An Essential Event

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Introduction: An Essential Event is a Denver, Colorado-based company specializing in event planning and wedding officiant services. The owner, Cheryl Lynn Foster-Gerton, is a Denver native and graduate of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and has worked in both the private and public sectors as a communications specialist, graphic designer and event coordinator. With over fifteen years of event and wedding planning experience, Cheryl Lynn has acquired an acute attention to detail and a reputation for getting results. As an event and wedding planner, she believes in the value of her clients vision, and seeks to combine her creativity with their budget to produce highly professional, but affordable, experiences. As a non-denominational officiant, her ability to lend advice, research answers and leverage resources is an invaluable asset that can assist her clients throughout the wedding planning process. Her goal is to consistently exceed expectations, and to convey seamless service for a stress-free day. Cheryl Lynns passion for people, planning and service are the foundation of her success, and are sure to guide her in preparing for the next essential event yours! The thing I like most about my job is being able to look at a bride and groom, or any satisfied client for that matter, and to see how meaningful and special the moment that I have helped to create for them truly is. That type of positive reinforcement is priceless!

Overview

Hired 33 times

5 employees

15 years in business

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Featured Projects

13 photos

Reviews

Good 4.4

14 reviews

86%

14%

Sarah D.

Aug 31, 2015

Hired on Thumbtack

Non-Religious Wedding Officiant

Arwen V.

Dec 15, 2012

I contacted multiple wedding coordinators about 7 months before my wedding and Cheryl Lynn responded to my email within 20 minutes (some coordinators didn't get back to me for a week!) with a detailed list of services she could provide and a very reasonable price. It was her professionalism and enthusiasm that convinced me that she would be the best fit for our wedding. And I was right! Even though I only contracted her for day-of-wedding service, she met with me and my fiance several times, even walking through the venue with us and attending the dress rehearsal. She promptly and patiently answered every phone call and email I sent her, even if it was about something trivial like linens or programs. I came to value her experience and advice so much when negotiating vendors and creating the perfect day. On the day of the wedding, Cheryl Lynn and her staff at An Essential Event were on their game and oversaw so many small details that I was amazed they remembered everything I asked them to take care of - from water bottles for my bridal party to gratuities for my vendors. They were so thoughtful and boxed up some leftovers for my husband and me to take back to our honeymoon suite. The only ripple in the day was that the centerpieces were upside down (to be fair, it was a difficult design feature to assemble), but nobody really noticed except my sister who had purchased them for me. Every one of my guests said they had enjoyed the day, and I can't imagine that it would have been so smooth without Cheryl Lynn and her staff. I truly would have paid three times what I did for this exceptional service, and I wish I had more engaged friends in Denver - I would send them to her in a heartbeat!

Burton L.

Nov 10, 2014

Hired on Thumbtack

Exactly what we wanted. Thank you for everything.

Wedding Officiant

Cassandra B.

Feb 2, 2016

Hired on Thumbtack

Cheryl Lynn and her partner Bonnie helped with my September 2015 wedding. Before the wedding, communication was pretty good as we were getting details put in place. The day of the wedding, Cheryl Lynn arrived at a later time to the venue than we had originally planned. (We planned on her and Bonnie being there between noon and 1pm and she got there roughly between 3 and 4 for my 5:30 ceremony.) I was able to see the decor a few minutes before the ceremony and everything was pretty much how we planned on setting up (with the exception of chair sashes on different chairs than I had planned and she didn't utilize any of the tulle that I had purchased- and tulle can be expensive) She seemed very rushed to me and my guests. She was still putting on chair sashes for the ceremony chairs as the guests were arriving and tying up loose ends. The wedding went better than planned and Cheryl Lynn and Bonnie did a great job trying to keep up with wedding activities/cleaning up. I didn't see her or her partner during most of the ceremony or reception though, she seemed pretty flustered during both. They were both able, however, to clean up after the wedding by the venue deadline and get my decor back to me after my honeymoon which was greatly appreciated. At the wedding, my marriage license was given to Cheryl Lynn to send to the courthouse by mail. After a few weeks had passed with no wedding license issued to me in the mail, I called the courthouse and they said they never received the marriage license. I then contact Cheryl Lynn to ask if she had sent it; she confirmed that she had sent it. I had called the courthouse and numerous post offices the weeks following and still no sign of the marriage license. Needless to say, my husband and I had to go to our courthouse (which was in another state, since we had traveled back to our home state to have the wedding) and got married there. I was very upset about this detail because not only did I plan my wedding for a year and put some hard-earned money towards it, it turns out we didn't even officially get married that day in front of all our friends and family. I know that the point is "we love each other" and at least "everyone was there with us," but it's frustrating when you hire someone for a certain job and they don't completely fulfill that job. Warning to new customers of An Essential Event: handle your marriage license yourself and if you need to send it by mail to the courthouse, send it CERTIFIED! Don't be so trusting. (good thing we didn't have legal issues or insurance matters depending on this wedding date)

Wedding Decorating

Dyanne W.

Feb 27, 2014

Hired on Thumbtack

I am in the process of hiring Cheryllynn. My initial contact was very positive.

Wedding Planning

FAQs

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Northern Colorado, which helps to assure couples that their custom wedding ceremonies will be well-written. In addition, I have also earned a certificate as a Preston Bailey Signature Wedding and Event Designer and as a Professional Bridal Consultant.
What types of customers have you worked with?
I have worked with a variety of customers on a host of different events. From baby showers and birthday parties to fundraisers and of course, weddings, I have had the pleasure of serving so many people on their special day, all with diverse budgets (from $250 to well over $100,000), locations (Grand Junction, Greeley, Larkspur, Montrose, Vail and more), and styles (bling, classic, geek chic, rustic, and tropical). Each client and each event is so unique, and that makes working with them so fun and inspirational!
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
My best advice when choosing any vendor for your event would be to select someone that you feel comfortable with. You are entrusting your vendors, and especially your wedding coordinator and/or planner, with one of the biggest days of your life in terms of both budget and emotional investment. Find someone whose sense of humor, style and urgency match your own so that you can be sure that they understand and are able to deliver on your dreams.

An Essential Event

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