Sam was amazing to work with, she brought our dream wedding to life. Sam’s ability to problem solve and come up with solutions on the spot is one of her super powers. Sam took our list of wants and elevated them to the next level. And she would never give up on an idea we had, she worked tirelessly to make it happen. Sam was an MVP on the day of our wedding making sure everything went smoothly and checking in with us to see how we were doing. She also took BTS pictures and videos that were a great way for us to enjoy all the details of our wedding the day after.
We can’t wait to recommend Sam to future couples!
Asli Sent on 04/30/2025
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Best wedding planner ever!
We could not have asked for a more perfect wedding planner. Sam is clearly an expert and knows how to handle all the tiny details that are part of the process. Throughout the whole process, she gave us peace of mind because we knew she was handling everything while surfacing the right decisions to us and keeping us in the loop as needed. Sam was so helpful to have during the design process because she gave us plenty of suggestions and ideas, while still granting us the flexibility to bring our own vision to life.
The week of the wedding, rain (and even thunderstorms) were forecasted for our wedding day, but truly when the day actually came, Sam was there to put us at ease. She helped come up with a Plan B and C, and coordinated with the vendors so efficiently. Rain showers started 20 mins before our ceremony started, and Sam was able to have our guests redirected to a covered area and started serving champagne and appetizers to them while we waited it out. As soon as the rain stopped, we proceeded as planned. So many of our guests mentioned how organized the process was and how well taken-care of they felt, despite the rain. Knowing Sam was there to orchestrate allowed us to feel entirely in the moment.
On a side note - Sam is such a joy to work with. She is so pleasant to be around. We always looked forward to our calls and in-person meetings with her. She has a knack for making difficult decisions much easier and much less stressful. You can tell she knows what she's doing just by the way she leads conversations. We never felt lost during the process.
We're going to miss her so much!!! Could not recommend her more (I'm crying as I'm writing this).
Meltem Sent on 04/29/2025
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Sam is the best!
My daughter got married 2 days ago! We started our wedding planning adventure in April 2024 with Villa Loriana as our gorgeous empty venue that needed to be filled with anything and everything a wedding required! We needed a wedding planner from day one to coordinate every detail from the flowers to the salt and pepper shakers… As soon as our initial interview was over, we knew Sam was the right person for us. She was very knowledgeable, fun, down-to-earth and practical. She was well connected and friendly with all the vendors in the area and she asked us the right questions to match up with the right partners. She was very patient with our questions and easy to communicate with. She responded to emails and texts very quickly. She gave great feedback. When some of our ideas might not have been the best options, she saved us from ourselves 😊, provided gentle feedback and helped us achieve what we were looking for in an even better way.
She was always cost-conscious and ensured we still achieved everything we wanted with the best options for our budget. She even helped us source some great local wines for the reception at a reasonable cost.
Even more impressive was her flexibility and ability to think on her feet!
All weather apps showed rain showers at different times of our wedding day. Our ceremony was planned to be outside with an option to move inside. Sam came up with a Plan A, Plan B AND a Plan C to be decided as the day went on and we watched the dark skies. We did end up with somewhere between Plan A and Plan B and achieved our dream ceremony outside, 30 minutes later than the original plan. To do that Sam and her team had to last minute coordinate with our string quartet, the DJ, and the caterers and gracefully maneuver our guests to dry areas to ensure they were provided with drinks and appetizers while we waited out the rain. They, then, miraculously dried all 150 chairs in record time! When the guests were invited to the ceremony area the sun was shining, everything looked great and no one was aware of Sam’s valiant efforts behind the scenes to get us there!
Similarly, just a few hours before the reception, as Sam and the team were setting up the tables, they realized we were missing half the menus (menus were the one part we did it ourselves, btw 😊). Sam found us immediately, offered an elegant way to setup the tables. Everything looked great!
We also had some very last-minute cancellations, ended up removing a table and re-distributing some of the guests and swapping the names of some tables, which needed a bit of a thinking to have minimal impact on the seating chart. Once again, Sam was thinking on her feet and whipped up a new layout in 10 minutes. When the guests arrived, no one was the wiser.
We had a wonderful day! It was flawless, everything we hoped for and more!!! And I will always be grateful to Sam for the quick reminder to take a moment to look around and make a mental snapshot of the moment just as we started walking down the aisle!
I highly recommend Sam if you are planning a wedding in the area. She will hold your hand, listen, give great feedback, worry about all the details and make sure you actually have fun and enjoy the most beautiful day of your life!
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Are you interested?
Nikki Sent on 12/16/2024
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Seamless Experience Every. Single. Time.
Samantha in one of the best in the business. As a wedding floral designer, I have worked with Zest it Up for over a decade (countless events together!) and always have a smooth and supported experience. I appreciate the team's upbeat demeanor, stressless get it done attitude, keen design eye and professionalism. Samantha's energy is infectious; her events have an elevated style and feel seamless from start to finish. She is grounded, quick on her toes, highly organized and does everything with a smile. I'm always amazed with how she handles a full plate gracefully and joyfully. She's top shelf!!
Steph Sent on 11/15/2024
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The best!!
As a wedding vendor, having a good wedding planner is gold, but Samantha and her team at Zest it Up are not just good—they're the best! Her organizational skills and hard work are only matched by her warmth and ease at creating a seamless, stress-free experience for both her couples and vendors. Every wedding we’ve worked on together has been beautifully executed, with thoughtful attention to detail and an incredible atmosphere for everyone involved. We always look forward to collaborating with Samantha and her team at Zest it Up and would absolutely recommend them!
La Lomita Sent on 11/14/2024
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A pleasure to work with!
I have had the pleasure of working with Samantha numerous times at both of our wedding venues. As a venue manager, I appreciate getting to work with talented professionals like Samantha that plan and execute an event to perfection! I know that when Samantha and her team are managing an event, everything will run seamlessly. She is professional, has a great eye for design, and is simply a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend Samantha to any couple planning a wedding!
Taylor Sent on 11/14/2024
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Zest It Up is an amazing choice!
As a fellow vendor in the wedding and event industry, we love working with Zest It Up! They’re true professionals and know how to create a flawless experience for clients. Every event we’ve collaborated on in San Luis Obispo County has been expertly planned and beautifully executed, whether it's a wedding, corporate event, or special celebration. Their team’s attention to detail, creativity, and seamless coordination make our job easier and the events truly memorable. If you're looking for a top wedding and event coordinator on the Central Coast, Zest It Up is an amazing choice!
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Samantha Sent on 10/02/2024
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Best wedding coordinator ever!
