Top 5 Event Planners in Gold Coast
-
Editor & Publisher -
Client Services Leader
- June 25, 2026
- 17 min read
- Events
Source: Peerspace
The Gold Coast region is a celebration destination unlike any other. Spanning the affluent communities of Long Island’s North Shore, the vibrant neighborhoods of the New York metro area, and the sun-drenched coastlines of South Florida, this corridor attracts couples and hosts who demand nothing less than extraordinary. Whether you’re envisioning an elegant waterfront reception, a lavish multi-day cultural celebration, or an intimate backyard wedding, the Gold Coast’s diverse landscape provides a stunning canvas for every kind of event.
With so many talented professionals serving this region, you’re in an excellent position to find an event planner who truly gets your vision. The competitive landscape here means planners have to bring their absolute best—deep vendor networks, creative problem-solving skills, and the kind of local knowledge that only comes from years of hands-on experience.
We’ve carefully vetted each planner on this list to ensure they meet our high standards for creativity, professionalism, and client satisfaction. Explore these five planners and find one that resonates with you.
How we curate our list
Finding the right event planner is a big decision, and we take our recommendations seriously. Our selection process evaluates each company across several key criteria to ensure we’re only featuring planners who consistently deliver exceptional results.
Our selection criteria include:
- Client reviews across multiple platforms: We analyze feedback on The Knot, WeddingWire, Google, and Yelp to get a well-rounded picture of each planner’s reputation and consistency.
- Industry recognition and awards: Accolades like The Knot’s “Best of Weddings” and WeddingWire’s Couples’ Choice Awards signal sustained quality and client satisfaction.
- Professional credentials and associations: Certifications, memberships, and continuing education demonstrate a commitment to the craft and staying current with industry trends.
We also review portfolio quality and diversity, verify that each planner provides the event planning services relevant to this topic, and confirm they maintain strong ratings. Every planner featured here meets high standards for professionalism, creativity, and client satisfaction.
Best event planners in Gold Coast
Here are the five standout event planning companies serving the Gold Coast region, each bringing a unique approach and proven track record to the table.
1. Deborah Minarik Events
Company name and founder/lead planner: Deborah Minarik Events / Deborah Minarik
Specialty/niche: Deborah Minarik Events is a wedding and event planning company serving Long Island, New York, and Connecticut, offering full-service planning, partial planning, day-of coordination, and event design. They handle wedding planning, special events, and corporate functions. Established in 2008, Deborah draws on her experience in restaurant management and years as a corporate flight attendant to bring unique perspectives to every celebration.
Notable projects or signature style: The team has won “Best of Weddings” from The Knot for multiple consecutive years and consistently receives 5-star reviews. Their portfolio showcases everything from elegant church ceremonies and backyard weddings to disco-themed bridal showers and large-scale venue celebrations. They believe the most important things in life are family, good friends, and great memories. Deborah Minarik Events is a preferred vendor for Lessing’s, a large catering company on Long Island with several beautiful venues. Multiple reviewers highly recommend their day-of coordinators—particularly Becca, Kristin, Stephanie, and Deb—for exceptional organization and professionalism.
Pricing: Deborah Minarik Events creates custom packages for each client. Pricing varies based on specifications. Reach out through their website for a personalized quote.
Why we love them: What stands out about this team is the depth of their bench. With planners like Becca, Kristin, Stephanie, Suzanne, and Alex alongside Deborah, clients get a team that genuinely cares about every detail. Their hospitality background gives them a unique edge when it comes to guest experience and vendor management. According to reviews, the team is overwhelmingly praised for flawless day-of execution and strong problem-solving abilities. Clients consistently highlight Deborah’s genuine, personable approach, with one testimonial noting, “Simply put, Deb is the absolute best. She was knowledgeable, responsive, and helpful throughout the planning process, and she flawlessly executed on my wedding day.”
Connect with them: Follow @deborahminarikevents on Instagram.
2. Bleu Sparrow Events
Company name and founder/lead planner: Bleu Sparrow Events / Lisa Rivera
Specialty/niche: Bleu Sparrow Events is a Long Island wedding planner offering wedding planning, design, and coordination. Lisa Rivera and Christine Rocco bring over 13 years of experience planning and producing every type of event imaginable. They specialize in backyard weddings on Long Island and also handle cultural, destination, non-religious, and religious weddings, plus corporate retreats and intimate social gatherings.
