meet your

planning forever

team

PLANNERS. DESIGNERS. COORDINATORS. WEDDING LOVERS

meet your planner, chalonda

Welcome! I’m Chalonda McDonald, not only am I a Master Certified Wedding and Event Planner, I aim to be your closest friend during the entire process. At Planning Forever, I believe that love stories are timeless, and your wedding day should feel like an unforgettable chapter in your journey. From the moment we meet, my goal is to craft an experience that reflects the essence of your love, ensuring every detail is as personal and unique as your bond.

With a heart for planning and a passion for turning dreams into reality, I founded Planning Forever to help couples create magical, one-of-a-kind moments. Whether it’s the way the sun sets during your ceremony or the way your favorite song plays during your first dance, I’m here to plan those special moments that will make your day feel like forever.

Let me handle the details, so you can simply enjoy the beauty of every moment as it unfolds.

meet your planner, taylor

Hi! I’m Taylor Gammell, a Certified Wedding Planner with Planning Forever.

Before entering the wedding industry, I spent 9 years working in HR and Recruiting, where I built a strong foundation in organization, communication, and managing many moving parts — skills that translate seamlessly into thoughtful, stress-free wedding planning.

Chalonda was my wedding planner for my own wedding in April 2024, and working with her sparked my love for the planning process. That inspiration led me to become a Certified Wedding Planner and launch my own wedding planning business in Nashville,TN in June 2024, where I gained invaluable, hands-on experience working directly with couples and vendors.

After moving back home to the Fernandina Beach area (where I was born and raised)  reconnecting with Chalonda felt like a full-circle moment. I made the intentional decision to dissolve my own business and join forces with Planning Forever, allowing me to continue doing what I love while serving couples throughout North Florida and South Georgia.

My passion is creating seamless, meaningful wedding experiences that feel timeless, personal, and true to each couple’s love story.


together, we’ll turn your vision into a celebration of love that will last a lifetime.

Master CERTIFIED WEDDING PLANNER

FLOOR PLAN CERTIFIED

CERTIFIED DESIGN CONSULTANT

TIMELINE GENIUS CERTIFIED

  • "prompt. organized. calm."

    Chalonda was prompt, organized, calm, and did a fantastic job taking the stress off of me the day of the wedding. Everything went as planned, and she was prepared if it didn't go that way!

    - Alleigh

  • "we really enjoyed working with her.."

    Chalonda was worth 10x what I paid considering how much she helped out and took over things I realized I could not manage on my own. She is calm, relaxed, positive, and upbeat. We really enjoyed working with her and we know the day wouldn’t have gone as great without her.

    - Kaylin

  • "couldn't imagine anyone better.."

    Chalonda is so sweet, has great advice, and takes the stress away! If you’re thinking about booking a planner, I couldn’t imagine anyone better!

    - Emily

  • "zero stress throughout the day"

    I was able to fully enjoy the day. Chalonda ensured that I had zero stress throughout the day, and I felt like I could fully enjoy every aspect of the wedding! She listened, guided, and executed a phenomenal day for me, my husband, and our friends and family! We would not be able to do it without her!

    - Kaede-Ray

  • "most valuable vendor at our wedding"

    Chalonda’s knowledge and expertise far surpassed our expectations! She is the reason our day ran smoothly from rehearsal the night before to the sparkler exit. If I could change anything, I would have hired her earlier in the planning process. She received nothing but compliments from my family, bridal party, and other vendors for her professionalism and get-things-done attitude. Highly recommend Planning Forever for any event!

    - Macie

  • "truly an asset.."

    Chalonda was incredible to work with during our wedding process. So kind, so helpful, and truly an asset to the wedding planning process. I cannot recommend her enough. You will not find a better wedding planner!

    - Ashton

  • "professional and precise"

    I'm so glad my now-husband and I decided to hire Chalonda for our wedding day! We hired her for coordination, and the day would not have gone smoothly without her there. Before the wedding, Chalonda was professional and precise in our phone conversations to ensure all details. During our wedding, I appreciated how she kept to the timeline and also checked in with me. I know you'll be happy Chalonda coordinated your wedding, too.

    - Payton

  • "a very calming presence"

    Chalonda was absolutely amazing as my day of coordinator! We had multiple calls prior to the wedding which were so organized but also felt like talking to a friend. She was cool, calm, and collected through every step, and was always prepared to fix minor details and time changes for events on the day of. I would definitely recommend her to anyone because as organized and prepared as she was (and stern with our crazy groomsmen), she was also a very calming presence that helped me avoid stressing and made the day run smoothly!

    - Kylee

  • "thankful to have her.."

    Chalonda did an amazing job! Weddings can be so crazy and unpredictable (definitely mine) but she kept everything so organized and kept everyone on track! Our monthly meetings were great as well! She really helped me navigate through wedding stuff and gave lots of great ideas and suggestions. Definitely thankful to have her be apart my special day!

    - Hailey

  • "such an amazing experience"

    Chalonda was AMAZING. Leading up to the wedding she helped keep me organized and on task. Day of she helped make my vision come to life. The day ran smoothly and perfect thanks to her. She even took care of a vendor that messed up something for me so I didn’t even have to deal with that stress. Truly would recommend her for your big day, she’s someone I want to stay in touch with & be friends with after this! Haha so sad it’s all over!

    - Taylor

NOW.. We CAN’T WAIT TO PLAN YOUR forever

xoxo,

chalonda & Taylor