Pamela RobertsI personally love throwing parties, but it gets so stressful, especially when you have to juggle everything: planning, picking the perfect theme, and making sure every little detail comes together.
Not to mention, it robs me of the chance to enjoy the event that I hosted myself. Instead of actually celebrating with my friends, I get distracted thinking about whether things are going well.
I told myself, I’d still love to host these gatherings, but I’m gonna need help. So, I asked my Tribune team to help me look for the best planners in Jacksonville.
After some research, we’ve narrowed down the teams that can take tough parts off your hands.
How much do party planners charge for their services in Jacksonville?
In Jacksonville, the cost for consultation ranges from $100 to $350 per hour, while full-service party planning often starts at $1,000 to $2,500.
1. Mugwump Production
Address: 3636 Beachwood Ct
Phone: +19043989971
Business hours: Monday to Wednesday and Friday, 8:30 AM–5:30 PM
Since 1995, Mugwump Productions has been transforming ordinary spaces into artistic venues for large-scale events, like social galas.
Their design focuses on being creative and truly immersive for every guest. We’re talking about massive 3D props, intricate floral arrangements, and such.
They take tiny details to heart, which makes clients feel confident in the final result. From what we’ve gathered, the dedicated project manager is very reliable and meticulous, keeping things organized and stress-free.
What we really like is that you don’t have to look for anyone else if you’re with them. Their full planning and coordination mean they’ve got everything covered, including the decor and audio-visual needs.
We were just disappointed to hear that they sometimes don’t communicate properly regarding design changes. They would often swap flower types or small decorations without asking first, maybe hoping that clients wouldn’t notice.
They completely brought our vision to life
“Mugwump Productions was the key to our fantastically customized, tropical harbor wedding. They completely brought our vision to life, with unique custom props that we were not able to find anywhere else. Throughout the 1.5+ years we worked with them for our wedding planning process, they were communicative, responsive to changes, and just great, friendly people all around. The life-sized cafe backdrop and rum barrels brought such a unique look to our tropical harbor wedding. They were truly the stars of the show!”
– Heather West, Google Review
Kind, informative, efficient, and always willing to help
“Mugwump is my go-to team for event rentals in North Florida! Mark Elliott has been my contact there since I began working with them, and he is truly one of my favorite people in the events industry. He is kind, informative, efficient, and always willing to help in any way he can! As an event planner, it is incredibly important to me that I assemble a team of vendors that I can trust to handle their piece of the puzzle with knowledge and attention to detail, whether I am around for questions or not. Mark and his team never fail to impress me, and I could not recommend them highly enough. Thank you, Mark, for making my job 1000x easier and for always putting a smile on my face.”
– Savannah Bowdoin, Google Review
2. PRI Productions
Address: 1819 Kings Ave
Phone: +19043988179
Business hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM–5:30 PM
PRI Productions has established itself as one of the largest full-service event production companies in the Southeastern United States. They’ve been around for over 30 years and are known for producing big and festive events.
The sheer volume of what they offer is staggering, mainly because they house over 150,000 square feet of inventory and resources. They pretty much have everything, from LED video walls to custom design printing.
By using their in-house resources and creative team, they are able to create grand parties with stunning visuals!
Clients we talked to said that the team can work around anything, even with ideas that seemed impossible to achieve.
We were particularly amazed by their “Winter Wonderland” reception for an outdoor wedding; it was apparently to beat the summer heat.
One thing you’ll need to consider, though, is that communication can be difficult. Many people struggle with long waits for callbacks or updates after the payment is made.
Everything came out perfect
“PRI was an amazing one-stop shop for my wedding needs. We worked with Jackie, who was incredible! She was professional and had wonderful ideas while keeping the budget in mind. PRI did our flowers, linens, drapery, and more. Everything came out perfect. I cannot thank Jackie and the PRI team enough.”
– Cassandra Cameron, Google Reviews
They were responsive, friendly, and easy to work with
“Rosalina and her crew were amazing! They were able to create the PERFECT setting for a beach dinner for our daughter’s bachelorette weekend! They were responsive, friendly, easy to work with, and professional! I would use them again in a heartbeat!”
– Kathryn Elksnis, Google Review
3. Key Lavish Events LLC
Phone: +19049826157
Business hours: Monday to Sunday, 9 AM–9 PM
At Key Lavish Events, they can transform any small gathering into something more elegant and exclusive.
Every event features a glamorous aesthetic, like shimmery backdrops and lounge furniture. We love that their setups are always trendy and designed specifically to look good and eye-catching in photos.
You won’t have to look for other vendors, either, with this planner. Their full package ensures that they’ll provide everything from the initial design to the execution and decorations.
Their attentiveness and precision also make for a stress-free experience for the host. Clients said that the team is very hands-on in executing the plan and that not a single detail is missed, even when faced with last-minute changes or tight deadlines.
It’s just that Key Lavish Events is best for intimate celebrations, like baby showers and gender reveals. They may not be the best option for larger and grander events.
