About Us

At Annemarie Donaker Weddings and Events, we want to help you plan an amazing wedding/event. We truly want to make your wishes come true.

With our meticulous attention to detail, let us take care of your wedding or event preparations and orchestrate a stress free day for you. Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, you can be enjoying the day and making memories, rest assured that we are there to be your liaison with the vendors and ensure your day turns out the way you had envisioned.

So whether you are looking for day of wedding coordination, full on wedding planning, or other event planning such as birthday parties, bridal/baby showers, housewarming parties, corporate events, etc. Please contact us and we will make your wishes come true for a magical event.

How We Got Started

I am lucky to have a job that I love and feel passionate about. It’s in my nature to plan and organize. I started doing event planning in my 20's volunteering to organize all of the employee events (summer picnic, holiday party, etc) at the bank I worked for.

Products & Services
Wedding planning, design and coordination by Annemarie Donaker Weddings and Events
Full Wedding Planning - Let us do everything from design, procuring your vendors, creating your timeline, running the wedding day and everything i...
Recommendations Given (15)
"I worked with Jerry on a wedding I coordinated at a private residence in Oceanside. I work very..." Read more "I worked with Jerry on a wedding I coordinated at a private residence in Oceanside. I work very closely with photographers when I build my timeline. Jerry was on time and very professional. He got some great shots of the wedding, both posed and candid. "
"I have advertised with SDSW for a couple of years now. I have not only gotten clients from using..." Read more "I have advertised with SDSW for a couple of years now. I have not only gotten clients from using them I have also made some fantastic working relationships with vendors I have met through the magazine. Dena is super nice and great to work with. "
Recent Activity

Annemarie from Annemarie Donaker Weddings and Events Answered this on October 16, 2018
Yes a few times. For a celebration of life service and for wedding ceremonies. It has been on my client's request. I am doing a wedding soon with a violinist for the ceremony and cocktail hour. If they don't request live music then the DJ that is hired for the reception plays music for the... (more) Yes a few times. For a celebration of life service and for wedding ceremonies. It has been on my client's request. I am doing a wedding soon with a violinist for the ceremony and cocktail hour. If they don't request live music then the DJ that is hired for the reception plays music for the ceremony as well.

Annemarie from Annemarie Donaker Weddings and Events Answered this on October 15, 2018
I am an event planner and most of my clients are concerned with price first and foremost. Then once they start contacting rental companies based on price then customer service/responsiveness is super important. I cultivate good relationships with rental companies so my clients know they are... (more) I am an event planner and most of my clients are concerned with price first and foremost. Then once they start contacting rental companies based on price then customer service/responsiveness is super important. I cultivate good relationships with rental companies so my clients know they are getting professional companies at good prices.    

Annemarie from Annemarie Donaker Weddings and Events Answered this on October 12, 2018
I always send a thank you email after an event to my vendors. I tag them in social media posting where appropriate. I don't send gifts, that would get too costly for me as I hire vendors a lot. I plan a lot of weddings and I make suggestions to my client on what is appropriate to tip the... (more) I always send a thank you email after an event to my vendors. I tag them in social media posting where appropriate. I don't send gifts, that would get too costly for me as I hire vendors a lot. I plan a lot of weddings and I make suggestions to my client on what is appropriate to tip the different vendors. And the biggest thing is I give them repeat business. The vendors I work closely with go above and beyond all the time and that is why I work with them and refer them so much.

Annemarie from Annemarie Donaker Weddings and Events Answered this on July 19, 2018
I work with some vendors that use Honeybook to send invoices and take payments from my clients through it. When I first looked into it, it was too expensive for what I needed. I try not to spend too much on the apps and such I use for work. For my contracts I can send it through adobe for clients... (more) I work with some vendors that use Honeybook to send invoices and take payments from my clients through it. When I first looked into it, it was too expensive for what I needed. I try not to spend too much on the apps and such I use for work. For my contracts I can send it through adobe for clients to sign. I am on it for the community page. I have posted looking for vendors to collaborate with. I didn't get the response I was hoping for and ended up posting in FB groups I am on as well and found someone on their instead.  
1 Reply

Annemarie from Annemarie Donaker Weddings and Events Answered this on June 30, 2018
Yes definitely. I find when I am putting together events for weddings or corporate that people with dietary restrictions (gluten free, vegetarian, etc) are usually pretty good at communicating it ahead of time. (more) Yes definitely. I find when I am putting together events for weddings or corporate that people with dietary restrictions (gluten free, vegetarian, etc) are usually pretty good at communicating it ahead of time.

Annemarie from Annemarie Donaker Weddings and Events Answered this on June 16, 2018
Businesses run differently. For what I do, I do not put a client on my calendar till I get the signed contract and deposit. Then there are dates working up to the event day that I am paid the balance. If I am not paid in full before the event I do work. I have never had a problem doing things... (more) Businesses run differently. For what I do, I do not put a client on my calendar till I get the signed contract and deposit. Then there are dates working up to the event day that I am paid the balance. If I am not paid in full before the event I do work. I have never had a problem doing things this way.

Annemarie from Annemarie Donaker Weddings and Events Answered this on June 16, 2018
I use Mail Chimp. (more) I use Mail Chimp.

Annemarie from Annemarie Donaker Weddings and Events Answered this on June 14, 2018
 Getting reviews is so important. Almost always my clients will verbally tell me at the event that I did a  good job and they want to leave me a good review. I email them a couple days later thanking them for hiring me, telling them how much I liked working with them and asking if they would... (more)  Getting reviews is so important. Almost always my clients will verbally tell me at the event that I did a  good job and they want to leave me a good review. I email them a couple days later thanking them for hiring me, telling them how much I liked working with them and asking if they would leave me a review and include the link where they can go directly to leave the review. I also try to respond nicely back to their reviews.

Annemarie from Annemarie Donaker Weddings and Events Answered this on May 22, 2018
This is a scam that has been going on for a few years. They text and say they need the work done asap and want to know if you take a credit card. They want you to pay the vendors and they will pay you a large amount to cover everything. I don't do that, I have my clients pay the vendors directly.... (more) This is a scam that has been going on for a few years. They text and say they need the work done asap and want to know if you take a credit card. They want you to pay the vendors and they will pay you a large amount to cover everything. I don't do that, I have my clients pay the vendors directly. I read somewhere they recommend the vendors. Somehow those vendors are affiliated with them and they get money that way. Then it ends up that the credit card they used was stolen and the cc companies takes the money back from you. SO you are out what you paid the vendors. I just ignore them. I have had a few emails too but mostly texts.
1 Reply

Annemarie from Annemarie Donaker Weddings and Events Answered this on April 06, 2018
I think it really depends on your type of business to which kind of social media will help. IG works better for me since my business is very visual. I get more DM and engagement on IG. I have also booked things from people that found my on IG. Also boosting posts doesn't do anything but get... (more) I think it really depends on your type of business to which kind of social media will help. IG works better for me since my business is very visual. I get more DM and engagement on IG. I have also booked things from people that found my on IG. Also boosting posts doesn't do anything but get random people to like it. You can boost a post if they offer it to you for free. But ads work better than boosting does. Do you know if other people in your industry get clients from FB? Having a FB presence may help validate you as a business. When someone googles you they get your website, FB, yelp reviews, etc. You can also use FB to collect reviews from past clients.

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