Olivia and the team at Cloud Nine events were instrumental in us pulling off our wedding weekend with multiple days of events on San Juan Island where 90% of guests were traveling from out of state. Her intimate knowledge of Saltwater Farm and relationships with all of the local vendors who work there often was a huge advantage of hiring her over other planners who may not be based in the islands. She was incredible to work with and provided the level of communication and handholding that we needed, while also letting us take the reins where we felt excited or passionate about something. As we got closer to our wedding weekend, Olivia got even more involved in the details and ensured that so many elements were progressing smoothly that we would have never thought of without her. The weekend of our wedding, she handled every issue or snafu that came up, big or small, including chartering a backup barge to get our band from one island to another when the interisland ferry threatened to cancel. She was able to head off issues before they happened, and when they did pop up, handle them without us even knowing, which is exactly why you hire a full service planner. We LOVE you, Olivia!!!!!! Thank you for making our wedding weekend so magical and our vision come alive in so many ways. You are the best! Less

Olivia puts tremendous care and attention into her work. She knows the best businesses, locations and activities available - even on short notice. She is in tune with the heartbeat of the islands and yes, that includes the tremendous task of ferrying all your friends and family across the Puget Sound to come see you on your wedding day. Logistically, her team is extremely efficient and professional so that you can enjoy your time with your fiancée (spouse), and everyone you love. On top of that, she makes time to include personal gestures and little details to make your wedding day feel special and truly your own. If you are on the fence about hiring a wedding planner / day-of coordinator I can assure you it is well worth the money. Less

The first vendor I booked after getting engaged was Olivia with Cloud 9 Events. After a meet and greet phone call, I immediately felt at ease and excited to begin the wedding planning process because she gave off enthusiastic energy and knowledge of Orcas Island. My husband and I got married on our family. Since we did not have an already established venue, we had to start from scratch and outsource EVERYTHING. Olivia helped us come up with a comprehensive plan that fit our budget, thought of details that I would never have come up with on my own, and kept us on track with her wedding planning program to ensure our wedding would be perfect. Since we do not live on the island, Olivia would go to the property with vendors in our place and coordinate with the rentals company our requests. She always answered texts and phone calls, emails, and questions within a timely manner. During the week leading up to our wedding, we unexpectedly had to get a new photographer due to a medical emergency. Olivia found us a local photographer within a day, set up transportation and made all the arrangements for us so that we did not have to stress. Olivia's recommendations for local vendors was honest and she gave insight about vendors that you can't get from websites or reviews. The Cloud 9 events team came for two days ahead of our wedding to set up and arrange all the decorations so that my husband and I could relax and enjoy our family and friends arriving. On the wedding day, she kept us on schedule and coordinated with all the vendors to set up according to our plan. Her team cleaned up, put equipment away, and coordinated all the rental pick up so I didn't have to clean or worry at all the day after. If you want a stress free wedding so that you can enjoy the time with your family, friends, and new spouse, I highly recommend Cloud 9 events! Less

Hiring Olivia at Cloud 9 Events to coordinate our wedding was the best decision we made! I don't know what we were thinking trying to plan a wedding without a coordinator but we tried...and were very overwhelmed! I had an initial call with Olivia to see if we would be a good match and knew the moment I talked to her I wanted her on our wedding team! She was thorough, communicative, organized, creative and fun! She helped us with our vision, vendor recommendations, budgets, table layout, ordering rentals, navigating vendor conversations (not always easy ones!) and alllll the little details! I was sad when the wedding was over because she made the planning so much fun. Thank you Olivia for helping us plan and have the wedding of our dreams - we are forever grateful for you! Less

