A Southern Soiree

I was lucky to get to work with A Southern Soiree as our day of planner! Frankly, I don't think we would have had as beautiful a wedding as we did without the hard work of Gina Annab, who I highly recommend! She went above and beyond to ensure that I had a wonderful day! She was friendly, kind and professional and I was happy she was there at my wedding as more of a friend than just a wedding planner. If you are going to have a day of planner, A Southern Soiree is the way to go! I am sure they are also fabulous as entire wedding day planners as well!

Hiring Kailey and a Southern Soiree as our wedding planner/coordinator was by far the best decision I made throughout the planning process. I had already contracted most of my vendors so I was not sure if hiring a coordinator would be worth it, but now I am so glad we did. I really cannot overstate how invaluable her services were. She is extremely professional, responsive, detailed, organized, and flexible. All of my vendors, most of whom have been in the wedding business for decades, commented on Kailey's organization and professionalism. She recommended an amazing videographer at the last minute, took care of every detail regarding our reception rentals, and brought everything together. I am extremely picky when it comes to getting the details of entertaining perfect. I did not think I could trust anyone to do things "just right", but in the process of working with Kailey over the past eight months I knew I could trust her completely. I really could go on and on. One last thing I will mention is how wonderfully she handled a very difficult and inflexible reception venue. She was very patient and came up with creative solutions that got the job done. Her services were worth every penny and more. Thank you so much to Kailey and Gina! They made it possible for us to relax and enjoy our big day. You can't ask for more than that!

I don't think there are enough words to describe how amazing Kailey and Southern Soiree are! When I first began wedding planning a year ago, I struggled with the idea of whether or not I should hire a wedding coordinator. Like most brides, we were on a budget where every cent counted. However, after meeting with Kailey, I felt immediately at ease and knew that she would help make my wedding dreams come true. From the very beginning, she helped guide me through vendor recommendations, ceremony and reception planning, and decorating ideas. When the weekend finally arrived, I knew I didn't have to worry about a thing because Kailey (and Whitney!) took care of everything. Even when unforeseen issues arose on the wedding day, she took care of them flawlessly. After everything was over people asked me how I felt and would I change anything and it's because of Kailey, Whitney, and Southern Soiree that our wedding day was absolutely perfect and I wouldn't change a thing!

I will never be able to put into words the amazing job Megan and Gina did planning our wedding in April 2013. I like to call them my wedding angels. They have stood by my side and helped me through making all the decisions that may drive a bride to a bridezilla moment : ) these are two of the most organized people I have ever met. From the first time I sent A Southern Soiree an email when I got engaged in August 2011 (Megan responded back to wish me a big congrats within an hour) and communication hasn’t stopped flowing. This group of ladies are professional, timely, knowledgeable, supportive, experienced, and the list could go on. My family and friends have not stopped raving about how wonderful these ladies are and the remarkable job they did on my wedding. A+ wedding planners! I'm already thinking of the next party I can have Megan and Gina plan!!

Megan and Gina were great wedding planners. We would ask for them two again if we had to do it all over again.

If you are looking for a wedding planner/coordinator, look no further! Kailey is the absolute best! I didn't think I really needed a wedding coordinator until I met with her. She asked so many questions about things I had never thought of! She truly understands everything that needs to be done, coordinated and asked to have a smooth and successful wedding. Whenever I e-mailed Kailey she got back to me quickly offering suggestions and ideas that might work with what our vision for our wedding was. We had to make some last minute changes due to out of town guests not getting in on time for the rehearsal and she was extremely flexible and understanding of the situation. SHe ensured that everything was perfect on our wedding day! I am truly grateful for all the hard work she put into making our wedding the perfect day for us! I abslutely would recommend her to all my friends! Thanks for all your hard work, positive attitude, professionalism and attention to detail! We couldn't have done it without you!

Kailey and A Southern Soirée provided excellent service. Kailey was always available and responded very quickly to all requests. Our wedding was perfect and everyone had a great time. I would definitely recommend A Southern Soirée and Kailey to anyone. We honestly could not have done the wedding without her. Thank You again Kailey!

