Results Summary
| Before | After | Business Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Documents saved across scattered Google Folders | A full wedding view in one client portal | Couples stop searching emails and folders for information |
| Vendor proposals reviewed and forwarded over email chains | Vendor information organized directly in Folia | Couples compare and contrast vendors in one place |
| Standard planning tasks tracked ad hoc | Pre-batched to-do lists with deadline reminders | Couples stay on track without forgetting key tasks |
| A newer company competing for attention | A collaborative, professional-looking client platform | More confidence going up against larger, established firms |
The challenge: file storage isn't a planning platform
Makayla Mizser is the founder and lead planner at Oak Avenue Events, a Chicago-based wedding planning team she started in 2024. Before Folia, she organized everything in Google Folders: contracts, event orders, photo inspiration, floor plans, each living in its own place, with couples left to dig through folders or email threads whenever they needed something.
As Oak Avenue Events took on more full-planning clients, that patchwork stopped being enough. Makayla wanted to move beyond simply storing documents and offer something closer to a full-service platform: one place where a couple could see their entire wedding, not just retrieve files.
“I needed an all-in-one platform that I could use, but also provide to my clients to keep them organized and on track.”
By the numbers
| Customer role | Founder & Lead Planner, Oak Avenue Events |
| Old workflow | Google Folders for contracts, event orders, photo inspiration, and floor plans |
| Business founded | 2024 |
| Buying trigger | Wanted a full-service platform, not just file storage, as full-planning clients grew |
Why Oak Avenue Events chose Folia
Rather than one standout feature, what changed Makayla's day-to-day was moving vendor management out of her inbox entirely. She used to review vendor proposals in email chains and manually forward them to couples. Now vendor information lives directly in Folia, where couples can compare and contrast vendors themselves.
“I used to review contract proposals in email chains and forward them to my clients. Now I can just easily plug their information into Folia, and my couples can sort out each vendor and compare and contrast in one platform.”
The features that made the difference
A vendor workflow that gets couples out of her inbox
Booked vendors are easy to track in Folia, but Makayla's favorite use of the feature is adding in prospective vendors before a couple has decided. Proposals that used to live in email chains now sit in one place couples can review directly.
“Recently, I've been obsessed with the vendor feature. My secret tool has been adding in prospective vendors. I can just easily plug their information into Folia, and my couples can sort out each vendor and compare and contrast in one platform.”
A to-do list that catches what couples don't know to ask
Makayla pre-batches standard planning tasks for her couples, so deadlines and to-dos surface automatically instead of depending on her to remember to mention them.
“The to-do list has been a life saver for my couples. No one wants to feel like they're behind when it comes to wedding planning, so when I pre-batch standard to-dos for my couples, it reminds them about deadlines and tasks that they otherwise would have forgotten or not even known about.”
One portal instead of a folder to search through
Updates that used to go out over email or text now live directly in a couple's Folia portal, visible whenever they check in.
“Everyone, including myself, is more organized. Anytime I have an update or a note I want to share with my couple, I can add it directly into their portal.”
The outcome: what's better now
| Outcome Type | Verified Result |
|---|---|
| Client experience | Couples discover tasks and deadlines they didn't know to ask about, thanks to pre-batched to-do lists |
| Vendor coordination | Vendor proposals move out of email chains into one system couples can compare directly |
| Business positioning | A newer company gains the polish and confidence to compete with larger, established planning firms |
| Communication | Updates and notes go directly into a couple's portal instead of scattered emails and texts |
“As a newer company, it has elevated my workflow, organization, and overall appearance with my couples. Having a platform that we can use to collaborate on together provides me the confidence to compete with larger planning firms.”
What other wedding planners can learn
| Evaluation Question | Evidence From This Case |
|---|---|
| Can it replace scattered folders with something couples can navigate themselves? | A full wedding view now lives in one portal instead of a Google Folder. |
| Does it reduce manual vendor admin? | Vendor proposals moved out of email chains into Folia directly. |
| Can it help a newer company compete with bigger firms? | Makayla credits it with the confidence and polish to do exactly that. |
| Does it catch things couples would otherwise miss? | Pre-batched to-do lists surface deadlines and tasks couples didn't know about. |
Frequently asked questions
Why did Oak Avenue Events move away from Google Folders?
As Oak Avenue Events took on more full-planning clients, Makayla Mizser wanted to offer more than file storage. She wanted a full-service platform where couples could see their entire wedding in one place, instead of searching through emails and folders for information.
Which Folia feature does Makayla Mizser use most?
Vendor management, specifically tracking prospective vendors directly in Folia so couples can compare and contrast them in one place, instead of reviewing proposals over email chains.
How does Folia help a newer wedding planning business compete with larger firms?
Makayla says having a collaborative platform to share with couples elevated her workflow, organization, and overall presentation, giving her the confidence to compete with larger, more established planning firms.
How does Folia's to-do list help couples during planning?
Makayla pre-batches standard to-do items for her couples, so they're reminded of deadlines and tasks they might otherwise forget or not know about in the first place.
What do Oak Avenue Events' clients say about working with Makayla?
One couple, Liz and Jeff, shared that Makayla fit seamlessly in with the rest of their wedding team, kept everything organized so the day went off without issues, and was professional and fair with her pricing throughout.
What does Makayla love most about being a wedding planner?
In her words: "Working with people on the best day of their lives. Truly, there's no other job in the world that brings friends, family, and loved ones together into one room." And the moment that reminds her why she loves it: "Seeing my couple's face after the ceremony. The ceremony is the most nerve-wracking part of the entire event, and when the officiant finally says 'I now pronounce you,' everyone can finally take a breath of fresh air. You can just see the love and joy in their eyes and smiles, and it reminds me why I love what I do."
How can I contact Oak Avenue Events?
Oak Avenue Events is a Chicago-based wedding planning team. Visit oakavenueevents.com or email hello@oakavenueevents.com with inquiries.
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