendors you choose, she will recommend vendors, she will keep you on budget, and she has plenty of experience. People already know her at most places. Our vision was implemented thanks to her!
Detailed: When we first met Linda duPlaine Gray we didn’t think we needed a wedding coordinator! We decided to give her a courtesy meeting. Within probably 15 minutes we came to the realization that we definitely needed a coordinator and Linda had the experience we need to get this wedding done and stay on budget! We couldn’t do this wedding without her!
We were not wrong! Linda planned out details from day one, with a comprehensive timeline that was updated regularly and used by other vendors involved in the wedding (ie photo, video,DJ, reception venue/ceremony venue) .
We worked with her from August 2016 through wedding day of June 9th 2017.
She helped setup meetings with vendors (cake, desserts, photo, flowers, linens, etc). Linda even attended our food tasting at the venue to help us through the process of choosing appetizers, drink menus, drink options, dinner options, desserts and food timelines.
She even helped negotiate a wedding rehearsal dinner in Long Beach near the venue.
The wedding day was smooth! She was familiar with all the vendors on wedding day and had already coordinated with them all the details. We were able to enjoy our wedding day and had to deal with zero (0) issues with the vendors on wedding day. Our vision was implemented!
Our wedding ran right on time! To the minute! Unbelievable for a wedding! Your wedding is a big moving, flowing party that has many moving parts, and she kept everything in sync!
I could go on and on, but you get the picture. Linda did a great job, she is practically family now that we went through this whole process.
Eric & Christina, Wedding June 9, 2017 - Hotel Maya

Christina Sent on 03/30/2017

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda is phenomenal!! She is extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and responsive. She goes out of her way for her brides and will help with any and every detail. Linda knows a lot of very experienced vendors who will show up, look professional, and do an amazing job. She runs a tight ship on your wedding day and handles all phone calls or problems that might show up the day of the event. I highly recommend booking with Linda. She will be a friend, a guide, and will help you with everything you need for your wedding.

Jason Sent on 12/21/2016

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

LINDA LINDA LINDA LINDA LINDA

When I first met Linda I was like o dang this lady is fierce. Hired. I knew that nobody at my wedding would step out of line! We did pretty much everything a couple isn't supposed to do with their wedding planner - took forever to get stuff in to her, screwed up our budget, had last minute changes to our guest count, threw in a live band a week before the ceremony., made her change the whole ceremony timeline a bunch, took forever to write a review of her...you know, stuff that wedding planners curse people for.

But she pulled it all off with ease! It's almost like....she's been doing this stuff forever and is extremely experienced and polished in her methods. The least stressful day for us in the whole wedding process was BY FAR the ceremony day. Once we turned everything over to Linda, she wrangled everything and everyone without adding a single worry to our day. She can handle anything!

Robin Sent on 12/13/2016

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda was amazing. Her knowledge and contacts were priceless. She had amazing ideas and always had our best interest at heart. I live in Alaska, and she worked with me all the way from up here. I have truly made a friend in her and I would highly highly recommend her to help with your special day. She will truly make it special.

Hilary Sent on 07/27/2016

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Through a mutual friend, I met Linda. My original plan was to hire her just for the day of my daughter's wedding. I am so glad we changed our minds. I was a little anxious as we had just six months to pull this wedding together. Linda was a godsend. The vendors she recommended were wonderful. She came to every venue meeting, negotiated a great room rate at the hotel our guests stayed at, and responded in a timely manner whenever we had a question ( which was quite often).
On the day of she worked tirelessly to make sure my daughter and her husband had the wedding of their dreams. She even dressed in the wedding colors! We are still getting compliments from out guests about how beautiful it was and how much fun.
I cannot recommend her enough and can't wait to work with her again (my husband and I have two more daughters)!

Was this review …?

Arleen Sent on 07/13/2016

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Let me tell you that if you are looking for a wedding planner, look no more, you have found the best in town! We had a general idea of what we were looking for in wedding vendors and décor (every girl dreams of her wedding day) she helped us put everything into place and made it look more amazing than we ever imagined! After meeting the first vendor or two, we gave her the reigns to choose the rest. We trusted her wholeheartedly and she did not disappoint! She ensured we took a step back after the ceremony before the reception to take it all in and be alone for just 5 minutes! In the whirlwind of events, that was the time I enjoyed and remembered in most detail. Linda kept everyone on time, in line and running smoothly, from the vendors, to the groomsmen, everything went smoothly. When we had 10 people show up that RSVP’d “no” she didn’t let me worry, she took care of it all. Linda is a strong woman and carries the weight of the wedding on her shoulders so you don’t have to, and I can’t tell you how much that meant to us and helped us enjoy our amazing day. She was our planner, our coordinator, our friend, our advocate, and our voice, for those reasons and a million more we love her and recommend her to everyone. Thank you Linda!

Rachel Sent on 07/11/2016

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda is a great planner! She gets it DONE even when it is difficult. She takes the stress out of the planning process and is a really fun person! She provided us with great options for vendors and always had our wants and needs (and budget) in mind during meetings with those vendors. She knows what she is doing and it was great to have someone we could trust in our corner. Thank you Linda!!

Tatiana Sent on 01/23/2016

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda, Linda, Linda.. What can I say about her? She is probably the craziest, most fun wedding planner ever! She has been in the business for such a long time and knows EVERYONE in the area. We worked with Linda for a year planning our wedding. She setup all the meetings with her different vendors. Everyone she recommended was FANTASTIC. At first, I was a little skeptical about hiring vendors solely based on her recommendations. However, it makes a lot more sense to hire people who have a good working relationship with your wedding planner. Our wedding ran flawlessly because of Linda and the team of people we hired. Everything flowed perfectly! And she always made sure I had a drink in my hand. She even had the venue pack up our dinner because we didn't get to eat any of it.