I recently had the pleasure of working with Olivia and her team at Cloud Nine Events for my wedding in September 2022 on Orcas Island. Olivia was an absolute dream to work with as my spouse and I planned our Orcas island wedding remotely from the Olympia area. First and foremost, Olivia is extremely professional, both leading up to and during our wedding weekend. She was able to handle all of our requests or question with ease. When we didn’t purchase enough of certain things before coming to the island, Olivia was able to procure what we needed so we didn’t have to take time away from spending time with friends and family. As a couple navigating wedding planning during the pandemic, Olivia was able to adapt to the constantly changing offings and availability of vendors on the islands, ensuring we had the best information to help us make plans. She was a true partner in planning our wedding, always offering helpful ideas coupled with her local knowledge while still being respectful of our vision for the big day. Olivia is also an expert at navigating the often-stressful vendor scene. She was able to recommend and secure vendors for everything from the flowers to the catering. She was able to negotiate contracts on our behalf, more than paying for her services with her valuable connections and expertise. When an issue with a vendor came up on the day of our event, Olivia deftly navigated it without me noticing or getting stressed out. In addition to her professional skills, Olivia is also an absolute joy to be around. She is kind, discreet, and always has a calm and collected demeanor, which was a welcome presence during the sometimes-hectic planning process. She truly went above and beyond to ensure that our wedding day was perfect, including responding to my late-night post-wedding text of “I didn’t eat enough food at the reception, can you drop off some catering leftovers?” and within half an hour, an extra plate AND cake was left at the door of our airbnb. Finally, as a local to Orcas Island, Olivia has a deep knowledge of the people and places on the island. This was especially helpful for our out-of-state guests, as she was able to provide guidance on navigating the ferry system and finding accommodations. When it came time to pick locations for photos, Olivia was instrumental in figuring out where to go for the perfect PNW backdrops. Besides the person I chose to marry, hiring Cloud Nine Events was hands down the best decision I made regarding my wedding. If you are planning a wedding or event on Orcas Island (or anywhere else in the San Juans, for that matter), do yourself a favor and give Olivia a call. Less

Olivia and her team were amazing! Our daughter was married on Orcas Island this past weekend and everything was spectacular, allowing the bride and groom and their families to focus on celebrating the beginning of their new lives together and not the minutiae of their wedding. As the mother of the bride, I brought Olivia in early on in the planning process because I recognized that I needed her local knowledge and years of experience. Her professionalism, attention to detail and connections to vendors in the area are unmatched, plus, she’s just fun to have around. I have no doubt that there were a number of hiccups that she just handled without my even knowing. (Looking at you, WA State Ferries!) Because she is so good at her job, I was able to outsource all my stressing to her and focus on my daughter, her new husband and visiting family. I really cannot say enough wonderful things about her. You should hire her! Less

Kimaya is the sweetest person to work with! My partner and I were planning our wedding on Orcas Island from afar in California, so Kimaya was essential in helping with our planning, especially with helping us find all our vendors. Kimaya is really well connected and very good at putting together all the details that we never would have considered. We had the beginnings of our dream wedding planned with all the best vendors when Covid hit and everything was of course thrown out the door. Kimaya was incredibly understanding and flexible with our many delays and was always there to talk to and think through what direction we should take with each new hurdle. Kimaya was our rock through the craziness of planning a wedding during covid, and we would have loved working with Olivia, the new owner of Cloud 9 Events, but in the end we decided to finally get married where we live instead of postponing for another year again. We're sad that in the end we didn't get to spend our big day with either Kimaya or Olivia - they're truly the best! Less

