Zest it Up Reviews
Reviews
5.0 out of 5 rating
5.0 out of 5 rating
86 Reviews
100% recommend it
Awards
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![Meredith]()
Meredith Sent on 05/07/2024We love Sam!
We got engaged during COVID, and after taking a few months to enjoy our engagement, we started interviewing wedding coordinators to help with the planning process. we talked with a few, but the minute we talked with Sam, we knew she was the "one".
Since then, she helped us through 2 wedding venues, an almost 2 year-long engagement and helped us juggle all of the moving parts of our wedding, our family dynamics and just about everything in between. She is patient, and she explored and talked through every idea we had. She is well connected and introduced us to so many amazing vendors, and coached us all the way from signing contracts to vendor meetings. She is almost TOO responsive, I am an early morning e-mailer and texter, and Sam would always respond quickly and thoroughly.
Sam was with us through every step of the wedding planning process, and we couldn't have done it without her. Our highs were her highs, and our lows were her lows. She truly cared about our wedding, and while I like to think we're special, I think she is like this with all that are lucky enough to work with her.
There is no one like her. She is incredible. -
Erin Sent on 09/20/2023
Simply the best!
Words cannot describe how happy we are that a random Google search for SLO area wedding planners lead us to Sam/Zest It Up. We booked the full wedding planning package “Have Your Cake And Eat It Too” and are so happy that we did. We also ended up adding on a rehearsal dinner and welcome party package since we had 3 separate weddings weekend events at our venue, Greengate Ranch + Vineyard. Sam put so much love, time, and energy into making our wedding weekend absolutely perfect and we are so so so appreciative of all of her hard work.
Not only is Sam such an all-around kind, thoughtful, and fun person but she is SOOO good at her job. From the start of the planning process, Sam was a great communicator and easy to work with. She connected us with the most amazing team of vendors to help make our wedding weekend a success. This in particular was very helpful because we are not from the SLO/Central Coast area. She was always quick to respond to all of my (many) emails/texts/calls throughout our year and a half long planning process. My husband and I also changed our mind about a few things in the months before the wedding and we greatly appreciated how understanding she was about our indecisiveness and how helpful she was in facilitating our last-minute changes. I felt so relaxed and prepared in the days/weeks leading up to the wedding because Sam was so on top of it. And during the wedding, Sam and the Zest It Up team went above and beyond in ensuring that we did not have to worry about a THING. Our rehearsal dinner, welcome party, and wedding went off without a HITCH in my eyes (even though I’m sure there were probably several fires that she had to put out throughout the weekend), and we received SO many compliments about how the weekend went, and that is all thanks to Sam and the Zest It Up team. Killian and I will miss you dearly!
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![Karissa]()
Karissa W. Sent on 05/15/2023The best!
Sam and her team at Zest It Up created the most perfect wedding of our dreams! Sam was so helpful in every conversation we had from planning, to budget, decor, food, etc. I would not have been able to do it without her. She put me at ease with the stress that wedding planning can ensue on a bride and assured me that everything would be taken care of (and it WAS!). She was very attentive in our planning meetings to ensure my vision would be executed and put together an amazing flroal design package that I could share with my florist. I loved having her take charge on emailing vendors with specific requests for the wedding and coordinating meetings with vendors. She created an amazing timeline and communicated clearly with every vendor I hired. The day was amazing all thanks to her!! -
![Maxwell]()
Maxwell J. Sent on 02/18/2023Unforgettable Wedding Day Thanks to Zest It Up
We recently had the pleasure of working with Sam as our wedding planner, and we couldn't have been happier with the experience. From start to finish, she was organized, responsive, and incredibly skilled at bringing our vision for the wedding to life. She helped us with every aspect of wedding planning from vendor selection, design, budgeting, fine details and day-of logistics.
The planning process was stress-free and enjoyable, thanks to Sam’s clear communication and attention to detail. She took the time to get to know us, and really listened to what we wanted for our big day. She also offered great suggestions and creative solutions for any issues that came up along the way.
On the day of the wedding, Sam and her team were absolutely amazing. They kept everything running smoothly and seamlessly, and we didn't have to worry about a thing. They were always available for any questions or concerns that we had, and they went above and beyond to make sure that everything was perfect. Our wedding turned out better than either of us could have ever imagined.
