MGT Events Reviews
Reviews
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
-
Featured
Camila Sent on 10/01/2025An Invaluable Partner for Our Perfect Authentic Puerto Rican Wedding
My husband and I are Puerto Ricans living on the mainland, and MGT Events LLC was absolutely instrumental in helping us plan our dream wedding back on the island in August over the past year. We had a very specific vision for a celebration that truly reflected our culture, and she not only understood that—she embraced it and made it better than we could have imagined. Planning from afar seemed daunting, but she was an absolute professional and a calming presence from start to finish.
Her pricing was very reasonable, especially for the immense value and peace of mind she provided to a couple planning remotely. She was always highly responsive and truly listened to our vision, collaborating with us to accomplish everything we wanted.
A huge weight was lifted off our shoulders with her handling of all the logistics on the ground. She seamlessly integrated vendors we had found with her own trusted network, managing all the day-to-day communications and coordination. Her team was fantastic, consistently offering creative ideas that helped formulate and enhance our vision for the day.
Her crucial, honest guidance about the realities of planning a wedding in Puerto Rico was a lifesaver. She prepared us for the different timelines and vendor processes compared to the mainland, managing our expectations around communication and payment methods. This local expertise was invaluable for us planning from a distance and prevented so much potential stress, ensuring our authentic Puerto Rican celebration was seamless and true to our roots.
We never felt she was making decisions just to make herself look good; every suggestion was made with our best interests at heart, ultimately creating the vibrant, genuine Puerto Rican wedding experience we had always wanted. If you're planning a destination wedding in Puerto Rico, especially from the mainland, we cannot recommend MGT Events LLC highly enoughMGT Events's reply:
Camila and Kevin, working with you was an absolute pleasure. Thank you for your extremely kind words and for always trusting us throughout the planning process. Here in PR, we are always at your service! -
-
![Fiesta]()
Fiesta Sent on 04/28/2026Efficient, Organized, and Easy to Work With
Working alongside MGT Events for a wedding in Rincón, Puerto Rico was a seamless experience from start to finish. As an event vendor, you can immediately tell when a team has their process locked in—and MGT does.
Communication was clear, timely, and consistent leading up to the event, which made preparation straightforward on our end. During the wedding itself, their coordination was efficient and well-managed, allowing every vendor to focus on execution without unnecessary friction.
The MGT team was present, attentive, and solution-oriented throughout the event. When adjustments were needed—as is normal in live events—they handled everything professionally and without disruption.
We’ve also had the opportunity to collaborate with MGT Events on smaller-scale events, and the level of organization and professionalism has been consistent across the board.
From a vendor perspective, working with a team like MGT Events makes a real difference. It’s the kind of partnership that leads to better events overall.MGT Events's reply:
Thank you so much, Fiesta Bar team! We truly appreciate your words and the opportunity to collaborate with you.
From the planning process to event day, having vendors who are responsive, professional, and committed to a smooth execution makes such a difference. We value partnerships where everyone understands the importance of communication, timing, and teamwork — and working with your team has been exactly that.
Thank you for being part of our events and for helping us create seamless experiences for our clients and their guests. Looking forward to many more collaborations together! -
-
![Brendalee]()
Brendalee Sent on 04/28/2026Amazing Team!
As a Master of Ceremonies contractor and assistant coordinator, it is always a pleasure working with Mariela from MGT Events—Mariela Gonzalez Tardy
Her professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine care for each client truly set her apart. Mariela consistently goes the extra mile to ensure that every special day and every event becomes a memorable, seamless experience. What stands out most is her ability to focus on the unique details and meaningful moments that make each celebration personal and unforgettable.
Seeing firsthand how much she genuinely cares is what makes her—and her entire team—so exceptional. That level of dedication is rare, and it’s exactly what makes MGT Events such a standout company.
I’m always proud to be called back to work alongside her, time and time again.
MGT Events's reply:
Thank you so much, Brenda! Coming from someone who works so closely with us behind the scenes, your words mean more than you know.
You have been such an important part of so many of our events, and we are always grateful for the professionalism, heart, and energy you bring to every wedding day. Having people on our team who truly understand the responsibility behind each celebration makes all the difference.