Wow. Where do we even start! Planning a 3 day wedding (during a pandemic) on an Island is not for the faint of heart. We were presented with numerous challenges and changes even in the final days leading up to our wedding. Olivia grew up on Orcas island and her network and local knowledge was invaluable. Olivia was there every step of the way with a plan B, C and D. When we had problems with our venue, she negotiated in person when we couldn’t be there. When ferries were being canceled to the island, she lined up a back up boat and plane to make sure our guests would make it to the venue no matter what. Olivia is a problem solver at heart and easily generated solutions that made all parties involved happy. Although we planned much of our weekend ourselves before we decided on a day of wedding planner, we quickly realized from Olivia’s expertise and help that we were in over our heads and needed her the entire weekend! She made sure we had a good work back schedule and checked in with us on a weekly basis to keep us accountable and keep the ball rolling. On the wedding day itself she made sure things ran smoothly and took care of problems behind the scenes so we could enjoy the day. She wasn’t afraid to wear multiple hats to make sure our day ran smoothly. Throughout the night she waitressed, bartended, and DJ’d, filling whatever roll was necessary at the moment to get the job done. Not only is Olivia good at her job, but she is also a great person to be around! She’s smart, a good listener, funny, and kind. Take it from us that a wedding planner, especially a day of planner, is the best money you will spend on your wedding. And you will not find a better wedding planner on Orcas Island, or better yet in the great PNW. Less

Where to start.. from beginning to end Kimaya was absolutely fantastic. My Husband and I planned our small 20-person wedding from Florida and only made it out to Orcas Island, WA once before our actual wedding. At that time we had the opportunity to meet with Kimaya in-person and discuss/fine-tune the details of our intimate ceremony and reception. Of course COVID-19 threw us a few curveballs along the way, but it was more than a relief to have Kimaya as not only our wedding planner but our advocate. It was apparent when we first met Kimaya that she is a seasoned professional and an expert at her craft. I can't imagine our wedding going as smoothly as it did without her. We simply can't say enough good things about Kimaya and Cloud 9 Events. Less

I'm not even sure where to begin - Kimaya was just the most incredible gift we could have asked for in planning our wedding. I wasn't sure we needed a planner at first, as our original venue has a large events team, but decided that given how busy my husband and I both are, and that we were planning an island wedding from Seattle, it would be helpful. Well, that was the absolute best decision we made in our wedding planning, period. I met with several planners and Kimaya had an amazing combination of German efficiency, island warmth and love, and knowledge of all things San Juans and weddings. Fast forward 3 months or so... here comes COVID. We were originally scheduled to get married at Roche Harbor on Memorial Day weekend, but ended up postponing until August, downsizing to 20 people, downsizing again, and eventually having to cancel the entire thing just 10 days before our rescheduled August date due to state restrictions. At every step of the way, Kimaya went above and beyond to meet with us, reassure us, help us plan and replan and re-replan - and then helped us create an entirely different wedding in less than 10 days (we're talking new ceremony site, finding last minute videographers since none of our friends or extended family would be there, rentals, cake transport, dinner plans... literally everything changed). Somehow (because of Kimaya) it all came together and we had a beautiful day with our parents and immediate families - she took care of every little detail, and the big ones, was calm and steady the whole time, and just kept telling us it was going to be OK. And it was more than OK, it was beautiful and intimate and special. We would use her again in a heartbeat. She is a lovely person, an incredible event planner, and now a friend. Less

If you are getting married on Orcas Island or in the San Juan Islands stop everything you are doing and hire Kimaya to help you plan your wedding. She was so helpful navigating all the hoops 2020 threw our way in order to end up at a lovely 28 person wedding and reception. She is knowledgeable about local vendors, direct and helpful in all planning aspects. I felt at ease planning my wedding with her by my side and I am an event planner myself. Can't recommend her enough! Less

Priceless!!! Finding Kimaya and working with her from start to finish was simply amazing and made everything seamless on execution. I reached out to Kimaya and Cloud 9 Events when I was looking for assistance on planning a magical proposal to my girlfriend on Orcas Island. Being in Afghanistan and not knowing all that the San Juan islands has to offer, I leaned on Kimaya. Kimaya provided recommendations, coordinated for vendors on the island, and truly set the conditions for a remarkable day. On the day of the proposal, Kimaya was there every step of the way, ensuring the surprise went off as planned. Words can not describe the role that she played the day I proposed. I would highly recommend Kimaya to anyone planning an event, wedding, or proposal. Less

