SmittenKiss

Cali was highly recommended by my husband’s friend. Generally speaking, a wedding planner is absolutely necessary when you are unable to devote the proper amount of time to your wedding.
In my case, I definitely needed a wedding coordinator, because my wedding was in the bay area, and I live in southern california. Cali handled all the communications with our vendors months before the big day, and also offered feedback and additional suggestions. That took a lot off my plate, as I had so many other issues that commanded much more attention.
But Cali and her team really shined at my wedding. A 450+ guests wedding can be a bit chaotic. It comes with all sorts of surprises, good and bad. There are also conflicts with multiple strong personalities. Cali and her team executed her duties perfectly and handled all of these surprises with class and grace. I highly recommend Cali to anyone looking for a wedding coordinator.

If you are planning your wedding and thinking «Do I really need a wedding planner?» then the answer is «Yes!» and the second part to that answer is «Hire SmittenKiss!». Having Stephania Halikas (Steph) help me with my wedding was one of the best decisions I made for my big day.
I loved working with Steph because she was easy to talk with and understood everything I wanted. I’m a bit of a control freak, so I also loved that she was able to ease me into «letting things go». The wonderful thing about Pinterest is that you can gather so many awesome ideas. The downside to Pinterest is that you now have all these awesome ideas that you want to implement but don’t have time for. That’s where Steph and SmittenKiss came in! She helped me do so much research on all my ideas and helped me to find the most affordable way to execute them all. I loved that she was always conscientious of my budget and didn’t push me to do anything I wasn’t comfortable with.
Not only did Steph help me execute all my ideas, but she also had so many great ideas for how I could add to my wedding. For example, I was going to just make some standard wedding programs, but then Steph found these adorable popsicle style wedding programs that were perfect for my summer wedding. There are so many other details I could share, but then this review would never end.
I will just say one more thing though — I don’t think I would have survived on the day of my wedding without Steph by my side. She coordinated with all the vendors and made sure everything ran smoothly so that I didn’t have to worry about anything at all. She even helped me write all the tip checks because I forgot until the morning of! (Actually, it was more like I thought I could do a lot more the day of my wedding… boy was I wrong.) She handled everything so professionally and helped my wedding day go so smoothly that I seriously don’t think I stopped smiling the entire day.
Go with Steph at SmittenKiss! You won’t regret it!

Linda Phi was our day of wedding coordinator. We meet her a month before the wedding and one more time a week before to discuss/​finalize plans. She very nice and easy to work with. She kept us on schedule and made sure that all our guest and vendors were taken care of. It was a big stress relief and well worth it.

Cali and her team were FANTASTIC! There are so many wonderful things to say! Our wedding was in April, and we decided early on that we needed a wedding coordinator. I’ve known Cali for a few years and was so excited when I heard about SmittenKiss. Initially, I was hesitant about hiring a coordinator because I didn’t think it was necessary. But after going through the entire process with Cali, I’ve realized that a coordinator is CRITICAL. Even if you’re budget conscious, do NOT skimp on your wedding coordinator!
The best thing about SmittenKiss was that I completely trusted Cali. Cali worked with me throughout the entire wedding planning process, was prompt to respond to emails, and incredibly detail-​oriented. She made suggestions for vendors (which we also booked and were so thrilled!) and gave recommendations to help bring our vision to life. She also worked with all of our vendors the month of and coordinated things like vendor meals, dietary needs, and of course, our timeline. These were details that, as a bride, I was too overwhelmed to deal with a month before the wedding. It was such a relief to have Cali take care of all that! She was also there for the dress rehearsal and helped direct my huge wedding party of 16. She was also very calm and reassuring throughout the planning process.
On the day of, Cali, Steph, Will, and the team were all so professional. The team showed up on time and checked in with the wedding party. Cali had worked with all of our vendors before, which turned out to be a huge plus because it felt like a family working together. It made me much more comfortable and at ease that day. Each vendor knew what they had to do, but were also responsive to Cali’s direction. The last thing you need on your wedding day are vendors that don’t work well together and clash.
Cali’s team also worked behind the scenes to orchestrate a beautiful wedding. They helped set up the venue space, made design decisions, and addressed all issues that came up last minute. No matter how hard you work, they are ALWAYS last minute problems. The bride shouldn’t be the one to fix those problems day of, so thank God Cali’s team was there! My fiancé and I hardly noticed any of those issues, which speaks volumes about SmittenKiss. My sisters/​maids of honor loved working with the team and raved about how awesome Cali was. Cali is firm, no nonsense, and keeps the bride and groom’s best intentions in mind. Only regret was not paying the extra amount to have Cali’s team stay longer. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Cali and her team did a FANTASTIC job coordinating our big day last October. While our wedding was small (100 attendees), some aspects of the logistics with the venue made vendor coordination/​communication a challenge and of the utmost importance. The Smittenkiss team did an excellent job herding the proverbial cats, ensuring that our vision was fully realized and enjoyed by all. All of their work leading up to our wedding was done meticulously, professionally and with a smile. We highly recommend the Smittenkiss team.

