The steps for planning a luxury wedding

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The luxury wedding planning process
As luxury wedding planners we are often asked what the main steps are for planning a wedding:
1. Concept, budget and plan:Develop an event concept and an outlinebudget and then
creating a plan to cover all the tasks to be completed in the run up to the wedding.Thisstep
is necessary before starting tendering with suppliers.
2. Style and creativity:Agree on the look and feel of thevarious elements of the wedding
celebration (church and venue) and, if required,develop mood boards that one can share
with potential suppliers to help them develop ideas and proposals.
3. Entertainment:Develop a menu of options for entertainment and source appropriate
entertainers and weave them into a running order that ensures that there are always a
variety of things going on.
4. Procurement:Issue tenders to potential suppliers, evaluate, negotiate prices and agree
amended specifications. Then pay deposits for these suppliers. In the final weeks before
the wedding, as the detailed plan for on-site coordination is created,manage the final
payments to suppliers when one is confident that they understand their brief.
5. Catering:Issue a tender to a short list of appropriate caterers, and then negotiate and
agree catering arrangements, followed by a tasting. Agree on the style of wedding cake,
arrange a tasting and then order the cake.
6. Calligraphy and Printing: Design, drafting and arranging the printing of save the date cards,
invitations and all other wedding stationary (i.e. orders of service).
7. Guest coordination: Arrange postage of save the date cards, development of a wedding
website if required, invitations, coordinating RSVPs and, if required, managing travel and
accommodation arrangements for guests.
8. Rehearsal and delivery: In the run up to the wedding, reconfirm all arrangements, conduct
rehearsals if required, develop a detailed running order and conduct a walk-through with
all suppliers. Pay all invoices when one is satisfied that suppliers fully understand their brief
and will meet the required standards on the day.
9. On-site coordination: Oversee the entire build and set-up phase in the run up to the
wedding day, and on the day itself, to ensure that the agreed concept is properly
executed. This means project management of every aspect of the wedding day to make
sure it runs smoothly. This includes last minute decisions, such as:
a. Dealing with any unforeseen circumstances or issues.
b. Briefing ushers on the running order and helping usher your guests.
c. Running errands for the wedding party (in the past this has included tasks like
finding a seamstress, to buying the groom handkerchiefs).
d. Last minute decisions about any aspect of your wedding to ensure that the show
goes on in the style intended.