When we hired Cloud Nine Events/Kimaya in September of 2019 to help us with our Orcas Island Wedding for late August 2020, we had no idea just how valuable Kimaya would be to us. Not only were we planning the wedding from out-of-state but in March of 2020 COVID hit. If I were to detail all the ways Kimaya was crucial to pulling off our wedding, this review would be 10 pages long. So I’ll stick to the highlights. Kimaya started to help us back in September and was always very responsive and made sure to check in with us through the winter months to make sure we were on track with vendors. At that time she provided a helpful list of recommendations and put us in contact with vendors such as the caterer, venue, transportation, and music. She allowed us our creative freedom, made suggestions, and coordinated with many of the vendors we initially decided to go with. She provided us with reminders for when we needed to “lock-down” a vendor because the services on the island can be scarce. It was common for vendors to ask, “What wedding planner are you working with?” When we said Kimaya, vendors always responded with a sense of relief. The logistics for an Orcas Island wedding can be tricky and she provided essential information that we needed to get out to friends and family regarding the ferry schedule and travel to/from the airport. When March of 2020 rolled around our 150 guest wedding plans quickly started to change due to Covid-19. Kimaya stayed positive and SO supportive as we navigated uncertain territory. By April we were already discussing postponing but, for personal reasons, that wasn’t an option for us. Kimaya was understanding and not-at-all judgmental. Kimaya advised us to avoid making rash decisions, and that it was not yet time to panic. She encouraged us to think about what was important to us as a couple. We decided to go on as planned with the idea that we would comply with all state and local ordinances, and adjust accordingly. We also assumed that by August 22nd, things would settle down (we were very wrong). Kimaya kept a pulse on the “culture” and vibe around the island throughout the pandemic and her involvement in the community was invaluable to us. Looking back, what was so impressive regarding Kimaya’s approach, in my opinion, was that she did not try to predict the future. Instead she reacted with the information that was available at the time (she even called state and local governments for clarifications on guidelines and ordinances). Kimaya coached us on what we needed to take care of (calling vendors, lodging, transportation, etc.), what could wait, and then she rolled with the punches. When a new problem came up, she helped us create a new plan, executed the plan, and made necessary adjustments. Most importantly Kimaya communicated early and often. She was direct, honest, and above all KIND! She was available by phone and email; she replied to messages and phone calls promptly, and communicated when she would not be available. My goal of this review is to highlight the fact that we put Kimaya/Cloud Nine Events in a very challenging situation. Despite this, she was able to turn a wedding that appeared doomed, and almost everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, into the most beautiful and happy day of our lives. Imagine the magic Kimaya can help you to create when there is no pandemic and if you are planning your wedding during these crazy times you are in good hands with Cloud Nine Events. Less

Kimaya's planning expertise, local knowledge, warm personality, organization, and attention to every detail was invaluable. Even though we only hired her for day-of planning, she was incredibly helpful throughout our entire process: from giving us advice on local vendors, reviewing our contracts, suggesting ideas for ceremony and reception details, to helping us with the seating chart. She anticipated so many issues that we never would have thought of, and gave us the confidence to know that when our wedding day arrived everything would go well. And it did! We had an issue with one vendor on the wedding day, but Kimaya was available immediately to help problem solve and we came up with a creative solution. She printed our vows last minute and when my husband lost his print-out right before the ceremony, within minutes, she had another copy. We relished every moment of our wedding day and couldn't have asked for it to go any better--a huge reason for that was because of Kimaya. Hiring her was the best money we spent. We could not recommend her highly enough. Less

Kimaya was our secret weapon! She is the reason our wedding was a joy AND the reason we didn’t lose our minds along the way :) She is truly an expert, and was able to guide us in all decisions with vendors and timing and schedules. Her knowledge of Doe Bay and personal connections to vendors on the island was so helpful. And she emanates calm, and reassured us every step of the way. She feels like family now! Can not recommend highly enough!! Less

