Dandelion Events

Leslie helped me and my husband plan our destination wedding in Oakland on October 10. Since we live in Chicago, we needed Leslie’s help with planning at something between full planning and day-​of planning, since we still wanted to be a big part of the planning process while being far way (we both wanted to work with our vendors closely. Most planners offer one of the two, but not something in between. Leslie was very flexible and responsive. We constantly asked her, «What do other people typically do for invites, kids or no kids, transportation, menus, decorations, open bar, etc.» We only did one trip out to meet Leslie in person, during which we also had the other vendors with whom we already booked to meet with us at the venue. Later on, she helped us think of things we hadn’t thought of (she told us about a name change service that lots of brides use), reviewed contracts before we signed them, and relieved a lot of stress by calling the vendors a few weeks beforehand to get them all on the same page with a common itinerary. I also really liked the structure of the rehearsal the day before. It’s good that day-​of, she could serve as the main point of contact, alleviating the stress of people asking me questions on a very busy day. See the photo I posted with our concert ticket escort cards, for her high attention to detail when laying them out on the table. She also knew that I wanted décor to look good but that I had little interest in spending time picking out designs or colors. Working from my floral theme and my florist directly, she came up with the linens ideas. Lastly, Leslie toughed it out and stayed up late, to help make our special day just so great!

Don’t consider anyone else but Leslie. She is awesome. My daughter lives in SF and I in Arizona so planning a wedding from a far gave us additional challenges. I decided to give myself a gift and get a wedding coordinator. Best gift ever. She took all the concern off my shoulders. She coordinated all the vendors making sure everyone was in sinc so that I could enjoy the day that we had worked so hard to plan. Her timeline she developed was invaluable especially when my brain was running out of steam. She took over just at the right time. My wedding tasks I am sure were bigger than most due to the out of town issues but she handles it all like a true professional. I relied on her experience many times prior to the day for advise on handling certain situations. She always came up with calm and reliable suggestions. One of my lasting memories (because the event goes so fast and becomes a blur) is with Leslie when she and I walked hand in hand toward the shuttles at the end of the wedding with smiles and my heart full of appreciation. Always will be grateful.

Leslie Struble is amazing at what she does — our wedding would not have been as successful and memorable without her.
We just had our wedding at Deer Park Villa in Fairfax, and it was magical. Leslie ensured that all deliveries were accounted for, in addition to setting up the venue and working with our vendors. In the months prior to our wedding she was so helpful in the planning process, sending me checklists, vendor recommendations and she made sure that every detail was not overlooked.
We just love her and highly recommend her.

BEST WEDDING PLANNER EVER!!!
We don’t even know where to start… but we will start here: Leslie is the most wonderful, thoughtful, organized, present, reliable, brilliant wedding planner. We interviewed many, many wedding planners and found many to be strong-​minded, sorry to say, but somewhat self-​centered, «star of the show» type personalities. Leslie is TOTALLY on the ball organized, yet humble, thoughtful, sweet, and supports everyone in having the best day possible in the most relaxed and humble manner. We were the stars and yet she helped us take care of every detail to make it the best day it could be. My wife is a teacher and is very organized and a detail oriented person and while I am not a detail oriented and organized person, she found her match in our wedding planner, Leslie. Leslie was such a wonderful gift to us before the wedding and on our wedding day. We don’t know what we would have done without her support and guidance. If you want a perfect, incredible, chill, friendly, relaxed yet extremely organized and reliable and flawless wedding planner then you MUST choose Leslie!!! She is a gem-​priceless in every way!

I couldn’t imagine my big day without Leslie!
Leslie first saved our big day when she stayed on top our ideal location that was booked out for over a year and got us right in when they had a cancelation! Because of her we were able to get married on the date we wanted at our favorite place!
During the process of wedding planning Leslie always had a soft approach with suggestions, but stayed on top of every detail that needed to be dealt with. WIth her technique, I always felt well taken care of, never pressured and knew every detail would be handled. Our big day was smooth and graceful and I couldn’t imagine what we would have done without her. If you are questioning hiring a planner, stop questioning it and hire Leslie! She is wonderful and one of a kind!

It was a joy — and a lifesaver — to have Leslie on hand for our big day last month at Cornerstone Sonoma. We selected the «month of plus» coordinating package, and I’m so glad we did. As my vision for our wedding evolved throughout the time leading up to it, Leslie was unfazed and tackled every logistical and organizational issue we encountered. Her help enabled us to put personal touches that turned our wedding into a special affair that was truly one of a kind.
Leslie is organized, calm, and oh so sweet!
Thanks, Leslie, for stress-​free memories I will treasure forever!

