Southern Oak Events Reviews
Reviews
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
-
![Elizabeth]()
Elizabeth Sent on 06/17/2026May Wedding at Melrose Knitting Mill
Southern Oak Events & Nicole were a huge help in making our wedding a success! We had a beautiful day and got so many compliments on how organized and helpful Nicole & all the Melrose Staff were. We're so glad we went with Melrose & Southern Oak events for our wedding! -
![Kristen]()
Kristen Sent on 06/03/202610000 out of 5 stars
I can't say enough about working with this company. They know EXACTLY what they are doing. Super organized, always responsive and helpful, and 100% worth every penny! Every little or big question we had was answered promptly and CLEARLY. They are incredibly transparent about every charge and payment, and their documentation helps so much to keep things organized. They have great recommendations for other vendors as well.
Nicole, my day-of-coordinator, was MADE FOR THIS!!!! I didn't lift a finger or need to think about anything all day other than getting married and enjoying the party! She runs a tight ship in the best way. Scheduling, timeline documents, vendor coordination, last minute requests for changes to decor or setup, even down to handling my veil and bustle the day of, she was on top of it all. Every piece of the planning leading up to the event - seriously I could not have done this without her. Every bride needs a Nicole!
They truly made me feel like our wedding was their first priotity, you'd never even know they are supporting a bunch of other couples at the same time. I can't thank them enough or say enough good things about how professional and worth it they are. -
![Sarah]()
Sarah Sent on 03/12/2026Wedding at Melrose
We had the most perfect wedding the last weekend of February, and it’s all thanks to this incredible team! From the very beginning, the entire planning process was exceptionally well-organized, and we felt completely taken care of every step of the way.
The rehearsal went smoothly, and we were so impressed by the staff—they provided incredible help with the venue setup, taking so much stress off our shoulders. A huge, special shout-out to our coordinator, Steph. She is a total rockstar! She truly thought of EVERYTHING (even the things we didn't know we needed to worry about). Having her there made our day that much more special and allowed us to actually enjoy every moment. -
![Katrina]()
Katrina Sent on 01/18/2026Absolutely fantastic day-of coordination!
Nicole Mayakis was our day-of coordinator from Southern Oak Events and was absolutely phenomenal to work with!! We cannot say enough great things about Nicole!! She was incredibly responsive on all communication and was really flexible with us on the timing of meetings and venue walk-throughs. She had really helpful advice as we were thinking through last minute decisions, and made sure that all the details were set with our vendors. On the day of the wedding, things went so smoothly and she was able to swoop in and move us along our timeline without feeling pushy or rushed. She is so on top of everything, but is also incredibly warm and welcoming and makes you feel comfortable. All of our family members really loved her as well. I would highly recommend Southern Oak, and especially Nicole, to anyone looking for coordination for their wedding!! -
![TreannaandDonte]()
Treannaanddonte Sent on 12/18/2025MKM is Where Dreams Come True
We loved every moment of working the MKM team. Erika G was our Day of Coordinator and we highly recommend her! Anytime we needed a member of the MKM team, someone was available, including our requests to visit the venue as we got closer to our wedding and really needed visuals to help inform our decisions. Our wedding day was an absolute dream. The MKM team, Erika, and Jessica helped bring our vision together in a way that exceeded our expectations - every detail was considered. We had no worries! As a type A, eldest daughter, it was such a relief to have a team that wanted us (me) to relax, give control to amazing professionals and enjoy myself. 10/10 recommend!
-
-
Julientorena Sent on 12/16/2025
PLANNER OF ALL PLANNERS! BEST WEDDING I'VE EVER ATTENDED!!! Nicole and her team went ALL out planning this wedding. Not overlooking the little details most people wouldn't see, unless you are the one looking for that 'special touch" Nicole will help you think of things ypu wish you thought of or are EXTREMELY glad she did. Nicole has the "Midas Touch" JM
BEST WEDDING EVER!!! Nicole and her team, put together a phenomenal wedding. She thought of every small detail most would over look or not think of. Her attention to detail really showed throughout the wedding. Being in the "show business" for over 20 years, I could see the amount of planning and expertise she used.
If you want your wedding to be talked about long after the event, Nicole should be your goto.
Price, Value, Professionalism. A+!!!
-
-
![Shelby]()
Shelby Sent on 10/14/2025Best Decision Ever!
Living an hour from our Rehearsal Dinner location presented a few challenges. Yes. I could have figured it all out....BUT! After touring the venue and meeting Jessica it was obvious that they could make things so much easier for me as the MOG. I can't express how responsive and productive Jessica and Erika were during this process. Worth every penny! I was able to be "present" and enjoy the evening. Every detail was covered. I was shocked actually at how much work they put into making our event just right! Very thankful for these girls!
-
![Colleen]()
Colleen Sent on 10/12/2025Southern Oak Events- Nicole Mayakis
Nicole was amazing to work with! She quickly responded to all of my emails throughout the planning process. She was super flexible and accommodating to any of my ideas for my vision, as well as when I changed my mind and wanted something different! She was always very sweet and kind, while also knowledgeable and helpful with details that we needed guidance on. Nicole worked so hard the day of our wedding to make sure everything was perfect! Her attention to detail helped everything run smoothly and on time.
