How Plan It Martha’s Vineyard can make your day One to Remember
By Kassidy Kilcoyne
September 2016
Most women have dreamed of their wedding day since they were a little girl. Whether it’s flawless and fragrant peonies that fill out your bouquet, a venue that looks like a fairytale castle, your toes in the sand by the ocean, or a fabulous designer dress, all brides do indeed have a vision. Martha’s Vineyard is a gorgeous wedding destination that will unquestionably make your special day one to remember.
Yet visions of royalty and happily-ever-after take planning and know-how. That’s where Plan It Martha’s Vineyard comes in. This event planning company can help plan every aspect of a couple’s vision of their perfect wedding day. While many weddings take place in the spring and the fall, the planning process is a year-round business. The Plan It MV team is continuously hard at work getting all sorts of things ready for their clients’ perfect wedding day.
Plan It Martha’s Vineyard was launched in the spring of 2010 with both a dream and unique vision. Doriana Klumick started coordinating events when she first moved to Martha’s Vineyard in 1999 at the Navigator Restaurant, which has now been replaced by the Atlantic Restaurant & Boathouse Club. She then moved onto The Beach Plum Inn as a manager and event coordinator, which was booked nearly every weekend for a special event. Doriana quickly learned what is required to host a successful event in a remote location.
Kate Conde Foster began working events at the Harbor View Hotel. And then moved into providing welcome bags for corporate retreats, which led to organizing outings, luncheons, etc… Understanding the need for an established, young, fresh event planner on island, and recognizing the seemingly limitless demand for weddings and events on the island, Kate started Plan It MV with $500 and a first client- a referral from Doriana! “I’ve always been hyper-vigilant when it comes to organization, and when asked to “help out” with vendor referrals or ideas for events, it came naturally and without any question. Over the years, I’ve made connections to island vendors, building those relationships when we were all young and working events – any event- side by side, just to pay the bills and continue living in this magical place,” Kate recalls. “We’ve all moved on and continued in the service industry in one way or another.”
As longtime friends, it was quickly clear these two ladies made great team; “We both knew we could each do this on our own,” Doriana said. “But together, we thought, we can become unstoppable!” Thus, the two became thriving business partners.
Since then, the Plan It MV team has grown; They now have a team of coordinators that work year round making sure all of the details for every event goes off without a hitch, and that their clients’ vision comes alive and in picture-perfect focus. The team also includes a design consultant who will work with you throughout the process to create your vision of the perfect wedding day or special event.
They also have a variety of coordination services available for you to choose from; day-of service, partial planning and full service. We can even customize a unique service package to meet your needs and budget.
A main concern for almost anyone planning an event is budget. Plan It MV works within a clients’ desired budget and offers a plethora of ideas to make sure they don’t break the bank. “Ways to save money are different for every client,” the two founders said. “However, all clients get the most bang for their buck when they hire an island wedding planner. Island planners know all the vendors and can recommend the right match for any need or budget. That alone is a huge savings.”
Still, it is not all fun and games. I am sure we all know that one friend who qualifies as a “bridezilla.” So, what is the hardest part about planning a wedding?
Plan It MV understands that every bride handles details differently and they adapt to take care of those individual needs as they come. “One of the hardest things for us recently has been keeping up with the brisk pace – we’ve really grown in the past year! We have a great team in place that makes every client feel like our only client. Everyone is relying on us to make their event special; we are able to deliver that for the client, and that makes us feel wonderful!”
Whether lavish and extravagant, or quaint and simple, every wedding takes proper planning and work. “We work very closely with our clients and really listen to their specific wishes and visions for their big day,” Plan It MV said. “We like to get the big pieces in place first, such as the date, venue and caterer. From there we make appropriate recommendations for the florist, photographer, music, and whatever else is needed. That ensures a personal connection between the client and vendor is made. A lot of little details evolve over the whole process, and we make sure they are all taken care of. It makes for less stress and it is great fun for all.”
“There is so much positive energy surrounding the couple on their wedding day,” Plan It MV added. “You can just feel it in the air. All of the vendors are busy hustling around getting ready for one common thread: the client. We love being a part of that fun and energy.” No vendor is too small; everyone has an important role in someone’s special event! We love following other vendors on Instagram for inspiration and ideas.
In addition to a growing website, Plan It MV is also heavily involved on social media. “Doriana has an eye for design and detail that is without limit,” remarks Kate. “Many clients reach out to us by connecting with us on social media.” It’s a whole new way to cast a wide net and reach that newest client. Prospective clients can get a clear idea of what the company is all about by visiting their Instagram and Facebook page.
The company is also adjusting to a new and exciting growth spurt and has recently launched a full service beverage catering company called Island Cocktail Company. ICC offers full bartending services and can be hired for any type of event. Whether it is a cocktail party, clam bake, backyard BBQ, anniversary, or a wedding, Island Cocktail Company will take care of all aspects by providing everything from signature bars to signature cocktails! ICC raises the bar by providing alcohol selection & delivery, ice drop off, coordination of all barware, set up, break-down, clean up and of course, provide bartenders and staffing to make your event run seamlessly.
“We have also grown geographically and love the island lifestyle in general,” says Kate, “We have always been a part of both island communities; branching out to Nantucket was an easy decision based on our growing clientele.”
When asked for her thoughts about weddings on the Vineyard, Doriana knowingly smiled, reflected, and said, “Island weddings are magical. Everyone loves a destination wedding and for us, it’s about the journey, wherever that make take our clients.”
“We’ve stopped counting, but we guess that we’ve coordinated easily over 100 weddings,” Doriana said. “Kate and I have been coordinating events on Martha’s Vineyard for a combined 30 years. We enjoy working events together. We really pull on each other’s strengths, which makes us a great duo.”
You can see what Plan It MV does, and does so well, at www.planitmv.com
Also, check out Island Cocktail Company at www.islandcocktailcompany.com
Picture Credits:
Event Coordinators
Plan It Martha’s Vineyard
www.planitmv.com
Wedding Venue:
Stoney Hill Road House
www.thestoneyhillroadhouse.com
Photography:
Swift & Crowe Photography
www.swiftandcrowe.com
Florist:
Of The Vine
Justin LaVigne
917-255-3051
Big Sky Tent Rentals
www.bigskytent.com
Refabulous Decor:
(some of the shabby chic pieces)
www.refabulousdecor.com
