Lori Cole Events

Sofia Guardino, Is is unfortunate that you chose to request information and deliberately give me inaccurate information. I attempted to schedule a consultation with you so that this information could be delivered appropriately, after I was able to receive the appropriate information. You then chose to divulge, without me asking, (and I quote) your "complete wedding budget" of $15,000 for 200-300 guests. The best way for me to respond to this unfair review is to post the actual conversation, starting with the original request: Sophia Guardino's original request: Sofia G. Wedding Planner Needed Submit quote Sofia G. is looking to hire a wedding planner. Here are the details of Sofia's wedding planning needs. You can quote until 3:53pm on July 22. Profile Customer Location What Venue selection No, I need help identifying venues Planning services requested Budget prep: Yes, Detailed task checklist: Yes, Attendee list prep: Yes, Venue identification and selection: Yes, Reception planning: Yes, Rehearsal dinner planning: Yes, Ceremony planning: Yes Vendor selection services requested Caterer: Yes, DJ: Yes, Photographer: Yes, Videographer: Yes, Makeup artist: Yes, Florist: Yes, Cake designer : Yes Design services requested Overall event design and styling: Yes, Invitations and paper goods: No, Floral and centerpiece : Yes, Favors : Yes Day of Coordinator Yes, full day coordinator Wedding theme blush and cream - vintage Number of guests 200-300 When Date: Sat Feb 14 2015 Where Stockton, CA 95209 My first response: Hello Sophia, I would love to talk with you more about your wedding planning needs. I have more than 25 years of experience and can provide the experience you need to have the perfect day. I have attached package pages for my most used packages, which are day-of only, and full-service. Based on what you have checked off that you are looking for, you may want full-service. Typical services start at $1495 for day-of, and $3500 for full-service, not including lodging. Please feel free to let me know a good time for us to have a phone consultation. Lori Cole Sophia's response: Hi Lori, I was wondering if you had pictures from weddings that you have planned, full service. On the website I did not find pictures of actual event settings. The website may not have been working, I clicked on slideshow and it would revert right back to the home page. If you could that would be great. I am interested in the full package. Would you explain "lodging" and what that typical expense is. I have a complete wedding budget of $15,000 and I would like an elegant set up. Who are some of your vendors in my area. I am in Stockton. Thank you, Sofia My second response: Hello Sophia, The website appears to be working this morning. It is brand new, so we are still working on adding items, but if you click on "Maria & James", you can see one of my recent weddings. The other ways to see my work are at: www.facebook.com/loricoleevents www.pinterest.com/loricoleevents I would love to schedule at least a phone consultation with you so that we can discuss what is included in your $15,000 budget number. Depending on what is included in that number, that may be a really tough budget with the number of guests you are planning for. For my packages, full-service is $3500, and day-of is $1495, plus lodging. Lodging just means that, depending on location, you may need to provide a hotel room for Friday/Saturday night. If I am within an hour from home, I usually do not require lodging, but sometimes if the wedding is planned to go late on Saturday, I will. I work with vendors all over California and the Central Valley has tons of great vendors. I am happy to give you referrals once we determine your style a little better. Let me know if you have any time this week that we can talk on the phone and I can further answer any questions about my contract. Thank you! Lori Sophia's response: Thank you Lori. I have reviewed your photos, and I'm sorry that my $15,000 isn't enough of a budget for you to work with. The pictures didn't really give me the idea that your items were that expensive. Since Turlock is our of your "area" and require lodging, I think I am going to decide on a "local" wedding planner that better suits my needs/personality and work with my "tight budget" of $15,000. Thank you for your time. Sofia My third response: Sofia, I apologize! I think you interpreted my message in a bad way, that was completely not intended. I work with all levels of budgets, my only reference to the budget was because I was responding to your request that said you were looking for a full-service planner. While I would be happy to be your full-service provider, I was only letting you know the full-service fees in comparison to your overall budget would be tough, because hiring me would put YOU at a huge disadvantage with your overall budget, and I would never want to do that. I prefer to be flexible on the lodging issues, as opposed to some planners that automatically include lodging and charge you for all mileage in their cost, whether it is needed or not. I would rather be up front about it and add it later if required, which could ultimately save you money. I am based in Turlock, but travel all over California, and sometimes out of state. If I do a rehearsal on Friday night, and have to be back to start setup of a wedding at 6am the next morning, then lodging near the site is necessary, and an advantage for everyone. The same goes if the event runs late and you want assistance at the end of the event or need assistance the morning after the wedding. Once again, these are all things that are determined by the details of your wedding, and change with each client and venue that I have.. I sincerely hope that we can talk. I would love to be a part of your big day. Lori Sophia's response: "because hiring me would put YOU at a huge disadvantage with your overall budget." Enough said. My fourth response: Sofia, You are not interpreting accurately what is written. Here is an example of a basic wedding budget for 250 guests: Venue/Rentals $3000 Catering $6325 ($20 x 250 guests, incl tax, gratuity) cost effective meal DJ $1200 2nd tier pricing for our area Photographer $3000 2nd-3rd tier pricing for our area Invitations $ 975 Cost effective pricing, postage Total $14,500 This does not include many other things such as minister/church, dress, veil, accessories, tuxedo, transportation, photobooth, favors, decor, flowers, centerpieces, alcohol, thank you's/postage, or a planner. When I said that hiring me would put you at a disadvantage, I meant that it would put you in a position that you would have to choose to pay me instead of paying for food, having a professional DJ, or buying flowers. If you hired me, you would have to add to your budget in order to pay for the above vendors that most people deem as required or you would have to choose to not have one of these components. THAT puts you at a disadvantage. Best wishes on your wedding. Lori