The timelines that were given for our planning meetings worked very well. They were spaced out with enough time to add any additional details/complete any needed tasks before our big day. Each meeting with Nicole was very organized and detail oriented. We left each meeting feeling confident that our day was going to be just how we were hoping it would be.
We couldn’t have done it without Nicole!!! We highly recommend her and know she will help other couples have their dream wedding day! -
![Sarah]()
Sarah Sent on 09/15/2025Highly recommend!
Working with Erika at Southern Oak Events was such a wonderful experience! She was so kind, friendly, and easy to talk to, and she always made me feel comfortable asking my many questions. She was super responsive and helpful throughout the whole planning process, and every time we met with her, she made us even more excited for the wedding.
On the big day, Erika was amazing from start to finish! She was so organized and made sure we had everything we needed while keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes. She handled all the vendor coordination so we didn’t have to worry about a thing, and my husband and I both truly felt taken care of the entire time.
I’m so grateful for her support and would 100% recommend Southern Oak Events to anyone looking for a day of coordinator who is not only professional and organized, but also genuinely kind and fun to work with! -
![Emma]()
Emma Sent on 09/14/2025The best planner ever!
I couldn't have asked for better wedding experience. Jessica with southern oaks events made all of our dreams come to life and ensured it was all perfect. She listened to all out our wants and concerns. She made the planning aspect not as overwhelming. She made the wedding day so calm and relaxing for us by handling everything. The day went exactly as planned thanks to her hard work. Her experience, ideas, and knowledge were worth every penny. I just can't put into words how thankful we are for her! 10/10 would recommend! -
![Mariah]()
Mariah Sent on 09/11/2025Highly Recommend!!
We had our wedding at Melrose Knitting Mill with Southern Oak Events, and it was truly the perfect venue! The location in downtown Raleigh is not only gorgeous but also so convenient for all of our guests, with plenty of options for accommodations, restaurants, and activities. Cocktail hour at Mulino was absolutely perfect, and we received so many compliments from our guests on the food! The hors d’oeuvres, dinner, and late night pizza were all delicious and such a highlight of the night. From start to finish, the entire Melrose & Southern Oak team was wonderful to work with.
A huge part of our amazing experience was thanks to Nicole, our day-of coordinator and main point of contact throughout the planning process. From the day we toured the venue all the way to our wedding day, she was kind, patient, and incredibly helpful. In the weeks leading up to the wedding, she answered my many questions, kept everything organized, and made sure all vendors had the timelines and details they needed.
On the day of our rehearsal and wedding, Nicole was absolutely phenomenal. She kept everything running smoothly, handled all of the details behind the scenes, and made sure we could just relax and enjoy the day. I honestly don’t know what we would have done without her!
If you’re looking for a stunning venue in Raleigh with a professional, attentive team behind it, I couldn’t recommend Melrose Knitting Mill and Southern Oak Events enough. And if you get the chance to work with Nicole, you’ll be in the very best hands! -
Angela Sent on 09/10/2025
Perfect Reception!!
South Oak Events ensured we had the perfect reception at the Melrose! We did not have to stress about anything at all and we couldn’t have asked for a better day! Budget friendly, super responsive! Erika and the whole staff were absolutely amazing! I’m so glad we chose them!! -
-
![noemi]()
Noemi Sent on 08/19/2025Can’t recommend highly enough!!!
To be honest, we weren’t thrilled to learn that our venue required us to hire a day of coordinator but Jessica was the best thing that happened to us. From our first call, I trusted her completely and knew I could count on her to handle things professionally, keeping our wishes at the front of her mind. She is thorough and so easy to work with and SO good at what she does. My husband and I left our wedding saying it was the perfect day and nothing went wrong. While I’m sure small things did go wrong, it is fully due to Jessica that they were few and far between and that we didn’t even know they happened—we were able to just focus on enjoying our day! Southern Oak Events is the real deal and you get everything you pay for and more. I cannot recommend them highly enough!! -
-
![Becca]()
Becca Sent on 06/17/2025Couldn't have asked or dreamt of anything better!
We worked with Nicole with Southern Oak Events at our venue Melrose Knitting Mill and were 100000% satisfied.
Nicole herself is absolutely amazing - she was on top of EVERYTHING from day one through the wedding (and even some necessary communication afterwards). I am very type A and it is difficult for me to delegate, but with Nicole, I felt extremely comfortable sitting back and allowing her to work her magic.
Cannot recommend Nicole & Southern Oak Events enough!! -
![Samantha]()
Samantha Sent on 05/28/2025Couldn't Recommend Southern Oak Events More!
