Events by Melody Walker

Voted “2011 Wedding Coordinator of the Year” by her peers and by WeddingWire.com, Melody Walker possesses both the professional and personal qualities that make her a standout in the world of weddings. With over 16 years of experience, she’s able to incorporate current trends into her creative designs without being trendy, and infuses everything she does with such warmth and accessibility that her clients feel totally taken care of.

A charter member of the Association of Bridal Consultants of Orange County, Melody got her start at the prestigious Ritz Carlton Hotel in Laguna Niguel, where she discovered how much she loved weddings. “I find such excitement in transforming a plain venue into a breathtakingly elaborate affair,” she confides. She’s orchestrated every type of wedding, from a simple (but elegant) backyard gathering to an elaborate 3-day gala. An enthusiast of the many fantastic outdoor locations in her area—called the “Southern California Riviera”—she also arranges destination weddings in Hawaii, Mexico, Canada and Europe. Plus, she’s well-versed in ethnic traditions, including Jewish, Indian and East Asian.

The key to successful wedding planning, Melody says, is a nurturing, hands-on approach. “For me; my clients and vendors are like part of my own family,” she admits. “I get close to my couples—after all, I work with many of them for more than a year.” Her level of commitment earns rave reviews, like this one from a grateful groom: “The closer we got to the wedding, the more we realized how valuable Melody was to us—she’s just the best choice you can make and worth every penny!”

Her depth of experience shows in every aspect of what she does, but especially in her relationships with vendors. They praise her for never losing her composure and running well-organized, stress-free events. “Wow, if I could only surround myself with 100 Melody Walkers, my life would be really wonderful,” raves a caterer. Melody enjoys a reputation as a matchmaker par excellence, pairing each couple with the vendors best suited to their tastes and budget. “When we sat down with the vendors Melody had suggested for us, it was like chatting with a group of my very best friends,” recalls a bride. “We chose every one of Melody’s top picks and they were all just sensational. We wouldn’t have changed a single thing about our wedding.”

Those that have worked with Melody call her “down to earth, gentle, balanced and compassionate.” They also call her the consummate professional. “She was so organized and so prepared,” exclaims a florist. “Everything just flowed perfectly.” For her part, Melody puts many extra hours into her weddings in an effort to create each couple’s Dream Day. “Her success at doing just that,” says one photographer, “makes her the dream coordinator for any couple wanting that extra special touch.”

Melody feels abundantly blessed in her own life, and believes that it’s important to give back to the community. One of the ways she does this is by working as a board member and fundraiser for “Wish Upon A Wedding,” a nonprofit organization that provides free weddings to the terminally ill.