Atlas Design Studio Reviews
Reviews
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
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![Daphne]()
Daphne Sent on 04/28/2026TY Chelsea!
We had a fantastic experience working with Chelsea as our partial wedding planner for our October wedding at Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley! Planning from the East Coast could have been stressful, but her deep knowledge of local vendors made everything easy—she consistently recommended options that really fit our vision, vibe, and venue (and budget).
She kept us organized throughout a longer planning timeline, helping manage deadlines in a way that never felt overwhelming and was always quick to respond for questions big and small. We also really appreciated how she encouraged us to be creative while offering her honest perspective when we needed it.
Overall, Chelsea made the process smooth, organized, and enjoyable. We’re so grateful to have worked with her and would recommend her and the Atlas team. Thank you Chelsea!! -
![Jillian]()
Jillian Sent on 02/17/2026Atlas is the best
Chelsea and Katie from Atlas were truly the BEST decision we made for our wedding. Honestly, my husband keeps saying that hiring Atlas was the best money we spent and he’s absolutely right.
I’m someone who loves control and even considered DIY planning our wedding… and WOW am I grateful I didn’t. Chelsea was the perfect balance of involved, organized, detail-oriented, and calm, cool, and collected. She completely understood our vision and brought it to life in a way that felt seamless and stress-free.
Throughout the planning process, Chelsea gave us amazing vendor insights, incredibly helpful budget guidance, and tailored everything to fit our specific priorities. She was always quick and thorough in her responses, kept me in the loop, and somehow managed to handle a million moving parts behind the scenes so I never felt overwhelmed.
And the wedding day itself? Pure magic. I was not asked a single question the entire day. Not one. I got to be fully present and just soak it all in, knowing everything was handled. Tables and chairs were set perfectly, the guestbook was filled with sweet notes, and at the end of the night our cards, gifts, and even dessert magically appeared in our honeymoon suite.
One moment I will never forget is when my wedding dress clasp broke right after the ceremony. The kind of thing that could easily send a bride into a spiral. Chelsea calmly and flawlessly sewed me back into my dress in minutes. It happened again later (!!!) with my second look and she handled it just as smoothly the second time. What could have been a total meltdown moment was barely a blip because of her.
Chelsea is steady, capable, and somehow makes everything look effortless. Katie was wonderful as well and such a supportive presence throughout the day. I truly felt taken care of from start to finish.
If you’re even slightly on the fence about hiring Atlas, DO IT. You will never regret having these gals in your corner. -
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![Savannah]()
Savannah Sent on 01/21/2026Chelsea made our perfect day even more perfect!
Chelsea from Atlas Design Studio was truly the best wedding planner we could have asked for. We got married at La Playa Hotel in Carmel in August 2025, and from start to finish she made the entire process feel completely stress-free and effortless.
As an anxious bride, having Chelsea by my side was everything — she is incredibly calm, chill, and easygoing in the best possible way. Any time I had a question, concern, or moment of overthinking, she was always available, reassuring, and on top of every detail. She made me feel supported without ever adding pressure.
The day of our wedding ran so smoothly that we were able to fully enjoy ourselves and be present, knowing everything was handled. Chelsea coordinated everything seamlessly behind the scenes, and it truly showed.
We genuinely could not have done this without her. If you’re looking for a planner who is organized, reliable, calming, and an absolute joy to work with, Chelsea is it. I cannot recommend Atlas Design Studio enough. -
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![Kathleen]()
Kathleen Sent on 11/30/2025The best choice you'll make for your wedding
We absolutely loved working with Katie at Atlas Design! If you're looking for someone who can take the chaos and stress out of wedding planning, then Katie is your pick. Her expertise as a planner, the number of amazing vendors she knows and can recommend to make all the other facets of your day easy, her clear and quick communication, her impeccable organization, and the fact that she has an answer or a piece of advice for every wedding-related question you could ever have made her an absolutely vital part of our wedding. She also has wonderful taste and helped us solidify what our dream wedding would look and feel like, creating detailed mood boards and rental recommendations, giving guidance on the flow of the day and the layout of our venue spaces, and so much more. On the day of our wedding, my husband and I got to live fully in the moment and didn't worry about a single thing because Katie had everything under control. She is someone you can 100% trust and rely on, someone who will keep you informed and organized through the entire wedding process, and someone who is kind, professional, and a joy to work with. 10/10, the best decision we could have made for our wedding planner! -
Anastasia Sent on 12/21/2024
2024 Wedding
Choosing Katie and Chelsea at Atlas Design was the best decision we made, and easily the most impactful on our wedding. We needed someone who could quarterback the wedding process for us, and Katie went above and beyond that. Throughout planning Katie was so easy to work and personable. Her organization and clear communication kept us on track for important deadlines. Katie made the process actually fun.