We used Southern Oak Events for our elopement reception and everyone we worked with was great! They went above and beyond to make sure everything went smoothly! Could not recommend this vendor enough! -
![Kristen]()
Kristen Sent on 04/04/2025K+C - March 29, 2025
Our wedding day was flawless thanks to Steph and the whole team over at Southern Oak Events! It's been almost a week since the big day, and we are still remembering small details that just made the entire day perfect. We would recommend Southern Oak Events, and definitely Steph, to anyone who is planning a wedding and wants the day to be absolutely perfect! If we ever have to plan an event in the future, we will definitely be seeking them out again! -
![Madison]()
Madison Sent on 04/04/2025Exceptional Wedding Planning with Southern Oak Events
As a venue manager, I have the pleasure of working with many wedding planners, and I can confidently say that Southern Oak Events stands out as one of the best in the industry. Their team is incredibly organized, communicative, and detail-oriented, ensuring that every event runs smoothly from start to finish.
From the initial planning stages to the final send-off, Southern Oak Events demonstrates professionalism and a true dedication to their clients. They work seamlessly with our staff and approved vendors, anticipating needs before they arise and handling any challenges with grace and efficiency. Their ability to create stunning, well-executed weddings while keeping the process stress-free for both couples and venues is why we love them!
I highly recommend Southern Oak Events to any couple looking for a top-tier wedding planner. As a venue, we always appreciate working with a team that shares our commitment to excellence, and we look forward to many more beautiful events together! -
![Beth]()
Beth Sent on 03/11/2025Amazing Experience!
Jessica and her associates did an amazing job! As the mother of the bride I worried about every little detail, but with Southern Oak Events overseeing everything, it made my job effortless. We were completely pleased and blown away from day one of the planning process till the close of the evening after the reception. I highly recommend Jessica and her group with Southern Oak Events! -
![Sharon]()
Sharon Sent on 02/06/2025Daughter's Wedding
Jessica was fantastic! She made planning the wedding so easy by finding the best vendors to fit our needs. She took care of every detail on the day of the wedding and made sure the day was perfect. We received many compliments from our guests regarding her professionalism and kindness. -
![KM Wright]()
Km Wright Sent on 01/02/2025Amazing experience
Nicole was such a joy to work with. The whole process from beginning to end was so easy and relaxed and honestly enjoyable. We toured the venue with Nicole and had such a great feeling about her due to her demeanor and honesty. Going through the wedding planning process, she was always easy to contact and talk to and always listened to our concerns. The wedding itself was flawless - if there was anything that didn't go well, I would never have known because Nicole had it all covered. I can not say enough good things about this experience and I am so grateful that Nicole gave me such a beautiful day. -
![Laura]()
Laura Sent on 01/02/2025Erika and her whole team were the best!
We were paired with Southern Oak Events when we booked with Melrose Knitting Mill. I love planning and orchestrating things, so I wasn't sure how paid much I would end up using Erika and her team. I was so so so so wrong. They were amazing, prompt, paid attention to all details, learned the names and faces of all participants, and let me relax and enjoy the day. I had no idea the scope of work that Erika would do for us and I will be forever grateful that she pulled off an amazing day for us. I am more than happy to 100% fully recommend and commend Erika and the Southern Oak Events Team. -
-
![Poppy]()
Poppy Sent on 12/08/2024A Perfect Day
Our experience with Southern Oak Events at Melrose Knitting Mill was incredible from the start. Firstly, you simply cannot get better than Erika, our wedding planner. She is the most organized and professional person I’ve ever worked with in the wedding industry - always answers your questions in a way that makes you feel seen and heard, cares about every single detail of your wedding, and is simply just a wonderful person to work with in general. Talking with Erika feels like talking with a very close friend. She will make your wedding day so special, and she pays attention to every detail, there were so many things I didn’t even think about until she mentioned them to me! She is so thorough, and makes sure all bases are covered. On our wedding day, she was on top of literally everything (and I frankly don’t know how she does it). From bringing my flowers to the park for me for pictures, to making sure every minor detail is accounted for during the ceremony and reception.
Melrose Knitting Mill was a wonderful place to get married. They make everything an enjoyable experience from the start. We had an amazing tasting night where we got to try the food and wine, and used it as an excuse for a fun date night. The venue was perfect, with a beautiful, rustic, Mediterranean feel. The ceremony space is peaceful and private, with no need to worry about the weather (a major plus). The staff was so friendly and kind throughout the entire experience. The ambiance downstairs during the cocktail hour was stunning, and the service was great. And don’t even get me started on the food for dinner. My guests were talking about how amazing the food with for weeks after, especially the macaroni. Our guests said that the food here was the best they’ve ever had at a wedding. Overall, we would highlight recommend both Southern Oak Events and Melrose Knitting Mill!! -
-
![Rachel]()
Rachel Sent on 12/03/2024The BEST day!
We had the absolute pleasure of hosting our wedding in November 2024, and we cannot say enough about how incredible our experience was! From start to finish, the venue and staff exceeded every expectation. The attention to detail, professionalism, and genuine care made our special day truly magical.
The venue itself was breathtaking—beautifully maintained and the perfect backdrop for both our ceremony and reception. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about the ambiance and how seamlessly everything flowed throughout the day.
The staff deserves special recognition. They were warm, accommodating, and went above and beyond to ensure everything was flawless. From helping us personalize the setup to making sure we felt calm and taken care of, they handled every moment with grace and efficiency.