In the beginning of the wedding planning, I debated hiring a planner, because I had a clear vision of what I wanted. Having Zest It Up be our wedding coordinator was the BEST choice we could have made! From start to finish, Sam was absolutely incredible. She is extremely knowledgeable about what goes into planning a wedding, paying attention to even the smallest details, and has great connections to vendors on the Central Coast. She was very easy to communicate with and quick to respond. She took all of the worry, fear, and stress out of not only the planning but also the wedding day. Even with a last minute venue change and power outage on the wedding day, I did not feel like we skipped a beat and no stone was left unturned throughout the whole process. Not to mention she managed all of this while having her THIRD baby. It truly felt like we planned this wedding with someone who was a friend and really knew us - not someone we had only met 12 months prior. If you are looking for a coordinator who will be there not just the day of, but during the entire process, hire Sam and her team. You will not regret it!!
Samantha Sent on 09/11/2024
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Fairy Godmother
Sam was my fairy godmother! Before her, I didn’t have a cohesive plan or vision for my wedding. Sam held my hand through it all and helped develop my dream wedding! Not only that but her calming presence was also what I need in those frantic moments of vendors not getting back to us or option overload. She was always available over text and email whenever a random question popped into my brain, no question too small or silly! We had quite a long engagement, and Sam was with us for the entire time. I was grateful that she kept track of everything, made sure we were on time with booking our vendors, and made sure no detail fell through the cracks. She worked with my whole family, including my in-laws and made sure everyone was happy and on the same page. Our wedding was beautiful, fun and everything we wanted and that was all thanks to Sam!
Audrey Sent on 09/01/2024
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Wedding Production Perfection!
We were mid-stride in our wedding planning when we realized we needed professional assistance. We feel very lucky to have found Sam and Zest It Up! Sam stepped right in to handle all the details and pulled off a fantastic event with ease. If you are looking for someone who knows everything about the process, and can turn your day into a dream come true, Sam and her team will remove the stress and bring back the joy!
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Lindsey Sent on 08/23/2024
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One of the best wedding planners of all time!
One of the best wedding planners of all time! Sam is able to work closely with her clients, all vendors and myself (venue owner) showing her ability to navigate multiple interests simultaneously. On event days, Sam is the first to arrive and is always last to leave. Not only is she phenomenal on the day of the event, but she gives countless hours for many months leading up to the big day and cares so deeply about each of her clients. Her work ethic, her communication and her dedication to upholding the highest level of customer service makes her shine. I wish I could steal her away and hire her full time ... she's that good.
Catrina Sent on 08/03/2024
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What a pleasure it was to work with Sam!
We were thoroughly impressed with Samantha's guidance and professionalism throughout all the preparations for our son's wedding and through the day itself! She answered questions and helped us navigate all the pieces of a complex event with many moving parts so that it was an amazing, flawless and spectacular day! I can highly recommend her!
Susan Sent on 07/25/2024
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Samantha Nason of Zest it Up Made the Wedding Planning Process Actually Enjoyable
Book Her! She will make the whole process, which can be daunting, so much less stressful and actually quite enjoyable. Sam has such a calming and reassuring presence. She's incredibly knowledgeable about the whole process. The others vendors we worked with had nothing but wonderful things to say about her. Sam covered so many details, even all the little ones that we would have never thought of on our own. When it came to the big day, you could see Sam's special eye for details everywhere. We absolutely loved our experience working with Sam at Zest it Up, and the results were a truly beautiful and enjoyable wedding day.
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Autumn Sent on 07/24/2024
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The absolute best!
As somebody who has worked on hundreds of weddings with a plethora of planners, it's always a sigh of relief when I find out I get to work with Sam and the Zest It Up team. As a vendor, you know you're going to have all the details nailed down before you even have to ask, and you know your couple is always in good hands. Plus, she's an extremely talented designer, so every wedding she has a hand in is absolutely stunning! I highly recommend Zest It Up to anybody who is looking to not have to worry about a thing during their planning process. She's the best!
Alicia Sent on 07/12/2024
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Run don’t walk and hire Samantha today!
Our venue works often with Samantha from Zest It Up and we can’t say enough great things about her and her services. She is professional, reliable, organized, friendly, and extremely talented at what she does. If you are in need of a special events planner do yourself a favor and reach out to Samantha today! We can’t wait to have her and her team back at our venue making our clients dreams come true.
Megan Sent on 06/28/2024
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The BEST Wedding Coordinator
Choosing Zest it Up for our wedding coordination was the absolute
BEST decision we made. Going into the planning process, my husband and I were pretty overwhelmed; neither of us had planned an event of this size before. Sam not only helped us develop a clear vision for our wedding, but she helped us execute it beautifully. Throughout the entire process, she was extremely quick to answer questions. She offered much-needed guidance, helped narrow down choices, and kept us on track with our timeline. She never missed a beat. And did I mention this is all while giving birth to her third BABY, who we were thrilled to have as a guest at our wedding. :) Since she was the first vendor we booked, she helped us find all our other vendors, all of which were AMAZING. Then, on our wedding day, she kept us calm and organized so we could actually enjoy the day without having to worry about every little detail. There were also some unexpected touches, including rose petals and cake waiting for us in the bridal suite after the wedding along with a personal note and gift from Sam. While working with Zest it Up, we never felt like "just another client." It felt like we had a close friend planning our wedding - someone who knew us as a couple and whom we could trust. I can't say enough about how professional, efficient, supportive, and kind Sam was throughout the entire process. She gave us the wedding of our dreams, and we will be forever grateful. HIRE HER! I promise you won't regret it.
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Meredith Sent on 05/07/2024
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We 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.
Carlena Sent on 11/02/2023
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THE 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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Jason Sent on 10/30/2023
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Bride 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...
Era B. Sent on 09/24/2023
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Absolutely The Best!!
Sam is an absolute gem! When my daughter was looking around for a wedding coordinator, she knew right away when she talked to Sam that she was the one. She is kind, has the sweetest demeanor, and always so patient with the many questions we had. Throughout the planning process, she was quick to respond to emails, had the best recommendations and always went above and beyond. She put my daughter and of us all at ease with her knowledge and attention to detail.
The wedding weekend went so smoothly, thanks to Sam and her very capable team. I am in awe of how effortless they made it all seem. We had guests commenting on how well executed everything was - from the rehearsal dinner on a Thursday, welcome party on a Friday and the wedding on a Saturday. She was always a step ahead, and we were left to enjoy each event without having to worry about anything.
I highly recommend Sam - she is professional, attentive, kind and responsive. She met all our needs and more, and my daughter and new son-in-law would not have had the perfect wedding without her. Thank you so much Sam!
Erin Sent on 09/20/2023
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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 Sent on 05/15/2023
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The 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 Sent on 02/18/2023
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Unforgettable 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 Sent on 11/11/2022
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The 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 Sent on 10/05/2022
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BEST 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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Stevie Sent on 09/07/2022
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Sam & 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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Jess Sent on 08/29/2022
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Zest It Up is in a Class of Its Own
Stop your search for the best wedding coordinator now and simply book Zest It Up! Even if you think you can do it all yourself (I get it – I did!) – Sam and her team are the partners you will want AND need to ensure your special day runs perfectly. Sam and her team exceeded our dreams and expectations. Throughout the planning process, Sam is a collaborative, creative, and an all-around nice human to have by your side. She provides access to Aisle Planner to collaborate and brainstorm, which is a type-A girls dream, and Sam is always quick to respond and offer advice or solutions. Then day-of, Sam and her wonderful team take control of execution, working in the background to ensure you and your guests have the best day ever and that the couple can happily soak in each moment. I would not hesitate to book them again or recommend to a friend. Thank you for making our day incredible and perfect! I am truly sad I won’t be regularly communicating with Sam and we will forever be grateful.