Linda is a total ball buster and tells it like it is which I appreciated so much. It made the planning experience a lot more fun. She was also very patient with me and answered the hundreds of emails I sent her in a timely manner. She was budget conscious and worked with the vendors to get them down to prices I was more comfortable with. I can't say enough good things about her. I'll miss working with her dearly! If I ever have the opportunity to throw another big event she'll be my first call.

Juan Sent on 11/18/2015

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

When my wife and I got engaged and decided to get married within 6 months we knew there would be a lot to get done in a short time. After a few weeks we knew we needed help trying to figure out planning and what to choose and vendors for this and protocol for that. So I switched my google search to look for a wedding planner to save my sanity and found Linda! All of her experience made our lives much easier and less stressful!!!! With all of our planning we only had one small glitch with a vendor - and let me tell you how great it was to have Linda on my side to make sure that everything was fixed - and it ended up being fabulous!

She is definitely a character and working with her was a ton of fun! Thank you Linda!!!!!!!!

User2402353 Sent on 10/31/2015

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda was instrumental in making our wedding everything we had ever imagined (and we had imagined a LOT). Each vendor she hooked us up with was perfect, and we always knew she was 100% invested in making our wedding AMAZING. And it was. People still can't stop talking about how magical our Aquarium wedding was, and that's ALL Linda. She knows weddings!!! She's also got a tremendous sense of humor and fun, and working with her was always fun and stress-free. We recommend her wholeheartedly! Thank you, Linda!!!
Love,
Gwenjamin.

Sara Sent on 10/15/2015

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Our experience with Linda was so pleasant. She took the time to listen to our vision and made it happen. Very dependable and attentive to our needs. As a bride, she made my day go just as planned... Even through the curve balls. THANK YOU SOOO MUCH LINDA!!!! Our day could've gone totally different had you not been there... We adore you... I would recommend you a million times over!!! (Wedding Date 10/10/15)

Katherine Sent on 05/11/2015

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

When my husband and I were looking for venues, we absolutely fell in love with the Aquarium of the Pacific. We met with the sales manager right away and put in our deposit. That's when Tamera, the sales manager, gave us THE MOST HELPFUL card we could have ever imagined of obtaining: Linda Gray's business card.

Now, having a wedding reception at the Aquarium is not an easy feat. My husband and I quickly learned that you must have vendors who are really on top of it to be able to set up for an entire wedding within the hour after the closing of the Aquarium and the start of your reception.

Linda was able to connect us with AMAZING vendors. Honestly, I do not even know how it was possible for them to set up everything within that limited time frame. All of my guests loved how all of the different pieces of my wedding came together. "The centerpieces were amazing!" "The linens were the perfect color!" "The DJ was so entertaining and had such a great attitude and playlist!" "The lighting was so great!"

On the day of my wedding, Linda was an ANGEL FROM HEAVEN. My husband says that this is when she really shone. She came to the hotel while we were getting ready and lit the fire under my photographer, videographer and wedding party's asses so that we could make it to the church on time. Still, she was able to provide my photographer and videographer some great shots for the hotel since she was familiar with it. Honestly, if she wasn't there, I would have late to the church. Then, at the reception, she made sure we adhered to our timeline and was able to fit in everything that we needed. She even allotted for my husband and I to be alone for 5 minutes to bask in our wedding bliss.

TRUST ME: You need to book this woman now. It will save you so much time, effort and stress and she will more than pay for herself. I had the absolute wedding of my dreams and all of my guests agreed that my wedding was THE BEST they have EVER been to.

Junell Sent on 05/01/2015

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

LINDA IS THE BEST!! When Linda says she will rock your wedding, she will definitely ROCK YOUR WEDDING 110% from beginning to end. We first met Linda when we booked our wedding. She was referred to us by the hotel and we ended up hiring her. It was one of the best decisions we have ever made. Linda is very knowledgeable in her craft. She is professional, funny, and when you have a question in the middle of the night, she will give you an immediate response back. We were on a tight budget and she really helped us out a lot so we didn't go over budget. Our family loved how our wedding turned out that one of my cousins also hired Linda for their wedding. She has become one of our best friends and part of our family. If in the future when we plan our wedding anniversary or our children's wedding, we will definitely hire Linda again!

Stewart Sent on 03/13/2015

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda did a fantastic job to make our wedding an event to remember.
We met with Linda for almost eleven months before our wedding and she was available to offer support throughout the wedding process.
Her day of the event coordination helped to provide a well paced wedding and reception. She got glowing reviews from our guests.
Linda's recommendations for the professional services were right on with excellent selection of talented vendors.
We highly recommend Linda's wedding services to anyone wanting the best.

Mike Sent on 12/11/2014

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Dear Linda, before we run off to Japan, we wanted to express our most sincere thank yous for making our wedding day a living dream. A LIVING DREAM!!! Everyone commented on how wonderful, elegant, beautiful, spectacular, the adjectives were endless, our wedding turned out! We could not have done it with out you. Tim and I loved it all.

SO AGAIN, FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS, THANK YOU !!!!!!

We will be in contact when we return. Our best wish to you, Mike and Tim

This is a message we sent to Linda before taking off to our honey moon. We could not wait to repeat our gratitude to her for helping us pull off the day of our dreams!! That message says it all !

User1751555 Sent on 08/04/2014

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda was our wedding planner for our wedding at the Aquarium of the Pacific on June 19th. She did an absolutely amazing job from the first day we hired her until our wedding was over. She went above and beyond with helping us hire vendors, respond to my countless emails at the drop of a hat and had a great sense of humor. My husband and I always enjoyed coming down to Long Beach and meeting with Linda to discuss details of the wedding and she would always schedule the appointments for vendors so that we didn't have to. Linda makes your life easier as a bride and with her great reputation and years of experience in the wedding field she knows how to pull off a flawless wedding. We had our ceremony on the rooftop terrace at the Aquarium and it was the first one up there, it was perfect and went off without a hitch thanks to Linda!!! The wedding day was perfect, the way that she handles set up for the reception and everything with the vendors after running the ceremony minutes before blows my mind. When I walked into the ceremony and reception I was in shock at how breathtaking everything was. It was perfect from the rooftop terrace to downstairs from one side of the great hall to the other showcasing the wedding of our dreams. From the beginning of our wedding day to end nothing would have been possible without Linda!!! She is truly one of kind and I would highly recommend hiring her as your wedding planner, thank you again Linda!!!