Notable projects or signature style: They’ve designed, planned, and produced hundreds of events across Long Island and New York City, as well as cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Montauk, and the Hamptons. Lisa’s main focus has been design and flowers—her ability to hear a couple’s vision and turn it into reality is one of her favorite parts of the process. Their floral work is a standout, with clients regularly raving about the stunning bouquets and centerpieces the team creates in-house.
Pricing: The majority of their clients are planning weddings with budgets of over $50,000. Bleu Sparrow Events creates custom packages for each client, so reach out through their website for a personalized quote.
Why we love them: The fact that they handle both planning and floral design in-house means fewer vendors to coordinate and a more cohesive aesthetic. They offer full planning, partial planning, event design, and day-of coordination services. Clients consistently praise their calm, confident energy on event day. Testimonials highlight their exceptional creativity, with one reviewer stating, “The arrangements from Bleu Sparrow were stunning. They matched our mood boards perfectly and brought our vision to life.” Reviewers also consistently note their flawless execution and highly personalized service.
Connect with them: Follow @bleusparrow.events on Instagram and check out @bleusparrowevents on TikTok.
3. Glamorous Event Planners
Company name and founder/lead planner: Glamorous Event Planners & Productions / Sunita Sadhnani Tejal Kamat
Specialty/niche: Founded in 2010, GLAMOROUS Event Planners & Productions offers luxury wedding décor, custom floral designs, and event planning for weddings, corporate events, and NGO galas. They’re especially well known for producing multi-day South Asian wedding celebrations, including elaborate henna nights and multi-event wedding weekends. As one of the few companies that handles both planning and production, they bring dream-like, breathtaking visions to life.
Notable projects or signature style: Their client roster includes major brands like LVMH, GE, PepsiCo, Tiffany & Co., LinkedIn, and Emirates—a testament to their ability to execute at the highest level. For weddings, they produce multi-day celebrations that often include four to five events leading up to the ceremony. One client described their wedding as “straight out of a Bollywood movie.” They’ve been featured in Manhattan Bride and other publications. Check their media page for the full list.
Pricing: Glamorous Event Planners creates custom packages for each client. Pricing varies based on specifications. Reach out through their website for a personalized quote.
Why we love them: Sunita and Tejal are known for their incredible customer service and unwavering ability to run an itinerary. With headquarters in New York and branches across the globe, GLAMOROUS has no limitations when it comes to destination events. According to reviews, clients consistently praise their seamless event execution and professionalism. Testimonials highlight their ability to deliver a stress-free experience, with one reviewer stating, “Glamorous Event Planners & Productions are the best in the industry.”
Connect with them: Follow @glamorouseventplanners on Instagram.
4. Gina Marie Weddings & Events
Company name and founder/lead planner: Gina Marie Weddings & Events / Gina Geiler
Specialty/niche: Gina Marie Weddings & Events is a boutique full-service wedding and event planning company serving Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, inclusive to all couples. Gina is a Certified Wedding Planner through the Bridal Society with 11 years of industry experience. They are an inclusive company, providing a safe space for couples to be exactly who they are and celebrate who they love—a proudly queer woman-owned and operated business.
Notable projects or signature style: Gina holds a bachelor’s degree in event management from Florida Gulf Coast University and an MBA in Marketing from Nova Southeastern University. Her portfolio includes everything from intimate elopements to large-scale celebrations with over 400 guests. She prioritizes balance, inclusivity, communication, collaboration, and passion as the five pillars of her approach. Clients consistently describe her as exceptionally organized, responsive, and calm—managing vendor coordination, logistics, and contingencies with professionalism and care.
Pricing: Partial service starts at $8,000 and full-service planning starts at $12,000. Reach out through their website to request a personalized quote.
Why we love them: Open and honest communication is their number one priority—they’re not afraid of having uncomfortable conversations to ensure couples know exactly what to expect. That kind of transparency is rare and incredibly valuable. Clients consistently describe Gina as a calming presence who makes the entire planning process feel manageable. Testimonials highlight her strong organization and responsiveness, with one client sharing, “Gina makes the wedding planning process not just bearable, but fun! Every time we talked with her and went over plans we felt a weight lift off our shoulders.”