Lauren Sent on 08/16/2022
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Incredible experience with Sam and her team!
Sam and her team at Zest It Up made all our wedding dreams come true! She was there every step of the way and we truly could not have done it without her. She took our loose vision and made it into the reality of our dreams, I would recommend Sam and her team to everyone planning a wedding or event in the area, you will not be disappointed!
Brittany Sent on 06/20/2022
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Sam & 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 Sent on 06/16/2022
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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 F. Sent on 05/26/2022
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Perfect 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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Sabrina Sent on 01/20/2022
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Helped us plan the best wedding!
Sam and Zest It Up helped us plan and coordinate the most perfect wedding day! Our wedding was everything we could have asked for and more! The wedding was absolutely beautiful and everything went perfectly that day and all our guests had the best time!
Sam's guidance on which vendors to work with and design details made all the difference! Her management of all the details and vendors was great and I knew I didn't have to worry about anything. As we got thrown a few last minute curve balls days before the wedding, I so appreciate her handling all of that and doing it so calmly and quickly that I didn't even have time to panic!
It was so great working with Sam this past year to plan our wedding and I cannot thank her enough for everything, it was truly perfect and we could not have asked for anything more!
Bridget Sent on 01/01/2022
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Sam and Zest It Up are the BEST!
Our wedding day would not have been as perfect without Sam and her crew. My husband and I decided to get married in Paso Robles after falling in love with the central coast. We knew it would be hard planning a destination wedding with Covid restrictions, but Sam made it so easy. Initially I thought my mom and I could do most of the wedding planning but unfortunately my mom was diagnosed with cancer right before we got engaged and could not help as much as we originally thought. My mom and I set up a call with Sam and immediately my mom felt at ease and knew Sam would help create the wedding of my dreams. We used her “Just the Icing” services and she was able to make our dream wedding a reality. Sam really got to know us as a couple and helped bring our vision to life. She was always available when we had questions and created so many helpful guides and tools to help us navigate the stressful wedding planning process. On our wedding day I was very calm and not stressed because I knew Sam had everything under control. The whole day went smoothly and was perfect. Sam exceeded our expectations, and we would highly recommend her to plan your wedding or next event.
Arielle Sent on 12/18/2021
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Zest it Up was amazing!
Once Parker and I got engaged the first thing we did was lock down our planner! Sam was previously my employer at Zest so I knew that her attention to detail was impeccable. I wouldn’t trust any other planner for my big day. She took care of all the details and was there for emotional support! She is great with dealing with awkward family, or guest situations as well. She knows how to keep things professional.
We had a huge unexpected event take place before our big day and we almost canceled the entire wedding. Sam helped us figure out a way that we could re-work things to make everyone feel comfortable and safe. Due to Covid we made sure that everyone wore masks and spaced out the tables…etc. We wouldn’t have had our fairytale turn out the way it did without Sam. We are eternally grateful. She put in so much extra behind the scenes work. We couldn’t be happier!
Jim L. Sent on 11/04/2021
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Sam 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!!
Coleton Sent on 10/04/2021
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Far 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!
Jennifer Sent on 03/01/2021
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Hire sam asap!
I wish we would’ve hired Sam sooner! Thank goodness our venue recommended her because once we hired her the wedding planning process became way less stressful and much more enjoyable. Sam knew everything that we needed – from vendors to rental numbers to the day-of timeline and every little detail you could think of. We had a short 3.5 month engagement and the day came together more beautifully than I could’ve imagined, a lot of it thanks to Sam and her knowledge and experience. She was so kind, professional and always responded in a timely manner. If you are going to splurge on one thing splurge on a wedding planner and use Sam!
Gabriel Sent on 10/19/2020
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Sam and Zest It Up are A-MAZE-ING
We booked the “Just The Icing” package with Zest It Up and worked directly with Sam. We needed a day of coordinator but Sam was so much more than that. Sam worked with us to suggest vendors that she knew/has worked with before in the area. We were planning this wedding from SoCal so it was great to have an insider in the area that could give us the best recommendations (we ended up using the same baker as Sam did for her own wedding – YUM!). The one thing we noticed immediately (we booked Sam almost a year before our wedding) was that EVERYONE knew and mentioned how much they loved working with Sam. We soon learned why. Sam is direct, friendly, on top of it, caring, and very experienced. She was on top of everything. Literally, every little thing. She knew the best way to fold the napkins, the place where the DJ would want to set up - all of it. I was under the impression (typical groom) that a day-of coordinator was not really something we needed. In retrospect, I am SO HAPPY we booked Sam for our wedding. We could not have had a smoother wedding and we were so amazed how she just showed up and handled everything the day of so that we could each focus on the things we had to/wanted to do the morning of our wedding. I would book Sam to coordinate any event. She just knows how to keep things productive and complete a long list of to dos so that the couple or event host can take a step back and actually ENJOY the planning process. If you book Sam and Zest It Up you will love your event and you will wish she could organize every part of your life!
Brigitte Sent on 09/30/2020
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Sam 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 Sent on 11/02/2019
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Sam 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!
Taylor Sent on 10/15/2019
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Best Wedding Decision
The Zest It Up Team helped make my wedding day not only look beautiful, but run so smoothly. From the planning process to choosing vendors and establishing timelines, they helped make the wedding planning process so seamless and easy. I would recommend them as the most important investment for your wedding!
Kaylee Sent on 09/12/2019
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I 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!
Kimberly Sent on 01/17/2019
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Wonderful and Helpful!
I would 100% recommend Zest It Up. They were wonderful two work with and created a positive planning experience for me. They took the jumbled up ideas from my mind and created a beautiful vision that exactly fit what I had always wanted. Then they took that vision and helped me to make it a reality. When the bride's worst nightmare happened... rain... Sam and Chadra were so calm and helped me execute a beautiful back up plan. Their experience and creativity gave me confidence that I would still have the beautiful wedding of my dreams. Thank you for helping us celebrate in the most amazing way possible!
Emily Sent on 09/26/2018
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WOW WOW WOW! I mean if you weren't already sold on booking Zest It Up based on the previous reviews, let this one sway you... They are AMAZING!! I honestly think I got as many compliments on the food as I did on my wedding dress (and everything else for that matter). Everything was incredible!
Aside from the food, the Zest It Up crew is amazing!!! So professional and efficient, very flexible and SUPER accommodating. They were always happy to send us updated invoices/quotes with any little changes we wanted as the planning process went on and so helpful to us in choosing our menus. They handled all of our food needs all weekend long and every meal was perfect. They brought me and my bridesmaids food on the morning of the big day, catered our wedding dinner and dessert, and also catered brunch for our guests on the morning after the wedding. It was a foodie's dream.