If you’re considering this venue for your wedding, don’t hesitate—it’s a decision you will never regret. Thank you for helping us create memories we’ll cherish forever! -
Nora Sent on 11/13/2024
Melrose Knitting Mill
Southern Oak events was great to work with. Very professional and organized.
Our coordinator was Nicole who is fantastic!! She answered any and every question immediately, almost always within an hour. She also gave us referrals and guidance and was a huge help. I would highly recommend Southern Oak and Melrose Knitting Mill! -
-
![Beka]()
Beka Sent on 11/11/2024Best wedding vendor ever!
Southern Oak Events was the perfect choice for our wedding day! Our wedding planner, Erika, was simply amazing. She is a warm, genuine person who made the entire experience unforgettable. From the very beginning, planning with Erika was both fun and stress-free. On the big day, she ensured everything ran seamlessly and was there to support us every step of the way. The team at Southern Oak was professional, caring, and efficient, assisting us through every detail. They executed our vision flawlessly, and our family and friends felt at ease throughout the event. The staff went above and beyond, never overlooking a single detail and always offering a helping hand with a smile. We couldn’t have asked for a better team to make our day truly special. -
![Allison]()
Allison Sent on 11/05/2024Incredible team!
My husband and I had the luxury of working with Steph and Jessica at Melrose Knitting Mill. They were professional, communicated so effectively, and all around were INCREDIBLE. I could not recommend Southern Oak Events enough. They made our wedding day so smooth, effortless and CALM. You absolutely cannot go wrong working with this incredible team. -
![Drew]()
Drew Sent on 11/03/2024Great to work with!
We had an incredible experience with Southern Oaks Events! Their communication was outstanding, and they were always ready to help with any questions we had. Leading up to our big day, our coordinator, Erika, ensured that every detail was planned and tailored to our preferences. She went above and beyond to make our wedding day enjoyable and stress-free. We wholeheartedly recommend Southern Oaks Events to anyone planning a wedding! -
Kristen Sent on 10/17/2024
Stress Free Day!
Nicole and Southern Oak Events were professional, fun, and made planning our wedding a breeze. Nicole was our day of coordinator for our wedding and she was absolutely fabulous! We were completely stress free on our wedding day because she handled absolutely everything for us and kept everyone on schedule. She made us feel so comfortable and really made our vision come to life. The weeks leading up to a wedding can be so hectic but I didn’t feel overwhelmed at all because Nicole was there every step of the way. She was always quick to respond with any questions or concerns we had and kept us on track for our day. I couldn’t imagine her not being apart of our day and I would recommend her and her team ten times over. -
-
![Emily]()
Emily Sent on 10/10/2024Fantastic Experience
I worked with Southern Oak Events for my wedding this past August and had a wonderful experience! Working with Erika and Jessica made the process fun and so much less stressful as a bride! It absolutely poured on our wedding day, but the team at Southern Oak Events quickly pivoted and created something magical indoors last minute that all our guests couldn't stop talking about. They truly went above and beyond for us and our loved ones during such a special day. Thank you Southern Oak Events! -
![Amanda]()
Amanda Sent on 09/10/2024The Best Wedding Planner!
Jessica with Southern Oaks was amazing to work with! She had wonderful recommendations on vendors and made the process leading up to the wedding day effortless. I knew she had everything handled and the day of ran so smoothly! I would definitely recommend her and her companies services. -
![Molly]()
Molly Sent on 07/17/2024Amazing all around experience!
What can we say?! Jessica at Southern Oaks is professional, super responsive and was a Godsend when we planned my daughter's wedding. I live out of town and my daughter has a demanding job; we relied on Jessica to know the best vendors to use and the expected costs/budget, read the contracts and come up with wonderful creative ideas and options. She is beyond organized and will keep you on track with timeline and budget. She gives options on where to spend for the best bang for your buck and where you can save some money without anyone wiser. She was well worth the cost for her expertise, I cannot imagine the stress of planning if we did not have her help. The day was JOYFUL and amazing- even with the pivot of requiring our rain plan at the last minute, Jessica and her team pulled all of it off. Our daughter and son-in-law said they had the "perfect day!" The exact words you'd like to hear from the bride and groom! -
-
![Charlene]()
Charlene Sent on 02/27/2024Most valuable asset during our big day!
I cannot say enough positive things about Jessica Tilton from Southern Oak Events, our wedding coordinator extraordinaire. Jessica was an absolute lifesaver and the most important person in terms of executing our event flawlessly.
From our very first meeting with Jessica, it was clear that we were in the best of hands. Her professionalism, attention to detail, and passion for her work were evident from the start. Jessica took the time to truly understand our vision for our wedding day and went above and beyond to bring it to life in ways we couldn't have even imagined.
Throughout the entire planning process, Jessica was an invaluable resource. She provided guidance, support, and expertise every step of the way, ensuring that no detail was overlooked. Her organizational skills were impeccable, and she kept everything running smoothly and on schedule, which allowed us to relax and enjoy the lead-up to our big day.