Thank you for seeing the care, the details, and the love we put into what we do. We are so lucky to have you as part of the MGT Events journey. 🤎 -
-
![Kerissa]()
Kerissa Sent on 04/04/2026the best duo
brenda and mariela were fantastic. my husband and I were engaged for 18 months and i’m surprised mariela wasn’t tired of me by the wedding lol. in all seriousness, they are truly good at what they do. we had some hiccups but mariela and brenda kept us calm and helped us problem solve. for me, it was hard to relinquish control and fully trust someone else but I am so glad we had MGT to back us up. we are going to miss them dearly considering they were a huge part of our journey. it’s not going to be the same without talking to mariela every day hahaMGT Events's reply:
Kerissa, this made us emotional. Thank you so much.
You truly became part of our MGT journey too. And no, I never got tired of you! Your wedding mattered so much to you, and that is exactly why it mattered so much to us.
Brenda and I were so honored to be by your side and to help carry the day with you.
We are going to miss you dearly too — thank you for letting us be such a big part of such a special season in your life. We will always be cheering for you both. -
-
![Jennifer]()
Sent on 02/22/2026The Perfect Day!
Mariela and her team are the BEST. I initially reached out to Mariela when I saw another HSA bride describe her as her "fairy godmother" and I can attest that she fit the role perfectly. We hired her more than a year before our wedding date, and she was so supportive the entire time. She's organized, professional, and responded to every question I had during the planning process, big or small. Having her expertise made planning a destination wedding fun instead of stressful. She has relationships with so many vendors in PR, and helped cultivate an amazing team for our wedding day. I loved everyone that we worked with, and you could tell they all enjoyed working together, as well. Throughout our wedding week, she went above and beyond to help with our welcome event, hotel block, transportation, and even helped me mail my bouquet when I decided last minute to preserve it. I know logistics can go wrong during a wedding, but we never had to deal with any issues. Mariela and Brenda anticipated everything we could need, including cups of water during our family photos! Mariela was on top of the schedule, and tracked the weather down to the minute it was going to rain, and the minute it was going to stop, so we could plan our backup space ceremony without our guests getting soaked. I think a wedding planner is one of the most important vendors a couple can book, and I am so glad we found MGT Events! Highly recommend!MGT Events's reply:
Jennifer, reading this brought the biggest smile to my face. 🤍
From the very first call, I knew your wedding was going to be something magical — not just because of the setting at Hacienda Siesta Alegre, but because of the two of you and the love surrounding you.
Being part of your journey for over a year was such an honor. You trusted us fully, asked thoughtful questions, and embraced the destination planning process with so much grace. That trust is what allows us to truly step into that “fairy godmother” role —
Thank you for allowing us to build your vendor dream team and for recognizing the care that goes into every detail —
Brenda and I absolutely loved walking through wedding week with you.
Your joy made our work easy.
Wishing you both a lifetime of beautiful adventures together. Once an MGT couple, always family. ✨🤍 -
-
![John]()
John Sent on 01/24/2026Highly Recommend!
We cannot say enough positive things about working with MGT Events. Mariela and Brenda helped us put together our wedding. We fell in love with the venue and Mariela and Brenda really helped us capture the magic of the Hacienda Siesta Alegre and showcase why we fell in love with the venue to the guests. Mariela was supportive and responsive throughout the wedding planning process and all of the vendors that she recommended were amazing and really helped capture the vibe we were looking for. I would not hesitate to recommend MGT events to anyone planning a wedding!MGT Events's reply:
Thank you for taking the time to share your positive experience with us. We’re so pleased to hear that Mariela & Brenda made a difference for you. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and your review reaffirms the hard work we put in every day.
Muchas bendiciones en su matrimonio! -
-
Carla Sent on 10/16/2025
Dream wedding
It went so well. The wedding planner catered to everyone detail and wish that I had for my wedding. She made ghe process so much easier. Especially being a destination wedding. I was so surprised at the help and support I was given om the day of my wedding. It was a beautiful moment for me. Thank you. I am forever grateful.MGT Events's reply:
Thanks, Carla, for your kind message. It was truly a pleasure to help. Wishing you many happy years ahead together. -
-
![Soani]()
Soani Sent on 05/17/2025Dream wedding thanks to MGT!