Kindest and Warmest Regards,

Lauren and Kris

Alissa Sent on 07/30/2014

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda was a great wedding planner! Her bubbly, warm and inviting personality made me feel comfortable and at ease throughout the whole process. Along with making sure that I got everything that I needed, she was quick to respond and always willing to help.

Denise Sent on 07/30/2014

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

My wife & I can't even BEGIN to say enough good things about Linda duPlaine Gray! We were married 06/29/14 @ the Maya Hotel in Long Beach, CA. Linda bent over backwards to make sure all of our needs were met. She worked REALLY hard to make sure all of our wishes were fulfilled & even surprised us with some extra stuff we didnt even know we needed...like the "First Glance" & a quiet moment for just the 2 of us at a table with appetizers & champagne right after our ceremony. Linda made sure we had something blue for the ceremony, a detail we forgot & the ceremony was a Broadway meets baseball theme. She made sure my Dodger blue was prominent throughout the entire event & found creative ways to incorporate Broadway into everything. When we walked in for the grand entrance, she made sure the hotel had Dodger blue napkins on the tables being waved by our guests & our wedding party was waiting at the front saluting us with Dodger blue bats. Even our make-up artist wore a Dodger shirt. Linda even found us the greatest photographer! TRUST HER TASTE PEOPLE! SHE'LL NEVER DISAPPOINT YOU! LINDA DUPLAINE GRAY NOT ONLY KNOWS WHAT SHE'S DOING...BUT SHE KNOWS HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER!

Kristin Sent on 06/23/2014

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda was the perfect wedding planner in every way! She was able to find vendors that not only were within my budget, but also who were able to give me exactly what I requested. She made herself available to me (and was extremely flexible with scheduling our meetings) to ensure I was 100% happy with every vendor and wedding detail. Linda was the reason why my wedding was gorgeous, fun, and memorable! She will give you the perfect wedding without the outrageous price tag! I highly recommend Linda for any of your even planning needs!

Tony Sent on 04/08/2014

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

My spouse and I are a same-sex couple that live in Texas. We decided to get married in Long Beach since equal marriage is legal in California, we chose Long Beach because we were both born and raised in the area. When I began planning, I knew I wanted downtown Long Beach, and I knew that I wanted to run everything out of a hotel because it makes it so much simpler for everyone traveling from out of town.

I began looking online extensively for reviews from people who had used hotels in downtown Long Beach and ended up finding and falling in love with the Hotel Maya. After talking with them and finding out the logistics we booked with Hotel Maya and we were told that our booking came with a free day-of Wedding Planner, which I thought was a nice touch because that would ensure that although we are in Texas, there would be someone on the ground in Long Beach that could help us once the big day came.

I was given Linda's information so that we could contact each other to get the ball rolling and from the beginning it was awesome. I am a super OCD Virgo planning kind of person, so I already had my spreadsheets and everything ready, but having someone there to facilitate everything was wonderful. I had planned large events such as campouts before but had never done a wedding so this was whole new ballgame. She was able to tell me what I needed to focus on, what i did not need to worry about, and helped me make some decisions that I otherwise would have probably not made but am very happy I did.

Linda has a ton of knowledge that was very helpful, but she also allowed me to make all the final decisions since it was our wedding day. On the day of she was very helpful because I had it in my head that I was going to do a bunch of set-up and such but she made me just focus on me and took care of all of that. She set up the welcome table, helped with the reception set-up, and helped make our day perfect. Thank you, Linda!

Stephanie Sent on 03/04/2014

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

We absolutely loved Linda! Our wedding went off without a hitch! It couldn't have been more perfect! We didn't even think we would need a coordinator, but thank God for Linda, so happy we had her, we couldn't have done all of it without her! Would highly recommend. Even if you think you might not need a coordinator, Linda was so helpful and she will make sure your day is fabulous!

Bryce Sent on 01/14/2014

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda is simply wonderful, always upbeat, greatly knowledgeable, kept us on track. She was a great advocate for us when dealing with communication between venues, photographers, DJ. She knows good quality peps (video, photography, DJ). This all made everything smooth and reassuring. My wedding party also loved her! Her nominal price was worth it; we wouldn't change anything. Thanks Linda for making everything so smooth and perfect.

Jane Sent on 11/24/2013

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda is an amazing person and phenomenal to work with! Our first meeting was going over details about what we had in mind for our wedding (theme, color scheme, budget, etc.) and she suggested ideas, which my husband and I would have never thought of. Any questions or concerns, whether it was months before the wedding or weeks before the wedding, even days before the wedding, Linda was there through it all.

On the wedding day, my husband stepped on my dress and broke the bustle and no doubt, Linda fixed it on the spot (right before the First Dance!) She kept us within budget while still creating the wedding of our dreams. Her network is incredible: Photographers, Videographers, DJ, Reverend, Linens, Cake, Marriage License, Hair and Make-Up – all were professionals and great people to work with. It’s been 3 weeks since our wedding and we continue to get compliments of how amazing and beautiful our wedding was.

With her help and guidance, our wedding planning process was stress free and effortless. Our wedding day was beyond magical. One of the best wedding decisions we made was choosing Linda as our wedding coordinator!

If you are looking for a wedding coordinator you can count on, Linda duPlaine Gray is her name. She’s a master of her craft, resourceful, thoughtful, insightful, meticulous, detailed and priceless. She went above and beyond for us.

You’re not just a client with Linda; you become family.

