Authentically You

source throughout our entire planning process—not only connecting us with incredible vendors but also reviewing contracts, staying on top of details, and keeping us organized with clear timelines. We had a lot on our plate, having relocated to Kansas just four months before our wedding. Aquina made everything seamless and stress-free. In the final 30 days, she was incredibly hands-on, and by the time our wedding day arrived, we had complete trust in her. Thanks to her meticulous planning and calm expertise, the day went off without a hitch! Aquina truly understood what we each needed, ensuring every detail was handled with care. We felt like we got so much more than what we paid for and couldn’t be more grateful for her support. If you’re looking for someone who will make your wedding planning process smooth, enjoyable, and stress-free, look no further than Aquina. Thank you again for everything—you made our day unforgettable!

isio perfectly! We loved her so much, we booked her for my younger daughter's wedding in 2025!!! She is the best!

off without a hitch and I'm 100000% certain it's because of their help. I cannot recommend them high enough.

g and on through all of the planning meetings and questions & indecisiveness from us, Aquina was there to answer all of our questions, provide her expertise to keep us going down the right path, and ask the right questions of her own to make sure everything was accounted for. On the day itself, Aquina and her team were there to coordinate with all of our vendors, the venue team, and most difficult of all, our families, allowing us to take a step back and bask in the day itself knowing everything was in good hands. We are incredibly grateful that Aquina and the AY team were our wedding planners and would recommend them in a heartbeat!

ly made planning our wedding a completely stress-free process. I could not recommend her enough, whether in KC or a destination wedding!

kaela’s hard work and planning allowed us to be present and just enjoy all the happenings. We are so grateful and definitely recommend the AY team!!

ove and beyond for us at every step – helping us think through our big-picture vision, giving us a detailed overview of the planning process, gently nudging us with reminders throughout the process, and streamlining absolutely all communications with vendors. Aquina was available to answer our questions and offer guidance whenever. Unlike other wedding planners and vendors, Aquina was so generous with her expert opinion, helping guide us to the right choices and offering perspectives we hadn’t considered. More importantly, she empowered us to center our vision, cultures, and values for our day. For the services she provided and the ease of mind that she gave us and our families on our wedding day, her work is priceless. We have nothing but happy memories from our wedding day thanks to Aquina, who did so much behind the scenes to make it happen. We cannot recommend Authentically You highly enough.

even help leading up to the month of with last minute details we might forget. She asked questions and thought of things we didn’t even think to expect or plan out for our wedding day. We are so lucky we had her, she made everything flow smoothly from vendor communication to day of details. She helped with decor setup/layout when my vision was all over the place. If anything went wrong on our wedding day, we had no idea because she took care of everything so seamlessly! I don’t know what we would’ve done without her! We highly recommend Authentically You for anyone who is looking for wedding planning services, you will not regret it!!!!!

endor suggestions and was so great with all my random questions I had leading up to the wedding day. Building a team of vendors that Aquina had worked with and utilizing her suggestions made our day go so smooth. She came with us for our walk through at our venue and pointed out things I never would have thought of. She offers suggestions based on her experience that I found very helpful, but she isn't pushy and will customize your day to make it exactly what you want. Day of, everything went off without a hitch and it was 100% because of Aquina. If there were problems, I didn't hear about them because she handled it. She is extremely professional, knows her stuff, but is also so fun to have around and makes sure your day is perfect. I love love love her. best money we spent BY FAR.

t sure what we wanted or where to start. Sometimes it felt like she knew what we wanted before we even realized it just by listening to us and getting to know us as a couple. She handled everything with the vendors inside 30 days and relieved so much stress from us as the couple leading up to the wedding. Mickaela was our day of coordinator and there was such a seamless transition between Aquina helping with design to Mickaela being on site day of the wedding. Everything ran so smoothly and if there were any hiccups we didn't even notice as the couple because they were completely handled by Authentically You. Everyone there was so professional and on top of things leading up to the wedding that it made it so easy to actually sit back and enjoy the wedding knowing they had everything handled. Cannot say enough good things about the Authentically You team!

