She Was the Bride Whose Planner Vanished. 30 Years Later, She’s the One Who Always Shows Up.

Ask any couple who has planned a wedding what scared them most, and you'll hear the same fear again and again: What if the person we hired doesn't show up when it counts? For one Florida planner, that fear isn't hypothetical. It's exactly what happened to her, and it changed the course of her life.

Meet Stephanie Mazzeo, founder of Weddings by Stephanie - a Certified Bridal Consultant, Certified Wedding Planner, and the calm at the center of more than 30 years of Florida weddings.

Her credentials are impressive on paper. But it's her story that sets her apart.

"We aim to be the calm in the center of your planning storm - from the first consultation until the final dance."

Born From a Wedding Disaster — Built to Prevent Yours

In 1996, Stephanie moved from Pennsylvania to Florida to plan her own wedding. What she found was a lack of local knowledge, unprofessional vendors, and a planner who took her money, handed her a list of names, and then never showed up on the wedding day.

That experience didn't just frustrate her. It lit a fire.

She spent the next three decades building the business she desperately wished had existed: one that shows up, stays present, and treats every couple the way she wanted to be treated. Weddings by Stephanie doesn't hand you a vendor list and disappear. They stay.

A perfectly planned chapel moment - exactly the kind of calm Stephanie protects for every couple

"Unlike other planners who hand you a vendor list and disappear, we offer hands-on partnership - a committed advocate by your side from the very first call." ~ Stephanie Mazzeo

Not every couple needs the same thing, so Weddings by Stephanie offers three clear service levels:

• Full-Service Planning - complete hands-on partnership from start to finish

• Partial Planning - expert guidance for couples who want to stay involved

• Day-of-Coordination - professional execution on your big day, and the most popular package by far

Day-of-Coordination is the clear favorite - because it lets couples do the planning they enjoy, then hand the reins to a pro when it matters most. Stephanie also offers specialized bridal consulting and concierge services, an on-site emergency kit, and unlimited direct access throughout the entire planning journey.

Pro Tip:

Even if you love planning your own wedding, a day-of coordinator is worth every penny. Someone has to run the timeline, cue the vendors, and solve problems while they happen - and it shouldn't be you or your family on the day you most want to be present.

From intimate ceremonies for two to grand events for 300+ guests, every detail is handled with care

A Florida Rainstorm - and a Couple Who Never Knew

One of Stephanie's most memorable weddings involved a sudden, heavy Florida rainstorm that hit right as the reception was about to begin. Within minutes, her team moved the entire celebration indoors.

The couple? They remained completely present, stress-free, and joyful, never once pulled away from each other to manage the chaos.

That's the Weddings by Stephanie promise in action: you focus on each other, and they handle everything else.

Pure celebration - the result when every logistic is quietly handled behind the scenes

Watch Out:

In Florida, weather is part of the plan, not a surprise. Always ask your planner what their rain plan is - the best ones already have a backup ready so a passing storm never touches your day.

Stephanie's Three Pieces of Advice for Every Couple

After 30 years and countless weddings, Stephanie's advice comes down to three simple ideas:

• Hire an advocate, not just a list. Have someone on your team whose only job is to protect your vision and handle the emergencies — so you don't have to.

• Invest in vetted vendors. Work with professionals who have a proven track record of showing up and delivering quality.

• Set a planning-free zone. Dedicate time each week where wedding talk is off-limits. Keep your relationship the focus.

"Prioritize presence over perfection. The day is about celebrating your commitment to each other, and we'll take care of everything else."

Award-Winning — and Still Raising the Bar

Stephanie's work has earned the recognition that matters most: the WeddingWire Couples' Choice Award and The Knot Best of Weddings - honors driven by real couples and real reviews.

The sparkler send-off - pure joy, zero stress, exactly as planned

Weddings by Stephanie primarily serves Northeast and East Central Florida — including Palm Coast, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Gainesville, Ocala, and Cocoa Beach, plus the surrounding counties of St. Johns, Volusia, and Flagler. Destination and travel events are available too.

Looking ahead, she's focused on expanding her curated vendor network, enhancing day-of support, and evolving alongside the latest trends to deliver even more personalized experiences across the Sunshine State.

Book Weddings by Stephanie

If you're planning a wedding anywhere in Northeast or East Central Florida and you want someone who will actually be there, from the first call to the final dance, Weddings by Stephanie is ready to be your advocate.

Key Takeaway: The best wedding planner isn't the one who hands you a list, it's the one who shows up and stays. Born from her own wedding-day letdown, Weddings by Stephanie has spent 30 years being the calm in the center of the storm so Florida couples can simply be present.