With Love,
Your Little Penguins

Cary Sent on 11/22/2013

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

My husband and I were just married on Saturday. Linda duPlaine from A Wedding Store in Long Beach was our wedding coordinator.We had a limited budget, and Linda gathered up the best vendors and worked with the hotel to make it the most beautiful wedding imaginable. My guests are still talking about the venue and food and decor at ceremony and reception. The officiate and many guests complimented me on how well they were treated and how much fun they had. I owe this all to Linda because the time line was perfect. She and MichaelAngelo, the DJ, worked together to ensure the guests knew where to go and when, being fed appetizers and listening to great music every step of the way. Linda and Michael are true professionals.
As for me, the bride, Linda was behind me taking care of my needs, from making sure my lipstick was applied to making sure my gifts were in a safe place at the end of the night for retrieval. She led the wedding party and me and my husband from ceremony to reception with such ease. My favorite part was leading John and I to a room for a private moment after ceremony so that we could just breathe and sip champagne and enjoy the appetizers our guest were enjoying. Linda really cares about the bride and groom having the best experience possible...AND I DID! I thought I knew what to expect when planning this wedding, and I know now that without Linda, the money we put into this event would have been hanging on a disastrous memory. Instead, because of Linda, our wedding was well-planned, organized, absolutely gorgeous. Every time I think about the experience, I can't help but grin ear to ear.

Linda, if you read this, bravo, my friend.

Sincerely,
Cary, the blushing bride, and John, "Mr. Wonderful," your friends for life!

User1388054 Sent on 10/19/2013

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Simply put Linda is a phenomenal!!! We were referred to her by the Hotel Maya and I will admit I was slightly hesitant to hire a wedding planner but the moment we met Linda my husband and I knew that we needed her help. She has a personality and flair unlike any other. Our first meeting lasted over three hours going over ideas for our wedding. The thing that impressed me the most about Linda in the initial meeting was amount of research she had done before even meeting us. For example we mentioned a sunset ceremony and she pulls a chart out of our file and says “it appears sunset will take place at 6:23. Let me see if I can get the ceremony time moved up,” keep in mind our meeting was in May and our wedding was not until October. Linda knows what she is doing! We had a very clear vision of what we wanted for our wedding and Linda worked her magic not only to give us what we want but so much more! She makes things happen and knows how to work some deals!! Her connections are endless, anything you need she knows someone that can make it happen. Planning a wedding was more stressful then I ever imagined, there are so many small details, Linda thinks of everything and goes over all of it with you so there are no surprises. Linda was the voice of reason for my husband and I, she was always available to answer any questions we had… trust me there were many! She was in contact with all the vendors and made sure everything was a success. I can’t rave about Linda enough because she gave us the dream wedding! Every thing was perfect! There should be no question, if you are having a wedding hire Linda. I don’t consider her our wedding planner, I consider Linda a friend that planed our wedding.

Robin Sent on 09/12/2013

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

I absolutely recommend you hire Linda to help you plan your wedding. This was one of the very best decisions I made! Linda is fabulous at what she does. She will help you and your groom create the day of your dreams.

I am very busy and I get side tracked easily. Linda totally stayed on top of our timeline and constantly reminded us what needed to happen next. Linda has a ton of experience in this industry and she knows everyone. That translates in to lots and lots of hook ups, incredible ideas and most importantly, savings!!! Hooray! She'll bring vendors to her office so you save on time and energy (and don't have to go all over the place to meet with people). No matter what happens, she always has your back. I felt like everything she did was in the interest of giving us the best experience possible.

When I say that the day of my wedding was the best day of my life, I really, really mean it. It was everything we could have ever asked for and we have Linda to thank for that. Seriously. Hire her, and you won't be sorry. She is loyal, assertive and goes above and beyond to take care of you. Everyone would be lucky to have a friend like her.

<3 <3 <3

Robert Sent on 08/22/2013

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Our wedding on August 3rd 2013 was more then either my bride, Tami or myself had ever dreamed of. We married at the Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, CA. Linda proposed this venue as we wanted a island themed wedding. Her suggestion was perfect the Aquarium was so very tropical.

It seems that being a man, I really did not understand all the hard work that goes into a wedding. Had it been left to me we would have had a redneck wedding. Linda took me in hand and broke down the entire process. I learned a great deal from her and she calmed me when it all seemed too much. She can deal with grooms jitters.

Linda set up meetings with other vendors that she felt we would approve. In this she was spot on. For music she brought in, Roger owner Angel City DJ's. There was some music we wanted and some not to play. Roger took our suggestions and made a form fitting playlist that kept the ceremony dignified and the dance floor hopping.

As for a florist, Linda turned us on to Jay Jensen, Jensen Floral Imports. The center pieces were cutting edge and trendy. The alter arrangements were massive and beautiful. We still are getting great feed back on the flowers three weeks later.

The linens she acquired from Lorena complimented our island theme as did the chairs. With all these professional vendors using their skills the venue was transformed into the aloha spirit we strived for.

The Aquarium has it's own in house catering. Our food was excellent! We would like to thank Chef Rosie Romo and her staff for all their hard work.

Linda made a stressful day run faultlessly. She kept everyone on task and provided service that went beyond the scope of a wedding planner. Tami and I will always hold her dear in our hearts.

We recommend Linda du Plaine Gray at A Wedding Store & Special Events to anyone who seeks a wedding day that will be remembered with joy and love.

Thank again, Linda

Love Robert & Tami

Ryan Sent on 05/26/2013

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Hiring Linda was probably the best decision we have ever made in our entire lives. I think she knows every single person in Long Beach, and hooked us up with some really high-quality, reliable vendors and venues that matched the type of wedding we wanted within our budget (photographer, linens, florist, photobooth, DJ, custom invitations/programs/etc, and even a guy to get us a wedding license on a Saturday afternoon without ever having to step foot inside an LA county courthouse). Want to have a small rehearsal dinner at the Sky Room? Sure, you’ll get hooked up with the best table in the place. Pre-wedding welcome get-together at Fuego? Sure, she’ll hook you up with the manager of the place and help you get it all sorted out in about an hour. Need to figure out how to get things done at the Queen Mary? She knows how. After-wedding brunch at The Reef? Yep, she can set that up in about 30 minutes. She helped us with all of that and more to plan our four-day wedding extravaganza, and saved us enough money to cover her fee more than twice.