While we had some initial ideas, Katie really helped shape our vision for the wedding. From selecting the venue, choosing vendors, picking rentals…Katie had everything organized, on a timeline, and within our budget. Despite us living on the opposite coast and only being able to make it to the venue a few times, we felt 10000% at ease knowing that Katie was there and making sure our day would be perfect.
All of our other vendors, loved and raved about working with Katie. And we completely understand why. And even when small things didn’t go to plan, Katie had our back and made sure to push the vendors to make things right.
Our wedding day was totally seamless and allowed us to really be present, have fun with our guests, and make memories for a lifetime. Katie worked her magic in the background to make sure everything would come out as planned.
We couldn’t recommend working with Atlas Design enough. If you have the opportunity, book Katie & Atlas Design without a second thought. -
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![Sarah]()
Sarah Sent on 12/13/2024Hands down the best!!!
Selecting Chelsea as our wedding planner was undoubtedly one of the best decisions we made. From our first meeting, her professionalism and warm demeanor immediately put us at ease. She possesses a rare combination of creative vision and meticulous organization, effortlessly guiding us through every stage of planning. Chelsea expertly translated our ideas into a stunning design plan, flawlessly capturing the aesthetic we hoped for.
Beyond her design expertise, Chelsea proved invaluable in coordinating our vendors, ensuring seamless communication and advocating for our preferences every step of the way. Her extensive industry connections were instrumental in securing the perfect team to execute our vision.
On our wedding day, we were met with some unexpected rain, which naturally caused panic :) However, Chelsea remained calm and collected, expertly managing the situation and ensuring our day remained flawless and stress-free.
Chelsea consistently went above and beyond to provide exceptional service, offering invaluable advice and support throughout the entire process. Her presence on our wedding day provided an overwhelming sense of calm, allowing us to fully embrace every moment.
We wholeheartedly recommend Chelsea to any couple. Her professionalism, keen eye for design, and unwavering commitment to excellence are truly unparalleled. Our wedding was an absolute dream come true, thanks in large part to Chelsea's invaluable contributions!! -
![Jillian]()
Jillian Sent on 11/10/2024Amazing wedding planning partners!
Working with Chelsea and Atlas Design Studio was one of the best decisions we made throughout our wedding planning. Her clear communication, organized process, strong industry knowledge, bubbly personality, and relatable humor made wedding planning so simple and fun! It was so easy to immediately click with Chelsea; she is an amazing listener and could turn a quick email or conversation about what we were picturing into reality without us every having to check back in. Atlas' partial planning package was the perfect way to get the trusted vendor recommendations we needed. Atlas knew our venue (Holman Ranch in Oct) like the back of their hands as well as every vendor in Monterey County. Chelsea made us feel like we were in safe hands throughout, always keeping us informed on upcoming deadlines and taking over all communications completely closer to the date. On the day, we didn't have to worry about anything because we knew she had it covered. We loved working with Chelsea and would whole-heartedly recommend her to anyone! -
![Perla]()
Perla Sent on 08/30/2024Exceptional Planning Services
Katie was an exceptional wedding planner who made our entire experience stress-free and enjoyable. Her relaxed yet effective approach ensured everything went smoothly. Whenever people asked about our wedding planning, we were thrilled to report that it was all going wonderfully without any stress.
Katie strikes the perfect balance between a laid-back demeanor and the ability to be assertive when needed, which kept everything on track and ensured timely responses. Her design sense is remarkable; she provided invaluable input when I was unsure and her taste was spot-on.
When unexpected challenges arose, including an unplanned pregnancy, Katie was incredibly supportive and reassuring. She gave us the space we needed while guiding us through the process, helping us stay focused on our vision.
I can’t thank Katie enough for her dedication and expertise. She truly brought our vision to life and went above and beyond to make our day perfect. For anyone seeking a wedding planner, Katie is absolutely the best choice. We highly recommend her! -
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![Emily]()
Emily Sent on 07/26/2024You can't find anyone better!!!
