Introduction

Recently, I was asked about my approach to wedding planning and design, and I realized I wasn’t talking about this enough. Your planner’s approach has a lot to do with whether you trust them to guide you through the planning process, so it’s important to discuss. Below, I’ll walk through my approach to wedding planning and design, and explain why the things I do are helpful.

In the Beginning

Once you’ve hired Buttercup Celebrations, step one is your invitation to my “client lounge”. This involves me setting you up with a private shared drive on Google for us to communicate. All of your references, checklists, vision boards, design proposal, etc. can be accessed from here, at any time of the day or night. You’ll also have a Welcome Guide, which gives you more information about me, Buttercup Celebrations, and what to expect during our time together. The lounge is also where you’ll find your homework in each step of the planning process. You’ll never wonder how to get something to me, or worse, wonder where you’ve put it! Everything in one place.

Wedding Vision

Next, it’s getting-to-know-you time. You’ll each have some information to prepare for me, and then we’ll get together and discuss everything. Don’t worry if you think the two of you are on different pages here regarding your wishes for the wedding. We have to start somewhere, and I’m very good at drawing from both of your dreams for the day to create a single wedding vision. We’ll work together to dig deep and decide what elements you just can’t live without for your wedding day, and I’ll get to know your interests and style very well, so I can work on your design plan while we move through vendor selection. 

During this phase, we’ll also have the dreaded budget discussions. You’ll probably have some sticker shock:  events are expensive! Contrary to popular belief, though, no one is upcharging you because you’re booking a wedding rather than another event. It just costs a. lot. to put on a lavish party for a large list of guests. Based on your wedding vision, I’ll let you know how much you can expect to pay. This is probably going to be more than what you wanted to spend, so we’ll have to work through who is contributing to the wedding, how much you’ll have available in total, and where your priorities lie. Rest assured, we can bring a beautiful wedding to life, regardless of your budget!

Venue Selection

Based on your guest count and chosen style, I’ll curate a list of venues for you to consider and then I’ll schedule walk-throughs for us with your top picks. This way, you’re not overwhelmed with choices. We can take a look at all each one has to offer, and then you’ll have to narrow down the list and consider the dates they have available. I caution you not to drag your feet too much in this stage; dates fill up quickly, and many venues are now booked 12 – 18 months in advance.

Dream Team Assembly

Now, we’ll follow essentially the same process to book your remaining wedding pros: photographer, videographer, catering, entertainment, etc. I’ll provide you with options that fit your budget and your wedding vision (and that have your date available), and then you can choose the ones you like the best after meeting with them. I’ll be there to guide you through this process to ensure that you get all of the services you need from each. 

The Design Plan

Now, finally, it’s time to focus on all the pretty stuff! While you’ve been evaluating various wedding pros, I’ve been working on your design plan. I’ll present you with drawings and photos of your space with florals and other design elements in place, and I will also show you a 3-D computer simulation of your decorated venue to make it easier to imagine. I include this for all my planning clients, as some people have a hard time envisioning what things will look like when they’re all put together. We’ll probably go through a couple of iterations of this as we tweak the design to encompass everything you want for your day.

Filling In the Gaps

Once you’re happy with the design plan, I’ll be busy finding the rentals and/or purchases you’ll need to finish bringing your dream wedding to life. I’ll also help you select any final vendors you need based on the options you’ve chosen, from transportation to cigar roller to live painter. Whatever you’re hoping to have, if it exists, I’ll find it!

Final Logistics

While you prepare for your upcoming wedding and life beyond, I’ll touch base with all of your vendors to make sure everyone is on the same page. We’ll discuss who’s arriving when, what they’re bringing on the wedding day (or prep day, if that’s an option), and what they need to complete their work. I’ll use this information to build a minute-by-minute timeline of what’s happening on your wedding day. This isn’t something you’ll need to worry about, as it’s my job to keep us on schedule that day! I’ll also touch base with the two of you regarding any final details, as well as giving you checklists of the things you’ll need to bring for the rehearsal and the wedding day.

Rehearsal

Finally, the wedding day is nearly here! We’ll have a rehearsal, probably the day before the wedding, including everyone involved in the ceremony. We’ll cover what time to arrive, where everyone will stand, and everything that will happen on the wedding day. You’ll all practice processing in and out so it’s not awkward on wedding day, and then we’ll talk about any final details regarding things that need to be brought in, as well as arrival times on the wedding day. The entire rehearsal should only take 30 minutes, as long as everyone arrives on time!

Your Wedding Day

I’ll check in with you by text early on the wedding day, just to help calm any last-minute jitters and remind you of all the wonderful things coming your way later in the day. If you are getting ready at the same venue where your reception will take place, I’ll pop in a few times while you’re getting ready to see if you need anything. If you’ve chosen to have a wedding party concierge, then one of my staff will remain with you while you’re getting ready, along with our extensive emergency kit for any wrinkles, loose threads, or first aid needs that come up. I and my other assistant(s) will be at the ceremony venue followed by the reception venue, making sure everything is in place and ready for your arrival. 

Once everything is complete, I’ll arrive at your getting-ready space to help with the first look as well as any last-minute things that arise. My team and I will then accompany you to the ceremony venue, where we’ll be ready to help your guests as they arrive. Once it’s time to line up, I’ll direct the entire wedding party where they need to be, and wait with you until your time to make your grand entrance.

The Ceremony & Cocktail Hour

My team and I will be on hand to watch you get married! We’ve been waiting for this day too, and we can’t wait to see you tie the knot. Once the ceremony is complete and you’ve exited the ceremony space, an assistant will help direct those guests you’ve chosen to include in pictures, to help your photographer with getting everything done. An assistant will leave immediately after the ceremony to head to the cocktail hour (or reception, if you’re not having a cocktail hour), while the rest of my team and I will head to the reception venue to prepare any last-minute details, so that we’re all in place when you and your guests arrive.

The Reception

Now, it’s time to party, in whatever style you’ve designed that to be! We’ll be on hand for dinner and the festivities afterward, and you and your guests will have me as well as my assistant(s) on hand for the rest of the evening to attend to any needs that arise, including emergencies large or small. Once the reception draws to a close, we’ll direct and participate in clean-up, so that your venue is left as it was found. We’re also available to help with any logistics necessary at the end of the night for getting your guests back to wherever they’ll be spending the wedding night.

Wrap-Up

After your honeymoon, we’ll follow up to discuss your wedding day with you and address any questions or concerns you may have about the day or the planning process. We want you to be happy, and we want to know if there’s anywhere you think we could improve!

Conclusion

Well, I hope I’ve given you a better idea of what it’s like to be a Buttercup Celebrations wedding planning client! This is our signature service, and we give all of our attention to making it as pleasant an experience as possible for the two of you. Does this sound like something you’d like to explore for your wedding? Please either call or email, or complete the inquiry form on our website to get the ball rolling. We’d love to hear from you!