At Your Service

Woods and his fiancee spent only about three hours speaking to the doctor, as Woods refers to his concierge. The doctor then arranged everything from the photographer and hairstylists to the flights and reception. "I'm sure he has done at least 20-30 hours of work," says Woods, who has been working with the same concierge for about two years.

"The knowledge base that the doctor has is extensive, regardless of the city or country I go to. I am treated better when [he] makes the reservations," Woods points out.

Mothers Know Best

If it's all the family details that cause stress, try Momcierge. This specialized company can assist with planning kids' parties, find a car service with child car seats and buy the perfect sixth-birthday gift.

Momcierge was started by moms Hilary Valentine and Alyssa Sadoff, both 42, after doing extensive research -- they found most concierge services were solely business-focused.

"Sometimes, people need a mom; a mom can make everything easier," says Sadoff.

One odd request was from a client's son, who assembled toiletry kits he distributed to the homeless and needed some ideas on how to incorporate his passion into the centerpiece for his bar mitzvah. Originally, his mother had purchased small silver trees and hung shampoo bottles and toothpaste from them, which just didn't look right on the tables.

The moms were hired to create a "prototype" for the centerpieces. They decided on cookies made in the shape of toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and shampoo. All the cookies were then assembled into cookie bouquets, which looked (and tasted) fantastic on the table from all sides.

Another Momcierge client lives overseas and wanted the experts to help her daughter pick out clothing for a job interview.

The company officially launched at the end of September; membership is $150 for a year of unlimited requests. There is also the option to try the service for $50 an hour, to give new customers an idea of what to expect.

Close Call

There are some benefits to have your concierge located nearby, as well.

"One of our clients needed a reservation at Le Bernadine, an exclusive French restaurant in New York," says Ellis O'Connor, general manager of the Gramercy Park Hotel. The client couldn't secure a table with his black card, but when one of the concierges at the hotel called the restaurant, the client was immediately given a reservation.

Having your concierge near you is also great in case of emergencies. When a guest realized he left his passport in a magazine in the airport, the concierge went immediately to retrieve it. Though it took two hours, the concierge did manage to safely return the guest's passport, says O'Connor.

"We recognize the role of the concierge has become so much more important," O'Connor adds. Gramercy Park Hotel is currently expanding its concierge space, which will consist of a separate large sitting suite, in complete privacy, as opposed to the corner of the hotel lobby it now occupies. The space will be completed by March.

"Nothing is too much for [our] guests. They should be allowed complete flexibility," says O'Connor.

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