My husband and I worked with Leslie for our August wedding at Cornerstone. We chose her month-​of plus package and can’t say enough good things about our experience. Throughout the whole process Leslie was great about keeping me on-​track, gently asking if I’d arranged this or that (which in hindsight I appreciate greatly, although, I’ll admit that at the time I was stressed-​out and wasn’t all that thrilled about thinking about another thing I hadn’t yet done). On several occasions she even offered recommendations for vendors she’d worked with at our venue, all of which I have only positive reviews for, as well. At the 6-​month walk-​through, her expertise became apparent. She asked so many questions and brought up so many small details that I never would have thought of. Leslie was very flexible but would gently offer alternate ideas when she knew from her experience that what I was thinking wouldn’t work all that well or if there was a better way. On top of all that, Leslie humored me and set up my numerous DIY decorations without complaint.
Our wedding day went PERFECTLY! It all happened so incredibly smoothly, it was unbelievable… and I know it was in large part thanks to Leslie! I can’t thank her enough for her great work.

There aren’t enough stars to convey what an extraordinary coordinator (and overall human) Leslie is. Leslie was our day of coordinator at the Sea Ranch Lodge on 9÷27÷14. In the months leading up to the big day she was my lifeline (and my fiancé’s sanity!) From start to finish she exceeded my expectations and we could not have pulled off our wedding without her expertise, guidance, thoughtfulness and calm. :) From the moment I first spoke with Leslie I knew I liked her as a person and could trust her to work with us. Having someone like her working on your wedding is invaluable. Day of she is magic. We were able to fully enjoy the important parts of our day and take it all in instead of having to fuss or fret over any of the details. As a bride (and control freak!) I probably still would have been fussing and fretting had Leslie not so expertly handled everything. She is so chill about everything… I wish her calm demeanor was more contagious… it’s really a joy to be around! The best part, and what I think sets Leslie apart, is I never felt like I was being forced to do things «her way». She adapted to my style. That said, whenever I was clueless she always stepped in and guided everything in the right direction. She’s a great teammate for any brides out there who like to plan but realize that they might be biting off more than they can chew. I would recommend her to anyone and everyone a thousand times over.

I went into my wedding planning thinking, pft, I got this. Wedding planner my a$$. Boy was I wrong!
I’ve been in a slight depression since the end of my amazing wedding weekend, and part of that is because I don’t really have anything to talk to Leslie about.
She is absolutely wonderful!
Leslie’s calmness and good natured spirit really made me appreciate the little prep work and small details going into my wedding. I found myself stressed out at times and if it weren’t for her, I’d probably have no hair for my big day. I don’t have the time, but I could literally sit here all day to describe why she’s incredible.
If I could only hire her to organize my regular life…

It is impossible to capture in a review how exceptional Leslie is as a wedding planner/​coordinator. She is, of course, extremely organized & knowledgeable about all aspects of event planning, but beyond that, her calm demeanor & quiet confidence provide the perfect counterbalance to the crazy roller coaster that brides & grooms experience in planning their wedding. Every detail was handled, every problem was addressed, and every potential gaffe was headed off at the pass. And Leslie did it all with grace and warmth. I give her my highest recommendation and will always be grateful to her for helping us have the perfect wedding.

I wish I could give Leslie 10 stars! Leslie came highly recommended from a friend of mine who used her. We got married at CornerStone Gardens last September and hired Leslie as our day of coordinator. She was way more than a day of coordinator –we had over 28 vendors and she coordinated everything perfectly! Not only is she extremely organized, but a pleasure to work with. Everyone LOVES Leslie. Leslie goes above and beyond what is expected.
I used to be a wedding planner, so I had high expectations and she exceeded them. What a great hire! If you want a worry-​free wedding… hire Leslie!