Mariela and Brenda were amazing to work with! From the moment I had a consultation call with Mariela, I knew her and her team would be the absolute perfect fit for my wedding planning needs. Being a destination wedding, I was able to ship a few things to Mariela’s office beforehand which was super helpful. She kept us on track with all vendors, checklists, to-dos, and referred to us some amazing vendors we were missing. On the wedding day, everything was so flawlessly and seamless. Everything was absolutely perfect and it’s all thanks to MGT events!!!! They made sure everything flowed so well, they executed every single detail exactly how I envisioned it, and even when I threw last minute ideas out at them on the day of, they were able to incorporate it into the timeline with no issues. They went above and beyond and I couldn’t recommend them more!!! I actually told my husband, I wish we had another event we needed to plan so we could work with them again! lol. Our families also all commented on how professional and wonderful the planning team was! They were so impressed by everything that Mariela, Brenda, and team handled and executed to make the day absolutely perfect. I’m still dreaming of my big day in April, and my wedding was beyond my wildest dreams thanks to this incredible team. 100/10 recommend, please book with them, you will not be disappointed!!!!MGT Events's reply:
Soani! 💕
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for such a beautiful and heartfelt review. Working with you and your family was an absolute joy — your trust and positive energy made the entire planning process so special for us.
We’re beyond happy to hear that everything turned out just as you envisioned (and even better!). Your wedding day was truly magical, and it means the world to know we helped bring your dreams to life. From the early planning stages to those fun last-minute touches, every moment with you was unforgettable.
We’d plan another event for you in a heartbeat — just say the word! 😉
Wishing you and your husband a lifetime of happiness, love, and celebration. Thank you again for choosing MGT Events!
With love,
Mariela, Brenda & the MGT Team 💍✨ -
-
![Kassidy]()
Kassidy Sent on 05/12/2025Incredible!
Mariela brought our vision to life and executed our day so perfectly! She's a true pro and was so lovely to have in our corner. She managed everything for us, collaborated with our other vendors, and used her knowledge to bring our day to life. Even when we had to switch to plan B for rain, she handled it so well.MGT Events's reply:
Thank you so much for your kind words. The rain was only there to bless your union, and it was a privilege for us to be able to assist. Wishing you and Jonah many years of blessings!!!! -
![Gabriela]()
Gabriela Sent on 03/10/2025A dream come true!
I had the pleasure of working with Mariela to plan my destination wedding in Puerto Rico. The wedding was on March 2, 2025 and was executed flawlessly. Mariela and her team were on top of everything from day one through wedding day. I worked closely with Mariela to book vendors that best suited our vision - from food to floral details, everything was stunning. MGT Events offers add-on packages to best suit your needs. We added on room block assistance, and all of our guests raved about the hotel we chose (Caribe Hilton). Mariela also provides day-of coordination within her package which was absolutely necessary. I was able to fully enjoy my day knowing her team had everything handled. The wedding was absolutely beautiful and everything flowed seamlessly. I would highly recommend working with Mariela and her team, it was easily the best decision we made!MGT Events's reply:
Gaby & Cam! We absolutely loved working with you and will truly miss you. We're so glad everything turned out just as you dreamed, and it was an honor to help bring your vision to life. Your love shone brightly throughout the entire process. Cheers to an incredible couple—wishing you a lifetime of blessings and happiness together! ❤️✨ -
![Daniela]()
Daniela Sent on 07/17/2023Great planner
Sooo glad I booked MGT events! They made my night so fun and carefree. I was able to enjoy my night without stressing anything. They took care of everything and anticipated everything making for a very fun night.MGT Events's reply:
Gracias Daniela!!! Muchos años de felicidad y bendiciones!!!
Looking forward on seeing the wedding pictures: YOUR CAPE WAS GORGEOUS -
![Yamel]()
Yamel Sent on 04/12/2023Your fairy godmother
I don’t even know where to begin with Mariela she was so incredible to work with her and her team . If you don’t hire her I don’t know what to tell you . I had the wedding of my dreams and it was above and beyond anything I could of imagined . She was by my side every step of the way . She’s very responsive would call me make sure I was doing okay . She was so sweet the day of brought me and the girls donuts . I felt like we become friends . She kept all my vendors in line and felt with them when I couldn’t being a destination wedding and would pick up all the packages I shipped over . Went out and got my signs printed I mean above and beyond she’s absolutely amazing and will make sure your wedding is a dream come true . Thank you Mariela and your team for everything you guys did for me. She really is worth every penny and I would hire her in a heart beat again .MGT Events's reply:
Thank you Yamel!!!!