On the day of our wedding, Jessica truly shined. She was everywhere at once, ensuring that every aspect of the event was executed flawlessly. From coordinating with vendors to managing last-minute changes and ensuring that every detail was perfect, Jessica handled it all with grace and professionalism.
Thanks to Jessica's hard work and dedication, our wedding day was everything we had dreamed of and more. She exceeded our expectations in every way and went above and beyond the duties of a wedding coordinator. I cannot recommend Jessica Tilton and Southern Oak Events highly enough to anyone getting married. If you want peace of mind and a truly unforgettable wedding experience, Jessica is the one to call.
Thank you, Jessica, for making our wedding day perfect in every way! -
![Nicolette]()
Nicolette Sent on 12/01/2023Fantastic Coordinator Will Be Your Favorite Person
I am not a good planner. Even so, when I realized most venues require a day-of coordinator, my frugal side was rather annoyed. About 2 seconds into meeting Jessica, the owner of Southern Oak Events, I knew that I not only wanted to hire her as our coordinator, but that she would be absolutely indispensable. I can now say that I simply cannot imagine planning a wedding without her. Despite the label of “day-of coordination,” our coordinator was available (via phone or email) to us for advice from the time we hired her. She handled every single scheduling detail with the various vendors (and the amount of vendors seem to multiply as you get closer to the wedding day) and venue. This included update emails any time something would change, making certain everyone had the most accurate information. She also made sure my husband and I were staying on track of the little details that often get forgotten. Also, and I don’t know if this is common amongst brides and coordinators, but I genuinely felt like she was my friend throughout the process. She is so warm, funny and easy-going, but also SO organized and quick to respond. As my husband and I were leaving our wedding we said how we wish we had a reason to hang out with her again! I could not recommend Southern Oak Events, and especially Jessica, any more highly. Truly worth every penny and then some. -
Jaclyn Sent on 11/29/2023
You NEED Jessica!!
I could go on and on about how great Jessica was for our wedding! She is the rock you need through your planning process! From the second we started planning we never feel an ounce of stress on because Jessica handled EVERYTHING! She makes the planning so much fun, every meeting was full of laughs and was so enjoyable. She made our vision come to life and made it even better than I even imagined. She pays attention to every single detail and made sure everything was perfection. The whole day was seamless and stress free and Jessica is 100% the reason it was! We wouldn’t have been able to trust anyone else except her!! She is the absolute BEST!! -
-
![Marianna]()
Marianna Sent on 11/20/2023Truly the Best Decision I made!
I have absolutely no words for how amazing Nicole from Southern Oak Events was for my wedding. She helped keep things running smoothly as well as making sure I was okay throughout the whole process. I literally can't recommend her enough! I was told by multiple people how amazing she was and how professional it all seemed. She helped me keep my cool the whole time and helped make the reception a work of art. Please use this service if you can, you won't regret it! Love you Nicole 💖💖 -
![Amelia]()
Amelia Sent on 11/06/2023A Day to Remember!
Our wedding day was absolutely perfect! Highly recommend using Southern Oak Events to help you plan your perfect night. -
Rachel Sent on 10/13/2023
The best. Team. Ever!
Our wedding day was truly and simply the best day of our lives thanks to the INCREDIBLE team at Southern Oak Events. It can be very easy to become stressed during the wedding planning process, but because of our AMAZING coordinator Nicole, I did not find myself stressed, frazzled, or unhappy at ANY point. Nicole's intentionality, professionalism, friendship, dedication, and compassion FAR exceeded anything I could have ever dreamed for in a wedding coordinator. She never made me feel like any request was unmanageable, and consistently put my mind at ease about our wedding day and planning because of her encouragement and care. On our wedding day itself, Nicole made everything run so smoothly that there was seriously NOTHING that went wrong or felt stressful. Even when she realized a part of our cake was not delivered during the reception, she let us know kindly and calmly without stress and we all just laughed it off and moved on. At the end of the night, my family and my husband's family could NOT have raved more about how helpful Nicole was in packing up all of our decor, which was such a blessing for my peace of mind and theirs. I would say it one million times over, the Southern Oak team was the wind beneath our wings throughout our wedding planning process, and we could NOT feel more grateful!!!!!! -
-
Kristen Sent on 10/10/2023
Absolute PERFECTION from start to finish!
I could go on and on about Nicole. From our first meeting all the way up to the big day, she made everything so smooth and truly so perfect. I could not have been blessed with a better wedding planner & event space/staff!!! I HIGHLY recommend investing in the coordinator package :) We love Nicole and everyone at southern oak events!!! -
-
![Meredith]()
Meredith Sent on 09/11/2023Organized, detail oriented, personal, and professional!
If you are looking for a wedding coordinator, you have to have Steph! She is one of the sweetest people we have ever met! I love details and we were so impressed that Steph had every single detail down to the minute.
Our planning meetings were perfect. Steph always knew the right questions to ask and offered great advice. We were so prepared for everything. On the wedding day, both her and her assistant were on top of everything. The day was FLAWLESS. I was stress free the entire day even as it was storming outside! We already had a back up plan for our first look and the transition was seamless. Thank you Steph for everything!!! -
![Sydney]()
Sydney Sent on 08/20/2023Southern Oak Events is the best!