erved and I told her right then and there that she HAD to be my wedding planner when the time came. As a wedding photographer, I’ve met and worked with tons of wedding vendors and planners, many of whom were difficult to work with, overstepped, or micromanaged. I knew when I started wedding planning that I would be so picky with who I chose - I wanted *the* vendor dream team made up of people who I could trust and I did not want a stressful wedding planning experience. So the second I got engaged, my first call was Aquina! Working with her was a dream come true. She made great suggestions, talked us through confusing contracts from other vendors, went out of her way to make sure things went smoothly, and calmed me down when I had minor bride panic attacks. My favorite thing about her though is that despite her incredible attention to detail and desire for things to be perfect, she is so chill and had a calming presence throughout our entire day. As someone who has photographed over 100 weddings, I promise your biggest regret will be not hiring someone to take the stress off your shoulders and Aquina is THE best of the best. And your vendors will thank you…she is vendor AND bride approved!!!

t be happier and would recommend her services to anyone!

, especially because we were planning a KC wedding from Chicago. We felt confident knowing she was coordinating all the vendors and decor. She was able to execute exactly what we wanted for the decor without us being on site before the ceremony. This allowed us and our families to enjoy the wedding weekend. I highly recommend her for all your wedding planning and coordinating needs!

, calming, and reassuring throughout the process, found us some lovely vendors, and managed to create the most beautiful reception for us in the back of an Irish pub in the cutest Irish village. It was magical. Thank you, Aquina!

on and warm personality. I knew we needed someone special in our corner – and Aquina was it. Our vendor team had to pivot the week of the wedding due to a rainy forecast. Aquina put us completely at ease that she’d be ready for anything. She went above and beyond on rehearsal night making sure our vendors were giving us their very best. She was a dream the day of the wedding — so kind, even-tempered, incredibly organized and amazingly accommodating from beginning to end. We highly recommend Aquina!

helped us put together an ideal team of wonderful professionals! Throughout planning, Aquina answered all of our questions and kept us on track for every task. She thinks of every detail which was invaluable to us! Aquina made the day of our wedding so perfect. She ensured every vendor, bridal party member, and family member knew exactly what to do. I was so relaxed throughout the entire day because of the trust I had in Aquina. The day was exactly what we envisioned and hoped for! I loved that everyone got to just enjoy it because Aquina had everything covered! Her kindness, attention to detail, and effective communication style set her apart!

ient of hers and she was immediately helpful in connecting me with vendors, venues, and giving valuable advice. If how she treated me as a potential client is any indication of how she is once hired - you are in AMAZING hands!

the KC wedding industry and we were incredibly lucky to have had her help. Aquina helped smooth out all the stress of wedding planning. She always made use feel as though she had everything 100% under control. She’s knowledgeable, organized and she kept communication high between us, our vendors, and our venue to keep everyone on target. Aquina was a dream to work with and always went above and beyond to explain and advise us whenever we had questions or needed extra help. While she was hired as a day of coordinator, Aquina began helping with planning from the day she was hired (7 months in advanced). And on the day of the wedding, she was so flexible with some of the unexpected changes to our timeline and guest count. Working with Aquina, you don’t feel like just another client. You feel like you’re talking with a friend. It’s much more personal and we enjoyed this connection. Also, unlike other planners we interviewed, we loved how accessible she made herself via phone and emails. We honestly don’t know how we would have pulled it off without Aquina’s help. Our wedding was beautiful and PERFECTLY us - we cannot thank Aquina enough. We’re typically DIY-type people, but when it came to wedding planning, it really helped to have an expert guide us. We shared our ideas with Aquina and she worked her magic and brought it to life. If you think you don't need a wedding planner/day of coordinator, think again and if you think you can go with just any one THINK AGAIN!

