FEELING THE LOVE ...
Carla was lovely to work with from the minute she hopped on board. She is transparent, organized, and clearly enjoys her job. Importantly, by hiring her- I felt like I could enjoy the weeks leading up to the wedding, knowing she had our backs. She was available by phone/text/call- and is a true professional in the wedding industry. When I arrived at our venue on the day of the wedding, I had tears of joy seeing my vision for the evening come to life. Her team was also friendly and professional- shout out Alice- she’s calm/cool/collected and had everything so organized for us. I love that Carla is a floral and design person as well as an excellent planner. I was so happy I was able to find BOTH of these services in the same person/team. Thank you Carla and thank you EG team!
GA 2024
Long overdue post, but much deserved! My husband and I hired Carla and her team for our August wedding and we can't say enough good things. From the very beginning Carla understood our vision and answered our many questions going back and forth on flowers and the proposal until it was perfect. We had a sample meeting a month before our wedding and left feeling excited about the big day. My husband and I did a room reveal before our reception and when we walked in to our space on our day we truly were speechless. The vision was more than we could have imagined and it was absolutely breathtaking. Carla and her team's expertise took what we wanted and elevated it times a million. We will forever dream about that day and décor so if you are on the hunt for a florist and décor team, look no further, as Carla and her team ARE IT! Thank you Carla and team from the bottom of our hearts for making our day so special. xox
I cannot say enough wonderful things about Carla and her team! I initially contacted them after seeing their floral designs and wasn't interested in their planning services because I was planning a small, covid wedding. After two weeks of trying to plan my wedding solo, I hired Carla and DEAR LORD, THIS SHOULD BE THE FIRST THING YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE PLANNING YOUR WEDDING. Carla organized the day down to 15 minute blocks, helped with all our covid concerns and made the venue look absolutely amazing. I felt like I had a reception in a fairytale. She is professional, available, fun, and so damn good at her job. The day of, Carla and Alice helped make sure everything moved long smoothly and frankly, I dont know how people get married without them. They even helped me put on my flower crown and bustled my dress. You will not regret working with her and her team and I'm already looking forward to hiring her for my future life events.
I. M. Oct 2020
Choosing Elenas Garden was one of the easiest choices I made throughout my planning process! As someone who knows NOTHING about flowers, I basically gave Carla describing words for the overall vibe I wanted to achieve, and the color of my bridesmaid gowns.. thats it! She took that info and ran with it. This was also INCREDIBLY helpful because I was an out of town bride- so I couldn't meet with her in person for the main stages of planning. She was fantastic about being timely and giving me various options (with photos). She was very flexible with changing of guest counts, church restrictions, etc. Throughout the entire process I felt like I was in great hands (she even helped me decide on linens). At the wedding, soo many people came up to compliment me on the florals.. I would not have changed a single thing!
Jessica T. March 2020
Our amazing wedding venue, The Joinery, passed along Carla's name when we first started planning our wedding and we never looked back. She was immediately approachable, honest, fun, and listened to everything we wanted for the big day. We originally were primarily interested in a florist but after seeing how organized and quick her team was (as well as the combined pricing for floral + planning) we booked Elena's Garden for both. In the few weeks before the big day, Carla not only kept us on track with detailed to-do lists, but also helped reign in existing vendors and bridal party, all so we didn't have to. Her and her team were FANTASTIC in both planning and floral. The design of the space took our breath away when we first saw it. Our wedding was absolutely perfect, thanks to them. Would highly recommend!
Sara M. May 2019
“… Exceptional Job! I could not be more pleased with how everything turned out. She not only kept me on track, but the day of, I had nothing to worry about. We still have people complimenting us about our wedding, they cannot get over the flowers, venue, food, etc. Carla helped me choose everything from the colors, caterer, cake, etc. All the people she worked with were pleasant and exceeded our expectations. She scheduled the meetings with the vendors, did the talking, and kept us within our budget. She was super transparent, got to know my husband and I well, and knew exactly what we were thinking without us even saying it. She was phenomenal, I wish I can relive that day 100 times! She is worth every penny! Carla, my husband and I loved working with you. You were amazing throughout the entire process, super patient, and you made one of the most important days of my life a dream come true. Thank you times a Million!” — Diana M.
Carla and her team are truly the best. We recently worked with Carla and the team for both wedding planning and floral for our wedding and it was perfect. Carla understood our vision from the start, and went above and beyond to help execute it, and adhere to our budget. She is incredibly responsive, and also just so fun to work with. She helped keep us on track so honestly nothing was a stress!
