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Weddings

The Creative Planners Reviews

The Creative Planners

The Creative Planners

Chicago, IL
5.0 out of 5 rating, 79 Reviews
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Reviews

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WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
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79 Reviews
100% recommend it
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Awards

79
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
  • L
    Leslie H. Sent on 10/04/2019
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    Stephanie Cook is the best!!!

    In my 11+ years in the business of private event music (bandleader of Entourage via Arlen Music Productions) I have to say that Stephanie rises to the top ... I cannot say enough great things about her but will start with the fact that she is just so dang talented at what she does and her energy is phenomenal all the while. A true gem and I hope we get to work together a lot more in the future. :)
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    Wendy S. Sent on 10/29/2023
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    Perfect experience with the Creative Planners

    We had used Stephanie and her team for my other daughters wedding, so when my youngest got engaged it was only natural to contact the Creative Planners. Stephanie is so professional in her approach to organizing what vendors we could use, the day of timeline down to the minute and asking the bride and groom all the right questions before the big day. Everything went smoothly on wedding day and we couldn’t have been any more happy with the final results. CP knocked it out of the park again!

    The Creative Planners's reply:

    Thanks Wendy! We loved being a part of Sarah + Leo's stunning wedding at Rockwell on River ! it was a joy to be a part of their story.
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    Carolyn H. Sent on 11/03/2023
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    Best Wedding Decision You Can Make

    If I could give them 500 stars I would. The amount this team does in the year leading up to the wedding but specifically the week of is incredible. Stephanie made me and my family so relaxed and we were able to enjoy the process and the wedding day. I did not feel any level of concern or stress and I attribute that to how comfortable and how much I trusted Stephanie and her team. Stephanie takes the time to understand your vision, help guide you when needed and suggest amazing vendors. Thank you for making our day so perfect

    The Creative Planners's reply:

    Carol,
    Thanks for the kind and generous praise. it was such a joy to work with you and the family. Miss our calls!

    Warmly,
    Stephanie
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    Hayley C. Sent on 09/13/2023
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    Incredible experience - a perfect day!

    We cannot say enough great things about Holli at the Creative Planners. Holli and her team were so professional, and remembered every important detail throughout our entire wedding experience. Our wedding day was seamless, and Rob and I felt zero stress because of her! Our families and wedding party also noticed how hard she worked, and guests who attended said it was one of the smoothest weddings they have ever been to. We truly could not have done it without her and her team. She was our go-to person throughout it all, and helped us make quick, key decisions during every step of the process. Any couple would be lucky to have her by their side!

    The Creative Planners's reply:

    Thank you Hayley. So glad the day was seamless and happy for you! Wishing you both many wonderful years ahead together!
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    Emily Sent on 07/30/2023
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    Amazing, effortless experience!

    We sought out Stephanie and the Creative Planners team as they were highly referred by our venue- and for good reason! From the onset, Stephanie guided us effortlessly through the entire wedding planning process. She has a unique ability to fully listen to her clients and capture their vision while also offering her expertise and knowledge of the wedding industry. Her extensive connections with quality vendors made making big decisions easy and uncomplicated. Her care and passion for for her clients comes through in every meeting you have with her. Our wedding was a huge success and the best day of our lives- we owe the biggest thanks to this team. We would recommend them ten times over!!

    The Creative Planners's reply:

    Emily,
    Thanks for such lovely review. I loved being a part of your stunning wedding. Wishing you and Will a life of joy and happiness !
    xo Stephanie
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    Kathleen S. Sent on 09/04/2023
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    Holli and The Creative Planners! The very best!

    Holli and the entire creative planners team are best in class! Holli was very helpful throughout the whole wedding planning process. She pointed us towards great vendors and kept everything we needed to do organized and scheduled. She made sure we didn't let anything fall through the cracks. It put us at ease knowing she was helping us with the details and the big stuff. SO grateful to have gotten to work with her.