I loved working with you & Richie. Your family was precious as well. Many many more years of blessings and hopefully we can meet again soon 🫶🏻 -
-
![Cita]()
Carmen Sent on 07/21/2022Exceptional Amazing must Have on your Bridal Team
Mariela is on point with every detail. She and her team handled it all allowing me to focus on taking in the day. Very professional, very personable, responsible, a Brides dream come true! We had a destination wedding and she accepted all of my shipped boxes containing my center pieces. She took my input, my thoughts and ideas and made them all a reality. She handled last minute issues with poise and grace which meant I was never distracted from enjoying my beautiful occasion. She is every bride’s dream.MGT Events's reply:
Carmen! Thank you so much for your kind words on this review. Working on your wedding was a pleasure! Many years of blessings for you both. -
![Hayley]()
Hayley Sent on 06/13/2022Fantastic Destination Wedding Planner
Incredible! Mariela, was amazing. She was quick to respond and always on top of things. She made my destination wedding a breeze to plan. Would absolutely recommend her to any destination brides!!!! -
![Cristina]()
Cristina Sent on 09/13/2021Amazing experience
MGT Events coordinated everything for our event. Mariela made sure every detail we discussed was included and went above and beyond our expectations. She made sure our guests felt comfortable, that everyone was attended properly and that all things would flow perfectly into the next during the whole day. Nothing was wrong, it was perfect. Her attention to our needs, her professionalism and dedication was TOP. We are so happy to have had her - thank you!!!MGT Events's reply:
The pleasure was all mine!
Thank you for this review. 🌟
Siempre a las órdenes para lo que necesiten.
-
![Keishla]()
Keishla Sent on 09/02/2019Excellent Service!
Haber contactado a Mariela para que sea la persona que coordine nuestra boda es la mejor decisión que he tomado para este evento tan especial. Con el trabajo y los niños a veces es muy poco el tiempo que tenemos para hacernos cargo de cada detalle. Y ella se ha encargado de darnos esa seguridad desde el principio. Puedo decir que hasta ahora no he sentido ese estrés y ansiedad para que todo quede perfecto porque ella ha minimizado esos temores, especialmente organizando todo con nosotros viviendo fuera de Puerto Rico. Es indudablemente profesional y responsable, cada mensaje o duda lo contesta a la brevedad posible y sus propuestas son muy acertadas con nuestros gustos. Estoy tan agradecida y segura de que ese día será mágico.MGT Events's reply:
Gracias por tu palabras Keishla! Para mi es un honor poderles asistir en lo que sin duda alguna será uno de los días más felices de sus vidas. El amor hay que celebrarlo en grande y que mis servicios faciliten el proceso de la planificación es la mayor satisfacción de mi profesión. -
Iris Sent on 03/06/2023
Boda Temática - Roma - Iris & Fabricio
Excelente! La recepción de mi boda fue en mi casa, y no tuve que preocuparme en ningún momento por el manejo de nada. Incluso cuando hubo que hacer reajustes debido a la lluvia. Bellamente organizados y en total armonía con el ambiente creado con los invitados.MGT Events's reply:
Gracias por tus palabras Iris!
Tanto tu como tu familia encantadores.
Les deseo muchos años de felicidad y aventuras!
-
-
![Michelle]()
Michelle Sent on 02/20/2025A Costly Mistake
We got married at Hacienda Siesta Alegre (HSA) in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico on 1/26/25 and we had a bad experience with MGT Events. It was money down the drain. The venue and our other vendors saved us. Our wedding day was amazing despite Mariela. Hiring her is our only regret.
-We could not trust Mariela from MGT Events. She caused unnecessary stress, wasted our time, and cost us money.
-None of our experience was personalized. All of her vendor recommendations were copy and pasted. We had to contact all of the vendors ourselves.
-We spent a lot of our time focusing on details that would have been handled by a good planner. I figured out many of the little things we needed from social media.
-Mariela didn’t initiate any check-in calls to confirm the day-of details. I gave her a spreadsheet with my day-of schedule and her day-of schedule was still wrong. Luckily her assistant, Brenda, confirmed the schedule with me while I was getting my makeup done and fixed it.
-I confirmed with Mariela that we wanted food ordered for us while we were getting ready. She never got the estimate or ordered the food. The day before the wedding, we ended up contacting our friends from the Hitching Post and they went out of their way to create charcuterie boards for us.
-Mariela’s contract says she will negotiate with vendors, but she will not. She even posted on Instagram about how clients who try to negotiate are rude and “cheap.” My husband called the vendors to negotiate (politely) and we saved thousands of dollars.