If you want AMAZING food at your wedding made by an amazing crew of awesome people, do yourself a favor and book Zest It Up!!
Jordan Sent on 09/13/2018
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Zest it Up made our wedding dreams come true! We hired Zest for both catering and planning. My husband and I were planning out of state while dealing with crazy personal and professional schedules. I know I could not have planned the beautiful and fun wedding we had without the help of Sam, Chanda, Taylor, and Emma. They quickly eliminated any worries we had leading up to the wedding, and on the day of, I was completely relaxed and enjoying the limited time we had with our friends and family. I'm so grateful for all of their hard work.
Their food was also amazing!! The cheese platter appetizer, along with the bacon wrapped dates and grilled asparagus spears were a huge hit. One guest said it was "the best cheese platter of his life." Similarly, the vegetarian lasagna pleased vegetarians and carnivores alike and was so tasty! All I can say is I wish there were more leftovers. The carrot cutting cake they made for my husband and I was also truly delicious and pretty to look at. For guests we had mini pies and mini-cupcakes, which were devoured rapidly! I heard compliments from our guests all night about the mixed berry pie and brown butter cupcakes! I am so happy our guests enjoyed themselves as much as they did, it was everything we hoped for.
Basically in summary, hiring Zest was the key to our wedding planning success and I am so glad our venue got us in touch with them. The wedding planning process was not stressful and because of them we got to focus on the little details that made our wedding what it was!
Hilary Sent on 07/22/2018
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We cannot say enough good things about Zest It Up. They did an incredible dinner (apps, plated salad, amazing buffet, dessert bar and late night pizza!) for our wedding. We still 2 months later hear people saying how incredible the food was. They were incredibly professional, reasonably price and just so wonderful to work with. We really cannot say enough good things about these lovely ladies and would happily recommend them to any couple contemplating them as a wedding caterer.
Thanks again ladies. You helped make our wedding absolutely perfect and we hope to get to work with you again some day!!! :)
<3 Hilary and Earl
David Sent on 11/28/2017
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Samantha - Just wanted to add my thanks for all you did to guide us all through the wedding ceremony on Saturday. You were always right where you were needed and never showed any signs of frustration or anxiety – and that absolutely impacted me as the officiant. I just figured that if you were going to be calm (knowing all you know) then I would be calm too (because I didn’t know any better). Your hard work and attention to all the details and the smooth way that you went about coordinating everything made for a nearly stress-free day for me and I am certain that the Bride and Groom would say the same.
Kristi Sent on 10/20/2017
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Zest It Up was the caterer for my daughter's wedding in September. From beginning to the end of the process, these ladies were exceptional. The food was AMAZING! Their suggestions and ideas were spot-on. (We had a buffet and they suggested a family style salad to start so guests could start eating while they were waiting for their turn. Genius!) They even re-created a very special dish (Robin's Chow for you locals) that was delicious! I wish they had a restaurant so I could go back and have their food again whenever I want.
My favorites? ALL. Tri-tip with Chimichurri sauce, Peach Chipotle Chicken (no rubber chicken here!), Caramelized Brussels Sprouts, Bacon-wrapped dates (can't forget the appetizers) and more. I could bathe in the Brown Butter Frosting on the yummy cupcakes. Are you hungry yet? I am! My daughter is allergic to gluten and ALL of the food was gluten free (well, except for the cupcakes - but they gave her a special all-frosting cupcake. Sweet.) Don't hesitate to hire them. 20 stars!
Ali Sent on 10/03/2017
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Zest It Up was one of the best decisions I made during the wedding planning process. Sam and Chanda were so responsive and easy to work with. It was an absolute pleasure planning all the details with them! I had one million questions and they were so patient, understanding and detail oriented.
I don't even know where to begin on the food. Everything was absolutely delicious. Our guests raved about everything and are still talking about the meal to this day, weeks later. The garlic butter in particular was a fan favorite! From the appetizers to the main course, everything was perfectly portioned and not only tasted amazing, but was well presented. They made my vision of a family style meal come true, even the last minute additions!
I hadn't expected the food to be a highlight of the day, but thanks to Zest It Up, it absolutely was! I couldn't be more thankful and will be recommending them to everyone I know!
Danielle Sent on 08/08/2017
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Thank you Chanda and Sam! We had the most amazing day! We couldn't have imagined our day to have been more perfect! Lee and I as well as all of our guests were blown away by each course, everything was incredibly tasty and looked beautiful!
Thank you again for all your help, enthusiasm and smiles!
Lee and Danielle xx
Lauren Sent on 08/08/2017
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These ladies are amazing! The food they made was the talk of the entire wedding. Our guests could not get enough of it! Not to mention that the cupcakes were nearly gone at the end of the night because our guests kept going back for more. It was so good, that after the tasting we made them box up the rest so that I could eat it later! Chanda, Samantha, and their team were so professional and took care of everything! They are also designers so the spread and buffet were soooo beautiful I could have cried! They plated our dinner so my groom and I didn't have to get up to get our food, allowing us more time with our guests. They also boxed everything up so that we could have the left overs after the wedding and then they cleaned up so much that we hardly did anything. I cannot recommend them enough! I would give them 6 stars if I could!
Gisela Sent on 06/28/2017
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Samantha is beyond amazing and very knowledgeable. Her help and input was most valuable.
Kevin Sent on 05/26/2017
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My wife and I were married in Atascadero in May 2017 at Portola Inn, and we chose Zest it Up after reading their reviews. Samantha and Chanda were incredibly helpful in helping us plan our wedding, particular since my wife and I didn't have much idea of what we were doing. Stuff like place settings to rent, how many desserts to get, what kind of food to provide was all very useful information to have on hand. We got the classic menu, but they offer many different choices if you want your event/ wedding to have a certain kind of cuisine as well. And the food itself..... Oh my lord everything was bomb diggity. Inventive hors d'oeuvres, filling and tasty entrees and sides (with a ton of leftovers that I AM STILL EATING to this day), and delectable desserts throughout. I wish Zest it Up was a restaurant that served regular meals because I would come here all the time, it was so tough just to pick three out of the selection of appetizers and two out of their amazing entrees, I want to try them all! Plenty of vegetarian options for guests as well!
We live about 3 hours away from Atascadero, but despite this distance Zest it Up was great at keeping us updated and working with us through the planning process through email. There was even a few last minute panic moments where we didn't have serving trays or utensils, and they helped us out as well, even going so far as to providing them for us. I can not thank them enough for catching this last minute hiccup in our plans, but they were attentive and on top of things throughout. Even during the actual wedding day when we found out our guest's tables were too small to allow these serving dishes, they switched over the buffet mode without any issue whatsoever. These caterers are awesome!
I will whole heatedly recommend Zest it Up for anybody looking to cater a wedding or special event along the central coast, and you should definitely pay them a visit if you are looking for somebody to cater food for your special day!