Even with all of that help beforehand, on the day of the wedding she really made her money. She made it all happen according to the detailed timeline she put together with us, and made sure everything was perfect. The room, the flowers, the food, the photographers, the DJ; everything was in order, coordinated, and went according to plan. It was perfect. We didn’t have to worry about a thing, other than showing up and having a great time (and following her instructions). It made our day so unbelievably enjoyable and stress-free. She is full of energy and joy, and having her around alone is an experience worth paying for.

J Sent on 05/14/2013

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

I previously wrote a review..here is an update!

Linda was a SAVIOR on my my wedding. I couldn't ask for more. She was so amazing at bringing things up I NEVER would have though about... I had my wedding on The Queen Mary, unfortunately the woman handling my date on The Queen neglected to inform us that this was during the Long Beach Grand Prix. I had set the date so far in advance I couldn't change it. I had family coming in from out of the country so it was impossible to change the date. Linda ROCKED it. She set me up with amazing DJ's and photographers that where willing to make the trek through this crazy weekend. She saved my whole wedding.

Fast Forward, she was so awesome I actually referred her to my boss for his wedding. Yes, I put my reputation on the line. I knew she was THAT GREAT that I wouldn't worry about my boss being mad at me!

Long story short...she is amazing, she knows how to handle any and all crazy situations that may occur. She is great at handling awkward family situations
( Divorced parents, drunks, and making sure everyone knows it is the Bride and Grooms day)

So in conclusion I have attended 2 weddings (One being mine) That were absolutely amazing!

I will tell you she will become your best friend as a bride and knows how to make you calm, collect, and completely at ease during a crazy chaotic time in life.

If I would recommend her to my Boss, who signs my paychecks, I would obviously recommend her to ANYONE!

Clarissa Sent on 04/19/2013

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda was a stellar planner and day-of coordinator! She has many connections and knew exactly which of her vendors would do an amazing job for our wedding. My husband and I are still in awe at how flawless and beautiful our wedding at the Aquarium of the Pacific went. We first met with Linda based on high recommendation from the event catering manager at the Aquarium and we’re glad we did. We definitely could not have done it without her insight and wealth of knowledge about our venue and weddings in general. Linda was very responsive throughout the entire experience and helped calm all our worries and quickly resolve any issues that came up. We are sure she spent countless hours conveying our vision to the vendors to get it just right. She helped arrange and accompanied us to our vendor meetings and the vendors were all prepared to show us our options based on what they knew about our vision (we wasted no time looking for what we knew we wanted). To us, that was invaluable since both my husband and I lead extremely busy lives. On the day of our event, she arrived early to help coordinate everyone and all the festivities of the day. I’m pretty sure there were issues that were fixed so quickly that we never found out about it. That’s how good she is. She made sure we were having a wonderful, worry-free wedding experience; which I’m sure is every Bride and Grooms dream! We will always have such a great memory looking back on our wedding and that is something that is truly priceless.

Jeannie Sent on 02/05/2013

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda did an amazing job organizing my Son and Daughter in law's Wedding! Everthing ran as smooth as silk!! The Food, Decor, Band..you name it and it was done to perfection. I would highly recommend Linda..She takes the stress out and leaves you with all the fun!! and memories..BTW, my business firm has hired her to do all our special events..Linda is an EVENT planner as well as a Wedding Pro!!!. Hire Her!!! You will be happy you did~

Taya Sent on 12/06/2012

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda went above and beyond the call of duty as my "day of coordinator." Linda's work ethic and communication skills, combined with her decades of experience make for one AMAZING wedding coordinator!
I had a specific vision of what I wanted for my wedding and Linda helped me make that dream come true at the Hotel Maya in Long Beach. My favorite part of her services was being able to have all the vendors come to her office to meet with me.... this saved me time and money! Because of Linda I had the BEST officiant, photographer, florist, linen service and DJ! My wedding was a HUGE success! Our family and friends are still talking about it!
Thank you Linda for all of the hours you put it to help me. I would recommend you in a heart beat.

Ann Sent on 09/01/2012

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

The Wedding took place on August 4, 2012, at Wayfarers Chapel and the reception was at the Aquarium of the Pacific. I am the MOB(mother of the bride), and as much as my daughter and I tried to accomplish putting the the wedding together I wasn't confident and I had no idea what it was going to look like. Thank God we met LINDA. There was a reason I didn't know what it was going to look like. I've never planned this size event before,(parties,YES, I can do that), but this was a big, and I really didn't see myself in the category of having a wedding planner. Well, I met Linda and I realized that peace of mind was worth a lot and if I was going to enjoy the wedding day I needed Linda to be helping me.
As time went on I realized why I didn't know what it was going to look like...the planning wasn't finished. Linda guided us and it turned out to be more beautiful than I could have ever imagined, I can thank Linda and her vendor, Stephanie. Linda is great to be around, she is fun, kind, and all around lots of fun. About this time she must be pretty tired from throwing all these late night events.
You are the best Linda, thank you so much. Susan Makinson
I do think that you will be able to see a video of my daughter's wedding at the Wedding Store.