Overall, we would highly recommend Zest It Up to anyone looking for a talented, professional, and dedicated wedding planner. Sam truly made our wedding day unforgettable, and we can't thank her enough for all of her hard work and expertise.
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![Giselle]()
Giselle C. Sent on 11/11/2022The best decision we made!
I cannot say enough good things about the lovely Samantha and the Zest it Up team! She was amazing, from beginning to end. Sam made planning our event just shy of effortless, and most certainly she took all the worry out of it. Think about that--I didn't have to worry about any detail! It was a relief to be able to lean on her expertise, experience, and connections to have an event surpassing even our best vision. Everything was beautiful! Hire her team. You will not regret it! -
![Rachel]()
Rachel L. Sent on 10/05/2022BEST coordinators in the county
I feel the need to start with the fact that my husband and I were skeptical on whether we actually needed a wedding coordinator for our wedding. However, I was going to school full time and didn’t want the added stress doing it all on my own so we went ahead and booked coordination services with Zest it Up. After the professionalism, attentive, friendly, responsiveness that Samantha expressed from day one (and we had a 2 year engagement) completely changed mine and Evan’s perspective for the best. We are SO happy we booked them. When Samantha found out she was due with her baby boy 2 weeks before our wedding, we still didn’t have a doubt in her ability to make it our dream day. She had so much help on our wedding weekend where my family and friends continued to recognize their hard work and organization. We can honestly say that Zest it Up was the BEST vendor we booked. -
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![Carlena]()
Carlena M. Sent on 11/02/2023THE best decision we made when planning our wedding!!!
I don’t even know where to begin - if you’re in need of a wedding planner who can truly do it all, RUN don’t walk to Sam and her team at Zest It Up!
After booking our venue (CASS Winery in Paso Robles) and securing our wedding date, I reached out to Sam and we truly clicked from the moment that we met. Like many brides, I felt overwhelmed at the start of planning and didn’t have a specific vision in my mind of what I thought I wanted - in comes Sam! The planning process was about a year and a half, and from beginning to end, Sam was there every step of the way answering every single one of my (many) emails/texts/calls. There was never a moment where I felt overwhelmed or stressed - I actually came to really enjoy the planning and design process because of Sam!
We booked the “Just the Icing” package, but in my heart of hearts, I truly feel like Sam and her team went above and beyond our expectations, and I think that’s a true testament to Sam and the passion that she has for what she does. Not only is she incredibly talented and good at what she does, but she’s also extremely thoughtful, kind, detail-oriented, and an all around just wonderful person to work with.
In the weeks leading up to our wedding weekend, I felt so calm and relaxed because I knew that everything was handled and that Sam was truly on👏🏼top👏🏼of👏🏼it👏🏼. The day before and the day of our wedding, Sam and her team had everything dialed in and went above and beyond to make sure that we were not worried about a thing and were focused on soaking in this special time with our family and friends. The entire weekend was so seamless and perfect, and an absolute blast. We received so many compliments from our friends and family afterwards, and all of this is definitely accredited to Sam, her team, and the stellar lineup of vendors that she introduced us to. My husband and I couldn't be more grateful for everything that Sam did to help create one of the most magical weekends that we will never forget. Connor and I are going to miss you dearly, but can't wait for a little reunion next time we're in town! 🙂 -
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![Stevie]()
Stevie S. Sent on 09/07/2022Sam & her team of Zesties are BEST IN CLASS! Look no further for your wedding coordinator/planner!
All I can see is, WOW! We cannot imagine having planned our wedding without Sam by our side every step of the way. From the first time we connected with her over the phone, and after reading through the details included in her packages/proposal, we knew Sam was the wedding coordinator/planner for us. Sam is incredibly experienced, detail oriented, thoughtful, easy-going, and an absolute pleasure to communicate with and work with. Right off the bat she helped us with planning around our wedding budget, proposed incredible vendors within our budget, and set us up on a wedding planning platform with a planning checklist that made the planning process and staying on-schedule a no-brainer. We bounced design ideas off each other, and any time we had questions, Sam would respond to an email/text/phone call right away. When we decided on our caterer and rental companies, Sam took care of all of the rental planning for us based off our planned guest count. This part of the process intimidated us and she made it effortless - glassware for the bar, silverware, linens, umbrellas, questions to ask the caterer around their rental needs...you name it, Sam planned for it. She also provided us with helpful "how-to" guides to help us make decisions with our other vendors and plan ahead for questions to ask. Sam came prepared with questions for us on every regularly scheduled sync call and kept us on track throughout the planning process. She also coordinated with all of our vendors to keep them on track as well. On our rehearsal and wedding days, Sam and her team flawlessly executed our vision and we didn't have to lift a finger or worry about a thing. Trust me, a wedding coordinator or planner will quickly become the most important vendor choice you make during the planning process. Sam and the Zesties are worth their weight in gold! It feels sad to part ways after planning together for so long, but we feel like we found a life long friend in Sam. What more could a bride and groom ask for? -
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![Brittany]()
Brittany D. Sent on 06/20/2022Sam & Zest It Up are AMAZING
Sam and her Zest It Up team are simply amazing! We worked with Sam on planning our wedding for a little over a year and she was so helpful along the way! From vendor recommendations, to double checking contracts, answering all of our questions, and more, she made wedding planning less stressful.
