It's true what they say, planning a destination wedding is like a marathon, so be sure to pace yourself and have a wedding planner you can trust. Itala is one of the most professional planners in the business truly who understands her clients. The amount of attention, detail, and organization that she will give to your wedding is incomparable to anyone else. It is the best investment that sets every other aspect of your wedding in motion. She has strong relationships with the top vendors in Cartagena, and it truly shows as they work their magic and convert your ideas into the most amazing production of your life. She always has your best interest in mind, no matter what, without any pressure and allows you time to process your decisions, change your mind, but she keeps you on a schedule, so there is no unnecessary stress. She will entertain any and all of your crazy ideas. Even when you have doubts and want to consider going back to a previous idea, she will give you all the options, so ultimately you and your fiance/husband to be can do what you truly want. She's open to feedback and is willing to keep giving additional options so your vision truly comes to life. At times, we weren't sure what we wanted, but the collaboration truly paid off. So, get ready to have the best coach, cheerleader, and voice of reason throughout the process. We were amazed how efficient she could be. We were honest up front that living in NYC, we both had crazy work schedules and wanted to do as much prep up front. Seven months prior to the wedding, we made one trip to Cartagena where we visited all the venues, vendors, had our taste testing and Itala even arranged the bride makeup and hair trial so I would not have to worry about that the week leading up to the wedding. Prior to this trip, my husband whose Dominican/New Yorker, had never been to Colombia and he never felt happier and more confident in Itala leading up to, during our trip, and for the rest of the wedding planning process. Then came the week leading up to the wedding where Itala and her team (including the Cecilias) took great care of us, our family and friends. All the hiccups were resolved with a smile and without anyone noticing it wasn't a part of the original plan. Because let's be honest, things will happen, and you have to trust and stay calm that it will all work out. From recommending an urgent care early in the week for family members that got sick, to helping us with the menu for certain guests that had dietary restrictions, to getting one of her assistants to run back to the ceremony to pick up one of the bridal parties diaper bags, and always reassuring us via whatsapp that everything was on schedule 24/7. (BTW everyone that attends your wedding needs to have whatsapp. It's a lifesaver for communication in Colombia.) So when the ceremony and reception were in full force, it was a fairy tale come true where we felt like we were in a movie. We just did not want it to end. Every single person danced, ate and drank all night long! And our friends and family said they had so much fun, and it was the best wedding they had ever attended. This is hard to do when you have Colombianos, Dominicanos, and lots of Americanos from all the big cities in the US and Spain attending. I remember towards the end of the night, I told Itala that I did not want to break up with her because we had built such a strong relationship! Let's just say we made a lifetime friendship and couldn't have been happier with the leap of faith we took after interviewing with Itala on Skype.