Kenny Sent on 08/31/2012

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

We got married on 8/10/12 on the Queen Mary. We had a beautiful wedding with about 100 guests at the QM Gazebo with our reception in the Verandah Grill. My wife met with Linda a few months before the wedding and despite my reservations at hiring a wedding planner to help with what I thought we could handle on our own, we hired Linda. Her confidence and professionalism were just too hard to resist. First of all, I have to say to those doubting grooms out there, we don’t know what we don’t know when it comes to planning a wedding. Having someone like Linda, who knew the Queen Mary ship like the back of her hand as well as many of the key staff members, was instrumental in making our wedding day a relatively worry-free day. Despite the very warm temperature, and the fact that the previous wedding in the Verandah Grill went late cutting into our set up time, Linda and her team whipped everyone into shape and had everything set up looking beautiful by the time our ceremony began. As for Linda’s team, and I speak of her recommended choices for DJ (Angel City DJs), florist (Bixby Knolls Florist), cake (Rossmore) and linens (Stephanie’s Linens), as well as hair, makeup, and an amazing assistant, they were all marvelous and I am very grateful to Linda for recommending each and every one of them. The day didn’t go off without a hitch, however. As with any large event, there were minor hiccups. But with Linda’s oversight, our guests were none the wiser and everyone had an incredible time. Linda and her team of professionals provided us with a wedding day we will never forget. Thanks, Linda!

With Love, Kenny and Mary

Ryan Sent on 07/09/2012

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Having Linda Gray as our Wedding Planner was THE single best decision we made! Having a background in Event Planning myself, we weren't sure that we really needed to hire anyone for this, or rather if it was a "necessary expense" to include in our budget. But, after meeting with her just once, we knew we had to have her! The discounts she got us on the TOP NOTCH vendors we hired more than doubled what we paid for her services. Plus, she really made the whole process so much easier -- and more FUN -- for us, that I really cannot even imagine having planned our wedding without her. Because of her, and the quality people & vendors she brought to us, we had the wedding of our dreams!!

Trish Sent on 05/18/2012

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda is amazing! My husband and I interviewed several wedding planners before we met Linda, and as we walked out of her office, we knew she was the wedding planner for us. Throughout the wedding planning process, Linda was willing and ready to answer our questions, always with our wishes at the center of her answer.

One of the best things about Linda is her personality; warm and inviting, as well as honest and strong; qualities necessary when working with so many different types of people. Furthermore, due to Linda's wonderful recommendations for vendors, a well structured wedding staff was created. Not only was Linda able to secure an "impossible" ceremony site, she was able to obtain the perfect reception location. Within the first few moths of working with Linda, she was able to save us more than her fee.

While there are a multitude of wonderful things to say about Linda, the best thing is the friendship we created during the process.

Stacy Sent on 04/22/2012

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

When I saw the website for A Wedding Store, I knew A Wedding Store would help me create a beautiful wedding. What I did not know at that time is how much fun I would have planning my wedding! I am not one of those brides that had been planning her wedding since age 6. To be honest, I was dreading the amount of work that I supected a wedding would require. Linda, the owner of a wedding store, made everything a snap by bring most of the vendors to me at her convenient (and adorable!) office/showroom on Ocean in downtown Long Beach. She saved me driving all over L.A. trying to find vendors that fit my vision and my budget and instead, trotted out a stable of professional and talented vendors that fit the bill. Linda works with some great vendors and her relationship with the staff at Hotel Maya, where I had my wedding, helped move mountains. The discounts she got us in room fees alone at Hotel Maya more than paid for Linda's fee! While her work product and value were amazing, what really meant the most to me is how much fun Linda was to work with! My famiy and most of my close freinds are back in Chicago so the prospect of planning a wedding out here sounded a bit lonely. I was pretty sure my fiancee was not going to want to discuss shades of hot pink for hours on end the way a girlfriend would. Linda was more than a trusted professional, she became that friend that I needed to lean on during the planning process. She has a great, big, warm personality. She is way over the top but she uses all of that energy to serve as your wedding cheerleader. My wedding was everything I had hoped it would be and more! I can assure that the credit all goes to Linda at A Wedding Store! Love you Linda!

Jessica Sent on 04/17/2012

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

I was blessed enough to have been referred to Linda through my florist. I have to say Linda REALLY helped make my wedding amazing! We had a great venue, however they were not the most organized staff there. Had it not been for Linda I can only imagine what a disaster our wedding could have been including cost! She really knows what she is doing, she helped set us up with fantastic vendors, kept our budget in check and helped keep me as calm as possible for a bride to be lol! She really made things run smooth...coudn't have done it without her! She is definitely the person to go to for ANY help you need on your wedding. I saw another review calling her a friend for life, let me tell you I totally feel the same way!

Josephine Sent on 03/07/2012

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

To sum my experience with Linda at A Wedding Store would be - WOW! After months of procrastination and with the wedding approaching, we finally realized we have to have some professional help (3 weeks prior to the wedding)! Linda came highly recommended and after our initial phone conversation, I felt so at ease and relaxed! She helped us put everything together in literally 2 weeks and the wedding was spectacular!!! She's literally the best in the business and we have already booked her for any events we will have in the future!!!! She's definitely a part of us and our family now! We LOVE Linda!!!!

Joi Sent on 01/11/2012

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

When I first started my hunt for a wedding planner Linda is the only one who responded to my emails with an invitation to meet her personally before she gave me a generic price. She ended her email with "From your fairy godmother". That little touch resonated with me and I called her immediately. She listened to my ideas and turned my dreams in my head into a platinum wedding on a budget. Linda is one of a kind and when you meet her you will know exactly what I mean. She has a team of vendors she works with who are so professional and dependable. They worked with my budget and gave me more than I could have ever asked for. If you really want to enjoy the planning process you HAVE to work with Linda. She made all my appointments for me and I just had to show up and have fun. I never had a problem or stressed about what needed to be done. I planned one big thing each month so I had something to look forward to in the coming weeks which also kept things stress free. I would give her an idea I had and she would suggest something even better every time. I loved that. She, along with her team truly made my wedding a dream and a month later friends and family are still talking about it. If you want to sit back and have fun planning your wedding I would give Linda a call IMMEDIATELY. Linda you are truly the best at what you do and I love you for making my wedding more than what I could have ever dreamed.