I worked with Jessica for my wedding May 2023 at the Melrose Knitting Mill and I am just overflowing with praise for her and Southern Oak Events. For the entire year leading up to the wedding, Jessica was insanely responsive, attentive, thoughtful and professional. She was our Day-of-Coordinating but that name does not give enough credit to all that she did in preparation for our wedding. She was clear from the beginning what the process would look like and she stuck with that timeline. She never went dark and was always accessible. I would literally trust Jessica to manage my life.
She was knowledgeable on matters big and small and so well-respected in the industry. And when I had issues with vendors, she handled them seamlessly. That is one of my favorite things about her- Jessica doesn't present problems. She may let you in on an issue, but she always also brings you the solution at the same time. Jessica made me feel, at all times, like she would have gone to the ends of the earth to make sure our wedding went perfectly. I know this sounds dramatic but I really mean it. For the weeks/days leading up to the big day, people kept asking me if I was nervous that something was going to go wrong and all I kept telling them was "With Jessica at the helm, I am simply not worried."
During the whole planning process and on the day of the wedding, Jessica played the perfect balance of being my friend but also being a straight-shooter. She and I bonded over a love of sharks and she even wore adorable shark earrings on the day. I literally cannot speak more highly about Southern Oak Events. I have had so many people, even months later, tell me that ours was the best wedding they have ever been to. I attribute it all to Jessica! -
Colleen Sent on 08/10/2023
Cannot recommend Jessica highly enough!
We hired Jessica as our wedding day-of coordinator about 10 months before the wedding date, and she went above and beyond to help us every step of the way. She made herself available for texts and calls whenever any questions came up, and as the day got closer she spent time with us talking through every detail - even ones we hadn’t thought of yet. We also had a near centerpiece disaster on the big day and she was an absolute life saver - going out to pick up flowers, saving our centerpieces without a second thought.
I cannot recommend Jessica highly enough; she is thorough, professional and extremely personable. We are so incredibly grateful to have had her experience and guidance, which led to an absolutely flawless wedding day 🩷 -
-
![Natalie]()
Natalie Sent on 07/08/2023Erika is the best!
We absolutely loved working with Erika. She helped us plan the wedding off our dreams and our wedding day exceeded all of our expectations.
There were multiple planning options and we chose the Day of Coordination package. We liked this option because we wanted to plan our own wedding while having some help along the way. This allowed us to have access to Erika when we needed advice while also being able to meet with her in person for planning meetings in the months leading up to our wedding.
Erika is a true professional and made us feel so prepared leading up to our big day and she expertly managed everything on our wedding day. We felt zero stress on our wedding day because she took care of everything. Highly recommend working with Erika and with Southern Oak Events! -
Callie Sent on 07/07/2023
Loved working with Erika!
Erika was such a joy to work with! She was very professional and detailed leading up to our wedding. On the day of the wedding she was very calm under pressure, great and anticipating our needs, extremely organized and lovely to our guests. Would highly recommend her and this group for any events! -
-
![Kristen]()
Kristen Sent on 07/06/202310/10 Great Experience
Erica was EXCELLENT to work with. Thankful for all her help and having her by my side for my special day! -
![Loretta]()
Loretta Sent on 07/06/2023Phenomenal! Made a beautiful event flow effortlessly!
Erika and her team were nothing short of spectacular! Prior to hiring Southern Oak Events the circumstances surrounding the planning of this wedding were very delicate and stressful to say the least. Not only was I planning a wedding from out of state, there were very strong, conflicting opinions within the bridal party regarding what the event should look like. Not only did Erika and her team plan a beautiful event, she lifted the heavy burden from my shoulders and managed to make all parties involved happy. She was very diplomatic, organized, thoughtful, and clearly talented at what she does. While I’m sure it was not easy, Erika made it seem effortless. The planning was seamless, I never had to keep track of deadlines (she was always there to remind me), and the wedding flowed smoothly from start to finish. I cannot sing her praises any louder. I highly recommend Southern Oak Events to everyone and anyone! -
![Molly]()
Molly Sent on 05/14/2023Incredible venue and staff, made for a perfect day.
This venue is gorgeous and my wedding planner Erika was simply AMAZING! Everything from the food to the signature drinks to the bridal suite was perfect and exactly what we needed. Our pictures are stunning. I hardly had to ask for anything during the wedding because my planner and the staff brought everything I needed before I even thought to ask, drinks, food, pictures, etc. I got so many compliments on how beautiful the venue was and how smoothly the wedding went. So grateful that I picked this venue, the day was perfect and came together beautifully. I can't say enough good things! -
-
![Mariana]()
Mariana Sent on 05/10/2023Jessica and her team are the best in the Biz!!!