Cecily Sent on 05/15/2017
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We used Zest It Up to cater our daughters wedding at Holland Ranch on 4/29/17. They did a fantastic job! The food was delicious, they offer so many choices! Samantha and Taylor were so easy to work with, last minute changes, lots of questions, they always were friendly and professional! I also had them make food for brunch the next day! I would highly recommend them to cater any event you may have! Thank you! Cecily Summers
Larry Sent on 04/22/2017
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Perfection at every level. The tasting was a home run. Sam and Chanda made us feel comfortable and confident that they could take care of everything. Hands on approach, amazing high quality food, outstanding execution by them and there team. The best catering experience ever. Zest It Up nailed rehearsal dinner for 60, wedding for 210, and sunday brunch for 60. And they did so with class, personal attention, humor, and ridiculous food. Can I give more than 5 stars??
User1473834 Sent on 02/01/2017
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Every year, Zest It Up has become our go-to caterers and designers for our Annual Company Events and our Annual Employee Dinners. Their service is outstanding, their food is ALWAYS delicious (we have eaten all different types of food they offer), their design skills are so creative but what tops it all off is that they are an absolute pleasure to work with. The owners Samantha and Chanda have really done a great job of getting to know us and what our company is all about, and it shows in the work they do for us. We have full trust that they will be able to make our events happen as we envision them if not better, which helps make the event planning way less stressful for us! Zest It Up is a top quality company and I'd recommend them to anyone no matter the occasion (wedding, birthday, company party, etc.)!
Shani Sent on 01/11/2017
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I could not be happier about my experience working with Zest It Up for my wedding! I was planning from out of town and was able to organize pretty much all of the details via email and phone...Sam was awesome in her responsiveness! We chose our menu fairly early on but made a lot of adjustments along the way, and Zest It Up was extremely accomodating, professional and easy to work with. We always had up-to-date estimates and knew exactly where we stood in the process. They helped me figure out ways to best fit our budget and our crowd, and just generally went above and beyond! Knowing we might not make it to the appetizers station, Sam made us a plate and brought us a selection so we wouldn't miss out as we were busy greeting people! That is just a small example of the excellent service we received. Our guests raved about the food and we thoroughly enjoyed it all. The reception area was set up beautifully and the servers/bartenders were phenomenal! I highly recommend the ladies of Zest It Up to anyone needing caterers or designers for their upcoming wedding.
Nina Sent on 11/01/2016
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Love Zest It Up!! Any time I have the opportunity to recommend or use them for my own events, I do. They are all fun, sweet and very professional. Not to mention the food is awesome!! This event was an appetizer style dinner and our guests raved about how great the food was especially the sliders. Thank you again for a job well done!!
Nina Hamilton-Wilber
Michaela Sent on 10/31/2016
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I have had the privilege of working alongside Chanda and Samantha over the last 2 years, witnessing all of the incredible moves they make to pull of the most spectacular events. Everything from preparing the most mouth watering foods that are as gorgeous as they are delicious, to creating last minute floral arrangements (even when they were not the hired florists). These women prove to go above and beyond the expectations of their clients taking care of whatever needs to be done in order for the event to go smoothly, and... without even being asked to do so! They have a keen eye and attention for detail that allows for brides to truly be able to relax. When deciding who I wanted to cater my own wedding in Big Sur this fall, I knew that my own special day would be complete with zest. Ariel, Chanda and Samantha traveled for the event prepared with all the bells and whistles to pull of my intimate 50 person wedding. I have had so many people go out of their way to call me and tell me how phenomenal the food was. And it was! I actually got to eat on my wedding day! I am so happy with my choice and I am so proud of all these women have accomplished. They are truly a business with a huge heart at the center of it. They care for their clients and care about their craft. It was a very special privilege to have them cater my wedding day.
Amy Sent on 10/08/2016
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We had a wonderful experience with Zest It Up! We loved Sam and Chanda immediately when we did a menu tasting several months before our wedding. All their food is so fun and fresh, and they have awesome suggestions and were always willing to answer any questions I had as we were planning the day. We got a TON of compliments on the food from our guests-- especially the amazing chimichurri steak! Cupcakes were also a big hit! The entire staff was incredibly professional and everything went perfectly smooth. Love love love these girls!
Meggan Sent on 09/06/2016
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From the planning process to full execution, these girls are the epitome of professionals and rockstars. My husband and I knew we wanted killer food and we went to the right people. The prime rib was PERFECT and the service was above and beyond. I would highly recommend hiring them for any event.
HUGE thank you to Sam and Chanda and the team. You made our wedding day stress-free and delicious.
One final thing, the dessert was AMAZING. I highly recommend the hummingbird cupcakes, out of this world.....
User2662721 Sent on 06/26/2016
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The Zest girls are awesome! They were so flexible and accommodating! When we went for the consolation, I feel in love with them! They also gave us great recommendations for other vendors in the area since we did not live out there. Besides being adorable, the cupcakes and nibbler platter were amazing! Everyone at the wedding loved everything! Thanks Sam and Chanda!
Amy Sent on 06/13/2016
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I absolutely loved working with Zest It Up for our wedding last month. The owners Sam and Chanda are two of the most kind, genuine and personable people we met during our wedding planning process. They were so accommodating and always responsive to our questions. We met with them twice for our wedding menu tastings and we had a hard time making our selections because all their dishes were so tasty! They offer a diverse menu ranging from American comfort food, Italian, Asian, and Mediterranean (just to name a few!). They can also do plated, family style, and buffet for dinner service. Per their suggestion, we opted for family style because its more interactive at the dinner table and our guests loved it!
Zest It Up also provided all the desserts for our amazing dessert table and did all the set up and decoration. Our dessert table featured their brown butter cookies, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, salted caramel cheesecake and a variety of mini cupcakes. Our guests could not stop raving about the delicious food and desserts. One of the highlights of their catering service is that Zest saved a huge tray of our wedding leftovers and packed it up for us. They also saved the top tier of our wedding cake. Since we barely had the time to eat during our wedding (as expected for the bride and groom), my husband and I were able to relive the wedding at home and enjoy the yummy food days after the wedding. So awesome!
If you are looking for a catering and bartending service that goes above and beyond, I would absolutely recommend Zest It Up. The entire staff went out of their way to ensure our guests needs were being met. Their food and service are fantastic and I am confident you will be impressed!
Amanda Sent on 06/12/2016
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Zest it up has some of the best food I've ever tastes. They were so amazing at my wedding last night that I am reviewing them the morning after my wedding! They brought more than enough food for everyone so we got a chance to take leftovers home. Every single guest was raving about their food!! Most importantly Sam and chanda really worked with us to keep the food in our budget. Thank you girls for making our evening amazing.