KL 2023
My husband and I got married in October at Cafe Brauer in Chicago, and Carla & the team at Elena's Garden Floral Design were an absolute dream to work with. From our very first meeting, Carla's passion for her craft and clients was clear and her knowledge of the wedding industry was second to none. Most importantly Carla understood us and our wedding vision- we new instantly we wanted to work with her and could trust her to plan and design our special day. Carla and her team brought our wedding vision to life and it surpassed anything we could have ever dreamed of. Everything from floral design, flowers, decor, lighting was stunning. Everyone (even months after our wedding) has continued to remark how beautiful everything was and that is all thanks to Carla and the team at Elena's Garden Floral Design and Event Planning.
Carla also was our wedding planner and she made the entire process seamless. She coordinated with all our other vendors which allowed my husband and I to be fully present on our wedding day and enjoy every moment of it. Carla is professional, organized, talented, and a joy to work with.
There is not enough space allotted to fully recognize and celebrate how amazing Carla and the team at Elena's Garden Floral Design & Event Planning are. If you are reading this review all you need to know is the answer is "Yes" you need to hire Carla and the team at Elena's Garden Floral Design and Event Planning.
M.B. 2023
We chose Carla and her team early on because of their clear understanding of our vision and detailed proposal with example photos. They worked with us along the way and were always available if we had any questions. It was a huge plus that they were able to subcontract the lighting design which allowed an amazing, coordinated look. Our wedding at Cafe Brauer ended up looking stunning and better than we could have ever imagined. Multiple wedding guests told us it was the most beautiful wedding they've been to. Thank you Elena's Garden for all your hard work!
Jon C 2022
Carla, Alice, Miriam and the entire EG team are absolutely amazing! If I could, I would give them a million stars instead of the 5 available! Everything turned out absolutely perfect for our wedding. Originally we were just not doing flowers and day of coordination but with postponing our wedding a year we ultimately decided to have Carla become our full time planner. This was one of the best decisions we made and wish I would’ve just done that to begin with. Over the 2+ years of knowing Carla I cannot begin to tell you how much help she is. From the million questions I randomly would come up with to the numerous calls and the heartbreak of postponing…Carla was there every step of the way in addition to being an amazing support system through this entire process. Carla and her team feel like family to us and I am so extremely grateful that I found them while planning for our wedding. I want to throw another big event just so I can have Carla help plan because it was so much fun! If anyone is even thinking about adding the EG team to their vendor list…just DO IT! The planning skills and florals are absolutely fabulous!!!
Rachel B 2021
Long overdue post for the best florist and wedding coordinator team! There isn’t enough things We can say about Carla and her team. If you are debating this company, choose them and you will not be disappointed. What you will experience is ease, relief, reassurance, support, attention to detail, great ideas for overall wedding design and flowers/decor, etc. Carla also has the hookup with many other vendors and friends in the industry as well. She will think of things that you haven’t and show you that all your bases are covered. She is always available by phone, email, text to go through any idea you have no matter how small you think it may be. She worked with us during the pandemic and postponing our wedding date 3x! She was a true Angel and I will miss her so much! It felt like she became a part of our family. Additionally, all of our bridal party, friends, parents raved about how thorough and accommodating (not to mention friendly and professional) on our wedding day. She is my #1 recommendation for all things wedding/event planning/coordinating and floral design! She will make any of your dreams or visions come to life in to time. Truly the dream team!! Thank you so much, we couldn’t have possibly done it without you.
Samantha S 2021
I first found Carla looking at vendors instagrams and noticed a beautiful floral arrangement she did. I reached out and we got on a call and cancelled all further floral calls I had because how much her knowledge, vision, confidence, and bluntness radiated in that first call. It was so nice to have an honest opinion throughout the entire process. I can honestly say that we didn’t have any stress or surprises leading up to the wedding because of her and her team. Her negotiating saved us money, her connections lead to great vendors, and her ability to understand our vision left us confident to leave all vendor questions and coordinations to her. If you’re considering a planner, it was really a life saver and would not change one single thing about the planning experience with her!
Emily M. May 2019
“… When my husband and I entered into our space, and I walked up the candle-lit stairs, I couldn’t have been more in heaven. It was my vision in real life! I really never expected to receive so many compliments the entire night and still to this day. From a planning perspective, I couldn’t get over how much Carla wanted to make sure my husband and I were happy. From the minimal things to the larger ones, she remembered every last detail and kept us in check by keeping us to a to-do list. Her day-of-timeline incorporated every last detail that you wouldn’t even expect and she padded it so beautifully to incorporate the unexpected that stress did not exist on my wedding day. I really mean that. Like many brides, I had a lot of anxiety as day got nearer, and her being the calming force was exactly what I needed. I am a Type-A, very detailed person which didn’t help to the anxiety but she helped me get through it all. She was always a text away and always made herself available. Carla’s transparency, yet solution-oriented approach throughout year kept us honest but was perfect because she had solves to just about dead end or bad news. She has many contacts in the city and based on whatever you may want, she can likely connect you or at least give you ideas. I think what really nailed it for us that we had made the right decision was when we got to wedding day, and Eric and I felt we had a friend helping on our wedding day. It felt so comfortable, easy, and overall a happy moment. Between her assistant Alice (who I felt I had known forever) and Carla, we had literally all the trust in the world that they knew every in and out of the wedding and we had someone who had been in it with us to carry it out. I now miss her so much and want to make an excuse to plan something with her. If you are looking for someone to perfectly capture your vision, execute it flawlessly, and then become a friend, “ —Carolina GB Sept 2018
Carla and her team are phenomenal! I had an idea for a fun horse themed barn wedding. Elena's Garden went above and beyond my ideas and expectations [ ... ] As a busy small business owner myself, I did not have the time to meet with the other vendors. She worked with them and planned every detail. I loved working with Carla so much that I actually miss wedding planning because I miss working with her.