I don’t often review on Unilocal,but I couldn’t NOT share the story of the unbelievable miracle that Cali and her team worked to make my wedding happen in less than 3 weeks!
My fiancé and I were all set to get married in Cabo on 10÷10÷14, however after a hurricane devastated the area we were forced to cancel our wedding in Cabo and start over from scratch! I first met Cali in a somewhat frantic state, we were back to square one looking for venues that would accommodate our 150 person wedding on our date. Cali was patient, listened to what I wanted, and then went to work — and I mean she was literally up ALL hours and would send me daily summaries of her progress. I couldn’t believe someone would care so much about making this wedding happen for us.
The day of our wedding was nothing short of SPECTACULAR. I mean, NOBODY would have ever known that it was planned in 3 weeks. It was truly magical. Cali went above and beyond what a wedding planner would normally do and even made signs for us, took care of details I never anticipated, and followed up with vendors before and after.
I had a wedding planner in Cabo as well who was quite good, but I am still beyond impressed by detail, professionalism, thought, love, and endless hours Cali put into our wedding. She is incredible! We now refer to her now as our «miracle worker» rather than our wedding planner. We hope to know her for a very long time. Thank you Cali!

My wedding was last weekend, and I honestly don’t know how I could have done any of it without the help of SmittenKiss!
Cali & Lilly are AMAZING! They have went far & beyond what I ever expected.
I am usually the type to try and take on everything myself, especially because I love DIY projects and always trying to find ways to save some money… and I figured my wedding would just be one big DIY project right?
However, I didn’t realize how much work was actually put into planning a wedding, but with Cali & Lilly by my side guiding me, I honestly was stress-​free from the planning to my wedding day. No matter what questions I had or what time it was, they were there with the answers. Lilly was a gem, keeping me organized and on top of what I needed to buy and how to save on little things like decorations. Even though we had problems with my wedding venue, Cali went out of her way to make sure everything came together.
Do not underestimate the wedding planning process, no matter what your budget is or how simple you think you want your wedding to be. Call SmittenKiss! You will not be disappointed with Cali & her team! I cannot thank them enough for all their help! I was able to have a stress-​free and fun wedding because of them!