Kristin Sent on 05/09/2016
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Zest It Up planned the perfect event from Welcome Baskets to Treats for the Road! Simply provide a theme and they will bring it to life. Guests were greeted with a smile and quickly served mouth watering appetizers and custom cocktails. The evening continued by THE BEST family style dinner that had both children and adults fighting for seconds. They also planned a night of entertainment with poker for the adults and adorable crafts for the kiddos. Don't forget the Popcorn Bar, Baked Goodies, S'Mores Station and Coffee Cart. Our Tasting Room was transformed into an elegant evening full of laughter and memories. Thank you, Zest It UP!!!
Nichole Sent on 05/09/2016
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We LOVE Sam & Chanda, this pair was the perfect touch we needed to make our wedding experience flawless. We come from a big Italian family and food is the most important thing for us, the meal choices are so good it took us weeks to narrow down the menu. They catered our rehearsal dinner and the pasta bar was a delight! For our wedding, not only did we have cleared plates the entire desert bar was gone in minutes! Their meals are full of great taste and made with love, these girls have a passion that cannot be denied. To end the night we had a late night snack of several pizza combos which were devoured, guests are still telling us its the BEST pizza they have ever had. I highly recommend Zest it Up we loved these girls the minute we met them, they are so helpful and willing to do what will be special to you on your big day. Thank you times a million, you two rock! XO
PS- They made a special naked cake for us, it was AMAZING and so beautiful!
Nina Sent on 04/20/2016
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Everything was amazing!!!! You were excellent I could not of asked for anything more. Any ideas I had they made sure it was executed perfectly. They made sure everything ran smoothly and that my day was absolutely wonderful!!!!! I do not know what I would have done without them. It was a truly amazing day and I owe it to them.
Jason Sent on 03/28/2016
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Zest It Up and their staff are so great! Their presentation is always superb and their food is over the top delicious. We have used their services at our last two anniversary parties at Give Fitness and we receive nothing but compliments. This company is great and they hire the best people.
Tiffany Sent on 03/28/2016
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Zest It Up and their staff are so great! Their presentation is always superb and their food is over the top delicious. We have used their services at our last two anniversary parties at Give Fitness and we receive nothing but compliments. This company is great and they hire the best people.
Andrea Sent on 11/01/2015
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I truly don't know how I would have survived wedding planning without Zest it Up!! They were incredibly responsive and helpful and make some delicious food!!! I HIGHLY recommend their services!
Amy Sent on 10/22/2015
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Sam, Chanda and Lauren were incredibly helpful and supportive! I can't imagine our event without them!
User2331197 Sent on 09/23/2015
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Chanda and Sam are THE best. The Zest It Up team catered our rehearsal dinner, coordinated our wedding as well as made our wedding cake. We have zero complaints! The ladies of Zest went above and beyond to help make everything look and taste amazing. At our rehearsal dinner, they had dairy-free options for me when I didn't even ask for it ( so sweet!) and skyped with us a few times regarding day-of-coordination since we live out of town. When it came to the wedding day, these girls were on it...they kept all stress at bay and understood (and even added to) our creative vision. The wedding cake was soo delicious and exactly like the inspiration photos we sent them :) The are affordable, friendly, and talented.
Our wedding weekend wouldn't have been the same without them, love these ladies!
Kelsey Sent on 09/10/2015
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If you want the food to be one of the main things that everyone is raving about at your wedding.. then you must book Zest it Up! These girls have the most amazing set up for the appetizers. The salad came out cold and crisp. The dinner meat was warm for every single plate going out to our guests! Not one person had a bad thing to say about the food! The service was great and the bartenders were on it! I would recommend Zest it Up for any party that you plan on having catered! They put a lot of effort and love into their food and really showed. Thank you girls for making our wedding the best and yummiest day ever! :)
User2290644 Sent on 08/16/2015
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I couldn't be happier that I chose Zest it Up to cater our wedding! The food was abosolutely amazing. Seriously the best wedding food I've ever had (and I'm not just saying that because it was my wedding!) Sam and Chanda made the whole planning process a breeze. I was planning my wedding from out of state so my parents essentially had to take over and coordinate all the details. I was a little bit bummed out because I had to miss the tasting and my parents went on my behalf. However that didn't matter because the turned out food incredible. I'm hoping that there are some photos of the food spread and plates of food because the colors were beautiful. I would recommend our menu to anyone! We served the chimichirri tri tip, honey porter chicken, green beans, butternut squash hash, a custom summer salad with goat cheese and berries, along with garlic bread. We also had a delicious selection of passed appetizers that were beyond amazing too! My only complaint is that I'm only able to eat this delicious food once! All of our guests agreed and we so had many compliments. And the left overs the next day were even better! The servers were also very professional as well. I would recommend Zest It Up in a heartbeat and couldn't be more impressed with their catering services!
Dawn Sent on 06/03/2015
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From the grooms perspective, Zest It Up made the entire process of planning a wedding easier for everyone involved, especially the most important person, my wife. With tensions, anxiety and the stakes always higher with anything wedding related, Sam and Chanda have a very calming and reassuring energy that puts you at ease. Their execution and professionalism is top shelf! That balance is very hard to find and these gals get it! Having them for catering and vendor/day of coordination was one of the best decisions we made! The final stretch gets hectic and moves very fast, and it can be easy to lose control and miss details if doing it all by yourself. The combo of catering and coordination is a perfect match. When they are working together, things stay on track. They had complete control of every element and we didn't have to worry about anything. Our food was delicious, HOT, and prepared on sight. If you are a bride to be and reading this, I suggest you show this review to your future husband. Zest It Up will make his life much easier along the way, reducing stress and anxiety by making decisions and taking the lead. Your bride will have so much on her mind, you will not regret splurging for coordination help. You may think you have everything under control or enough people involved, but your bride should not need to call/email/text vendors the day before to make sure they are showing up and follow up that day, it is just too much. Zest It Up will take so much pressure off of her and that should be a main focus of yours. The value is incredible for all that Zest It Up provides. We couldn't be happier with their services and they can be trusted completely. I am writing this on our honeymoon 4 days after our wedding and it has been the best week of our lives! We are so happy that Sam and Chanda were an important part of the experience. Thank you so much girls, you really Zested Up our special day!
Niko Sent on 06/03/2015
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From the grooms perspective they made the entire process easier for everyone,especially the most important person,my wife.With tensions,anxiety and the stakes always higher with anything wedding related Sam and Chanda have a very calming and reassuring energy that puts you at ease.Their execution and professionalism is top shelf as well.That balance is very hard to find and these gals get it! Having them for catering and vendor/day of coordination was one of the best decisions we made in hindsight.They made all the arrangements during the last month and were familiar with all of our vendors in advance.The final stretch gets hectic and moves very fast, that is where you can lose control and miss details if doing it all by yourself.The combo of catering and planning is a perfect match.If they are working together, things stay on track.Our food was delicious,HOT,and prepared on sight.If you are a bride to be and reading this,I suggest you show this review to your future husband.Zest it up will make his life much easier along the way by reducing stress and anxiety and making decisions and taking the lead.Your bride will have so much on her mind,so at least get the month of coordination.You may think you have everything under control or enough people involved, but things gain a ridiculous amount of momentum near the end and it could potentially be overwhelming!She should not need to call/email/text vendors the day before to make sure they are showing up and follow up that day, it is just too much.Zest it up will take so much pressure off of her and that should be a main focus of yours.The value is incredible for all that zest it up provides.We couldn't be happier with their service and they can be trusted completely. I am writing this on our honeymoon 4 days after our wedding and it has been the best week of our lives!We are so happy that Sam and Chanda were an important part of the experience.Thank you so much girls, you really Zested up our special day up!