Leslie Struble. If I could describe her in one word it would be lifesaver!!! There are so many details in planning a wedding, more than you could ever imagine. I was going to do it on my own but I know now SHE was a necessary PART OF THE PROCESS! She handled it all! Meeting with all my vendors at both locations, she thought of things that I would never thought of. Built together a schedule of all the timing (which was not easy)! Constantly communication with all my vendors, handling all the details the day of, Helping the wedding party stay on time, working with my church coordinator, and many other key important things that I had not even thought of!!! My wedding went like clockwork in doing so she was cool as a cumber and this allowed me only to enjoy our special day. She mad it all look so easy! TRUST ME you need this woman! She will make your special day all that you imagine it to be!!! Thank you Leslie!!!
Lisa and John

We went from «do we really need a wedding coordinator?» to «how could we have survived without Leslie and Erica?!»
Our 150 guest wedding was absolutely perfect thanks in large part to Dandelion Events. We hired them to be «day-​of coordinators», but they did so much more than that. They helped us select some key vendors, and gave us invaluable insight when planning out the timeline of the day. They brought up so many details that we wouldn’t have considered (and we are detail people!), and did so in a calm and fun manner. When our caterer showed some signs of disorganization and forgetfulness, Leslie swooped in to get them back on track.
We can’t tell you exactly what Erica did on the day of the event, because we never had to know about any of it! All we know is that we showed up, saw all of our decorations set up perfectly as directed, and had fun with our friends and family and each other. The vendors knew what to do and where to be, and we experienced zero stress on our special day.

My husband and I went through a very stressful time during our planning when we had to make the tough decision to change planners because of how terrible the service was, but it was definitely Leslie to the rescue! With only a few months left I interviewed Leslie and knew she would be a perfect fit because she was so calm and attentive on the phone. Then we met in person and her energy was so calming and lovely and she really knew her stuff. She always knew what to say to get everyone to say what they wanted and then help get the group to a consensus. She listened and made great suggestions that really made our wedding the best it could be. On the day of she was everywhere and nowhere, meaning everything was getting done and i knew it was her all the while she really stayed behind the scenes making it look so effortless. We are so incredibly thankful for her!

Thank you Leslie for being so good to my bride and I!
We had our wedding this past weekend at the Cornerstone Vineyard House in Sonoma and everything was perfect. Leslie was incredibly good to us and very patient with the fact we didn’t know the basics of the ceremony, or really anything for that matter.
Leslie has a very comforting presence. She not only gives excellent suggestions and direction but also really listens to you and sincerely wants to fulfill the vision of the couple. She was immensely helpful and we like her and think that you will too.

My husband and I were required to get a wedding planner or day-​of planner for our wedding at Cornerstone Gardens due to the complexity of the venue. I now understand why, because we would have been lost without Leslie.
Leslie was our day-​of planner, and was helpful with coordinating all of our chosen vendors, giving a few last minute suggestions, creating the timeline, making sure parents got their boutonnieres and corsages, ushering guests from the barn to the tent in between cocktail hour and dinner, and allowed me to not stress out on our big day. It was so nice to know that all of our hard work was in good hands, since I wasn’t there to do the set up, coordinate the decorations, find light bulbs to go in the lamp for the cake table, & make sure that my friends woke up in time to set up the lanterns. Don’t even mention the clean up afterward… I never even thought much about that but she took care of it, and with our bridal party’s help, the venue decorations were torn down rather quickly after the reception.
So I’m not lying when I say that I would have been lost without Leslie. In the weeks before the wedding, when things are getting most stressful, it is nice to have someone experienced and prepared to handle the day-​of coordination so that you can enjoy your wedding day and not stress the small stuff.
We cannot thank Leslie enough for her great job as our day-​of planner!

Leslie is hands down a bride & groom’s best friend.
We very recently got married at Cornerstone Gardens on 9÷30÷12 and we had the best wedding ever! We hired Leslie as a «day of coordinator» over a year ago, but let me tell you something, she was so helpful and checked in on us the whole year while we were planning. She is so quick to respond to your emails and calls which is so important! She helped us make decisions and brought some ideas to the table that helped make our wedding day truly special.
The day of our wedding Leslie was in the zone and got down to business! She was so organized and payed attention to every detail. She really made sure that we were taken care of. I would turn my head and she would be there, giving us water or safety pins for my dress. She even made sure to take a picture with her phone of the decorated aisle to make sure everything looked perfect for the ceremony. I was surprisingly not nervous at all during the whole wedding day because I knew Leslie had everything under control. I secretly wish we that we could get married all over again — — she made it that amazing!
Leslie is super calm, organized, cool and collected. Because of Leslie, we got to enjoy every single moment of our wedding, and that to us is priceless.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Catrina & Greg

