SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
EVENT PLANNING AND DESIGN
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Where every detail is shaped with quiet confidence, thoughtful intention, & effortless grace
MY PHILOSOPHY
An Experience Worth Remembering –
At the end of it all, my hope is that you remember more than how beautiful your wedding was.
I want you to remember how supported you felt.
How easy the process became.
How present you were on the day itself.
Modest Magnolia is for couples who value artistry, trust the process, and believe that the most meaningful celebrations are created with intention, care, and calm leadership.
If that resonates with you, I would be honored to walk alongside you.
Hi, I’m Maria, the heart behind Modest Magnolia.
I believe wedding planning should feel calm, intentional, and beautifully composed – not overwhelming or chaotic. Modest Magnolia was founded on a devotion to creating calmness and beauty in one of life’s most meaningful seasons. I bring together refined design, thoughtful planning, and quiet leadership to transform complexity into an experience that feels effortless and deeply personal. Every detail is thoughtful, every decision is guided with care, and every couple is supported with warmth, professionalism, and unwavering intention.
This isn’t simply about planning an event.
It’s about creating space for you to breathe, be present, and fully experience the celebration you’ve imagined – elevated, artful, and entirely your own.
Meet maria
Transforming chaos into calm through planning and design that feel as artful as the event itself
OUR PUBLICATIONS
FOUNDATION & CLARITY
This first phase is centered on listening and understanding. We begin by building a comprehensive planning spreadsheet that brings structure to every moving part, while simultaneously exploring your vision, aesthetic preferences, and priorities. Together, we align on budget parameters and overall direction, ensuring that every decision moving forward is grounded in clarity and intention.
This phase sets the tone for the entire experience – calm, organized, and thoughtfully guided.
Our Process
Laying the groundwork for an intentional, beautifully cohesive celebration.
Phase One: Foundation and Clarity
Phase Two: Design Direction
Phase Three: Timeline Creation
Final Months: Refinement and Execution
DESIGN DIRECTION
With a clear foundation in place, your vision comes to life through a carefully curated design deck. This visual roadmap connects the logistical framework to an elevated aesthetic—color palettes, textures, spatial design, and experiential details that reflect your story. At this stage, we refine and elevate the design as deeply as desired, with the option to further explore budget allocation to support your priorities. The result is a cohesive, intentional design direction that feels both refined and deeply personal.
Our Process
Translating structure into visual storytelling.
Phase One: Foundation and Clarity
Phase Two: Design Direction
Phase Three: Timeline Creation
Final Months: Refinement and Execution
Timeline
creation
Once the design and logistics are finalized, every element is woven into a meticulously crafted, minute-by-minute timeline—often spanning up to ten pages. This document becomes the blueprint for your wedding day, ensuring seamless coordination across vendors, moments, and transitions.
This is where artistry meets precision, allowing your celebration to unfold effortlessly and exactly as envisioned.
Our Process
Where every detail finds its place.
Phase One: Foundation and Clarity
Phase Two: Design Direction
Phase Three: Timeline Creation
Final Months: Refinement and Execution
Refinement & Execution
In the final one to two months leading up to your wedding, communication becomes focused and intentional. Vendor coordination, décor confirmation, and final details are refined with care, ensuring that nothing is overlooked. Throughout this phase, I serve as your calm point of contact – anticipating needs, resolving details, and managing logistics so you can remain present and at ease.
Our Process
Ensuring everything unfolds with ease and grace.
Phase One: Foundation and Clarity
Phase Two: Design Direction
Phase Three: Timeline Creation
Final Months: Refinement and Execution
“Her professionalism and her impeccable taste in design and details are what make Maria one of the very best wedding planners in the industry. ”
Her professionalism and her impeccable taste in design and details are what make Maria one of the very best wedding planners in the industry. I have had the wonderful privilege of teaming up with her several times and am consistently blown away by her talents. She is so invested in her couples and the success of their wedding visions. I've watched my couples trust and respect her guidance fully, it's a remarkable thing. Modest Magnolia is the BEST!
– TERI B.
KIND WORDS
"With Modest Magnolia, you'll feel like you planned your special day with your best friend. You'll have a team championing your ideas, your vision..."
With Modest Magnolia, you'll feel like you planned your special day with your best friend. You'll have a team championing your ideas, your vision... and giving you sound advice when you are doubting a situation... at all hours of the day. Maria is grace under pressure and incredibly responsive, while Remi (day-of assistance) is simply two steps ahead with any question or request. They also have a network that puts you in contact with theee best-of-the-best vendors throughout SoCal.
– CHLOE R.
KIND WORDS
"Looking back, I can see that there's no way I could have done all this by myself and I'm so happy that we had Maria and her team to make our dream wedding so beautifully orchestrated."
Maria and her team (Abby and Bre) are an amazing team! We were so happy to have booked them as our day of coordinator team - everything went so smoothly and stress-free for our wedding day at Rancho Las Lomas. They handled everything day of and we never had to worry about a thing. We felt like super starts being pampered with water, keeping us on track for our timeline, and we were able to fully enjoy our wedding and have fun! Maria also fielded a lot of our questions during the planning process, printed our seating map poster, and jumped on whenever we needed her. I would definitely recommend Modest Magnolia to anyone. Looking back, I can see that there's no way I could have done all this by myself and I'm so happy that we had Maria and her team to make our dream wedding so beautifully orchestrated
– JASMINE H.
KIND WORDS
Glamorous Rancho Palos Verdes Wedding at Wayfares Chapel & Westin Pasadena
FEATURED PUBLIATIONS
STYLE ME PRETTY
Special Edition 2020: Magical Affair at Old Ranch Country Club
CALIFORNIA WEDDING DAY
Mandala Weddings: Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club
MANDALA WEDDINGS