One thing that every bride and groom should have is a Wedding Coordinator and SmittenKiss is the one team that you should contact! We had the extreme pleasure of working with not one, but two amazing coordinators, Cali and Lilly. We really cannot say enough about how wonderful and amazing their team was.
We hired SmittenKiss for the month-​of-​coordination to handle the last details and communications with our vendors and to coordinate our big day. Originally, with most of our vendors already booked and concept on its way, I thought we could spare the expense and coordinate everything on our own. As the wedding came closer, we came to the conclusion that with our wedding size (350 guests) and the vision we wanted, we needed help to orchestrate the day. We started looking for a coordinator a little over 3 months before the wedding. I reached out to Cali via email very late at night, and within the hour, she responded to me. The next day, we had a phone consultation and within seconds of speaking with Cali, I knew she was confident and passionate about her trade and knew what she was doing.
Communication — they did not miss a beat! They responded to all my emails, texts and calls promptly. As the wedding approached, we meet up and we were so grateful that they drove to San Mateo to meet with us. When we were not able to meet in person, they video chatted with us. Our coordinators both had two jobs and other events to plan, but they made us feel that their attention was on us and us alone. It was as if our wedding was their only concern. I am not only talking about the wedding day, but anytime we had a question, they answered it right away. Day or night, this team was working to make our wedding the best that it could be.
Their experience shined through with the detailed timeline they created for our wedding. Every bride and groom wants to add everything they can to the wedding… we did. They did not shoot us down one bit. They gave us a realistic projection of time and what can happen. They worked with us on how to make the wedding run smoothly.
Flash forward to the day of the wedding. They had a team of 4 people and each of them knew what to do and how to get it done. They were there from sun up to sun down. They never left our sight. We had a hiccup with time when we decided to take pictures with everyone who came. This was our (the bride and groom) decision and their team just went with it. They altered the timeline on the spot and no guest knew about it. That’s what I call flawless transition. Our wedding couldn’t have gone the way it did without SmittenKiss. Like I said, at first we thought we did not need a coordinator, but we were wrong. Even the most organized of people need help looking back their help made every difference. We talked about it after and we tried to imagine what it would have been like without them, and we couldn’t. We actually didn’t want to. Her team made sure that the tears we shared as bride and groom were tears of joy and not the tears that a stress out couple has. If you want someone to know the ins and outs of your wedding, contact Cali and her team.
Most people say that they don’t remember their wedding because they were too stressed out or they were too worried about their timeline and what happens next. Because of SmittenKiss, we remember ours and every time we look back, all we could do is smile.
Thank you SmittenKiss!

I had the opportunity and pleasure this past weekend to work my last wedding event with SmittenKiss as the wedding coordinators. As a wedding DJ, it definitely makes my job that much easier when the coordinators know what they’re doing, and both Cali and Lilly are definitely on point. During the week leading up to the event, Cali was always available to make sure that any questions, concerns or additional requests that I had were addressed with the client, and I was provided with answers quickly to make sure that I was fully prepared with all the detailed information that I needed to ensure I would be successful at this event. During the event, they even went above and beyond by pouring all the champagne for all 300+ guests so that we could have the toasts on time. That showed to me that they really care about their craft, and made sure that the bride and groom enjoyed themselves and their guests, without having to worry about the details of the event itself. Bravo ladies! Hire them. They’re worth it.
Aldwin «DJ ACE» Estoesta, Owner

I am a professional musician who recently worked a wedding with the wedding planners of SmittenKiss. I thought it might be helpful for brides to hear feedback from another vendor.
As a harpist who plays many wedding ceremonies, the most important part of my service is the Wedding party/​bridesmaids pre-​processional and the Bride’s processional/​entrance. It is imperative that I am given the correct info while the processional is happening so that I can time the music exactly. SmittenKiss actually had three individuals working the wedding I was at, enabling one lady to be able to stand near me and let me know exactly when the bridesmaids were entering, and when the bride was ready. They wore headsets so they could talk to each other.
This particular wedding was large and complex, and because SmittenKiss knew what they were doing and spared no expense — i.e., they had the extra staff and the headsets — it went off perfectly.
I would highly recommend them.
Victoria Hughes, owner

Our event went off without a hitch — not only did everyone have a GREAT time, but we were thrilled with the results! Thank you Cali and team for making this such a great day for us!

