We hired Jacqueline Thompson as a coordinator for our wedding and signed up for her 'Mise en Place' package ('Everything in its place - start to finish wedding coordination).
Thompson refused to complete certain tasks such as hire wait service staff, help us coordinate with rental companies, meet with our vendors, etc. Additionally, she offered no assistance to finding quality vendors such as DJ, videographer, etc.
As we approached the 90 day mark until the wedding, I realized that Jackie had completed NONE of the items in our package, which is listed on her website as follows:
"Reception" - We located and reserved venue prior to contract
"Caterer-Menu" - she did meet w / caterer but attempted to send us to her friend instead and did not wish to work with our pick (hers was very poor quality)
"Attire - Entire Bridal Party" - No services rendered
"Invitations" - she did place the order after we researched and found on our own "Bartender" - she refused to hire, saying that our caterer should do it
"Master of Ceremonies" - No services rendered
"Photographer/Videographer" - No services rendered
"Florist" - No services rendered
"Party Favors" - No services rendered
"Transportation" - she put together some pricing quotes, although we found one much less expensive on our own
"Cake" - No services rendered
"Complete Setup and Takedown of Reception (Day of Coordinating)" - No services rendered
Cost: $18 per person for a total of $2700.00
Upon realizing that time was running out and she had made no progress, I came across new pictures of her work (on her website, which are absolutely HORRENDOUS). I then attempted to verify her credentials, as the tackiness was just too unbelievable. I emailed the Assoc of Bridal Consultants to find out if she was a member and had any references. They called her to join their group and must have used my name. She called me, very angry, and offered to terminate the contract. I agreed. She stated that she had already completed the wedding planning portion and had only to do the "Day Of" still, which was a $1500 value.
We had already paid $1600 towards the contract, received no benefit of her services, and our wedding was nowhere near planned. I emailed her asking her to provide a list of the items she had completed, keep whatever she thought was fair, and to send the rest back to us. She responded saying that the contract did not state that she needed to give us a breakdown of her work, therefore she would not do so, and she owed us nothing. The contract was not much of a contract at all, and would be considered null in a court of law. It was one sided, stating only how much we needed to pay, but not what she would deliver.
The contract stated that only the deposit $500 was nonrefundable, so we feel that we should get back the amount over that ($1100). We did give her a chance to provide evidence of any work done (even though we received no benefit) and subtract that from our prepaid $1600, but she refused. She had done no real work on our wedding. Everything that has been done, has been completed by us on our own. We are now out $1600 and feel that this woman is a thief. A wedding coordinator is supposed to make the planning process LESS stressful - not compound it by 100X!
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