Sam is extremely organized, quick to respond, and very knowledgeable about the wedding industry. She made planning our Paso Robles wedding from Southern California so much easier for us. On the day of our wedding, she had solutions for any little problem that popped up, and solved issues before we even knew they were an issue. She made sure we had enough to eat throughout the day and helped ensure that our day ran as smoothly as possible. Our day would not have been nearly as perfect without her by our sides. We are so thankful for Sam and her team and cannot recommend them enough! -
Kaitlin H. Sent on 06/16/2022
Couldn't have done it without Zest it Up!
Hiring Sam and the Zest it Up team was the best decision we made when planning our wedding! My husband and I were living in Boston when planning our central coast wedding, and Sam was with us every step of the way! She was responsive, supportive, professional, and genuine. She kept our vendors (and us) organized and considered all the small details to make our wedding run smoothly and beautifully. Most importantly, Sam made us feel cared for and listened to. She always took the time to listen to our wants and concerns and was dedicated to bringing our vision to life. I never thought I would say planning a wedding from across the country would be fun, but Sam made it happen! When it came to the wedding day, Sam and her team allowed our families to relax and enjoy the day. I still have family and friends telling me how impressed they were with Sam and her team. The day ran so smoothly and exceeded all of our expectations. Sam allowed my husband and I to slow down and appreciate every moment of our wedding day. We are incredibly thankful we found Zest it Up and couldn't have imagined our wedding day without them! -
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![Kat]()
Kat F. Sent on 05/26/2022Perfect for ALL stages of planning a wedding! We cannot thank Sam enough!
I cannot express just how thankful we are for Sam and the Zest it Up team! They took so much of the stress away from planning a wedding. We spent about a year and a half planning the day, and Sam was there from the very start to guide us through every process. She is prompt and thorough when answering questions, and she is always down to hop on the phone to talk ideas through. Moreover, my husband and I were planning our wedding from out of state (all the way on the East Coast!), so having someone local to the area where we were getting married was essential, since we couldn’t see venues or meet with vendors in person. Sam helped to initiate conversations with our vendors and introduce them to us. When it came time for the wedding, Sam and her team were phenomenal in helping us deal with several last minute changes and putting our minds at ease. We had the misfortune of having multiple immediate family/wedding party members test positive for COVID just a few days before the wedding, but Sam was ready with a backup plan in no time, such that those family members could still be a part of the day. Sam is also detail oriented and very creative; we had a rather different vision for the day (science-themed to reflect where we met), but she was 100% on board with our ideas and helped pull them off. She even improvised with supplies she had on hand to fill out our décor in ways that fit our story and theme perfectly. She is considerate and works tirelessly to help the day move smoothly for the couple, down to making sure you have plenty to eat and drink during the event. Overall, Sam and the Zest it Up team were beyond awesome in helping us pull together not just the big, moving parts of a wedding, but every little detail too. -
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![Jason]()
Jason L. Sent on 10/30/2023Bride and Groom
From the moment we first contacted Samantha "Sam" she showed us we were the most important client she had! For a 9-month period, Sam stayed connected with us almost weekly planning every single aspect of our wedding day at Cass Winery while going above and beyond by helping to work outside of our contract and help plan a few aspects of our rehearsal dinner as well as the brunch and our wine tasting weekend which followed our Friday wedding!
We wanted to take a moment to point out some of the small details we never knew a wedding planner would handle.....