s and coordination off of your long wedding planning list. Day of went very smoothly. From the consultation to the time of the wedding, Aquina was so quick to answer questions quickly and was such a rockstar for problem solving. Aquina is a trusting collaborator – especially in regards to you big day! <3

tion and developed timeline. Mickaela kept the wedding day on schedule and on task and she worked so tirelessly getting everything setup. She handled all of my concerns quickly and in such a professional calm manner. Thank you Aquina and Mickaela for allowing me to enjoy the day because of all of their hard work .

arried. I cannot say enough good things about her. From the beginning she gave us a list of vendors she loved (and gave fair feedback about vendors she had less than ideal interactions with) and always communicated in a professional and honest way. She kept us on task during the months leading up to the wedding , answering all of my questions and asking me questions I hadn't even thought of. She has an incredible timeline-making system and everything was so organized and thought out that I was not worried at all the week of the wedding. When our big day came she organized everything and everyone at the venue. She took care of EVERYTHING which allowed myself and my family time to just enjoy the day. She is honestly worth every penny and then some, she went above and beyond to help us have an incredible day and I am so thankful we hired her.

worries throughout the whole process. She packed things up for us, ran our rehearsal, and helped us through some other unfortunate situations with some vendors. She fought for us and made sure we were satisfied, even when things beyond our control went wrong. I would HIGHLY recommend Authentically You KC, especially if you are getting married at La Villa!

anner. Speaking with Aquina immediately put me at ease. In that first meeting it was obvious she loves what she does, she’s very transparent and that I wouldn’t be just another bride amongst the shuffle. She fully believes in not taking on more clients than she can devote her full attention to and it shows. From our first meeting and all through out planning she zeroed in on the things that were most important to me. Her clear communication, organization and patience were a Godsend for a perfectionist/over thinker like me. She was available to answer my questions (I had a ton), provide guidance as I chose vendors and make sure that my vision for my wedding didn’t get lost in the process. When I started feeling anxious leading up to my wedding day, she helped keep me calm. Attention to detail is huge for me and she ensured that even the smallest details weren’t overlooked. On my wedding day Aquina was so thorough. She moved seamlessly between vendors, the bridal party and family members to keep everyone on the same page. She checked in with me, made sure I had everything I needed and that I stayed stress free. Every aspect of the day came together beautifully. My wedding was EVERYTHING! I’m so grateful I had Aquina to guide me through the planning process and coordinate my wedding day.

which we took both and LOVED!). She was always available to answer any questions I had and made both me and my mom feel at ease going into the wedding day. Due to the time of our ceremony, neither I nor my family were available to help set up our reception. Aquina and her team set everything up exactly as I envisioned. Our day went so wonderfully smooth, and I credit it all to the work Aquina put in behind the scenes that day!! 10000x recommend!

ent.

ay! I hired her as my day of coordinator - but she did so much more to help. From providing additional vendor recommendations early on and helping to ease my stress, to making sure I had all the final details thought of and checked off leading up to the big day. (There were tons of details that I hadn’t even thought of!) She worked with us on a detailed timeline and was in touch with all of our vendors the week of the wedding to ensure everyone was on the same page. It was very reassuring to know she and her team were there to handle anything unexpected on our special day! Our day would not have been as successful as it was without Aquina. Thank you! ✨❤️🥂

! She also had an assistant at the wedding that I had not met until that day and she was wonderful as well. Highly recommend!!

mpressed by, not only, her event planning talents but also by how she treats people! She is such a kind and genuine person and goes above and beyond for her clients. Her communication kept us up to date at all times and kept us on track, even someone like me who procrastinates like crazy! She is very well connected with vendors throughout Kansas City and was very transparent and honest about each of them, helping us make the best choices on vendors for our wedding and the vibe we were going for! She is extremely organized through the planning process and the day of. We received a full timeline for the day and every detail that was needed. Her level of organization and communication with myself and the vendors made me feel so comfortable and stress free on the day of the wedding. I knew she had everything handled and would make sure it was all perfect…and it was! To top it all off, she also helped us plan a Mother’s Day Brunch/Baby Shower combo event the morning after our wedding! If you are looking to feel like more than just another client, stay organized, be stress free and watch your wedding dreams come to life then I highly recommend Aquina at Authentically You KC.

