I would like to introduce my new service that I am offering, and to tell you a bit about it. It is called First Steps and Set Up and is tailored especially for couples who are struggling to make a start with the initial process of wedding planning, and feel they need some help, but would ultimately like to plan the day themselves.
I made the decision to introduce this service after having several enquiries from couples who just don’t know where to make a start planning their wedding. They are stuck and feel they need help and advice at the beginning to set things in motion, but would like to carry out the rest of the planning and management themselves.
So how does this service work? Similar to other wedding planning services an initial meeting is held with the couple to establish exactly what they would like, and how they envisage their wedding day to be. Following on from this discussion, I will produce a working budget, including a list of all likely costs, to ensure that there are no hidden shocks or surprises.
Once the budget has been established I can start to work on a short list of venues and suppliers. Although as a wedding planner I have a considerable list of trusted suppliers, each wedding I organise is bespoke. Therefore I will spend considerable time researching and visiting suppliers who I feel would work well with the couple’s plan. I then give the couple a short-list of suppliers that they can work through, and make their final choice.
Once all suppliers have been chosen, it is vital to ensure that a signed contract for each and every one is in place. The contract should contain details such as:
- Details of the service or product to be provided
- The deposit paid and the amount due
- Date and time the service or product commences, and ends.
- Contact
- Delivery time and set up
- Cancellation policy
- Methods of payment
- Signature and date for both parties
I will advise the couple on how to set up a wedding file, to include all contracts, emails and receipts, and provide them with a prompt sheet of timings to contact their suppliers in the lead up to the wedding. Once this has all been done, then the couple will have everything in place to continue planning their wedding. If at anytime they feel that they need some more help or advice, including being present on the wedding day, then this could be arranged on a consultancy basis.
Photography: Kate Nielen