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“When I hired Shannon Whitney of Wedding Planning Plus to help us plan our entire wedding I warned her that she would need to wear many different hats…

 

Having lost both my parents at a young age, I felt alone and completely overwhelmed at the thought of planning such a big and important event. More than that, I was sad at the realization that I would be missing out on many of the “typical” mother/daughter moments that comprise the experience of planning a wedding.

 

And so, I told her that I might be a little different from her usual bride. I would rely on her more to be everyone I needed her to be (best friend, mother, psychologist, wedding planner) and if Shannon wasn’t any of those things before she met me, she certainly became all of them at one point or another in the year that we worked together. She was my “planner in shining armor” and now I can say with all sincerity, I truly consider her my very good friend.

 

I interviewed three different planners in person before finally choosing Shannon, or should I say, before we chose each other. Having seen some of her work online, and meeting her in person, I knew that I wanted to work with her but, like every budget conscious person, I thought I would have to give up on my dream of working with the perfect planner because of what it would cost. I was after the full planning experience after all and I knew it wasn’t going to be cheap. After writing a very sad email in which I told her that she was wonderful but that I was hesitant on the price of the full planning package, she responded by telling me that she really wanted to work with me and that we could adjust the price to better meet my needs. At that point, I couldn’t ignore my feeling that this collaboration was simply meant to be.

 

Shannon’s cool relaxed demeanor was apparent from our very first meeting and was, for me, simultaneously very reassuring (the “yang” to the “yin” of what can only be described as those “bridezilla” moments she must encounter during this crazy stressful, emotional process) and also just a tad worrisome (is she too sweet? Are we compatible? Will we get along? I will need someone to speak on my behalf, be honest and fairly assertive). We would be working very closely together on a pretty big project for the next year or more of our lives and I wanted to enjoy it! When I was doing research into wedding planners before I found Shannon I read in a book somewhere someone who advised choosing a planner wisely, after all, she said, they will mostly likely see you naked at some point during the process! Indeed, on my wedding day Shannon did see me in various stages of undress, and of course by that point it was no big deal. The truth about Shannon is that she’s just naturally pretty quiet and calm. When you talk to her, she listens and she takes it all in. Her attentiveness is real because she is real. Having someone help you plan your wedding is not just for reality TV or movies. This is real life, so if you are looking for David Tutera or Franck Eggelhoffer you won’t find that in Shannon Whitney and that is what makes her good at her job.

 

My experience with Shannon was wonderful in so many ways. I could go on and on about how organized she is (AND SHE IS) and how completely and utterly indispensable she was to have on the day of our wedding (SERIOUSLY) no but seriously…I don’t care if you have the tiniest wedding budget on the planet, or if you think you’re a master delegator, the truth is, no one, least of all you, wants to be worrying if all the pieces are in place and if everything is going smoothly. If you’re reading this review you’re already in the market for a wedding planner so just do yourself a favor and hire Shannon.

 

Before I conclude my review I want say another thing about cost. It’s hard to know what to expect when looking for a planner because let’s face it, if you’re looking for one you probably haven’t been married before. This was my first and hopefully my only marriage. Knowing what I know now, having just been through the process I wouldn’t think twice about paying what I paid or more. Everyone’s planning needs are different. Not everyone is going to need or want full wedding coordination (sorry Shan! Hope that doesn’t cost you the big bucks ;)) but no matter what your needs are you should feel confident that you’re hiring the most capable person for the job. After working with Shannon on my wedding for over a year, I’m here to tell you that she is worth every penny you think you can spare and so much more. Unfortunately for Shannon, it is all too easy to take her for granted because you, the bride or groom, are lucky enough NOT to know what planning is like without her. For weeks after your wedding you and your spouse will agree that it was perfect, the best day ever and how it really was a dream. You’ll be left wondering what you would have done without her and the best part of wondering is that you’ll never actually know.”