I knew, even before getting engaged, that I wanted a wedding planner for our wedding day. Having someone to handle all the details and direction that would allow me to be like a guest at my own wedding sounded amazing! Working with Megan and Gina gave us that and so much more! We met Megan at the Carolina Inn wedding show and knew instantly they fit our personalities perfectly. Megan is so warm, friendly and professional! When I emailed her to discuss our wedding the next week, I got a reply back that day. We never had to wait to have our questions and requests answered, big or small. She helped me to decide that I wanted a weekend planning package with a la carte design help. Prior to this I thought a planner would just get together with me a few weeks before and run the day I had planned. Instead, we were treated to countless phone calls for recommendations on vendors, discounts with those vendors, and meetings with those vendors arranged by Megan. She gave us direction on etiquette and advice for numerous details of our day. Finally, she sat down with us and created a detailed timeline and ran that timeline on the big day. Many of our guests have come to me to say they had never seen a wedding run that smoothly! That's saying a lot since I had a lot of special requests for that day! (I asked her one week before my wedding if Ramses could bring in 200 bo berry biscuits to my groom at our reception. Megan made it happen!) It think the biggest testament, however, was how excited we were to see Gina and Megan the morning of the wedding and share everything we had planned together with them. They felt like a part of our family.

Our wedding was absolutely perfect thanks to Megan and Gina! We live in DC and got married in NC, so we definitely needed assistance to plan our wedding. Megan helped us every step of the way; recommending/researching vendors, helping us stay in our budget, giving advice and reassurance, and making the process fun!!! Megan and Gina are organized, professional, and were always two steps ahead of us. They had answers to the questions we never thought to ask. Our wedding day went so smoothly thanks to them and all of the wonderful vendors they recommended. Our wedding far exceeded our expectations. There are too many good things to say about A Southern Soiree! We couldn't have done this without Megan and Gina. --Mela & Brandon :)

Words cannot express how thankful I am to have had Southern Soiree as the planning company for my wedding. I found Southern Soiree by searching on the Internet and was so impressed by the body of work that they had done within the Raleigh-Durham area as well as outside cities and states. I was looking in particular for a company that would allow me to tailor a package that was specific to my needs. Megan was so responsive and helpful in doing just that. I could tell from our first set of emails and phone correspondence that I would have exceptional customer service throughout the wedding planning process. For me it was very important to have great customer service because I would be planning this wedding without the assistance of my mother, since she is deceased. Kailey Brantham was my wedding coordinator and she was absolutely awesome. My wedding took place in Greenville, NC. Each time Kailey came down to meet we always accomplished the items on our task list and if she needed to stay longer she would. I never felt cut-off or that she was in a rush to get to another appointment. When I was having problems with a vendor, she stepped right in as my advocate and resolved the issue. What I like most about working with Kailey is that (1) She didn't overshadow my vision of the wedding, (2) She worked great with every vendor that I hired, (3) She is highly organized and provided great follow-up on outstanding tasks. She really worked with me to make sure that I put the correct priority on items that needed to be completed on my end. She took a reception space which was a blank canvas and transformed it into a beautiful reception area. On my wedding day, Kailey and her coordination team were at my beckon call! From the rehearsal dinner to the reception, our day was beautiful and seamless. The day was perfect. Dana C. Johnson

Kailey Branham with A Southern Soiree was FANTASTIC! She was our wedding planner for the wedding weekend, and I don't know how we would have pulled off my daughter's big day without her. She left no detail unturned...a complete itinerary of the weekend with every detai includedl, contacted every vendor (who were impressed by her professionalism and her attention to detail), kept us on schedule throughout the day in a flexible manner (knowing that there are moments in a wedding that should not be rushed), was always positive and enthusiastic, provided great ideas, and was even a pro at unbuttoning a million little buttons on a wedding dress before the bride left...just to scratch the surface of how she helped us. She was hands down the bright spot of planning the wedding....not just for me, but for my daughter and the ENTIRE family! This was the best money I spent on this wedding. Kailey provided me with the piece of mind to truly enjoy the bride, my daughter, on this momentous day in our lives...i knew she make sure everything we had planned took place....and she did....and then some! Don't hesitate...hire Kailey or any of the planners at A Southern Soiree....you won't be disappointed!

