Dilettante at Heart Reviews

Reviews

• Hana Sent on 10/11/2013
  5 out of 5 rating

  5.0
  • Quality of service
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Average response time
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Professionalism
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Value
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Flexibility
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0

  Dilettante at Heart in two words: "flawless execution." My husband and I were extremely grateful to have Michelle as our day-of coordinator. Michelle and her assistant made sure that the caterers, lighting guy, DJs, musicians, florist, cake artist, bridal party, and guests all knew exactly where to be at the right time. You know Michelle's serious when her team maneuvered around our venue in head sets and walkie-talkies. We felt like celebrities at a Hollywood event. Many of our guests later remarked that our wedding was the first Asian wedding they had ever been to that started on time.
  
  Here is a short list of things Michelle did for us during rehearsal and on our wedding day:
  (1) created a detailed excel spreadsheet with timing, locations, items to bring, and all of the key players' contact information
  (2) organized and facilitated our rehearsal
  (3) made last-minute place cards for ~20 guests whose cards we had misplaced
  (4) ensured that all vendors set up properly
  (5) cued our entrance music perfectly
  (6) gathered groups together for photos after the ceremony (not an easy feat, as most guests were more concerned about getting in line for mojitos and appetizers)
  (7) cued each speaker on when to give his/her toast
  (8) made sure that we got to eat our dinner entrees in between table photos
  (9) packed all of my belongings and placed them into my trunk at the end of the night
  
  Not to mention Michelle's support and guidance before the wedding:
  (1) recommended budget-friendly yet high-quality and professional vendors (I ended up using Michelle's recs for my hair/make-up, DJ, and cake)
  (2) sent weekly reminders on suggested tasks
  (3) genuinely cared about our vision and never imposed her own opinions unless we asked for them (and we had some pretty wacky ideas)
  (4) shouldered many last-minute tasks the week before the wedding so that we could get more sleep
  
  . . . and Michelle managed to do all of the above, and more, with a smile on her face.

  Dilettante at Heart in two words: "flawless execution." My husband and I were extremely grateful to have Michelle as our day-of coordinator. Michelle and her assistant made sure that the caterers, lighting guy, DJs, musicians, florist, cake artist, bridal party, and guests all knew exactly where to be at the right time. You know Michelle's serious when her team maneuvered around our venue in head sets and walkie-talkies. We felt like celebrities at a Hollywood event. Many of our guests later remarked that our wedding was the first Asian wedding they had ever been to that started on time.
  
  Here is a short list of things Michelle did for us during rehearsal and on our wedding day:
  (1) created a detailed excel spreadsheet with timing, locations, items to bring, and all of the key players' contact information
  (2) organized and facilitated our rehearsal
  (3) made last-minute place cards for ~20 guests whose cards we had misplaced
  (4) ensured that all vendors set up properly
  (5) cued our entrance music perfectly
  (6) gathered groups together for photos after the ceremony (not an easy feat, as most guests were more concerned about getting in line for mojitos and appetizers)
  (7) cued each speaker on when to give his/her toast
  (8) made sure that we got to eat our dinner entrees in between table photos
  (9) packed all of my belongings and placed them into my trunk at the end of the night
  
  Not to mention Michelle's support and guidance before the wedding:
  (1) recommended budget-friendly yet high-quality and professional vendors (I ended up using Michelle's recs for my hair/make-up, DJ, and cake)
  (2) sent weekly reminders on suggested tasks
  (3) genuinely cared about our vision and never imposed her own opinions unless we asked for them (and we had some pretty wacky ideas)
  (4) shouldered many last-minute tasks the week before the wedding so that we could get more sleep
  
  . . . and Michelle managed to do all of the above, and more, with a smile on her face.
• Alina Sent on 09/23/2013
  5 out of 5 rating

  5.0
  • Quality of service
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Average response time
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Professionalism
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Value
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Flexibility
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0

  Michelle is so creative, she just brings your vision to life and goes above and beyond! She made very unique table card numbers to go with my theme, without my asking, they were definitely aligned with my theme for the wedding! She was incredibly responsive via email and flexibility with meeting in person. She really cares about her clients and does what she can to make the whole process smooth and stress-free! Thank you!

  Michelle is so creative, she just brings your vision to life and goes above and beyond! She made very unique table card numbers to go with my theme, without my asking, they were definitely aligned with my theme for the wedding! She was incredibly responsive via email and flexibility with meeting in person. She really cares about her clients and does what she can to make the whole process smooth and stress-free! Thank you!
• Natalie Sent on 05/30/2012
  5 out of 5 rating

  5.0
  • Quality of service
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Average response time
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Professionalism
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Value
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Flexibility
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0

  Exceptionally Ingenuity.
  
  Every detail was intimate, and exquisite.
  
  Planning a singular day to symbolize a lifetime of memories was overwhelming. Dilettante at Heart supported my visions all the while supplying quixotic details that exceeded well beyond expectations.
  Brilliant, resourceful, accommodating, organized and detail-oriented.
  

  Exceptionally Ingenuity.
  
  Every detail was intimate, and exquisite.
  
  Planning a singular day to symbolize a lifetime of memories was overwhelming. Dilettante at Heart supported my visions all the while supplying quixotic details that exceeded well beyond expectations.
  Brilliant, resourceful, accommodating, organized and detail-oriented.
  