Christine Sent on 10/02/2011

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda is AMAZING! She deserves more than 5 stars! She is incredibly helpful throughout the entire wedding planning process, no matter what your size or budget is.

My groom and I, as well as my parents and bridal party, were able to relax and enjoy our wedding day knowing that Linda was there to take care of the details and deal with any last minute issues should they arise (but with Linda on your team, there won't be any last minute issues!).

Linda has EXCELLENT contacts with other vendors, and she never steered us wrong with a recommendation on a vendor or an idea for the ceremony and reception. We had some vendors that we found on our own, and she worked as well with them as she does with the vendors she already has relationships with. Linda also handles difficult guests or situations with grace and aplomb.

She is worth her weight in gold, and we're certain she was able to save us well more than her fee in other areas of our wedding through her relationships with vendors. Plus, the peace of mind that she provides is priceless!

We were so happy and thankful that she was a part of our wedding day! Thank you Linda!

Jennifer Sent on 07/11/2011

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

SIMPLY THE BEST!!!!! I can't say enough about how wonderful and awesome Linda Gray is--you will not regret choosing A Wedding Store. Initially, I wasn't planning on hiring a wedding planner, but it was the BEST decision I made. Linda is first class and provides superb quality of service. Not only did Linda give us a reasonable rate, but she also saved us a ton of money based on her vendor relationships and extensive network! She is also excellent to work with because she is very responsive, listens to the bride's needs/wants/concerns and has years of experience to lean on. My wedding was this past Friday, July 8th, 2011, and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect wedding! I didn't have to worry about a thing on our wedding day because I had Linda. It was through Linda that we were able to get a free upgrade to the Presidential Suite the night before (for my girls and I) and get a lot of additional perks from vendors! Linda is the ultimate professional when it comes to making things happen and handling difficult situations. My fiance, a skeptic of hiring a wedding planner at first, noted after his first meeting with Linda that he doesn't know what we would do without her. Take my word for it--Linda is the best there is out there and you will not go wrong with Linda on your side. We LOVE you Linda--we couldn't have done it without you!!!!

Heather Sent on 03/30/2011

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda is the absolute BEST wedding planner a girl could ask for! She not only provided us with a very reasonable rate for her wedding planning services, but went above an beyond what we could have even expected. She helped us plan every detail of the wedding experience, from the site location to the wedding favors, and made the experience as stress free as possible. She offers a great selection of top notch vendors that added to the ease and professionalism of the experience. She went out of her way to make our dream wedding a reality. I would recommend her services for anyone wanting to throw a truly spectacular event!

Nina Sent on 03/24/2011

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda Gray, our wedding planner is awesome. We appreciate her responsiveness and professionalism. She made us feel at ease by going above & beyond her responsibilities to make sure the entire process is fun & stress free. On top on everything else, she saved us tons of money by negotiating with other vendors on our behalf. WE LOVE YOU LINDA! You have given us, our friends, & family a very memmorable experience.

Stacey Sent on 02/22/2011

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

FANTASTIC!! FANTASTIC!! FANTASTIC!! Linda absolutely made my wedding turn key perfect. Everything ran on time. Her vendors were excellent and I could not be happier. She even upgraded our town car to a beautiful white limo with champagne at no additional charge!! Thank you for making my special day one to remember forever.

Rachel Sent on 12/27/2010

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda is truly amazing. We met her at a bridal show and instantly fell in love with her. She made what would have otherwise been a very stressful year fun, educational and creative. Every vendor she introduced us to was really amazing, and each one of them told me how much they love working with Linda and how they are longtime colleagues of hers, which speaks volumes to her character. She is organized, pays attention to details, asked me questions about things I wouldn't have thought about on my own and kept the whole process thoroughly entertaining. She gave us her time and attention, and when she was with us she made us feel as though we were the only thing on her mind. It was great to have someone so involved, experienced and loving working to make our day so special. She truly cares about her clients, their thoughts and visions for their day, and becomes like a family member through the process. I would recommend Linda to anyone who needs help. Our wedding was perfect, and I owe it all to Linda!!!

Amanda Sent on 09/24/2010

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda Gray is a wedding savior! I could not have imagined planning my wedding without her. Before I started working with Linda, I thought the wedding planning process was going to be horribly stressful and painful, but Linda made the entire process really fun and enjoyable. I worked with Linda for a year and a half on my wedding. She holds herself and all the vendors she works with to very high standards. All the vendors she introduced me to were very professional and trustworthy. Her top priority is to do whatever she can to make sure you have a gorgeous wedding. I feel totally blessed to have found her- my wedding truly was a stunning event because of her. If you are looking for a superior wedding planner with a great personality, Linda Gray is for you!

Yasser Sent on 09/05/2010

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

What a fantastic wedding!! Linda did a fantastic job and we are so happy. She was punctual, professional, to the point. She did not waste a second of our time and her goal was to make our special day care free. She arranged transportation through American Limo which did an excellent job and our floral arrangements were also by one of her vendors, Deane. What a great experience and thanks for meeting our budget. We could not be happier.

Jenny Sent on 08/30/2010

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda is the best of the best!! Our wedding was truly the most magical day and Linda had a huge part in making our day run so perfectly. She provided us the BEST vendors who all worked so well together. Linda knows everyone and knows how to get things done. She was extremely caring and nothing short of wonderful throughout our whole wedding planning process. Every part of the wedding came together seamlessly as if it were a well rehearsed play. Hire Linda and you will be worry free on the day of your wedding!

Lara Sent on 10/01/2009

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

My recent wedding truly was the most amazing and magical day of my life and I feel like the reason it went so smoothly was because of Linda. Since the first time I met Linda I knew without hesitation she was the best of the best. She knows the business inside and out, and I never stressed about a thing once we started working together. She made planning my wedding a fun experience rather than a stress filled one. Words can?t express how grateful I am to have found Linda! My big day was so amazing because of how amazing she is at doing her job!