Kailey Branham was a complete joy to have around for my wedding day/weekend. She is simply the best! Not only did she carry every detail and worry away from me and my mom (and my sister - we have a controlling family!) (you should see Kailey's spreadsheets, they're incredible!) - she appeared at every important time throughout the event and didn't miss a single step. I really believe our wedding couldn't have felt as amazing or seemed as flawless without her attention and dedication. Before the wedding, she was a breath of fresh air to hear from - during the wedding, she seemed like a long lost best friend - and we hope we can find a way to thank her enough now that we're in the post-wedding phase! Thank you, A Southern Soiree! Erin Clarke Lesica

When I reflect on the year I planned my wedding, this is what I will remember: laughing and planning our life together with my husband, rekindling old friendships, spending lots of good times with my bridesmaids and friends, and growing closer to my Mom, who is now my new best friend. All this was possible because of Megan and her fabulous team at A Southern Soiree. All of the things that get brides down off their “wedding planning high,” never happened to me. Megan really got to know me as a person and found the perfect vendors to match my style and personality. Whenever a “crisis” occurred like an error on the invitations or a ceremony change last minute, Megan handled the situation right away while keeping me updated on the progress. She always responded to my emails professionally and courteously. She was always one step ahead of me with her detailed planning schedule. She doesn’t waste time and always gets right to the point. I also loved going to meetings with her because I never wrote anything down. Megan did all of it for me. Whenever I needed honest feedback or suggestions on how to improve the wedding details, Megan was there to give it to me straight. She also has classic and impeccable taste so I would often defer to her on aesthetic choices. You have to be able to trust your planner or the process will go awry. I trusted Megan 100% and she consistently delivered on her promises. Kailey was the lead on the day of the wedding. She was constantly checking in with me to give me updates on the schedule (which was fastidiously created one week before and broken down to the minute). She also always made sure I had a drink in my hand and looked beautiful. Furthermore, she remained calm and patient. If you want your day done to perfection, and a year of blissful memories, I highly recommend the best team in NC, A Southern Soiree. I will never forget you all!

My mother heard about A Southern Soiree at a wedding expo and hired Gina just for the day of my wedding. I didn't know if it would be worth the money for just one day of service, but since I was living in Boston and planning a wedding in NC we needed some extra help. Gina started working well before the wedding by holding conference calls with both me and my mother. She collected all the contact information for each of our vendors and created specific timelines for the day of the wedding, so there would be no question about where anyone needed to be (the band, the cake, the servers, the florist, the videographer, the photographer....) Gina took detailed notes at our meetings and the walk-through, asking questions when clarification was needed but otherwise laying low- which was nice. She offered suggestions and advice when we needed it, and always seemed to know exactly what she was talking about. On the day of the wedding Gina sprung into action and seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at once! She approached us throughout the evening and courteously told us where we needed to be (ie: when we should eat dinner, when to cut the cake/make toasts/thank guests, when to throw the bouquet...) without being obtrusive or rude. She was magnificent!! Our day went by so quickly and without Gina our wedding would not have gone nearly as smoothly or been nearly as wonderful as it was. She definitely went above and beyond, and we are very happy to recommend her to future brides!!

We hired Gina Annab from A Southern Soiree for the wedding week-end only. I have to say that she went out of her way to help us with much more than just the week-end! She is extremely familiar with various vendors and services, and that helped me get things accomplished in a much shorter period of time. She also has great ideas, and really knows what she is doing. But I think the best part is that she is always so calm and relaxed, which is what we all needed, especially on the wedding day! Our wedding was perfect, in a large part due to Gina. I would definitely hire her again, but next time it would be for the entire wedding. Thanks Gina! Linda Youmans