Connect with them: Follow @ginamarieevents on Instagram.
5. Event Bliss
Company name and founder/lead planner: Event Bliss / Emily Talley Sherman
Specialty/niche: Event Bliss is a wedding and event florist, designer, and coordinator specializing in floral artistry and planning. Founded by Emily Talley Sherman, the company serves all of South Florida and offers both floral design and event coordination as combined or standalone services. With over 900 successful weddings executed, they bring a rare combination of artistic vision and logistical precision to every celebration.
Notable projects or signature style: Before starting her own company, Emily worked as the wedding specialist for one of the largest catering companies in South Florida, then moved into floral design, putting her art degree to work hand-crafting elaborate, contemporary centerpieces. Their work has been published in The Knot magazine, Southern Weddings, The New York Times, and Soap Opera Digest, and featured on E! News and The Today Show. Emily personally inspects every stem at wholesale floral distributors before each wedding week.
Pricing: Wedding floral and design packages start at $4,000. Month-of coordination starts at $3,500; partial planning starts at $14,500; and full planning starts at $26,500. Reach out through their website for a personalized quote.
Why we love them: Emily emphasizes the importance of being “EXTREMELY calm,” noting that the person in charge must have a long fuse and a knack for last-second creative problem solving. The fact that Event Bliss handles both floral design and coordination means your flowers and logistics are managed by the same team—a huge advantage for cohesion. According to customer reviews, clients consistently praise Emily’s exceptional ability to translate their vision into reality with precision. Testimonials highlight the team’s professionalism and attention to detail, with one reviewer noting, “Emily is seriously the BEST. She is detail oriented, creative, experienced…”
Connect with them: Follow @eventbliss on Instagram.
Choosing a Gold Coast event planner
With so many talented professionals in this market, narrowing down your options can feel overwhelming. Here are some practical strategies to help you identify the planner who’s the best fit for your specific event.
1. Test their knowledge of local logistics
Don’t just ask if they know the Gold Coast—test their knowledge. Ask specific questions like: “What’s the parking situation at beachfront venues on weekends?” or “Which neighborhoods have noise ordinances that could affect our reception timeline?” A planner with real local experience will answer immediately and offer alternatives.
Vague responses like “we’ll figure it out” are red flags. Ask them to walk you through how they’d handle guest transportation between different areas of the Gold Coast—their answer reveals whether they’ve actually managed events across the region or are just listing it on their website.
2. Evaluate their vendor network depth
Ask: “Which caterers, florists, and rental companies do you work with regularly, and why?” Strong planners will name three to five vendors per category and explain the relationship. Then ask: “What happens if they’re booked?” The depth of their backup list matters.
Request introduction calls with two or three key vendors. During those calls, gauge the vendor’s enthusiasm—do they light up mentioning this planner? That chemistry translates to better service, priority scheduling, and problem-solving on your event day.
3. Assess their crisis management for coastal challenges
Ask about backup plans: “What happens if severe weather hits the week of our event?” Experienced Gold Coast planners have protocols ready—relationships with indoor backup venues, vendor cancellation policies they’ve negotiated, and guest communication templates.
Ask: “Can you walk me through how you handled a weather-related crisis for a past client?” Listen for specifics: Did they have tent sidewalls ready for wind? Climate-controlled spaces secured as backup? Their answer should include vendor names, timeline decisions, and cost implications they managed.
4. Review their portfolio for your specific event type
Don’t just ask for their portfolio—ask for events specifically similar to yours. Request three to five examples that match your event type, size, budget range, and venue style. During portfolio review, ask: “What was the biggest challenge in executing this event?”
Strong planners will cite local obstacles and explain solutions. Follow up by asking: “May I contact this client?” Real references reveal whether the planner’s expertise made a tangible difference.
5. Measure budget realism for this market
Share your budget range and ask: “What’s realistic for my event type in the Gold Coast with this budget?” Good planners will be honest about what’s achievable and where you can save—perhaps suggesting a Peerspace event venue instead of a traditional hotel, or recommending off-peak days. They should offer two or three cost tiers with concrete examples. Warning sign: promising everything without discussing tradeoffs.