Katie and Chelsea are nothing short of THE BEST!!! Their talent and dedication made our Carmel-by-the-Sea wedding an absolutely dream come true. They helped us plan and execute everything in less than 11 months, and they were there with us every step of the way - handling every detail with professionalism. Not only was the planning itself fantastic, but my wedding looked like it was straight out of a magazine, thanks to them!
Additionally, their knowledge of the Bay Area was invaluable! Their ability to manage vendors and coordinate logistics (as well as deal with my extremely Type A personality) exceeded all expectations. We cannot thank Katie and Chelsea enough for creating such a magical and unforgettable experience. They are truly the best wedding planners with the most amazing personalities - we couldn't have asked for anyone better and they are 100% part of our family now!!!! -
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Alice Sent on 10/26/2023
Atlas is the best!!
Working with Chelsea at Atlas Design was hands down the BEST decision we could have made for our wedding. From the initial call with Chelsea to the end of our hectic wedding night, I always felt comfortable and taken care of. Chelsea is SO personable and sweet with the best taste. I felt like she took my vision to the next level and really listened to what I was looking for. Nothing felt too small for her which was an amazing feeling! Chelsea also had amazing vendor contacts and gave me great advice. The day of our wedding went so smooth because of Chelsea. She helped all the details come together and I truly had nothing to worry about. Although I can't hire her again to plan my wedding, I want to give her contact to all my bride friends so I can experience the magic they create again!! Seriously, the best -
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![Britt]()
Britt Sent on 09/01/2023Hire them!
Atlas Design Studio was the best find of my wedding planner journey. After connecting with Katie & Chelsea we immediately knew we had to hire them. We were paired up with Chelsea and it was a match made in heaven. We wanted a planner who was on top of her stuff, met our vibe and made the whole process feel FUN - Chelsea did all of that and more. She has this unique thing about her where she is so relaxed and calm about everything while checking everything off and making sure everybody is in their place at the same time.
When it came to wedding weekend (we hired her for our rehearsal/welcome, as well) she was everywhere all at once! She made us feel at ease and commanded the room/vendors/bridal party/family when we needed her to. She helped to bring our full vision to life and we couldn't have done it without her. If you're looking for a planner - you've found your gal. I will truly miss working with you, Chels!
ps. I also had other vendors we hired reached out to tell us how amazing she was to work with and echoed the exact sentiment above.
-Britt -
Pam C. Sent on 08/23/2023
Katie is a Wedding Saint
Katie from Atlas Designs is the absolute dream wedding planner!! Don't let her Santa Cruz laid back vibe fool you - she is ultra organized, has an amazing eye for design and planned a wedding weekend for me that was just magical. She's an amazingly kind person who also happens to be extremely talented at what she does. She's the best in the biz and a huge reason why I had zero nerves on my wedding day. She has an aura of calm that is contagious - no catastrophe will shake her. Her excellence is reflected by every vendor jumping at the chance to work with you because they know they are in good hands. Do yourself a major favor and get Katie on board. You'll have a great wedding but you'll also get a chance to work with someone truly special and talented!! -
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![Mujda]()
Mujda Sent on 12/16/2022Absolute professionals with incredible taste
I cannot say enough good things about Katie! Like many other couples, we had to reschedule our 2020 wedding due to COVID. I did not have it in me to plan another wedding all on my own, so my husband and I hired Katie. She was a true professional through the entire process. Our wedding was far beyond our wildest dreams (and way better than anything I could have planned on my own)! I didn't really have a clear vision of what I wanted and had a hard time articulating what I was looking for. But Katie asked all the right questions and ran with my vague suggestions to put on a beautiful and memorable event. Our guests could not stop gushing about how stunning everything was and how seamlessly the night went. Katie remembered every detail and left absolutely nothing to chance. If you're at all on the fence about hiring Atlas Design Studio, you will NOT regret it -
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![Haley]()
Haley Sent on 09/12/2022Personalized Approach, Highly Recommend
The Atlas team were an absolute pleasure to work with. Not only were they responsive, creative, and organized, they approached everything with a sense of humor and lightheartedness that is duly needed when planning a large-scale event. Highly recommend! -
Rachel Sent on 07/13/2022
Katie is a STAR..even with a Type A bride ;)