We live in Boston, and our wedding took place in NC. We hired A Southern Soiree, knowing that distance was going to add stress to the already nerve-wracking feat of planning a wedding. This was by far the best choice we could have ever made! We got to work with Kailey, who was literally there every single step of the way. If we had questions or concerns, it didn’t matter what time of day or night it was, she was always there with advice and reassurance. She was so thorough, patient, and organized. She led me in making knowledgeable decisions that helped me to remain calm and confident throughout the whole process. She tirelessly researched things for us, maintained communication with all of the vendors, and all of her recommendations were on point. Everything was taken care of in a very timely and professional way, down to the very last detail. For one year, Kailey helped me through the process of planning the day I’ve been waiting for my whole life; and the result was amazing! All of our guests raved about how seamlessly everything came together. All I had to do that day was be a beautiful, happy bride, confident in knowing that everything behind the scenes was being taken care of by Kailey. It was just flawless. I would highly recommend A Southern Soiree to any bride. They truly epitomize professionalism, and it is obvious that they love what they do. There are just too many good things to say; they are absolutely wonderful! Mr. & Mrs. Angelone

Kailey and the staff at A Southern Soiree are fabulous! My family, wedding guests, and I were blown away by her professionalism and the quality care she gave to me in planning and carrying out the festivities for our special day. Kailey went above and beyond the duties of a planner and was able to calm nerves, fix wardrobe malfunctions, provide solutions to problems, and just be an all around great help. Everyone who attended our wedding said it was so memorable and that it was one of the best weddings they have attended. This would not have occurred without the help of Kailey and A Southern Soiree. I highly recommend her and A Southern Soiree for event planning. If you use their services, you too will be blown away.

I knew right away that I wanted a day-of coordinator for my wedding. While deciding which event planning group to go with, I made several appointments for interviews. Kailey and A Southern Soiree impressed from the very first meeting. She arrived on time and organized, and listened to what I had in mind. Throughout the process, she made great suggestions that supported my vision, and knew right where to step in when I needed it. Emails and phone calls were returned promptly. I wish I could describe how seamless the transition was from all of my planning and detail-oriented arrangements to her flawless execution. Specifically, at the rehearsal, when I would have felt uncomfortable directing my closest friends and family (and in-laws!) what to do, she was able to kindly and firmly set out expectations and "direct traffic" so to speak. My main goal by hiring Kailey was to cut down on the stress of last minute logistics and to ensure I had a relaxing day. Goal accomplished! I was able to float through my day and enjoy the moments without watching the clock- Kailey was right there to make sure everything stayed on track, and that everyone's needs (vendors, bridal party, family) were met. Every single person that came in contact with Kailey went out of their way to tell me how much they enjoyed working with her, and how much the appreciated her organization. If you want someone who is as enthusiastic as you are about your wedding, will be able to work with anyone, is respected in the wedding industry, can accommodate last-minute changes or hiccups, and will be right there for assistance until the last goodbyes are said- Kailey and A Southern Soiree is the route to go.

I planned my wedding in 4 1/2 months. I wanted it to be exactly as I envisioned but as I was working full time and renovating a house at the same time so I required some assistance. I hired Kailey with A Southern Soiree and chose the Weekend Coordination Package. I got so much more than just a weekend of attention from Kailey. She worked behind the scenes to be sure that all the things I envisioned for our day came together beautifully. She is very professional but always has a smile on her face. I was able to relax the entire weekend in addition to the time planning knowing she was there to put the pieces I had wanted together. She helped me decorate the ballroom where the reception was held and made sure everything was exactly right so I could enjoy the weekend with my friends, family and sweet new husband. She even made sure the caterer could get the correct glasses for tiny milkshake shooters we were having. (She did this at 8pm the day before the wedding, mind you). She managed to corral and organize my unruly family ;-) and we all had a wonderful time knowing she was keeping it all organized. Now, if I could only have gotten her onto the dance floor.........

Kailey was AWESOME! She was so sweet and a pleasure to work with. She did an amazing job with planning my wedding, especially at juggling all the surprises that my mom and sister wanted to have at the wedding without me knowing! The day of the wedding was perfect, all because of her! I would totally get married again just so that I would be able to work with Kailey!