-We visited the island before the wedding and thank goodness we did. Mariela recommended a florist that is known for scamming people. (The florist’s name is Zaida Terrero—watch out for her! She changes her business name after receiving bad reviews.) Zaida charged us $300 for a demo, and she brought dead flowers and dirty vases that looked nothing like the pictures we sent over. Mariela reimbursed us $150. After that, my husband contacted Lorraine’s Flowers who did a wonderful job at our wedding.
-I know that many brides plan destination weddings in Puerto Rico. If you are not able to visit the island before your wedding, you need to be able to trust your planner. If we had trusted Mariela and not visited the island to meet with the vendors ourselves, our wedding day could have been a disaster. Even now, Mariela refuses to take responsibility for the incident with Zaida, despite personally recommending her. When we brought this up to other vendors, they were already well aware of Zaida and her scams.
-The hours leading up to the wedding were disorganized. The bridesmaids and I had to switch rooms for pictures after getting our hair and makeup done in the Library. It was never communicated to us how this should be handled, so all of our belongings were left in the Library, leaving us scrambling to get dressed and find our accessories before the ceremony.
-The HSA contract includes 4 rooms for getting ready. I didn’t find out until after the wedding that all of the men in the wedding party (10) were crammed into a single room—despite another room being available for them. I had specifically raised this concern with MGT Events during the rehearsal before the wedding.
-We were announced incorrectly twice. I am not changing my name and we were announced as Mr. and Mrs. [Last Name]. I included how we wanted to be announced on a pre-wedding questionnaire and this was another detail they could have easily confirmed with us prior to the wedding.
-For our sparkler send-off, Mariela recommended a 40 count of sparklers for $223 from another vendor. We had 74 guests. I found a 102-count pack of the same sparklers for $50 at Walmart. Mariela deducted $50 from the $150 flower reimbursement to purchase the sparklers. Mariela forgot all but 6 of the sparklers on the day of the wedding. We had to use our glow sticks from the reception for the sparkler send-off. She reimbursed us $50.
-We paid an extra $875 to have the full bar open during cocktail hour, but it was never opened. We are now trying to get that money refunded.
-I heard from multiple people that Mariela was rude to them on the day of the wedding.
-Mariela left before the end of the wedding. Our guests were scrambling to help us get our things out of the rooms and onto the shuttles.
-Mariela posted pictures of us and our wedding on social media before we did.
The only positives I can say are that Mariela secured a cake for us last-minute and her assistant, Brenda, was lovely on the day of our wedding. I would have been a mess without Brenda. However, these small positives do not make up for the wasted time and stress caused by hiring an ineffective planner.MGT Events's reply:
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are truly sorry to hear that your experience with MGT Events did not meet your expectations. Our mission is to provide seamless and memorable events, and it is disappointing to learn that you felt otherwise.
Following your wedding, we reached out to ensure that everything had met your expectations and offered the opportunity to discuss any concerns. Unfortunately, we did not receive a response. We regret that we were not made aware of these issues at the time, as we would have welcomed the chance to address them promptly.
At MGT Events, we take the feedback of our clients and all collaborators involved on the wedding day very seriously. Your comments have been noted, and we have followed up and will continue to follow up accordingly for future reference to ensure the highest standards of service.
We are pleased to hear that Brenda made a positive impression on your day—cheers to her for always going above and beyond for our clients.
If there is anything you would like to address directly, please feel free to reach out to us at any time. We remain available and open to discussing any outstanding matters.