Sam met us for every single meeting with the DJ (which she found), the flower folks (which she found), the chef for tasting, the bartenders, and helped with finding accommodations for all of our more than 100 guests. She even found us the #1 "Silk Dancer" and "Fire Dancer" in San Luis Obispo County who rocked it at our wedding!
Sam set a realistic timeline and offered us "homework" to complete which set us on a path to have the BEST TWO WEEKS to relax leading up to the wedding day.
Sam leads from a position of extreme ownership in the ways that she takes responsibility for everything which has gone right and also the one or two things (out of the more than 100 things she handled) that could have been done just a bit better.
During the wedding, every moment was mapped out. She ensured we had a few appetizers in between the ceremony and our grand introduction, made sure that we were available for sunset photos, ensured all timelines were followed throughout the night, and even coordinated late night pizza for our guests to have as they boarded the shuttle bus at the end of the night. Our wedding was a 10+ because of her. Until you experience it for yourself, you would think we were just kissing up, but we are not. We are truly just being real.
After the wedding, you would think Sam was done, but she wasn't! She helped coordinate the pick up of the extra bottles of left over wine and liquor and then confirmed our check out went smoothly and sent us a beautiful email to wrap up her services with the prettiest and most professional "bow." Sam should honestly be charging double what she charges! Her cost seemed costly at first, but after utilizing her services, we would pay double to use her if we knew what we know now and if we were to do it all over again. We love each other too much to have to do it again, but let us tell you that Sam was a huge highlight to our wedding weekend. We can't thank her enough...
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![Jim]()
Jim L. Sent on 11/04/2021Sam and team are AWESOME!
Sam made us feel incredibly comfortable and supported from our very first zoom call to the dessert and flowers she left us in our room after the wedding night. She's the whole package, a keen eye for details and design (e.g. menus came out beautiful with sprigs of rosemary from her garden), incredibly organized (e.g. juggled 5 parallel threads with vendors during the last couple of weeks) and a warm, generous, awesome human. We went from initial skepticism of whether we needed a wedding planner at all, to regretting not going up to the Central Coast more to spend time with Sam. We recommend Sam without any reservations!! -
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![Coleton]()
Coleton S. Sent on 10/04/2021Far Exceeded Our Expectations!
If you are looking for a wedding planner in the Central Coast area, Sam and her team at Zest It Up should be the only option! From the first time we spoke with Sam (before working with her), we could tell that she genuinely cared and wasn't just treating us as another client she was trying to sign. Throughout the entire process, Sam was super responsive and always there to answer our questions and keep us on track. She recommended the perfect team of vendors that were all awesome as well. She uses great tools like HoneyBook and Aisle Planner, which were both great for communication and organization. Sam took our random ideas and thoughts and turned it into the wedding of our dreams at CASS Winery in Paso Robles. We consider her a friend now and are so thankful for everything that she did to make our wedding so special. I would highly recommend hiring her to plan your wedding; you won't regret it! -
![Brigitte]()
Brigitte F. Sent on 09/30/2020Sam is always amazing!
Samantha and I go back a few years, we have worked together on a few weddings and events. She has always been on top of everything, cheerfully communicating on time with getting pertinent information to us for our staff to be able to know exactly what to do when, how, etc. If I could have her for all of my weddings and events, I would. Being in the industry for over 25 years, we've seen a lot and I love being by her side and having her by our side makes the world of difference. -
![Abby]()
Abby Sent on 11/02/2019Sam was amazing to work with as well as her assistant, Tori!!
The Zest It Up team did such a great job helping us execute our day.
Sam was so responsive throughout the entire process, whether it was texts, phone calls or emails.
She had great insight & suggestions and made our day - of sooo smooth! -
![Kaylee]()
Kaylee Sent on 09/12/2019I highly recommend Zest it Up for their coordination services!
I would absolutely recommend Zest it Up for their coordination services! Sam and Chanda are professional and polished, and they have great relationships with local vendors. They offer sound advice, are helpful in managing your "to do" list, and on the day of our wedding Sam was there to make sure everything went off without a hitch! I am a former event coordinator and chose to work with Zest from my past experiences with the company and their amazing reputation. For brides and grooms on the fence about hiring a coordinator - do yourself a favor and hire one! Details and personalized touches are the bread and butter of any wedding, and with all the craziness leading up to your big day, it's hard to execute those things without some help and guidance. There is nothing better than piece of mind and the Zest girls made sure my groom and I could enjoy our day to the fullest. We love Sam + Chanda! -
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