Important questions
Why do I need
a wedding planner?
Because events are more work than anyone knows! They may look like magic, but they're simply not. Hire a planner to enjoy your day without worry, to lean into their expertise and connections, and make the planning process less stressful. You don't have to hire me or any event planner, but if you do, you'll have the peace of mind of having a professional make your wedding day look and feel easy.
Are you LGBTQ safe?
Babe, I'm the B in LGBTQIA+ and I also identify as Pan. I love and celebrate my community and specialize in queer weddings and also offer an LGBTQ discount. Make sure to ask about it when you inquire!
Will I still get a say in things if I hire you as my planner?
OF COURSE! Wedding planning is a collaboration and you're the most important part of that process. The only things I ever say no to are either illegal (such as things that violate fire code, for example), break contracted venue or vendor policies, are logistically impossible, or are out of budget (but if you want to blow your budget, that's your choice). I also see my vendor partners as collaborators and prefer to have lots of vendor input into the total wedding plan.
Do you use an assistant?
I do, yes! I always use at least one assistant on wedding days and use my discretion on how many assistants I'll need and cover that cost, but you will need to cover their meal(s) as contracted.
What is the booking and payment process?
Contact me and if I'm available on your wedding date, we'll set a time to meet virtually. If you don't know your date, you also have the option to plan your wedding around my availability.
I do require a first-time virtual consultation meeting for all clients regardless of package so we can get to know each other and ensure we're a good fit. After we meet and if you would like me to, I will put a soft hold on your wedding date that gives you first right of refusal.
Once you've chosen your package and want to book, I then will send you a contract to you both to sign virtually. Please do read it all before signing!
I require an $1000 deposit at time of contract, regardless of package. Then, depending on how far out we are from your wedding, the balance will either be due one month out from the wedding, or split into two equal payments, including any accrued travel or a la carte fees. I will create your custom fee schedule prior to booking and I send out reminders and invoices so you never have to worry about forgetting.
What are your office hours?
In general, I keep office hours Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm. I am typically unavailable (outside of events and site visits) on weekends. During roughly June through October (wedding season), I take Mondays off to compensate for weekend work. As is the nature of events life, this is subject to change due to site visits, wedding rehearsals, and events.
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However, I am always happy to work around my clients' schedules and will do my best to make time for you outside of office hours. Please try to give me some notice if that's what you need.
Do you pay to be on vendor lists?
I refuse to pay to be on any preferred vendor list and, likewise, my preferred vendors don't pay me. Venues who recommend me do so because they love my work and, likewise for the vendors I recommend.
Do you take on multiple events in a day or per weekend?
I myself only work one wedding a weekend, but, if I am booked on your wedding day or weekend, I can sometimes offer you one of my amazing lead assistants to coordinate your rehearsal and wedding day, while I still handle all of the wedding planning per package. This option is handled on a case by case basis.
Will you stay until the end of the night at our wedding?
My team will be at your wedding start to finish no matter the hours. I myself try to leave the wedding after the formal dances if I can, but my team will be there to see things through cleanup.
How many weddings or events do you book a year?
I book a max of 15 weddings a year. This is the amount that allows me to be at my best for the planning process and event days and provide the personalized level of service to my clients that I pride myself in. Maybe one day, I'll expand team and thus my capacity, but for now, I'm happy with this number.
What happens if you’re unable to make it to our wedding?
Should illness or accident befall me, my first line of defense is my already phenomenal team of lead assistants who I would trust to manage your day. Should one of my lead assistants not be available to manage the day, I have a network of planners and coordinators I can tap into if needs be.
Are you insured?
Yep!
Do you travel outside of Portland?
Weddings within the Portland metro area are included in the package cost. I do travel further to drivable distances and with a travel fee based on mileage and/or lodging if applicable, depending on the distance. Just ask!
What do you do for me if I book Wedding Planning Lite?
Create your event timeline
I create a timeline of all events in your wedding from rehearsal to setup to ceremony to reception to cleanup, which you will review, collaborate on, and approve. My goal is to send your approved timeline to all of your vendors by two weeks prior to your wedding day.
Correspond with vendors
You are responsible for booking and working with your vendors and providing me with their contact information, but I coordinate with your vendors to build your timeline and I send a finalized copy to every vendor necessary. I also create a vendor contact sheet.
Regular
Check-ins
I will make sure we're on-track for the wedding and will work with your schedule to facilitate regular check-ins. Every couple's needs and preferences are different, but I like to say you'll see my face about once a month, or more if necessary. And of course, we'll have unlimited email communications.
Tour your event space
I like to do a site visit with you, if in the Portland metro area, to run through your site plan and consult and advise on the event layout as-needed. If you need me to travel outside of Portland for a site visit, I will do so for a mileage fee.
Create your
site plan
I collaborate with you on your site plan. This process will be slightly different for every wedding and venue, but rest assured you can lean into my expertise and resources.