Rebecca Sent on 04/02/2015
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I could not be more pleased with the impeccable food and service that Zest It Up brought to my wedding. First of all, Sam and Chanda are really awesome, fun women that are super professional AND friendly. They made me feel immediately at ease when I met them. Secondly, they agreed to personalize my menu in ways that some other caterers were unwilling to do--I picked some Spanish dishes that I really wanted (i.e. paella and patatas bravas), and they gave me everything I asked for (all VERY delicious) even though it wasn't all on their regular catering menu. They also made recommendations like their Mediterranean chicken and stuffed dates that were a huge hit. Finally, they agreed to make a customized little wedding cake for my groom and me to cut (in addition to a beautiful array of fruit tarts for our guests), and my groom, who typically doesn't like dessert, was obsessed with this cake. It's the first time I've ever seen him gush about how much he loved a dessert. Thankfully, they included another huge slice of the cake in the amazing to-go package of food that they sent with us to our hotel!
Exceptional Mediterranean food was very important to me when it came to executing my vision, and Zest It Up knocked it out of the park and at a reasonable price point vs. other local caterers. I HIGHLY recommend them!
User2032613 Sent on 02/05/2015
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The Zest it Up Ladies coordinated and catered my wedding of 175 this past fall in the San Luis Obispo area. I was very VERY impressed by their high-quality food, friendly staff, and over all attention to detail. They spent time during our consultations to really get to know my fiancé and I, helping us to make decisions that would be the most practical and glamorous all at the same time. They also fully accommodated food allergies that my side of the family has, and even made our wedding cake deliciously gluten free! You can really tell that they love what they do especially through their blog and natural output of genuine customer service.
I highly recommend that if you are looking for a coordinator and/or caterer Zest it Up is the ideal one-stop shop. They also referred me to other great vendors that really helped to bring my whole vision into fruition! After one tasting or consultation, you will not have to look any further, they are the real deal.
Thanks again Sam & Chanda! Keep up the super-fantastic work!
Chellis Sent on 12/10/2014
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Samantha and Chanda at Zest It Up did a fantastic job at our wedding. Their cooking was a universal hit (and my parents are foodies), their customer service was professional and positive, their presentation clean and classy, and, most of all, they were lovely people to have around at our wedding. Due to the intimate size of our wedding, just 15 adults and 6 kids, we were especially selective about who we wanted to be there. Zest It Up did not disappoint. I can't recommend them enough for making our wedding dinner absolutely perfect.
Vicki Sent on 11/12/2014
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OH MY GOSH! These girls rocked it! Awesome service....food was delicious and presentation was fantastic. Highly recommend them and look forward to using them again soon. Thank You ZEST IT UP for making my event top notch!
User1821944 Sent on 09/21/2014
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Samantha from Zest It Up was great to work with. Her e-mails were prompt, professional, and clear. Everything went great!
Lois Sent on 09/21/2014
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Your team is amazing !!! Everything was beautiful and everyone was attentive, helpful, and professional. You surpassed everything we had hoped for as parents of the bride !
The food was so great, all of the guest commented on how unique & good it was.
All I can say is that your team and you girls are so outstanding in your field, and we would recommend highly recommend your company "Zest It Up".
Thank you so much,
Jerry and Lois Perry
Jana Sent on 09/09/2014
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Zest it up was absolutely amazing. Every single one of our guests commented on how amazing the food was from the appetizers to the main meal and then desserts. Thanks guys!!!
Cambria Sent on 05/20/2014
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I was lucky enough to have found Zest it Up catering through yelp and a google search - boy was I lucky! They were organized, creative, professional, responsible and I could not have been happier. Not only was the food wonderful, their displays were creative and their attitudes amazing. You can't go wrong with Zest it Up!
Helen Sent on 05/01/2014
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These young ladies and their staff did an outstanding job at our rehearsal dinner. The food was delicious and served on time. The barn at Oak Creek Ranch looked beautiful after these ladies added their personal touches. They also came to our rescue on very short notice to prepare a special dinner for us on Easter Sunday. They pre prepared a dinner for us and all we had to do was pop everything in the oven when we were ready to eat it. This arrangement allowed us to relax and enjoy our time on the ranch after a very late night after the wedding. I would highly recommend Zest It Up for your next function.
Kathy Sent on 04/13/2014
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Fist of all, I would like to say that Samantha and Chanda are amazing. I reside in Virginia near Washington D.C. and chose to have a destination wedding at Thacher Winery in Paso Robles, CA. Originally, I was very nervous about having my wedding on the other side of the country but Samantha and Chanda made the whole process seamless and enjoyable. Samantha’s patience, organization and creativity are stellar. Chanda’s food dishes were delicious, fresh and full of flavor! The whole design of the wedding was elegant, simple and with their special touches that are Zest it Up it made my wedding unique and beautiful. With all the planning and details including help with finding incredible vendors the day of the wedding was perfect. All of my friends and family kept telling me how they couldn’t believe how calm I was. I was able to remain calm and enjoy every moment cause I knew that Samantha and Chanda had everything under control. The day went perfectly and I don’t think that would have been the case if I didn’t have Samantha and Chanda on my side. Thank you Zest it Up so much for everything.
User1569536 Sent on 03/28/2014
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The food was delicious and creative, the presentation artistic and beautiful. The service smooth, polite and personable. The event was magical and wonderful, I would use Zest it Up over and over again.
Erin Sent on 11/24/2013
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The Zest It Up ladies are amazing! We not only fell in love with their food, but we loved spending time with these ladies as well! Not only are the extremely professional and organized, they are extremely nice, friendly, and helpful. I loved working with them!
The food was amazing! Not your typical wedding food…our menu was full of fresh ingredients and we continue to receive compliments on our unique and delicious menu choices. They had great options to choose from and were also open to suggestions that we wanted to add. Additionally, their set up and decorations of the buffet table was perfect! It fit in well with the overall feel of the wedding. Zest It Up went above and beyond our expectations as a caterer from the delicious food, to the walk through of the venue, to the extra touches on the day of. I would highly recommend using Zest It Up for your catering needs.
Stephanie Sent on 10/21/2013
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The girls at Zest It Up! are simply AMAZING to say the least! They are so creative, and so full of great ideas. They really took my breakfast for dinner menu and made it something different and special (everyone is still raving about their maple bacon.) We found out last minute that my baker fell through so they were able to provide my dessert with short notice and also catered my rehearsal dinner. I cannot say enough about how genuinely sweet and wonderful these girls are! I can't wait to work with them again!