When we first booked our wedding at Cornerstone, I was not entirely thrilled that we would be required to have a ‘day of’ wedding coordinator.
Once I spoke with Leslie on the phone, my attitude started to change. I still called the others to do my research, but Leslie knocked them all out of the park! She is calm and easy going but has strong attention to detail, and thinks of things that even the most analytical brides would miss.
Leslie was with us far beyond the ‘day of’ duties, and we are so grateful for not just her literal help in all the stuff she did, but her calming energy that allowed us and our families to truly enjoy every moment!
The planning process was flawless, she was responsive and gave good advice without stomping on your own ideas. She speaks to BOTH the bride and groom, which we learned with some, is not the case. She felt like the best friend who knows what you would want, even though you just met her.
We ended up booking her for our Rehearsal lunch as well, not only because we wanted the help, but we wanted her around! She even brought some of her own supplies to help us out because she had them leftover from other weddings.
I can be known to have trouble letting go of control, especially around events (as I am normally the planner!) and I could not have had more trust in anyone as I did with Leslie. I did not worry for a single second about anything I thought or assumed I would, because I knew Leslie would handle it the way Eddie and I wanted. When people came to me with questions or concerns, my response was «ask Leslie, Leslie, Leslie!!». It felt SO GOOD to let go, and truly embrace the wedding day.
She checked in throughout the night but not to ‘move us along’ like some coordinators have been known to do, but rather to find out how we were feeling, let us know where we were at on the loose timeline, and to move along if WE we ready. I loved this. It would be so easy to get carried away in the wedding day, so the check-​ins are necessary, but the way she approaches you comes off in the helpful way, not the «ok lets rush through this!». It is our wedding after all, and we were so grateful for her approach!
I could seriously go on and on and on, and my parents are eternally thankful for the help and peace she brought to the entire planning process and the wedding day.
Thank you Leslie, you are simply THE BEST!
Katie and Eddie Velasquez

Leslie has a cool and calm presence, a feeling very much appreciated during the intensity that wedding planning brings upon even the most easy going of couples. She thoughtfully brought up ideas and considerations to things I didn’t even know to think of. She made sure nothing fell through the cracks and on top of it all she’s a delight to be around.
Like Mickey is to Rocky, Leslie was to us. Trying to navigate through the 1,000 decisions it takes to pull of a great wedding Leslie is there to bounce off ideas, and be the coach while you’re out in the ring. She even helped us get our alone time by ushering us off to our suite after the ceremony. She said, ‘go, go, or you’ll get inundated by your guests!’ She was right, I mean 120 people wanted to hug and squeeze us which we like, but we wanted 15 minutes to stare into each others eyes and grapple in the glory of what we just did. Inside our suite she had set out appetizers and two glasses of wine.
She made sure we ate, took care of ourselves and kept the timeline of the afternoon humming along. These are all things you don’t want your family to do or friends to be in charge of because you want them to enjoy the celebration. Like I said, she’s fightin’ for you in your corner. Don’t try to plan the wedding yourself, hire Leslie you’ll be so glad you did and you’ll get to enjoy your wedding day worry free!
Thank you Leslie a thousand times!
xo,
Nicole

Leslie was our wedding coordinator for our wedding at Cornerstone Gardens in early June, and she is an absolute life saver! We started working with her a few months before the wedding, and she made great suggestions about florists, DJs, etc., as well as where to buy little favors, place cards, etc. (By the way,
is amazing for all these little decorative touches).
We decided to get married in wine country because we love it there and because we wanted an outdoor wedding, and June in wine country is generally dry. Well, not this year. About a week out, we started checking the weather, and it was not looking good. We had planned an outdoor BBQ for the rehearsal dinner… and by the Tuesday before the wedding, the weather was predicted to be 80% chance of rain. Leslie swung into action and gave us tons of contacts for indoor venues to host our 100+ person BBQ. On 3 days notice, she helped us find a great place at the Sonoma Community Center.
The day of our wedding, we woke up to torrential rain. Leslie was literally the calm in the storm. She kept her cool all day, setting up in the rain, helping us when the fuse repeatedly blew at the cottage where I was getting ready, coordinating all the vendors and devising Plan B on the fly.
It actually stopped raining just before our ceremony, and everything turned out amazing — we even had a double rainbow! The entire night ran perfectly, all at Leslie’s direction. Despite the weather, she made it so we did not have to worry about a thing.
I also appreciated her ability to bring our families to consensus on ceremony planning, etc, a key skill! With several Type A people, Leslie was again the calm in the storm and helped everyone get to a solution we all were happy with.
She is really great, and I cannot recommend her enough.