Jessica and her team at Southern Oak Events are TOP NOTCH! I am a COVID bride and was put through the ringer 3 years ago when everything hit! I had to cancel my wedding 2 weeks before our scheduled date. We got married in our backyard but we ended up rescheduling our reception 4 times - YES 4 TIMES! Between being optimistic that COVID would pass in 2020 to the realization that we needed to push it much further down the road, then getting pregnant and not wanting to finally have our day while preggers...Jessica had the patience of a GOD with a heart of gold! Words cannot express how amazing she was! She was so proactive and thought of things that never even crossed my mind! My day went off flawlessly and I owe most of that to her! If I could hire her to run my life I would! -
![Naomi]()
Naomi Sent on 05/09/2023Amazing staff!
We personally worked with Erika Bath, one of the wedding coordinators of Melrose Knitting Mill, and she was absolutely amazing. Not only did she make our dream wedding come true, but she did it with such grace and ease -- we really had nothing to worry about with her! This vendor listens to what you want and need and excels your expectations. I could not recommend them more! -
![Lisa]()
Lisa Sent on 02/16/2023Five Stars!
I can't imagine our wedding day without Nicole from Southern Oak Events. She made the day as stress-free as possible. From beginning to end, she had everything under control. I didn't have to think about anything. When we walked into our reception, it was like my dreams had come true. Nicole took everything I imagined and turned them into real life. From coordinating with vendors, to answering family and friends' questions, to making sure we stayed on schedule throughout the day, to packing everything up for us at the end of the night, Nicole was on top of it. We're eternally grateful to her and Southern Oak Events! -
Laura Sent on 02/14/2023
Utterly flawless
I’m not sure that I have the words to describe how wonderful working with Jessica and Southern Oak Events was. The utmost professional, classy, talented, FUN, and thoughtful wedding planner. No stone was unturned and no detail was missed. The event was executed flawlessly. With Southern Oak Events we truly put on the event of a lifetime. Run don’t walk!!! -
-
Emily Sent on 01/03/2023
Absolutely nothing shy of amazing!!!
Jessica was absolutely wonderful. So professional and responsive. She was the essence is a super smooth wedding day! I would recommend her to any and everyone!!!! She’s fabulous!!! -
-
![Casey]()
Casey Sent on 12/11/2022An October Event
We cannot put into words quite what Melrose did for us. Our ceremony was intimate but our reception was large. They protected that for us, all while making sure our guests had an incredible experience. Erika is an absolute force - she’s detailed, organized and accommodating. Everything about our night was beautiful thanks to this team and the food was, of course, incredible. Thank you! -
![Kathy]()
Kathy Sent on 10/18/2022Thank you Erika!!
My wedding was in July 2022. I immediately fell in love with the venue when I saw it, and we opted for the full wedding planner package with Erika. Erika was very friendly, accessible, and had excellent communication throughout the entire process. I can’t begin to cover everything that she did. One of the best benefits of working with Erika was that she was able to connect us with really great vendors and found us a fantastic officiant (Kevin Holland), hair & makeup team (Wedded Kiss), and photographer team (Reg & Kala Photograph). This saved us a lot of time and effort, and everyone she suggested was really fantastic to work with. Erika was very hands on, and I especially appreciated her help setting up all of the decorations the day before the wedding. I have a very demanding job, so while I was at work, Erika picked out the napkins and linens, designed the invitations, entered all of the guest information into the wedding website, and much more. I am really happy with how the wedding turned out. Erika definitely knows what she’s doing and knows how to make your wedding vision come to life! The entire staff was very professional and helped the whole planning process and wedding day to run smoothly. -
![Hannah]()
Hannah Sent on 10/13/2022A wedding I wanted to do over and over again
A lot of people, when they are planning their wedding, experience a lot of stress and ultimately the day is something that they are a little relieved to get over with. This was thankfully NOT my experience at all, and a large part of that was because of my wonderful venue, vendors and all of the people who helped to make my day so beautiful. Working with The Historic Wakefield Barn in Raleigh, NC was truly wonderful. Jessica Tilton was our day of planner, and she was absolutely wonderful. She was always quick to respond to our questions no matter how big or small. She was flexible, and always worked around my schedule (which is truly a challenge as I was in medical school during the planning of my wedding), and truly so kind and really cared about us having a day that we would love and always remember fondly. The venue is stunning, and the food was fabulous. Our food was even better on the day of the wedding than when we did our tasting. People still tell me how fabulous their food was at our wedding!!! The only down side was that the elevator was not operating for our day, and we had some people who needed that for access. They had a chair lift placed, which made it possible to have all of our family and friends involved in our day, which I am incredibly thankful for even if it was not ideal. Their customer service was very responsive when this concern arose, and I do think they did the best they could to make it as small of an inconvenience as possible. I would recommend this venue and their staff to my closest friends. I feel so thankful for all the work that went into a day that we will never forget! Thank you also to all of our other amazing vendors! (Florals by Sweet Love Blossoms, Entertainment by North Carolina Elite Events, Photography by the best Aly Sprecher Creative, Linens and rentals by CE rentals, Hair and Makeup By Chelsea Regan and Lindsey Ajaj, and cake by Miri Nadler Cakes) -
![Nicole]()
Nicole Sent on 09/06/2022Wonderful planners!