    The Creative Planners's reply:

    Kathleen, Thank you for your kind words. You, Adam and your family were an absolute delight to work with! So happy the process was enjoyable and fun. What a wonderful celebration of a great couple!
  • Haley
    Haley Sent on 06/14/2023
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    Best Decision!!!

    Hiring stephanie as our wedding planner was easily one of the best decisions we made!! Having a destination wedding was hard, but she so effortlessly helped everything come together perfectly. She helped us stick close to our budget while also providing fun and creative ideas to make it unique to us! When people asked how the planning was going, I always said we wouldn’t have been able to do it without Stephanie! Hiring her not only made the process so much more stress free, but made it even more fun! We will miss our trips to Park City and our zoom calls!! It is safe to say we would not change a single thing about our wedding and couldn’t have imagined a more magical wedding day in the mountains of Park City and couldn’t thank Stephanie enough for making our dream wedding a reality!
  • Kendel
    Kendel K. Sent on 05/08/2023
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    Thank you, Stephanie and team!

    We are grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Stephanie and her team to plan our wedding day last November. She was so thoughtful and was a true guide in helping us think through every single detail. We looked forward to, and thoroughly enjoyed, each of our Zoom calls and meetings throughout our journey together. She was insightful in sharing her experiences and recommendations on everything from the best choices for vendors to the smallest details of the ceremony and reception, especially on matters where we felt lost or had no idea what the best choice was for us. Most of all, we appreciated her expertise in finding ways of honoring loved ones who were missing for our special day in a celebratory way. Throughout the process, Stephanie was an essential resource, an expert planner and coordinator, and a friend to us. She truly cares about you and making your wedding everything you want it to be, and her approach in getting to know both of you will ensure that every detail of the day is exactly right for you. By the end of the process, we were so thrilled with how amazing our wedding day turned out to be, and Stephanie was vital in making all of that possible. If you’re looking for a wedding planner, Stephanie should be your top choice to make your wedding day as special as she made ours.

    The Creative Planners's reply:

    Kendel, such a joy to be a part of your beautiful wedding and family story. Thank you for your kind words. Miss our calls together.
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    David N. Sent on 11/30/2022
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    Wedding - November 2022

    The Creative Planners were very professional and thorough for my daughter's wedding this past month. Alexa and Elly were amazing! They went way above and beyond our expectations. They handled every detail with all the vendors so we were able to enjoy what mattered most.
    When the time comes, we will be contacting The Creative Planners again for their services.
  • Allison
    Allison Z. Sent on 12/10/2022
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    Great choice!!

    I worked with Holli and Stephanie and have no regrets at all. I would recommend them to anyone! From the moment I met both of them, they did everything right to make me feel comfortable and relaxed. To accommodate my hectic schedule, they were willing to have Zoom meetings at any time. Somehow, Holli had the impeccable ability to flawlessly wrangle and manage our 20 person bridal party, and the whole day went extremely smooth. I promise, hiring them will be one of the best decisions you make for your wedding day!

    The Creative Planners's reply:

    Thank you Ali. I absolutely loved being a part of such a special time for you, Tim and your family. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness!
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    Cynthia N. Sent on 10/23/2022
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    Stephanie Cook - The Creative Planners

    Having a wedding ceremony, reception, and Sunday brunch at your home is not for the faint of heart! Everyone - including our Minister told my husband and me “don’t do it!” Stephanie’s grace, professionalism and calming smile had us convinced at the first meeting that she would be able to give our daughter her dream wedding! Stephanie listened to our daughter and connected us with all the right vendors from the caterer to the florist, decorations company and band! It was magical and Stephanie gets all the credit!

    The Creative Planners's reply:

    Thank you so much for your kind generous note. It was a Labor or Love to be a part of this incredible day!
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    Faye L. Sent on 09/09/2022
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    An absolute pleasure

    Working with Stephanie was nothing short of perfect. I wanted someone to bring our dream to life, help me make the tough decisions and manage our expectations. Stephanie completely blew us away with her professionalism, fantastic eye and network of wonderful vendors. Stephanie provided full service planning and her attention to detail is outstanding. Aptly named the 'wedding mom' by my husband he says Stephanie was the be at decision we made about our wedding and I could not agree more. Now we just need another excuse to throw a party!
  • Tracy
    Tracy O. Sent on 06/20/2022
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    Stephanie, the owner and head of Creative Planners is a one stop shop. She does it all!