Katie was a STAR on our wedding day and in the planning phase up until it. We utilized her to help with month-of planning and design support and I couldn't be happier that I did. I am Type A and have been a bridesmaid a dozen times so I knew what I needed to do generally, but having Katie as my main counsel for decision making and then turning over the reins the month before was a lifesaver. I was truly able to trust that she'd follow up on all details (correctly) and when we got to that month-of she was super detail oriented and responsive. Communication was #1 for me and I never felt like I had to chase her or wait for her reply. She is dependable and reliable while being easy going, detail-oriented and always has a smile on her face. I was able to be honest and direct with her and I also tried to find ways to save money and she was very helpful and resourceful in doing so. At the end of the day, Atlas will help bring the wedding of your dreams to life!! Couldn't recommend them more! -
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![Samantha]()
Samantha Sent on 06/02/2022Amazing wedding planner and designer
Altas Design Studio team was amazing! I'm definitely a Type-A personality who likes getting things done. Katie, not only she was personable, she was the type of person who gets it done! She was on our team for the long haul. She knew what I wanted and helped plan everything altogether. I was headstrong on my vision and she exceeded my expectations! I wanted someone who understood the logistics of the venue (Waterfall Lodge & Retreat) and design what works best. She helped out with the vendors and provided great guidance, let alone understood my budget. I cannot thank Katie enough! She contributed so much on my special day. You definitely need her on your team if you want perfection. All of my wedding guests were in awe of everything. We love you Katie! Thank you so much. -
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![Kristine]()
Kristine Sent on 04/04/2022Amazing, professional, high-quality, low-stress experience
There's so much to say about Atlas Design Studio, it's hard to know where to start. We first started talking to Katie in February of 2020 after we booked our venue. She came highly recommended and we liked her approach to wedding planning. Her pricing is also extremely reasonable for what she offers. She works with you to set a budget, build a mood board, and gather all the vendors to make your wedding vision come true.
March 2020 hit and COVID introduced a lot of uncertainty into our wedding planning. Katie helped us take it step by step and was highly communicative with us in general; we greatly appreciated her time and effort here.
We also had an unfortunate situation with our original wedding photographer who we booked for both engagement and wedding photos but never talked to again after we asked to move the wedding date due to COVID. Katie did all in her power to help us contact the photographer and find a backup plan. Unfortunately we had to let go the original photographer and we ended up going with one of her other recommendations for a photographer, which worked out great.
When we had to move our wedding date, we started working with Katie's assistant, Chelsea. Chelsea is just as professional as Katie; she was very responsive about all our random inquiries, helped us navigate vendor timelines, and decided on final rental details. She defined an ambitious yet manageable timeline for the weekend (which I think was executed very well considering there were few if any vendor mishaps) and helped us address last-minute rain concerns. The rain literally appeared in the forecast the week of the wedding and sent us into a scramble since this was an outdoor wedding; Chelsea (and Katie) were essential to the process of deciding and executing on backup plans.
After two years of planning, we finally had our wedding. The entire wedding weekend went without a hitch and many of our guests complimented us on how smooth the wedding went. The wedding turned out beautiful, memorable and just what we wanted. We're very grateful to Katie and Chelsea for all their hard work; without them I don't think the wedding would have been nearly as successful. -
Francesca Sent on 01/02/2022
Atlas design studio made it possible!
Katie is an incredibly gifted and dedicated wedding designer and planner! She and her team ensured our October 2021 Carmel wedding exceeded our expectations!
I contacted Katie 9 months before our wedding date knowing that I was well over my abilities (read panicking a bit) in organizing a destination wedding allowing our family to blend together. It was important that we include our four kids in the entire day as well as ensure that our out-of-town guests enjoyed their experience. She not only made it happen in a short amount of time but also during a pandemic...and what seemed like hundreds of delayed Covid weddings happening in the same month... with some staffing shortages in the service industry...also while finalizing the details of her own wedding!
The process was so easy and for two busy professionals with minimal time her organization skills and patience gave us peace of mind that she had it all handled. From the design board she presented encompassing the feel and overall mood we were hoping to achieve, to the recommendation of a dream team of vendors, her ability to pivot when needed and offer options, millions of questions I had that she handled with patience, to the day-of organization, we could not have had a better experience with Atlas Design Studio.
Thank you Katie!!
The Jacobs
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![Nicole]()
Nicole Sent on 10/18/2021Great team to work with!