Jessica and her team at Southern Oak Events were everything you need when looking for amazing planners! As the owners of an event space we admired how organized and thoughtful they were about everything they did. Every detail was accounted for and they made sure that the day was exactly what the couple was hoping it to be! We will be recommending them to future couples. -
![DeNisa]()
Denisa Sent on 08/21/2022Spectacular Wedding Event!
I cannot say enough about Southern Oaks Events and Erika Bath, our wedding coordinator. The wedding far exceeded any expectations we had. Flawless execution and every detail was perfect. I am the Mother of The Bride and I know I speak for my daughter and myself when I say, we were beyond happy with the way the wedding turned out. We were able to relax and enjoy every moment of the event without any worries about anything. Southern Oak Events gets our highest recommendation. -
![Emily]()
Emily Sent on 07/26/2022Amazing to work with!
Erika Bath and the southern oak events team did an amazing job helping us with every single detail for our wedding. Erika went above and beyond on the day of and we would recommend her a thousand times over! -
![Fanny]()
Fanny Sent on 05/10/2022Amazing responsiveness, attention to detail, and expertise
We worked with both Sarah and Erika from Southern Oak Events for our 2/26/22 wedding at Melrose Knitting Mill. We booked in late 2019 and had no idea that our 2021 wedding would have to be postponed. Sarah was our first coordinator and she was great at guiding us through all the covid changes and protocols, ensuring we had the most up to date information and letting us know when we could move our wedding date. After working with her for almost 2 years, she went on parental leave and we were then paired with Erika. At first, I was nervous since our experience with Sarah had been so good, but Erika beyond exceeded our expectations. She was prepared, gave amazing recommendations and advice, and was incredibly attentive. As someone who has planned events before, I was truly blown away by Erika’s ability to not only remember all the details, but also be able to artfully instruct our wedding party and guests day of. Our wedding day went without a hitch. It was seamless. Our wedding party gave us several compliments on how prepared they felt and how easy the day was and we have Erika to thank. We’re so lucky to have worked with Southern Oaks and would recommend them to anyone! -
Tracey Sent on 04/11/2022
A Huge Thank You to Southern Oak Events
I don’t even know where to begin to express my gratitude in making my daughter’s wedding day so special and wonderful. Sarah, our wedding planner with Southern Oak Events, really made planning Carson’s wedding a joy. She was so helpful, always responded right away to any questions we had, and really took away any worry I had planning a wedding while I lived outside of NC. Sarah was invaluable on the wedding day – we didn’t have to worry about a thing but showing up and enjoying ourselves. She took care of every last detail! What can I say about The Historic Wakefield Barn other than I can’t imagine a more beautiful venue for a wedding. Our guests were blown away. One of the great things about having a wedding at The Barn is it’s all inclusive – they provide catering, bar, venue and wedding planning. The food was amazing and our guests really enjoyed the signature cocktail! Carson & Nick’s wedding was perfect and a day they will look back on with great memories and happiness. Thank you so much to Sarah, Jessica and the rest of the team!! -
-
![Thomas]()
Thomas Sent on 02/23/2022Look no more! Your wedding help is HERE!!
Jessica was literally the best! And I mean literally! She was on top of it all, and kept us up to date either with follow ups or what is needed from us. She kept expectations and deadlines clear and concise. I know it was a professional service, but made us feel like friends! Overall the BEST! -
![Jenny]()
Jenny Sent on 02/23/2022Wonderful Experience
We loved working with Jessica Tilton at Southern Oaks events. She really made the last few weeks running up to our wedding and the actual day so much easier and made sure everything ran smoothly. I was able to just just enjoy the lead up and the whole day instead of running around answering other people's questions. Totally worth it! -
![Anna]()
Anna Sent on 02/07/2022Erika is everything
Erika replaced my original coordinator due to maternity leave. She eased all my nerves about having a new coordinator come in during the middle of wedding planning. She was extremely thorough, organized and helpful throughout this entire process. I know for a fact that this wedding wouldn't have been so seamless and fun without Erika behind the scenes making the magic happen. Can't recommend her highly enough!! -
![Chad]()
Chad Sent on 02/04/2022They are the Best!
We were fortunate to have Steph at Southern Oak Events as our day-of coordinator. She was amazing and helped us on our wedding planning journey from day 1. She went above and beyond to make sure the day went smoothly and we are so happy she was a part of our special day. Steph is a superhero! Her direction and coordination of the awesome Melrose staff made our day amazing. We highly recommend Southern Oak Events to everyone.
-
![Brittany]()
Brittany Sent on 11/01/2021Perfect Day-Of Planner
Blake from Southern Oak Events was such a help on our big day. She really was wonderful and helped with every detail, moving things along. And when some things weren't exactly what we expected, Blake was a great advocate for us with other vendors. Highly recommend! -
-
![Anna]()
Anna Sent on 10/29/2021Blake with Southern Oak Events
We had our wedding at Melrose Knitting Mill. Blake with the Southern Oak team is absolutely incredible. She was so attentive, and made sure our day was perfect! She went above and beyond to make our wedding day the best. We are so thankful for their team and how great it was to work with everyone there. We will be referring them to anyone we know getting married from here on out!
Are you interested?
Are you interested?