tted constantly the months leading up to the wedding. I loved that we weren’t limited to one medium of communication (i.e. scheduled phone calls) and could reach out whenever something came up. Since we hired her when all of our vendors were already booked, she took over the communication with them. We collaborated on our day of timeline, then she collaborated with the vendors to make sure everyone was on the same page for the flow of the day. By the time we got to our wedding day, she had taken all of our stress off my husband and I. She is definitely the unsung hero of our wedding day! Even both our parents thought she was an amazing resource and well worth the extra expense! We can’t thank her enough for all the work she did to make our day absolutely perfect!

mazing she was. I hired her for my day of planner, but she helped me out along the way, and boy, when it came down to the day of, Ladies and Gents.. she should get an award.. she was so awesome, set up decor on my tables and outside by the ceremony, kept us on que, she even was there for our youngest son, when he was getting hungry and fussy and us the couple (AKA mom and dad) were busy having to get pics and get ready for the ceremony and than the reception entrance.. I didn't have to ask.. she just stepped up and knew what needed to be done at each moment.. my husband and I were so thankful, and really wish we could have expressed that so much more to her that night as well as gotten a photo with her, but another time.. hands down Aquina has your back on your most important day, she keeps you from getting stressed. Best advice, that I had to remind myself , well actually she reminded me, is to "Trust", this is what she does, this is what she is good at, this is why I had hired her. I had planned it all out, made my DIY decor, hired the vendors, and when she told me it was okay... she is now taking over, to let her do her thing. That is just what I needed, I am so happy I did not have any of that stress the day of the wedding, I am so happy she was there, that she is someone you can trust, she truly cares about each wedding and each couple, it is her passion, and she will always be a friend to us. Thank you so much Aquina!!! (Side note, I was looking for a wedding planner, and I asked on my nextdoor app, and someone recommended her, that she was amazing, and now I am in a sense "paying it forward" to the next one!!)

helpful throughout the entire year leading up to our wedding - always willing to setup a Zoom, answer quick questions over text message and meet at vendor locations. She truly went above and beyond especially with how hectic this year has been for everyone in the wedding industry. Aquina's demeanor is a perfect mixture of calm / fun while also so professional which is so reassuring when working with someone who will be involved in your big day. She made "game time" decisions for us and truly helped make our wedding day as stress free as possible for not only us but our family and friends which is exactly what we wanted. Thank you Aquina, we love you! Hire her (if you're luck enough to find a weekend she's still available)!!! Xoxo!

er clients. Authentically You...... We welcome you anytime !!

n our daughter and now son-in-law. Aquina offers several options of service, so it was nice to be able to choose an option that would best suit our needs. Throughout the planning process, Aquina was wonderful at implementing a timeline that kept everything on track. She also has a wealth of relationships with vendors that proved to be quite beneficial when it came time to make decisions for different facets of the wedding and reception. Aquina was very professional in this regard, as she did not put pressure on choosing one vendor over another. She simply shared information with us and stepped back while decisions were made. Aquina is very solution focused with a great deal of insight and a desire to help couples fulfill their wedding vision in a patient and respectful way. Our daughter and son-in-law's wedding was a most joyful occasion, that was expertly carried out by Aquina Holt!

who understood us and our vibe and Aquina clicked with us right away. We hired her as our wedding coordinator and she kept me calm and organized throughout the process and the final month of wedding planning. She was always there to answer any questions or concerns and made our day absolutely perfect. Her team was also amazing and they all went above and beyond to help us in any way we needed. Seriously, don't look any further. She is your girl and the one person you need on your wedding day!