Run your wedding rehearsal
If you're having a rehearsal, which I highly encourage you to do, no matter how small your wedding party, I will be there to manage and direct.
Manage your wedding day!
This part is essentially coordination. I've heard other coordinators call this job a stage manager and my theater background loves this. I will greet and work with vendors, supervise setup, manage any room flips if needed, direct your wedding party, keep your timeline on track, and make sure your venue is happy. I often help place décor (I'm very good at it!) or work with florists or event designers to ensure everything is to your specifications.
What do you do for me if I book Wedding Planning Coaching?
Everything above PLUS:
Wedding Planning Coaching was designed due to a niche that I saw for nearlyweds who want to do the planning labor themselves or can't afford Full Planning, but would like a professional guiding hand. This package includes everything in Wedding Planning Lite plus everything below and more.
Create and manage your Wedding Planning Timeline
Not to be confused with the Wedding DAY timeline, I create a custom planning timeline to prioritize tasks, break up the labor, and help me help you keep track of overarching details.
Guide you in the planning process
The uniqueness of this package is you're doing the bulk of the planning labor, while I guide you through the process and offer my expertise and resources throughout. I provide you with personalized vendor recommendations as needed, join you on site visits, review contracts, guide you in planning all events (such as rehearsal dinners and send-off brunches) assist you in knowing all the stuff you don't even know that you don't know, and consult on any and all details and logistics. Part of my guidance is ensuring you're on track and on time, while knowing that wedding planning is all about flexibility. I'll always tell you the truth about concerns I have, while cheerleading you to success! This package include budgetary guidance, but not budget management.
What do you do for me if I book Full Wedding Planning?
ALMOST everything
I take care of just about everything including venue and vendor research and communication, creating and managing the planning timeline, gathering quotes with vendor recommendations, setting up meetings, facilitating contracts, planning all wedding events (such as rehearsal dinners and send-off brunches) and managing every detail so that you are able to save time, and focus on making decisions. I set up your budget and consult on budget, but I don't guarantee budget as too many variables are on you and up to you to report. And of course I manage your wedding rehearsal and wedding day, but I do not staff your rehearsal dinner or send-off brunch or similar events.
What you do
You are responsible for signing contracts, making all payments, and doing personalized tasks such as the seating chart (I provide a custom template), picking songs, tastings, any DIY, etc., and making all decisions.
What else do you do or don't do for clients?
What value adds and resources do you provide?
I have unique discount code on all Minted wedding products and my clients have access to their free concierge service.
I also have relationships with vendors that can make the planning process easy - and some offer exclusive discounts for my clients.
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I use a service that is free to you to book room blocks at hotels.
I provide my preferred vendor list (though of course I'll work with other vendors) and other digital resources, tips sheets, and templates to aid with your wedding planning, regardless of package.
I provide a small wedding day emergency kit for every couple for the getting ready space (along with my robust emergency kit I take to every event).
I have décor inventory from past events I can lend or rent out to clients.
I am also always glad to offer my exceptional English grammar and syntax skills to help you proofread any text (like websites, signage, or invitations).
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The other things I do for you are harder to quantify, but are best described as support! One of my clients called it "sports bra" level support! I am here for all my clients, regardless of their package, to use as a sounding board, give advice, or just listen to you vent. Planning a wedding can be stressful because it's a big, complicated thing you've never done before, costs you a lot of money, and is one of the most emotional events a person goes through. I think simply being there for my clients helps mitigate a lot of that stress.
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I also offer A La Carte add-ons for an extra fee, such as wedding day emcee services, extra planning tasks outside of package scope, extra onsite labor, etc. Each add-on is based on hourly labor and will be quoted on a case by case basis. The services are only available as add-ons to planning packages and not available as a standalone service.
What don't you do?
This part is never fun to share, but I believe in boundaries and I'm just one human trying to make your wedding perfect! In general, these are the things I do not do, but if there is a logistical item that you can't get anyone else to do, discuss it with me and I'll see what I can do. I'm happy to work with you if you are upfront with me and I will provide some noes for an extra fee.
I do not: do the jobs of other vendors, such as DJ, emcee, photography, and catering or bartending functions (such as making silverware rollups, bussing tables, etc.). I don't do hazardous tasks, like working with sparklers, carrying extremely heavy elements, climbing ladders, or disposing of catering trash. I don't design, address, or distribute any media or signage. I don't sign contracts with vendors, make payments, or make decisions on your behalf. If there is a last-minute task that I need to perform that is on my "no" list, I reserve the right to charge an additional fee for that labor.
Are there weddings you won't book?
I will no longer book outdoor weddings in Winter, Spring, or Fall that do not want to have decent coverage planned (tent, barn, pavilion, etc.). If your venue does not already provide outdoor coverage, there will be a small upcharge to your package fee based on wedding size to arrange a canopy or tent. Pro-tip: have a tent planned for your non-summer wedding and you can release it if you don't need it.
You didn't answer my question
Contact me and I'm happy to answer any and all questions you may have.