We have coordinated family weddings ourselves in the past, and we are so glad to have been able to use Kimaya and Cloud 9 Events for our daughter's wedding on Orcas Island. Being on an island presents logistical complications that really calls for an expert....and Kimaya knows ALL the best locations, and has long standing relationships with all the best vendors and service providers. Ours was a small wedding, with a limited budget, and some very specific and personal elements, combining traditional and the very non traditional. Kimaya was able to help us curate the perfect experience, which came together like clockwork, freeing us to enjoy family and friends. If you can get her....work with her! Less

Kimaya Maitreya was my wedding planner for my wedding at Rosario Resort on Orcas Island and I have to say she was absolutely essential to the planning process of my wedding. If you are planning to have your wedding in the San Juans you have to understand that venues and vendors operate on island time, communication is inconsistent and this can be very frustrating when planning a wedding from afar. Kimaya was essential to me when it came to establishing communication, locking down contracts, and even price negotiation. She knows all of the local vendors personally and was able keep this on track. She always had good back up options when certain vendors/people did not work out. On the day of my wedding she arrived with her assistant and SERIOUSLY all I had to do was look pretty and enjoy my day. I was able to reach her at all times and she had my complete confidence throughout the entire planning process. She is organized and keeps you on a strict timeline. She will help as little or as much as you let her. I thank my lucky starts that I had Kimaya to help me plan my wedding! For those of you who are on the fence about whether you want to spend the money on a wedding planner, just stop it, my planner was worth her weight in gold! Thank you Kimaya! Less

We couldn't be happier with the experience we had working with Kimaya and her team at Cloud 9 Events! Our wedding involved numerous logistical hurdles and a ton of moving pieces and they were able to manage everything seamlessly and put our minds at ease so we could enjoy our big day. Our wedding weekend in the San Juans was everything we could have asked for thanks in large part to the team at Cloud 9 Events. Less

We met Kimaya of Cloud 9 Events by chance. The hall manager was unavailable to give us a tour of our reception site (Odd Fellows Halls which I also highly recommend!) and offered Kimaya in his place. Initially, I did not think we needed to hire a wedding coordinator as I am fairly detail-oriented with spreadsheets and researching and contacting vendors and really thought it would be an unnecessary cost with a tight budget. At the urging of my now husband in an effort to ease any potential stress, we agreed to hire Kimaya and her team primarily for day of coordination services with some general check-in phone calls leading up to the big day. This was BY FAR the best decision we made for our wedding! Kimaya saved the day numerous times: coming up with an alternative venue for our welcome reception as all of the ones I had reached out to were unavailable, too expensive, or could not handle our group size; “nudging” vendors who had previously been unresponsive to my multiple attempts at contact only to have them miraculously follow up with me after a word from Kimaya; located a last minute dog sitter who would be willing to bring our dog to and from the ceremony; and procured a decanter on a moment’s notice for the surprise double-magnum bottle of wine my father-in-law wanted to share with all of the wedding guests. There were so many other little things that she did along the way that when it came to our wedding day I was able to fully relax and trust that with her and her team everything would work out perfectly. She even managed to get us beautiful weather with 90% chance of rain forecast :) Less

Kimaya organized my daughter's beautiful June wedding on Orcas Island. She advised on vendors without being the least bit pushy, understood the vibe the bride and groom wanted, thought about things I never would have, and made it the best wedding I've ever been to. Through it all she remained so kind and professional. I thought I would only need her to handle the pre-wedding logistics but not the wedding itself, and I'm so very glad that I had her there the day of. My mind was going in a million directions, full of emotion and wanting to bask in the moment, and Kimaya kept all of the details, large and small, in focus and calmly executed on them. Everyone had a wonderful time, including me! Less

Wow what an amazing weekend from start to finish! Kimaya and cloud nine events on Orcas island are incredible! They made our day perfect! They even added siding to our tent at the last minute due to the wind kicking up! Not one person complained when we forgot to pick up our chairs and tables when it was all over! We felt so bad about that too! I highly recommend hiring these people if you want to have an unforgettable experience!! Such high class, we loved it!!!😁 Less