a very specific vision for our wedding and Aquina helped us achieve it, even with a few covid curveballs! We had absolutely no worries on our wedding day as we knew we were in great hands! Hiring Aquina as a wedding planner and coordinator was one of the best decisions we made and I would recommend her to anyone looking for the same!

r rescheduled date. She was so well put together and professional I didn't have to worry about anything for our wedding. She gave us the best gift of all and let us enjoy our wedding while she took care of everything else. Aquina should be the first vendor you hire when you start planning your wedding. I cannot recommend her enough!

he wedding. We didn’t know if we wanted a coordinator, but our venue required one and now I highly recommend her to everyone! She made our day go so smooth and our families/friends didn’t have to worry about any details. She asked us questions about things we never would have thought of ahead of time so there were no questions or issues the day of. She easily coordinated with all of our vendors so there was no confusion. She went above and beyond and we truly can’t imagine our day without her. If you’re on the fence, you will not regret hiring Aquina!!

er contracted duties for us. We had a few last minute things we forgot for the day of and she and her assistant got everything done and were so kind and professional. She even helped bring my pinterest board to life. We cannot thank or recommend her enough!!!

actly as planned even if she wasn’t there. Her communication skills. Knowledge, professionalism, attention to detail, and overall attitude is the reason I chose to work with her. She was there for every question from day one. Emily – Emily is the perfect addition to Authentically You. She made sure my day went smooth, as planned, and that I was relaxed throughout the day and knew that she had it under control. She is kind, professional, knowledgeable, and is very organized! I am so thankful I chose Authentically You to coordinate my wedding day!

me, helped me stay within my budget, and SO much more! One of my favorite things about Aquina was her transparency and honesty to me as we planned my big day. Her advice made my wedding seamless and completely stress free! At the end of the day, I heard from so many people that they had never seen a wedding run so smoothly with no flaws. I will forever cherish the time I got to spend with Aquina and am SO glad I went with her as my wedding planner!

when needed, making extra trips to the venue and giving us a worry free evening to enjoy. I struggle giving away control but felt 100% confident in Aquina’s care!

who truly wants what is best for the couple on their big day! We are sad that she is already booked for our new date but totally understand as she's a total rockstar :). If you are planning a wedding and truly are on the fence about hiring a coordinator- JUST DO IT! Especially with this pandemic we are never sure what the future holds. Aquina was able to keep us up to date on the most recent developments and restrictions as they became available and was able to professionally discuss and help us through with a decision about what is best for us and our families. She is the best of the best!

s? At the time I hired her I was working 60+ hours a week, and the idea of planning minute details of a wedding seemed daunting to say the least. I ended up leaving my job and starting a new career just a few months before the wedding, which caused my husband and I to postpone to 2020 instead. LOLOLOLOL, what a choice! Due to Covid we ended up having a tiny little wedding in CO instead of the one (the second one) that Aquina had put all of her time and effort into planning, but instead of throwing in the towel and telling me what a jerk I am, she offered to come to CO with me if I needed her and tried to help me in any way she could. She was so supportive, and laid out all of our options objectively without sugar coating or trying to sway things one way or another. Ultimately it was the right decision for us, and our day ended up being absolutely perfect. Aquina knows exactly what she's doing and has great recommendations for vendors that she has worked with before, and she has a way of deciphering what exactly you're talking about even when you don't. 10/10 would hire again!

ing to our wedding day Aquina remained confident and professional. Even in the wake of Covid-19 she always remained optimistic and realistic. There is no amount of money I can put in this type of service. We took all of her Covid-19 recommendations and were still able to pull off the wedding of our dreams. All of her vendor recommendations except 1 was incredibly. The stress she took off our plates during our 18 month planning process we can never thank her enough for. But the fires she put out in actual wedding day that I had no idea about make me forever grateful to her. Her staff are complete professionals as well. So once again thank you Aquina from the Blake’s!!