Planning an event in Gold Coast
Event planning is all about timing, and the Gold Coast has its own rhythm you’ll want to understand before locking in dates.
Weather patterns: The Gold Coast enjoys a mix of climates depending on your specific location. For Long Island and the New York metro area, the best time to visit the Gold Coast is from late spring to early fall, roughly May through October. Summer months can bring heat and afternoon storms, so always have an indoor backup plan. In South Florida, the dry season (November through April) offers ideal conditions, while hurricane season (June through November) requires extra contingency planning. Check the National Weather Service’s New York forecast office for Long Island conditions and the National Weather Service’s Miami forecast office for South Florida weather updates.
Peak seasons and pricing: Tourist seasons and wedding season drive up venue and vendor costs significantly. Summer brings a calendar packed with local festivals and outdoor concerts on Long Island’s North Shore, so plan around major community events. Check the Long Island events calendar and Discover Long Island’s North Shore Gold Coast guide. If your dates are flexible, consider shoulder seasons when you’ll get better availability and potentially lower rates. Weekday events can also save you considerably compared to Saturday bookings.
Transportation and parking: Coastal areas often have limited parking, especially during peak tourist periods. Factor in valet services, shuttle arrangements, or proximity to public transportation when choosing your venue. The MTA Long Island Rail Road serves the North Shore corridor, while South Florida’s Tri-Rail commuter train connects major cities along the Gold Coast. Your planner should have strong opinions about which venues handle parking well and which ones require creative solutions.
Permits and regulations: Outdoor events—especially on beaches or in public spaces—often require permits. Wedding ceremony permits, wedding photography permits, and general photography permits are available through Nassau County’s parks department for Long Island events. In South Florida, beach wedding permit requirements vary by city—some beaches, like Pompano Beach, require a permit, and others, like Fort Lauderdale Beach, do not. Visit the Nassau County park permits page for Long Island requirements. Processing times vary, so plan to file applications well in advance.
Marriage license requirements: If your Gold Coast event includes a wedding ceremony, you’ll need to secure a marriage license in the appropriate state. No premarital examination or blood test is required to obtain a marriage license in New York State. There is a 24-hour waiting period before the marriage can be performed and the license must be used within 60 days. Visit New York State’s marriage information page for full details. For South Florida weddings, all Florida residents have a mandatory three-day waiting period before the marriage license becomes effective or can complete a premarital course to waive it. Non-Florida residents are exempt from any marriage license waiting period. The Broward County Clerk’s marriage division and Palm Beach County Clerk’s office for marriage licenses handle licensing for their respective areas.
FAQs: event planning in Gold Coast
When should I hire a Gold Coast event planner?
We recommend hiring at least six to 12 months in advance, especially for events during peak season or holidays. Popular planners book up quickly, so the earlier you start your search, the more options you’ll have.
How much does an event planner cost in Gold Coast?
Costs vary widely, but event planners typically charge 15-20% of your overall event budget. Day-of coordination tends to be the most affordable option, while full-service planning commands a higher investment. Many planners offer tiered packages so you can choose the level of support that fits your budget.
Do I need a planner if my venue has a coordinator?
Yes—a venue coordinator focuses on the property’s needs (setup times, catering logistics, facility rules), while an independent planner advocates for you. An independent planner brings broader creative freedom, a wider vendor network, and attention to details that go beyond what happens inside the venue walls.
Why hire a local Gold Coast planner versus bringing someone from out of town?
Local planners have established vendor relationships, knowledge of permit requirements, familiarity with traffic patterns and parking challenges, and experience navigating the specific logistics of coastal event planning. That institutional knowledge saves you time, money, and stress.
Great events start with standout spaces—and the people who bring them to life
The Gold Coast is a place where celebrations feel bigger, more vibrant, and more memorable. The planners on this list know how to harness that energy while ensuring every detail reflects your vision. Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering or a large-scale production, having the right team in your corner makes all the difference. Take the next step toward your event by browsing unique event venues on Peerspace.
If you have feedback on our list, our team would love to hear from you. Reach us anytime at [email protected] with suggestions, corrections, or additions.