    Stephanie knows what she is doing down to the smallest detail. Her timelines and constant updates and check ins were so helpful. She will guide you but also listen to your vision and do everything in her power to make it happen. No request is out of the question. She is a great problem solver and will do what ever it takes to make it happen. We are extremely happy with how our wedding turned out. Every detail that we requested was taken care of. She has great venders who she works with a lot, but is very receptive to meet and use venders that we wanted. She made a really crazy day- seamless and amazing!
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    Rey G. Sent on 06/23/2022
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    Incredible Experience

    My wife and I married recently at Chicago Botanic Garden. We feel very fortunate to have have had Holli Volkert’s services overlook the planning which she beautifully streamlined for a wonderful experience, to unfold. The transitions between the seating & ceremony, cocktail hour, & reception were seamless. Her arrangements, attentiveness, & abilities in being flexible as requests arose, permitted such a beautiful wedding to have unraveled for our friends and family to have had an opportunity to rejoice in celebration and ceremony.

    The Creative Planners's reply:

    Thank you so much Rey. It was such a joyous day for you and Janette and I was so happy to be a part of it. Wishing you both much joy always!
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    Janette M. Sent on 06/22/2022
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    Best decision ever!

    So happy we hired the creative planners! Holli was amazing and such a pleasure to work with! Our wedding at the Chicago Botanic Garden went flawlessly because of Holli's fantastic work, and I would hire her again in a second for any future event!

    The Creative Planners's reply:

    Janette, It was such an honor to be a part of such a special day for the two of you. Wishing you and Rey much happiness!
  • Oralia
    Oralia S. Sent on 10/06/2022
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    Dream wedding come true!!

    Working with The Creative Planners was one of the best decisions I made during the entire wedding planning process! Stephanie was there for us from day one and supported us through our 2020 postponement. She helped make our dream wedding come true this past summer after waiting two years! I am definitely a Type A Bride and very detail oriented. I was looking to work with a planner that would give me a piece of mind and offer insight when making big (and little) decisions. Needless to say, Stephanie was the perfect fit. She is extremely knowledgeable about weddings and has amazing relationships with vendors in the industry. Stephanie is unbelievably kind, professional, and organized. Since the wedding, we have had so many guests comment on how beautiful everything was! My husband and I are so thankful to have worked with Stephanie and consider her like family now. I highly recommend The Creative Planners to all my family and friends.
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    Linda K. Sent on 06/21/2022
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    Wedding Visionary

    The creative planners/ Stephanie Cook is the ultimate professional and brought our wedding vision to life and far beyond our expectations. You will not meet anyone as kind, thoughtful, sharp and in the know in planning a wedding!
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    Alexa K. Sent on 08/11/2022
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    The absolute best.

    When people asked how wedding planning is going- without fault I always would say "you need a wedding planner- you need Stephanie!! Call the Creative Planners!" With guidance on vendors, check-ins on timeline, and down to the smallest detail, she went above and WAY beyond. Not only is she a professional and unmatched in the industry, she is the most wonderful person. She truly gets to know you along the process and understands your vision. There is absolutely nothing we would have done differently. Our wedding dream became a reality and we owe a large part of that to Stephanie and The Creative Planners. I truly miss our interactions and conversations now that our wedding is over! She becomes a part of the family during the planning process and we love her!
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    Allie S. Sent on 06/12/2022
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    Incredible Wedding Planner!

    Our wedding planner Holli was fantastic! There is no way we could have done it without her. She made our entire vision come to life and the day was perfect. Holli was always incredibly positive and made us feel so confident and calm the entire time. She made the whole process so much more pleasant and was always on top of every detail! Would recommend her in a heartbeat!