• Lawrence Sent on 06/05/2012
  4.9 out of 5 rating

  4.9
  • Quality of service
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Average response time
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Professionalism
    4.5 out of 5 rating
    4.5
  • Value
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Flexibility
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0

  When we were planning out wedding, we had a really tight budget, we were not sure what we were doing for the wedding. Along came Michelle. Boy did she help us out alot. She found ways for us to save money and created wonderful decorations for our wedding. She created a perfect time line for us and orchestrated a beautiful wedding for us.
  
  If you are in need of a planner and someone who can organize a wedding, she is the person who you want to hire.
  
  Thank you Michelle! It was you who made our wedding beautiful and memorable. Thank you again.

  When we were planning out wedding, we had a really tight budget, we were not sure what we were doing for the wedding. Along came Michelle. Boy did she help us out alot. She found ways for us to save money and created wonderful decorations for our wedding. She created a perfect time line for us and orchestrated a beautiful wedding for us.
  
  If you are in need of a planner and someone who can organize a wedding, she is the person who you want to hire.
  
  Thank you Michelle! It was you who made our wedding beautiful and memorable. Thank you again.
• Lina Sent on 06/01/2012
  4.5 out of 5 rating

  4.5
  • Quality of service
    4.5 out of 5 rating
    4.5
  • Average response time
    4.0 out of 5 rating
    4.0
  • Professionalism
    4.0 out of 5 rating
    4.0
  • Value
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Flexibility
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0

  Michelle was our wedding day coordinator, but also included pre-wedding day planning such as a site visit and wedding rehearsal, which was very nice! She also has a full wedding planner package option, which is probably more standard.
  
  What we liked were:
  1. Very good with timekeeping. When things came up (such as extra people wanting to give toasts, or if were behind schedule, she would touch base with me again to see what I wanted to do). Overall, our wedding day was on track 90% of the time, despite us not factoring in "asian time".
  
  2. Excellent decorations: I had planned out all my decorations in advance, Michelle took care of other little details that I didn't even think about or have time to deal with on the wedding day. for example, she designed the rose petals on the lawn in an amazing pattern, she added some orchids to our check-in table, and decorated our cake table with organza and rose petals. Some brides may not feel comfortable giving this much autonomy to a wedding planner, but I trusted her taste entirely. (Just take a look at her pictures from previous weddings to see if it's in your taste)
  
  3. When we went around the reception tables to greet guests, Michelle prepared the next table in advance to make sure everyone was ready. We visited 13 tables in less than 20 minutes! It was amazing!
  
  4. Michelle is very detailed- she made a 7 page excel spreadsheet of the wedding day timeline. For future brides, I'd recommend using an online document in the future such as googledocs or dropbox so that changes are synchronized, and accessible to all members of the wedding party and vendors. I didn't do this and send my coordinator about 20 copies of updated timelines.
  
  The only thing I'd recommend is to make sure you have someone to queue the musicians, and make it clear whose role this will be. It may be difficult for the wedding coordinator to do both depending on the layout of your ceremony site (make sure there's good visibility of both the wedding part and the musician(s). This was one of the things I didn't pay attention to while planning with Michelle, and we had a small delay in our processional music. In the big picture though, I dont think the guests even noticed though.
  
  Remember, things will not go exactly as planned! Be flexible, and trust your coordinator. I had a perfect wedding with Michelle's help! I called her the "glue" in my wedding.

  Michelle was our wedding day coordinator, but also included pre-wedding day planning such as a site visit and wedding rehearsal, which was very nice! She also has a full wedding planner package option, which is probably more standard.
  
  What we liked were:
  1. Very good with timekeeping. When things came up (such as extra people wanting to give toasts, or if were behind schedule, she would touch base with me again to see what I wanted to do). Overall, our wedding day was on track 90% of the time, despite us not factoring in "asian time".
  
  2. Excellent decorations: I had planned out all my decorations in advance, Michelle took care of other little details that I didn't even think about or have time to deal with on the wedding day. for example, she designed the rose petals on the lawn in an amazing pattern, she added some orchids to our check-in table, and decorated our cake table with organza and rose petals. Some brides may not feel comfortable giving this much autonomy to a wedding planner, but I trusted her taste entirely. (Just take a look at her pictures from previous weddings to see if it's in your taste)
  
  3. When we went around the reception tables to greet guests, Michelle prepared the next table in advance to make sure everyone was ready. We visited 13 tables in less than 20 minutes! It was amazing!
  
  4. Michelle is very detailed- she made a 7 page excel spreadsheet of the wedding day timeline. For future brides, I'd recommend using an online document in the future such as googledocs or dropbox so that changes are synchronized, and accessible to all members of the wedding party and vendors. I didn't do this and send my coordinator about 20 copies of updated timelines.
  
  The only thing I'd recommend is to make sure you have someone to queue the musicians, and make it clear whose role this will be. It may be difficult for the wedding coordinator to do both depending on the layout of your ceremony site (make sure there's good visibility of both the wedding part and the musician(s). This was one of the things I didn't pay attention to while planning with Michelle, and we had a small delay in our processional music. In the big picture though, I dont think the guests even noticed though.
  
  Remember, things will not go exactly as planned! Be flexible, and trust your coordinator. I had a perfect wedding with Michelle's help! I called her the "glue" in my wedding.