Victoria Sent on 04/02/2009

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

LINDA IS THE BEST!!! She helped make my wedding day the best day of my life! She truly is a blessing so I felt compelled to write this review. I never write reviews but Linda deserves all the thanks and praise. She was born to wedding plan and does it with professionalism, humor, and great energy. Stop looking around brides you found you woman!
Peace,
The Bride

Stacey Sent on 09/11/2008

5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Linda is the best. She made our wedding so easy and affordable. It was completely turn key and perfect. Her affiliates worked out perfectly and we had amzing floral arrangements, transportation services and catering. Cannot say enough nice things about Linda. I could not be happier.

Kim Sent on 01/09/2010

4.9 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

By far the best decision I made for my wedding was hiring Linda. Her constant enthusiasm and genuine care for every last detail made my night perfect. I couldn't of asked or expected to recieve better service from a wedding planner; she knows everyone in the wedding business and you are guaranteed to get the best vendors because of it. The biggest piece of advice I have- have her do it all, dont bother with the stress cause she is amazing!

Tom Sent on 07/01/2014

4.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

My Fiance and I chose the Hotel Maya for our special day. We ended up getting a wedding package from them that included Linda as our wedding coordinator. From the moment we met this special lady we could see that put together great weddings was her passion.

She helped us tremendously in our planning. She nevers pushed us, but did give us good ideas and feedback on our ideas.

On our big day, she took charge and made it perfect. My other vendors and officiant commented how good she was. She made sure we had everything we need before during and after. I think I even saw her tear up a little during the ceremony.

I could not imaging having a wedding without Linda! She is the best.

Dana Sent on 10/11/2008

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

Linda duPlaine Gray, of A Wedding Store & Special Events, was a fantastic wedding planner. She had a unique approach that I liked, which brought the vendors, whenever possible, to meet with you at her office location. That reduced the amount of running around we had to do during the planning process. Linda is connected with fabulous vendors, all of high quality and professionalism, and that means everything. She listened closely to what we wanted and found just the right vendors and amazing venues for us to consider, and she ensured that our big day ran smoothly and had the look and feel that I always dreamed about. I have to say that the wedding day went incredibly smooth and I had no worries about anything because I knew Linda was there running the show and that she would ensure it all went without a hitch. It was breathtaking and fabulous and Linda is a joy to work with. I would recommend her to anyone.

Heidi Sent on 06/01/2017

1.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
0.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
0.5 out of 5 rating
Value
0.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
2 out of 5 rating

I am limited to the number of characters in this review. Please refer to my Yelp review (dated 6/1/17) for a semi-full account of my experience with Linda. She will not save you money as she claims; just go with the suggested vendors from your venue! She was extremely rude and condescending to me and my guests and is constantly asking for money. Linda was extremely prompt to respond to phone calls and emails until we paid her balance. According to my guests, she did not set up everything properly or in a timely manner as she claimed she would, and she was only concerned with making sure we tipped her vendor friends. A few days before the wedding, Linda reminded me to have some cash on hand to tip the vendors. Starting after the ceremony, she brought that topic up again, and when I ignored her, she went to my husband behind my back. Throughout the entire reception, she kept reminding me to tip the vendors, and if we didn't have any money, we should take it from our gift envelopes. Professional is not in Linda's vocabulary as she is always smoking, loud, and obnoxious. Some people may think that's fun and call that "personality," but I say she's compensating for her outdated planning "skills." She scolded me for meeting up with a few of the vendors without her and for comparing prices; if you were truly confident in your trade, you would have no problem and encourage that just to validate your worth. The internet is a wonderful tool these days, and what makes a planner special is his or her finesse in running a smooth, stress-less wedding for the bride, and Linda has yet to figure that out.

Cheyden Sent on 10/20/2013

0.2 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
0 out of 5 rating
Average response time
1 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
0 out of 5 rating
Value
0 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
0 out of 5 rating

We’re the bride&groom,aka below-referenced "blue moon."A wedding planner is hired so things run smoothly&the way u want.It is their job to do what u want,instruct everyone accordingly,&ensure that NO ONE or nothing messes up ur big day.Linda focused on getting what she wanted instead of facilitating what we wanted,&could not deliver her own details on what was "supposed 2 happen."
A few things that went wrong w/hiring Linda:
The chuppah was missing a lace canopy over the 4poles. No family portraits or guest table pictures were taken as Linda stuck our bridal party&family in a room w/no instructions.The DJ didnot host,had a faulty microphone,&told guests not 2take home center pieces we purchased 4them.Linda opened 1 of our presents w/o asking 2 hold our $dance earnings,which she wanted 2 tip her unprepared vendors w/.Linda yelled@mom 4reminding her about the ringbearer carrying our rings&the cake brick.She threw our rings @mom, disappeared for 45 mins 2smoke outside w/a guest,&had 2be fetched from the back kitchen 2continue "coordinating."She didnot put boutonnieres/corsages on our party&forgot 2take table decor out of shoeboxes they were placed in.Our parents&pregnant cousin fixed the errors just in time 4processional.She had us make a table seating chart,which was shoved in the kitchen.After negotiating down her vendors’ quotes on our own,they came back higher after she discussed final details w/them.We were informed by a vendor that she receives 20%commission.She was rude 2our party,similar 2 this other viewer’s experience:(12/12/12 by Lily B.in San Gabriel-2 yelp stars): http://www.yelp.com/biz/a-wedding-store-and-special-events-long-beach?sort_by=rating_asc another blue moon?Funny,the review came from an innocent bystander.
If you decide 2forego our warnings,note:
1.When Linda"robs peter 2pay Paul,"her vendors r Paul & u r Peter,the only person being robbed from.
2.NoMatter how manyTimes u talk2Linda,u will end up w/what's convenient&easy 4her

A Wedding Store & Special Events Reviews

Reviews

A Wedding Store & Special Events