Everything looked absolutely stunning and exceeded my expectations
“Key Lavish Events! Thank you so much for the ELEGANT decor you did for my husband’s 55th birthday and graduation celebration. Your creativity, attention to detail, and ability to bring a vision to life truly transformed the space. Everything looked absolutely stunning and far exceeded my expectations. I received so many compliments, all thanks to you and your team for the hard work. I’m so grateful for your dedication and professionalism. It was a pleasure working with you!”
– Kachina Bembry, Google Review
She definitely understood the assignment
“I still don’t have the words to describe how magical my decorations were for my 50th birthday celebration. I met with Kesa, not knowing what direction I was going to go. All I knew is I wanted a solid gold affair with roses, and she definitely understood the assignment. I cried for at least fifteen minutes straight! She was so kind, flexible, fair, and she has a beautiful smile and spirit. Her team was also very professional and friendly. They went above and beyond for me!! If you want all your dreams to come true, book with Key Lavish Events. You will not be disappointed! The pictures do it no justice! Rich, luxuriously fabulous!! Thank you again!”
– Toya Sproul, Google Review
4. LoveLee Events
Address: 5501 Wesconnett Blvd, Unit 14108
Phone: +19045751242
Business hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 AM–6 PM
LoveLee Events serves as a safety net for those who want to plan the party themselves but still need insights from experts. Basically, the clients take the lead on the ideas, and the team will help execute their vision.
This collaborative planning shows the planner’s flexibility. They can step up at any stage of the planning to help the hosts, whether it’s vendor referrals or building the event’s program.
They do offer full planning and design, but their resources might be short for intricate and highly custom-built decorations, like 3D backdrops and life-sized structures.
Their coordination in working behind the scenes is commendable as well. Patrons have mentioned that the staff would even do little run-throughs beforehand to ensure things would flow smoothly on the big day.
Plus, the owner herself will handle any unexpected hiccups, like late vendors, keeping the celebration laid-back.
Everything was perfect
“Tara was an incredible guide throughout my entire wedding process, keeping me focused and on track every step of the way. On the day of the wedding, we had to make a rain call due to a tropical depression, and Tara handled everything seamlessly. She quickly moved the event under the covered patio, had the florists adjust the arrangements for the new table setup, coordinated with the photographer to ensure we got our couple’s portraits, and managed the entire flow from the church to the reception. I felt completely relaxed the whole day, and when I walked out, everything was perfect! Thank you so much, Tara! You truly can’t go wrong with her.”
– Marlena Holman, Google Review
She keeps you organized and on track throughout the entire process
“Tara at Lovelee Events is a terrific wedding planner. She keeps you organized and on track throughout the entire process of planning a wedding. I loved that she was always responsive to us and set up periodic meetings. She had a very professional relationship with all the vendors and kept all of them in the loop through the entire process. As wonderful as she is prior to the wedding, she is absolutely amazing on the day of the wedding. She has your entire day and evening planned out, and if there are changes that need to be made, she is on it, making it happen. She was also prepared for any little mishap on the day of the wedding and made sure everything from the flowers, the cake, and all gifts and anything else we wanted to keep from the wedding were taken to the bridal suite, so nothing was lost. Tara took care of everything, allowing the bride and groom and the parents to truly enjoy our time. She truly loves what she does and is an amazing planner. I would highly recommend her.”
– Nancy Rosenberg, Google Review
5. J.R. Events
Phone: +19044795445
Business hours: Monday to Thursday, 10 AM–5 PM
J.R. Events’ services are one of the most affordable rates you can find. Staring at $2,000, you can have a party that’s thoughtfully planned and runs smoothly until the end.
We really appreciate that they keep the hosts involved in the process. It doesn’t matter if it’s full or partial planning; they make sure the clients’ vision and ideas are the top priority.
And when problems arise, they’re also quick to step in. People we surveyed shared that any issues were handled promptly before they could even reach their attention, keeping the sequence of the event in place.
Despite being a full-service party planner, J.R Events also has its limitations. For instance, they have limited resources for decor, so you may need to look for a separate vendor if you’re eyeing more detailed props, like LED video walls.
Everything was seamless and thoughtfully executed
“JR Events coordinated and helped plan my cousin’s wedding, and I had the absolute honor of being a bridesmaid and witnessing their incredible work firsthand. From the smallest details to the overall flow of the day, everything was seamless and thoughtfully executed. The team brought such a calming, professional, and passionate presence to the entire experience. As someone from South Carolina, I would love to see Jade’s company grow and expand even further into our area. JR Events isn’t just a planning service—it’s a team that truly cares. Everyone deserves to have this level of care, creativity, and excellence involved in their most special moments. Highly recommend!”
– Raighan Weatherford, Google Review
She was very passionate about ensuring everything went as planned
“J.R. Events is very professional and detailed. I worked with Donna, and she was very passionate about ensuring everything went as planned, even down to ensuring the size of the cake was adequate. I would recommend J.R. Events and Donna to anyone who is planning any type of event, big or small.”
– Regina Nealy, Google Reviews