George Sent on 10/15/2013
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As the parents of the groom, we worked with ZestItUp to arrange the rehearsal dinner, since they were also doing wedding planning and catering for the wedding reception and celebration. Samantha was a pleasure to work with, in coming up with an informal buffet that was just right for our guests. She was very flexible in handling our changing needs.
The ZestitUp onsite team was great, very courteous and dedicated. The food was wonderful, and got a lot of positive comments.
I would not hesitate to recommend ZestitUp for catering and related events.
User6698381 Sent on 08/24/2013
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They were fast, Friendly and knew what they were doing. We just purchased cupcakes, drinks and had them provide us with servers. They are also affordable. I would highly recommend them.
Holly Sent on 06/17/2013
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Zest It Up went above and beyond to provide for what my fiance and I wanted for our wedding day! I knew it was going to be wonderful when I also had them cater for my bridal shower. They not only made incredible, creative food, but their set up was also impressive. Whatever I wanted, Zest It Up made it happen. I had an idea in my head of what I wanted my dessert pie table to look like in my head and they exceeded that. The pies were beautiful and they were able to do the exact flavors I requested as well as some very unique flavors. Our guests raved about these pies for weeks after! Not only do they do amazing work but they are fun to work with as well! Thanks ladies with Zest It Up for the wonderful service and memories!
Holly and Ryan Lewis
Gari Sent on 04/13/2013
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The ladies brought a wonderful array of appetiizers, main dishes and side dishes and then the dessert that was spectacular. The ladies were friendly, professional and beautiful. We couldn't have been more pleased! I would recommend them highly and fully intend to use their services again. It is very reasonable too.
Gari Cave
Morro Bay, CA
Angela Sent on 02/18/2013
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We hired Zest it Up to do appetizers and desserts for our wintery barn wedding & they went above & beyond our expectations!
We stumbled upon them at a friend's wedding that they did full service catering for back in August (if we hadn't already booked our main course catering, we would have hired them for that as well). We really wanted someone who could make up little individual pies, but Zest it Up worked with us to choose flavors, choose patterns for the tops of the pies (one flavor was lattice, one had a heart cutout), design the trays and stands for the pies, and create our cutting cake. One month before the wedding, they were also able to tack on making homemade from scratch salsas and chips for our appetizers! Fruit salsa with cinnamon chips and a savory salsa with salted chips. And seriously...best apple and berry pies EVER.
Where Zest it Up really excelled were their displays, which is all included in their price. We gave Zest it Up an overall vision for our wedding of rustic barn and they did all the work making homemade dessert stands out of wood rounds and tins, displaying baskets with apples, making tiny signs for each type of pie, using wine barrels grouped together for our appetizer stands. My husband and I spent literally no time or effort designing these tables- Zest it Up did it all for us. These girls covered it all, and our dessert table and appetizer displays looked FABULOUS!
Their food was made from scratch and delicious, they were very reliable and performed everything we asked promptly and professionally, their creative displays are AMAZING, and they were very pleasant and nice women to work with. I would definitely recommend hiring them for any and all food needs at any event!
Here is some proof of their work:
http://www.chaseplusjaimeblog.com/ca/ethan-angela-santa-margarita-ranch-wedding-part-2-2/
Samantha Sent on 09/18/2012
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WE LOVE ZEST IT UP. My husband and I decided to use Zest it Up for our wedding to help us, well lets face it, zest it up! haha For our Country wedding in Santa Ynez CA, we were going for a Rustic/Antique feel, mix with a little bit of Shabby Chic. The Zest it Up team listened to the ideas i had, and got the vision i wanted, and made all my dreams come true with all of their little touches and special details. With lots of old wooden signs, to a beautiful arrangement of cheeses and fruit and veggies, to center pieces and table design, everything was absolutely perfect and stress free! I would highly recommend using Zest it up for your wedding, event, party, catering, ANYTHING. This group of women are super easy to work with, communicate with, and are on top of their stuff! You too should hire the zest it up team if you want your vision of your party to come true like mine did smileThank you Sam, Chanda, And Julie :)
Garret Sent on 07/07/2016
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Zest It Up was awesome! I have no experience in catering/coordinating large social events, and you guys put my mind at ease with your professionalism on the front end and the amazing service and food on the night of the event. I'm still getting kudos about what a great job "I" did (my only work was hiring you!)
Linsey Sent on 01/10/2015
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Zest It Up was the first catering company we tasted for our wedding, and I am SO glad we did because it was all we needed!!
We like really good food, so we wanted to do something delicious, that was our style, & not a typical wedding meal - Zest It Up's Taco Bar was exactly what we were looking for. We make tacos/burritos about once a week so it was right up our alley! Chanda and Sam put a unique flare on their food - there was not one thing we tasted that we did not like.
The closer we got to the wedding, the more I looked forward to the food. I knew the wedding would be amazing, but the food was what I was looking forward to the most besides finally marrying my husband of course :) I gave a 4.5 stars on Responsiveness because there were a couple of times that I wish I would've received a quicker response, but overall the responsiveness was excellent.
I did have a few changes I wanted once we got closer to the wedding, and the girls pulled it off with out a hitch. We were able to feed all of our vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free family and friends without only having to serve salad and bread or something else bland. We received so many compliments on the food - we are so glad we went with Zest It Up.
One moment I remember from the wedding that I was so thankful for was after the ceremony when the wedding party was getting our pictures taken (during cocktail hour), the girls with Zest It Up brought over trays of the quesadillas so we could grab some before they got devoured by our guests. That simple gesture made a huge impact, and goes to show how caring and thoughtful they are! And those quesadillas were GOOD. Glad I didn't have miss out ;)
Many thanks to Zest It Up for zesting our wedding! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this vendor to anyone I know getting married or just throwing a really awesome party. The food is amazing, the girls are sweet and genuine, and the attention to detail can't be beat.
David Sent on 10/17/2013
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Sam and Chanda were great! From the first tasting through the final event they were energetic, professional, flexible, and responsive. They provided both the delicious food and the planning for my wedding at two locations an hour apart. Without their services it would not have gone to plan! Thanks guys!
Kristi Sent on 07/14/2018
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We absolutely loved working with Sam and having Zest It Up at our wedding. They truly made our vision come true. They provided great service and went above and beyond. We did have a slight timeline miscommunication issue the day of, but they made it all work out and everything was amazing. The food was above and beyond any catered meal that I have ever had and I work at a lot of weddings. We would highly recommend them.
Lauren Sent on 09/19/2016
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Nothing but great things to say about Zest! They're fun, thoughtful, flexible and so easy to work with. Plus they didn't get irritated when I asked 100 questions about the cake ordering process. They made cupcakes and our wedding cake. The cupcakes disappeared way faster than we expected, and I'm pretty sure we got at least 2 dozen compliments on the cupcakes alone. Our wedding cake was exactly what we wanted, and filled with delicious chocolate :) Would recommend and work with them again in a heart beat.
