Their business, @ your.request, is run out of Dunnett's home near downtown Saratoga. Whether it's a corporate or private event, in Saratoga or San Francisco, the two volunteers-turned-professional planners know exactly where and what it takes to make a party work—and, believe it or not, work it is.

Dunnett says the two easily work 14-hour days when an event date draws close, spending even more time prepping and primping the day of the occasion.

"We don't normally do the planning full time," Dunnett says, "but there are times when the work takes up entire weekends."

Aside from the extensive preparations—which include locating the event site, securing vendors, designing invitations and sometimes even taking wedding dresses to the dry cleaners—the two speculate that the workload is heavy due to their desire for perfection.

"We are very detail-oriented," Iwanaga says. "It is very time-consuming, but we like for things to be just right."

Both are longtime Saratogans deeply involved in local schools, which is how their business began.

Dunnett and Iwanaga had been involved in fundraising for the Saratoga Union School District for years before they finally met, having volunteered for the same fundraising committee. Their current business grew out of this experience, which involved coordinating events, selecting party sites, drumming up publicity and creating themes when needed.

After successfully meeting their goal of raising $100,000 for district schools, Dunnett and Iwanaga began working together, building on past referrals and connections made as volunteer coordinators.

"It was essentially the same job, except that we now got paid for our services," Dunnett says with a smile.

The transition was easy, Iwanaga assures, "because I think our volunteer work made us very prepared and made it easy to work with different people."

Dunnett agreed. "We have worked on and been guests at the type of events we put on, so we understand the event. We know what it's like to be on the other side."

Although weddings are the most common event @ your.request plans for, bar and bat mitzvahs and charity galas are also on the two's résumés. They even put together an 1800s-themed costume party, to which Dunnett and Iwanaga themselves had to wear costumes, hoop skirts and all.

"Those type of parties are a challenge because you are out of your comfort zone," Dunnett says, "but they are so much fun."

It seems that challenge is what the two live for, however, as they continually take on new projects, keep up their volunteer work and raise families.

Most events take nearly a year to plan, but the duo has been known to pull off a wedding in three months.

"We do whatever it takes, in whatever time it takes, to do a job successfully," Dunnett says.

"We want to put on a successful event for the people we work for," Iwanaga says. "We set the tone of everything we do and script the entire event so it runs smoothly because we want their satisfaction."

Dunnett and Iwanaga are keen on continuing their services, taking in new requests and awaiting challenging, creative assignments.

"We like the variety of clients we have and the different events, people and ideas we encounter," Dunnett says. "We are still enjoying it very much."

To contact @ your.request, call 408.867.2546 or email atyrequest@aol.com.