Working with Katie and Chelsea was wonderful! I can't recommend them enough! I worked with Katie initially and she helped me find the perfect vendors and helped so much with the styling of the wedding. The fact that Katie offers design help was what made me choose her over others, and I'm so happy I did! My friends all told me it was the best styled and most fun wedding they had ever been to! Chelsea was there on the day of and was a life saver! I was a little stressed (not surprising) and sent her a somewhat frantic text in the morning. She helped calm me down and even arrived early to help me out! Our wedding was absolutely perfect and I know a large part of that was due to working with Atlas Design Studio. Thanks ladies!! -
![Casey]()
Casey Sent on 09/14/2021Knocked it out of the park!
Katie and Chelsea worked with me for my Labor Day wedding and absolutely killed it in every sense. I hired Atlas in May just as COVID restrictions were lifted and I knew I would actually be able to plan the wedding of my dreams... which was scheduled a few months from that time. I needed a lot of help sourcing vendors and planning how my big day would look. They designed the most GORGEOUS wedding and helped me find fabulous local vendors I would not have known about had it not been for their strong relationships throughout the wedding industry.
These girls were so cool, very considerate of my time, super responsive and detail oriented. Come wedding day, everything ran so smoothly (and if anything went wrong I certainly didn't know about it!).
I hopefully will never have to hire them again (ha - ha) but would recommend them to absolutely anyone in search of a fantastic planner & design duo. -
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![Ahmed]()
Ahmed Sent on 09/04/2021Queen of dessert bars!
What a team! Atlas brought to life a dream two years (and two postponements) in the making. We’re so lucky to have worked with Chelsea and Katie, who executed our event (down to the last detail) with such care, while managing to keep us calm, hydrated, and happy at every minute of our wedding. The event displays were extraordinary and the dessert bar was SUBLIME -- truly the QUEEN of all desert bars. THANK YOU ATLAS! -
![Jen]()
Jen D. Sent on 10/22/2019Katie is the best!
I had the pleasure of working with Katie Hillenga for my wedding and I could not have asked for a better wedding coordinator!! She is very knowledgeable of vendors in the area, responds quickly to emails, texts and phone calls, remains organized throughout the process, and has a very professional and calm demeanor. She was very accommodating to making my vision for my wedding a reality and was always available to answer any questions I had or offer advice based on her experience in the field. I cannot say enough good things about Katie and my experience working with her. I would recommend anyone looking for a coordinator to book her ASAP! You won’t be disappointed! -
![Kaitlyn]()
Kaitlyn Sent on 09/23/2019Katie is the best in the business
Katie will turn your wedding into a stress-free dream wedding!!! She is seriously everything you could want in a wedding coordinator - organized, professional, communicative, detail-oriented, knowledgeable, artistic eye, money saving tips, and an all around pleasure to be around. She was an advocate for us with our less than responsive (or new to the business) vendors in the weeks leading up to the wedding and kept everything running smoothly and on schedule day-of. She was flexible when I last minute decided not to do bouquet/garter toss, but also efficient with gentle reminders when it was time to get things rolling. I highly recommend hiring her for your wedding! I could not imagine this day without her. -
![Meghan]()
Meghan Sent on 07/25/2019Highly Recommend!
I would highly recommend Katie as your wedding planner AND I would also highly recommend you get a wedding planner for your wedding, especially Day-of, because there are just so many things to think about and timing to keep track of that it really helps to have someone professional like Katie who can take care of everything so you can enjoy your day.
We just got married in July at Holman Ranch and we were lucky to have Katie be our Day of Coordinator. She was amazing and I can't imagine having our wedding without her help. She is super organized, professional, responsive to emails/texts/calls, and she knows her stuff and is on top of it. She was a calming presence on our wedding day, and was good at keeping us on schedule to get photos done, hurry to not miss the sunset for photos, remind us of cake cutting time, etc Overall she made sure everything was taken care of so we could enjoy the day and spend time with our loved ones.
I was also really impressed by all of her work before the wedding to make sure all details were thought of, vendors contacted, and she also helped find a few last minute vendors. I really appreciate her taste and attention to detail, and she is just an overall very pleasant person to be around. She is a real gem! I highly recommend hiring Katie for your wedding!
Also, if you are getting married at Holman Ranch, Katie is your gal as she knows everyone and knows the venue very well.
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