-
![Dana]()
Dana Sent on 02/10/2025Brides Beware
To respond to Mariela’s response- there is 0 misunderstanding. The AUDACITY you have to say “your wedding was perfect and all was executed as planned”. Please don’t try and handle this privately NOW after you blocked me and didn’t respond back to several emails I sent you but instead, after winning the Wedding Wire dispute case, sent me one from AN ATTORNEY. I tried to handle this privately with you. Do you think saying CHEER UP when were announce as husband and wife is professional? The consensus is everyone is MORTIFIED by that and it DOES NOT display the professionalism you claim you offer. I encourage you, MGT Events, to reread my emails & reviews as many times as needed to see where the disconnect was. It was never on my end. I have been extremely clear each and every time on our disappointment from your services. You say you have a “spotless record” but there’s a review right after mine that is also one star. If you think that reviews are “invaluable” then why did you send a letter from an attorney? Why did you block me? Why haven’t you responded to my emails? Please don’t respond to this review now acting like this is the first you have heard about my disappointments in your services when I’ve outlined them bullet point by bullet point for you and you chose to write a direct response to that on your business page instead of to me. This could have been settled in a private manner but you didn’t want to handle it that way until I won my case with this platform. FOR ANYONE READING THIS- I HAD TO SEND IN SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS TO WEDDING WIRE ABOUT MY REVIEW. THEY SAW THE EVIDENCE THAT I HAVE TO SUPPORT THESE CLAIMS AND SIDED WITH ME AS A FACTUAL REVIEW. They also had to get documentation from MGT Events to prove I wasn’t telling the truth. If she could provide that then they wouldn’t repost my review but here it is. I also never agreed to her showing up at noon. I didn’t even know that was the case until the day of the wedding when she told me that morning. I would have NEVER agreed to that when we got a timeline that had TBD all over it. Why would I agree to stress and confusion the morning of the wedding. I never even asked for a dollar back for all the things she ruined. I wanted was some accountability and an apology and she wanted to double down, gaslight me, shame me during the wedding and now act like I didn’t highlight all the issues numerous times. And now I am being BULLIED into trying to be silenced. And now- in pure desperation to have good reviews, she's having VENDORS SHE WORKS ALONGSIDE leave reviews LOL. Would you say that's a professional display for reviews? Vendors buddy up- I would NOT go off of the review of a vendor. But, I guess when your service is mediocre you have to try whatever you can. Pretty sad. Mariela has worked harder on trying to SILENCE MY VERY REAL, VERY FACTUAL, VERY HORRIBLE experience than she did my actual event.
—-
Also, THE AUDACITY of you to continue to make fb posts about me over a month later and use photos from my wedding when I specifically asked you not to and you said you didn’t. Yet here you are posting about me while using my photo. You’re a really twisted human.
———
Out of all of the vendors we booked we truly thought that the planner would be the easiest to work with. Boy were we mistaken. Imagine a vendor blocking you on social media in FEAR of a truthful review. Not only did she completely ruin the beginning of my wedding day- the details were wrong and instead of being able to be excited for my day she provided me the MOST STRESS out of everyone. She does not listen or take notes on anything you tell her and I can PROMISE you, she doesn’t bring a checklist to make sure everything you PAID FOR is accounted for. She was a complete NIGHTMARE.
———
Several vendors followed up with me the following day to check in and see if Shane and I were happy with how everything netted out, etc. In the midst of processing my intense emotions of happiness and frustration, it was shared with me that Mariela made rude comments about me during the day and wished a few vendors “GOOD LUCK” working with me. There are no words on this one...she needs to practice what she preaches. I urge you to read this to learn why:
———
She wasn’t there when we arrived to the venue. When we arrived, I noticed that the tables were not set up correctly nor was the backup ceremony space. My bridesmaids and I fixed the issue. The florist let Mariela know my concerns and she text me saying she was planning on addressing everything when she arrived but I already noticed them. There wasn’t a way not to notice them as you have to walk through that’s space to the room you get ready in. What I requested wasn’t feasible, she knew this, but it was never discussed with me. She told me that she would fix them to my liking, but they were never fixed. Not a big deal, just an introduction to the POOR COMMUNICATION you will receive from MGT Events.
———
She showed up 3 hours after we did, to only NEVER BE FOUND FOR HELP on the wedding day. I found out the morning of the wedding that she would be showing up at 12 after telling us to be there at 9:30. We never saw her until around 12:30ish and then just glimpses of her. Due to this, my bridesmaids and I were running around doing her job. This lead us to not getting any photos of us getting ready together and 0 photos of my mom helping me in my dress. Things I can’t recreate and memories I would have loved to have footage of. This is to no fault of the photographer. She was given a shot list but must have forgotten it with everything else. She claims that she was with Shane (which was also not true as Shane said she was there very briefly) AND I purchased the grooms package, which included an extra team member to assist the groom & groomsmen. I did this so she wouldn’t have to be back and forth. I was under the impression that the planner, Mariela, my direct point of contact, would be with me and my bridesmaids throughout the morning to help guide us on what we were supposed to do and where to go. We were confused because of the day of time line I was given in July that was never updated (attached photos). I also attached the timeline I received a few weeks before the wedding that is very generic and has absolutely no breakdown.