    The Creative Planners's reply:

    Thank you Allie. It was such an honor to be a part of your special day. Wishing you and Chris a lifetime of happiness!
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    Sara T. Sent on 04/20/2020
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    Stephanie is the BEST.

    Stephanie is the BEST. Obviously we loved working with her. She completely understood our vision and executed it perfectly. She planned a multi-day destination wedding in Vail, Colorado. She was opinionated at the rights times when we needed guidance or a gentle push, and she was sensitive and patience when we needed that, too. Striking that balance is hard, and Stephanie does it masterfully. I oscillated between being neurotic and absent, and Stephanie easily adapted to my style and always made me feel like my wedding was the most important one she was planning (even though she clearly has many others...)

    But we've only done this once so don't take our word for it. Take the words of all our other vendors who actually operate in this space and work with dozens of wedding planners all the time. You could literally hear the relief in their voice when they talked about working with her -- how she is a true professional, how she makes their lives easier because she actually knows what she is doing, and how she runs a tight ship while still having the warmth that you want during such a personal process. One vendor actually privately thanked me for hiring her because she was so good at what she does.
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    Emily P. Sent on 12/14/2021
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    Outstanding!

    The Creative Planners went above and beyond to ensure our day went smoothly. Their expertise both on the day-of and throughout the planning process was critical to making the day easy and enjoyable. We are so thankful for the magic they helped to create! Thank you Holli, Wren, and Stephanie!

    The Creative Planners's reply:

    Emily,
    Thank you for your kind words. It was a labor of love to be a part of your stunning wedding. Wishing you all the love and joy for you two. Warmly Stephanie
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    Kirby M. Sent on 05/30/2022
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    The best planners in Chicago!

    Aside from marrying my husband, hiring The Creative Planners was the best decision we made for our wedding ;) We worked with both Stephanie and Alexa K and they were fantastic. The peace of mind having Alexa at the wheel in the final month of our wedding planning was worth every penny and then some. She was professional, kind, prompt and incredibly organized. I would highly recommend The Creative Planners to anyone getting married in the Chicagoland area.
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    Elizabeth B. Sent on 11/02/2021
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    Unbelievable- cannot thank them enough!

    Everyone we worked with at the Creative Planners was absolutely fantastic- professional, personable, kind, and courteous. From day one, they were extremely helpful and responsive to all of our needs and questions. They made the process seemless and took so much stress off of our plate during the entire wedding planning. We had no hiccups (and if we did, they handled it effortlessly without us knowing!) Our day was perfect and we could not have done it without The Creative Planners. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a planner- they were the absolute best. We cannot thank them enough!!!!

    The Creative Planners's reply:

    Elizabeth,
    Thank you for your lovely note and allowing The Creative Planners to be a part of your wedding. It was truly a Labor of Love for us!

    Warmly,
    Stephanie, Holli + Alexa
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    Tracy T. Sent on 10/11/2021
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    Stress free wedding day!

    Stephanie and her team were great to work with. They guided us through 2 1/2 years of planning and re-planning due to Covid, giving us sound advice along the way. Their years of experience provided us with excellent vendors which were a good fit with my daughter’s vision for her wedding. They also handled all the “day of” details, making it a stress free wedding day for my husband and I as well as for the bride and groom. It was a beautiful event, one which many of our guests told us was the best wedding they had ever attended!

    The Creative Planners's reply:

    Thank you Tracy. We loved being a part of Maddie and Chuck’/s wedding. Such a beautiful day for a special couple.
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    Shadi S. Sent on 09/12/2021
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    Stephanie's a no-drama pro. 10/10, would recommend in a heartbeat.

    Would absolutely recommend Stephanie. Stephanie is a no-drama pro. She listened and understood exactly what we were looking for, she has good taste, and she executed the logistics well. We also enjoyed working with her on a personality level too. We were on a pretty compressed schedule, and she pulled everything off perfectly.

    There were multiple people who told us it was one of the best weddings they'd ever been to. It was a backyard wedding and the next day, one neighbor called to say that it seemed magical, and the other neighbor admitted to watching through the bushes and dancing.
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