I am SO HAPPY to have SmitttenKiss by my side on my wedding day. Wouldn’t know how the day would be without them!
Cali Nguyen you are SO AMAZINGGGGGG. I cannot say enough for how much you helped me these last 2 weeks. Woman, you CAN DO IT ALL!
Cali was so Kind as to take my Makeup booking last minute because some unforeseen event that happened. When I met up with her about my hair & makeup, she asked me how the wedding planning was going. I told her I have no timeline of the day and not sure how things will flow. Cali told me not to stressed and that she also has a wedding planning service. No thought needed as I told her to PLEASE sign me up for it Nowww.
From making me look FABULOUS on my wedding day to helping with the tables setups. My wedding would not have been that Smooth if it wasn’t for You & Your team @ Smittenkiss!
Cali had her team running up & down the hotel from getting our laptops before we left to the ceremony to tracking down the marriage certificate to calling and talking to the Priest for me!
My wedding almost turned into a disaster if it wasn’t for You & your Incredible Girls. I only have 1 regret and that is I didn’t seek your help sooner. I would have kept more brain cells for sure LOLz.
ABSOLUTELY Love You to Pieces!
Thank you So Much for making the Best day of my Life 100 times better!
I am Recommending SmittenKiss to EVERYONE I know.

At the time of the wedding, my fiancé and I were on a budget. I was worried I couldn’t pull off my dream wedding with our budget. However, I came across SmittenKiss and Cali through a friend and she helped me plan and organize my wedding. Cali was professional, personable, and made us feel very comfortable during the whole process. She help relieve the stress by helping us search for venues, photographers, and videographers that fit within our budget. She is well known in the wedding industry and has a lot of suppliers to work with (depending on one’s budget of course). On the day of the wedding, she helped ease my stress and by fine-​tuning the wedding details. My husband and I have been talking about renewing our vows in Mexico. He remembers the spectacular service that Cali delivered and wanted to use her again. I would recommend any couple to use Cali’s service to help ease the stress load for the big day. Being a bride is stressful enough. Hiring SmittenKiss for your big day will help ease the coordination stress. You will not regret it one bit. Congrats and good luck!

I was fortunate enough to have Cali plan and coordinate my wedding. I can honestly say that everything she touches turns to gold. Her meticulous eye for detail will transform anything ordinary into a stunning masterpiece. She is a multi-​talented professional that is exceptional at her craft. Her creativity knows no bounds. Cali will without a doubt over deliver to exceed your expectations. I love SmittenKiss!

I would highly recommend using smittenkiss! Working in the tech industry really left me with very little time to plan my wedding. The service is so professional! they helped me find the perfect venue at under the price point we were after. Cali also did my make up and did an amazing job. I still book her to do my make up and hair for every super special occasions too.

I am so happy that Smitten Kiss finally got a Unilocal page up and that i am the 1^st to write a review so i can share my experience with everyone!
I initially wanted to book Cali for my make-​up because i found her through Alist makeup but when i spoke to her, she had told me that she would also be able to help me with the wedding planning also, i had a dilemma for weeks trying to decide which one i wanted her to do. I really wanted to clone her so i can have the best of both worlds but i didnt have the power at the time. Lol.
Few of my friends that got married before me were actually telling me how stressed they were and how not alot of things went there way. So i was determined to not let that happen to me. In the end, i decided to go with her for the wedding coordination for the day and i had someone else that was awesome do my makeup. Win!
I know i could have had my bridesmaids help but i wanted them to enjoy the day also and have fun, i did not want to be bridezilla and boss everyone around when i can just simply ask Cali and it was done without any problems. She kept me sane and calm through out the whole day, making sure everything was on schedule and vendors were doing what they were supposed to, she even made sure i was not dehydrated and starving.
Ladies, we know how important this day is, some spend a whole year just to plan it. It doesnt matter how big or small you have your wedding, having a professional by your side is probably one of the best things you can do for yourself.
Thank you Cali for everything you have done that day for me, i will definitely book you again when my 10 year anniversary happens! =)