———
Mariela also couldn’t get my husband’s name right after a year of working together. His very simple, 5 lettered name (Shane) which was provided to her in the contract I signed AND in the email address we had correspondence on. Further proving to me that attention to detail (or really anything) isn’t important to her. She blamed this on the vendors as well and then said it’s because it’s not a common name. Common name or not, it is the name of the GROOM and we had been working together for a year when I finally hit my breaking point of reading & correcting the incorrect name (Sean).
———
I paid for bouquets for the moms. This was confirmed several times with Mariela. We got our photos back from the photographer only to learn both moms DID NOT have bouquets. This should have been addressed directly with me so we could fix the issue or get refunded. I messaged Mariela immediately giving her the opportunity to get the refund from the vendor that SHE suggested to only find out- she blocked my phone number. Professional right? I finally was able to find the florist phone number and had to message her directly to find out what happened since it was in our signed contract. She says that she was sorry for the misunderstanding and refunded us $100 for the bouquets.
———
Several of my guests sent me videos of when Mariela’s assistant, Brenda, announced us as husband and wife. I didn’t think I heard her clearly in the moment but after reviewing several videos you hear Brenda in the mic saying “CHEER UP”. The sole purpose of this was to try and embarrass me. If this woman truly wanted me to cheer up they would have pulled me to the side and asked what they could do to help. Instead they took the route of wanting to shame & embarrass me for being disappointed in all of their shortcomings. (Feel free to check out my TikTok for the video of that -@smileworldbydana)
———
Mariela also managed to ruin our guest book. We spoke extensively about the Photo Booth being used for the guest book. I expressed to her how important that was to me. Mariela took it upon herself to go into my suitcase and grab my Polaroid I brought to take spicy pics for my husband to give to him throughout the reception. That never happened as I couldn’t find my Polaroid camera. I now know she took it to set it up with the guest book which was NEVER discussed or agreed upon. She also put the guest book as far away as possible from the Photo Booth so our guests had no idea they were supposed to go together. I even provided a sign that said PHOTO BOOTH GUEST BOOK. We also had to pay for a printer in addition to the Photo Booth which was discussed in extensive detail as well. I even sent her photos for examples of how the guest book will look at the end and how I wanted it set up.
———
Cocktail hour was a DISASTER. Several of my guests were turned away at the bar during this time. I paid for an extra hour extension. I also paid for an open bar during cocktail hour. After discussing with the venue, they let me know that Mariela never sent them the updated timeline so they didn’t know they were supposed to be serving our guests during that timeframe. They also tried serving my guests and husband nonalcoholic drinks until I found out and said something. I didn’t even know open bar was an option for cocktail hour until a month before the wedding when the venue told me. Mariela told me that we should not have an open bar during this time because our guests needed to “pace themselves”. This leads me to believe the reason the venue didn’t get the updated timeline is so they would shut it down for the 35 minutes my guests were being turned away so they could “pace themselves”.
———
Our cake cutting photos were also ruined. I asked Mariela what additional things I needed to buy or bring. She said everything was handled by the vendors. She says that the florist forgot the cake cutting knife. So the florist “forgot” the mom bouquets and the cake knife. Both to which were not discussed with me. They realized the cake knife wasn’t there at the time of the cake cutting to which they started scrambling to find something else. The something else as a blue kitchen prep knife you would use to cut fat off chicken or something. Mortified. Our cake was also supposed to have cascading flowers running down the side. You guessed it- there were no flowers on the cake! I asked the cake vendor she said she wasn’t told by Mariela that I requested that and she would have been more than happy to accommodate the request.
———
I couldn’t have my ceremony in the area which I booked the entire venue for. I knew it was going to rain earlier in the day but it was going to clear up by the ceremony time. I told Mariela about the expected weather for the day. I told Mariela that I still wanted to have the ceremony there (since that was the whole reason I booked that venue). She didn’t relay the message to the venue so they left the benches out and they got soaked. There was nothing to lay on them so our guests wouldn’t get wet, so ultimately- we couldn’t have the ceremony where I dreamed of having (for years).
———
I asked and showed Mariela the protective paper on the back of the signs that I brought. Upon receiving the signs back after the wedding, the paper was still left on the signs. This is a small detail that no one noticed but, I’m mentioning it because it further proves Mariela will agree to something, you will end the conversation on the same page, and she will still fail at executing a very simple (and agreed upon) request.
