My husband and I owe the entire success of our wedding to our genius wedding planner Erica Irwin.  Erica provided us with experience in decision making and planning on the most important day of our lives.  Erica was our wedding planner from the fall of 2010 to the day of our wedding in August, 2011.  To say she is a strong, dedicated worker would be an understatement.  While working two jobs each, and renovating an entire house, we needed a dependable, responsible, creative mind that could bring our dreams to reality in the midst of utter chaos.  I wanted someone who would help make our vision come true.  Erica made our wedding better than we ever could have imagined.  There was rarely a day gone by, in the entire wedding planning process, that Erica was not fully involved.  Daily, Erica would keep us on track, and on budget.  Believe me, when planning a wedding, it is amazing how costs could skyrocket beyond control without the help of an experienced, creative mind such as Erica.  Erica’s designs and ideas more than paid for her cost as a wedding planner.  In fact, she was our security for the entire day to be run smoothly, without headache.  Erica is a creativity machine who brings to reality a lifetime of planning and wishes for one’s wedding day. Above all, Erica was kind, honest, dependable, generous, and always available to us at a time of great stress and anxiety.  Of all the services purchased for our wedding… she was absolutely the one person we could not have done without.  Not only is she an amazing wedding planner, she quickly becomes a friend and confidant in all decisions.  When I had no one to provide advice during dress fittings, she was there for every dress appointment.  She negotiated prices, and gave invaluable advice saving me a great deal of time and money.  During the day of our wedding, Erica made sure the delivery of flowers, decor, photography, video, entertainment, and gifts were well orchestrated affair.

Behind the scenes, while my bridesmaids and I were enjoying a relaxing morning in a hotel room preparing for the day, Erica was performing an organizational feat of a one woman army.  Tasks such as calling the reception hall, coordinating church timings, assuring services purchased were being delivered on time, and properly, were performed by Erica without prompt or request.  The church service was an enjoyable, well choreographed event, thanks only to her vast experience of orchestrating wedding parties on a timelines.. an art few people perform well.  My timeframe from the beginning of day to end was meticulously prepared by Erica to ensure fluidity and relaxation.  Like the true devoted organizer that she is, Erica made sure speeches were prompted on time, the dj’s music selections were enjoyable, and performers were staged in appropriate time slots for our guests’ enjoyment.  At the end of our reception, when vendors required bill payment, Erica was happy to assist with settling cheques, and contracts on behalf of myself and my husband, so that we would not be taken away from our family and friends.  As the night wore on, Erica’s constant devotion to organization and timekeeping allowed for the packaging and safe removal and storage of equipment, gifts, money cards, and other valuables without worry.  At the end of the night we were completely exhausted.  It was a godsend that Erica was always “one step ahead” of the process, allowing  us to not miss out on any of our wedding festivities.

Many times throughout our wedding day, various circumstances occurred that could or would have caused great havoc.  All were prevented by her constant attention to detail, and quick witted thinking. Erica is an ambitious, creative, loyal, kind hearted, talented friend that you would be blessed to have on your wedding planning team. Yours truly,

Becky & Neal Porter

Venue: Sala San Marco
Photo Credits: Clint Russell and Shawn Van Daele of Renaissance Studios