Celebrations! Wedding Coordination & Event Management

How did wedding planner make your day special? Madeleine Noa failed us miserably. She knew since November that we would be visiting in January to determine our important vendors including cake, rentals, caterers, and florists, yet our meetings with vendors (which Madeleine did not attend because it was a far drive with potential for traffic) were arranged just the weekend before - and NO arrangments were made with caterers. She promised to call us by 3pm to give us details about our meetings the next day, yet, by 7pm we had not heard from her and had to call her ourselves to get the information. The next time we heard from Madeleine was 5 minutes before boarding our plane to leave Hawaii. After being sorely let down, we have discontinued our business with Madeleine, yet, after promises to return half of our money within 30 days, we've yet to receive anything - and that includes correspondence. She is unprofessional and inexperienced. When I mentioned to a potential vendor that we had been using Madeleine, he said, "Oh, she's doing wedding coordinating now?" Only wish I had known sooner. Out $500 and received nothing.
Useful suggestions, tips, wisdom your planner offered? none.
How the planner reduced your inner-Bridezilla? She created one.
Value of a wedding planner? Wouldn't know.