———
During the wedding I apologized to her to try and ease the tension because it was so evident to everyone that things weren't going smoothly. As she said countless times: "it is totally acceptable for you to feel anxious and it's my job to handle it and fix it". I tried to be the bigger person that day and live in the moment, but now she is taking that kind gesture and throwing it in my face. My feelings are completely valid for everything I endured during what is supposed to be an important and special day.
———
After the wedding I noticed several of items of mine were missing. I sent Mariela a text and asked her about them. She read the message and ignored it. I followed up. Same thing. (Her read reciepts are on). I then edited my review on this platform. That was her first sign of life after the wedding to which she claims one of my bridesmaids took the items (which is not true) and accused me and my guests of racism! Absolutely appalling as we intentionally booked with only Puerto Rican vendors to keep the money on the island. We got married in Puerto Rico because we LOVE the island, people & culture. Several of our guests themselves are Puerto Rican. I tried to handle the missing items privately with her, but she refused communication until receiving a less than favorable review. There was no communication about where my stuff was left when it was packed up in the Library Room by a member of her team. Had she quickly sent me a photo or a text after leaving the venue that night, this situation could have been avoided.
———
I worked with her for two years and I should have bit the bullet- took a loss on cash and just fired her and went a different route. She also didn’t provide services that we paid for- invitation and envelope stuffing never happened and she didn’t help with room blocks until I gave her information about the ones I found bc my guests couldn’t wait on her any longer. She claims that I “declined” the services but I have proof that’s not the case. I asked her for help with the room blocks and like I said she took forever and our guests couldn’t wait any longer. I have this in writing. The invitation & rsvp tracking- she never explained to me how that worked and never offered to complete the task.
———
I have posted reviews in several PR Wedding Facebook Groups. You can find screenshots that align with what I have said. I have endless amounts of proof to back up EVERYTHING. Mariela has been sent screenshots of my review. That is when she decided she would finally reach out to me after the wedding, with screenshots of what I posted. She has got me banned from several PR Wedding groups to try and silence me from speaking the truth. She also added a confidentially disclaimer in her email which has never been done before. Further proving- she is trying to hide the lies that she tells as she put blame on ALL the vendors SHE suggested & did not take a single bit of accountability or apologize for not doing her job as outlined in the contract I signed. I responded to that email with almost every point that I wrote in this review. She ignored a private, professional, constructive conversation back. Instead, she posted a direct response to my email on her FB business page. She expresses that the little details of your wedding aren’t important- specifying a cake knife and rain.
———
Ask yourself why she has 0 reviews for 2024. She tries to silence disappointed brides when she doesn’t fulfill her duties as outlined in the contract you sign. Just don’t do this to yourself. Save yourself the heartache, sadness & disappointment. Wedding Wire also sent me the dispute she put into them on my review here so I saw all of the false claims she made to this platform to try and get my review removed. I do think she and her business is incompetent. If Wedding Wire allowed you to post screenshots of conversations you would see that I clear as day asked and paid for things and they were not delivered as outlined in the contract that I signed. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope it saves you the stress, disappointment, heartache and money you are investing in your big day. Don’t let it get RUINED BY MGT EVENTS.MGT Events's reply:
Hi Dana,
I’ve taken some time before revisiting this response—not to ignore your words, but to ensure I could answer them with clarity and a calm heart. Planning a wedding is deeply emotional, and I’m truly sorry that you’ve been left with disappointment instead of joy when looking back on yours.
Please know that it was never our intention for your day to feel anything less than meaningful, beautiful, and personal. We understand how much this moment meant to you, and it pains us to know that your memories are shadowed by frustration.
While many of the claims made were reviewed and addressed during the dispute process, and we stand by the work we did with care and attention, I want to acknowledge that how you felt is valid. If anything we did made you feel unheard, dismissed, or unsupported, I am genuinely sorry. That was never what we wanted for you.
I also regret that our efforts to resolve things privately may have felt like avoidance. Communication became strained on both ends, and that disconnect kept us from finding a more thoughtful resolution in real time.
Ultimately, I hope time softens the edges of this experience for you. I hope the love you shared with Shane, and the reason for the celebration, shine brighter than the stress that surrounded it.
We truly wish you both peace, healing, and a beautiful life together.
Warmly,
Mariela & the MGT Events Team -
Are you interested?
Are you interested?