-- Cindy O. Sept 2017
We used Elena's Garden for both our florals and coordination. Couldn't recommend this team enough for those getting married in the Chicagoland area. Alice was a tremendous help at getting my vision across the finish line and making our big day run smoothly. Carla was a fantastic help with our florals/decor and truly made our wedding so beautiful. Everything turned out more beautiful than my vision board!
TG 2023
Carla and her team are amazing!! From the first consultation she took charge and made our vision come to life. From the bouquets to the table settings to the Mandap/Chuppah she really took our input to heart all while keeping the arrangements unique and personal. Through all the stress of wedding planning she always made herself available via phone or email. Don’t hesitate to hire her and her team!!!
K. R. 2022
Carla and the team are AMAZING. My husband and I planned a summer wedding on a short timeline, and we worked with Elena's Garden for floral design and wedding planning. Carla is extremely organized, creative, and professional. She made sure that she understood our vision and vibe and executed it flawlessly. You can count on her to draw up a very thorough proposal and to be communicative throughout the entire planning experience. In terms of working with and orchestrating the event across other vendors, Carla is the perfect balance of "taking the reins" and being a collaborative, well-liked partner. Several of our other vendors mentioned how pleasant it was to work with Carla and the team and how grateful they were for Carla's organization and leadership. Perhaps most importantly, Carla never gets frazzled. Her calm and positive demeanor instills so much confidence and makes for a smooth experience throughout planning and on the wedding day. She will make you laugh, and when you see the photos, she will make you cry of happiness! Her work is beautiful!
T W 2021
I’m a little late writing this, but Carla and her team were fantastic! We had less than 8 months to plan almost the entire wedding (the only thing we had booked was our venue), but she made everything so easy. She was quick to come up with vendor suggestions, yet still gave me the freedom to pick the vendors I was already set on. She is extremely organized down to the last detail. Even as we got closer to the big day, she was able to break down all the larger tasks into smaller “homework assignments” that I was able to keep up with while working my 9-5. Fast forward to the day of my wedding: I found myself so calm and relaxed, and actually getting to eat breakfast while getting my hair and makeup done with my bridal party. Everything (including the tiny details) had been taken care of the days leading up. Our wedding was on a rainy Friday in October 2021, and we could not have asked for anything more! Everything was perfect! Thank you so much, Carla and team!
Kristine F. 2021
10000/5 stars for Carla and her team! She completely understood the aesthetic we wanted and helped guide us towards the right decisions. Our wedding date changed twice due to covid. Carla was right there the whole time offering her flexibility and understanding. Ultimately, we changed the floral aesthetic and added an entirely different arrangement for the ceremony flowers - Carla made the right changes and transformed our backyard into the wedding venue of our dreams. I actually hadn't cried that day until I saw the flowers!! :) Could not recommend the EG team more highly! Thank you Carla for making our dream day!
Elisabeth D. Sept 2020
I cannot even put into words how grateful I am that we found Carla! She was referred to us through our venue, W City Center, and I hired her first as our florist and later as our planner! Carla was able to take my ideas, budget and vision and create my dream look! The floral, candles, vibes, lighting and linens was everything I wanted and more! About two months before my wedding, I was extremely stressed and getting Carla's advice on a few things when she reminded me that she also helped with wedding coordination. Without any hesitation, I booked her for my big day! From that moment forward- Carla was everything to me for the next 60 days. She is so organized, positive, supportive and kind. Carla will fight to get things done right especially when there is a lot to juggle. I can easily say that hiring Carla and her team was the best choice I made during my wedding planning process, second of course to marrying the groom :)
Kendra T. Dec 2019
"Carla, it was a pleasure to work with you and your creative team!From the moment I started planning my engagement and wedding, I knew I would want something classic but also beautiful and breathtaking! Carla you exceeded all my expectations! Your creativity , great ideas, your time to listen to my ideas and also flexible to all my requests,worked on a budget, made our wedding day a dream come true! My flower girls had the cutest crowns and can't forget my peonies bouquet that smelled divine all day long! Thank you!
Elena's garden flower events is the way to go!!!"
-- Andreea S. June 2017