Our Services // Part One - Full Planning

Our full planning package, non-list style.

Emily and Shami celebrating their wedding day!

From inquiry to post wedding day, I want to give you an example of what your engagement could look like. I say could, because every single wedding we've done has been different. Some processes might be similar, but we're planning your wedding, not our last couple, and not a future couple. This is your special day and we are so honored to be a part of it.

Oh man, I just received a new inquiry for a date I have available. It reads something like, "I've checked out your website and your photos are just the type of wedding we want to have. I just got engaged over the holidays and would love to learn more about what your full planning services look like."  In order to save time, (on what could be a lengthy blog), I'll skip our follow up e-mails, a coffee date, and now I've received a signed contract, and created a payment plan. Generally a full wedding package can be booked from 2 years, to 8 months out. Let's say their wedding date is a year and a half out (June of 2017).

Time out. I want to make sure they've had plenty of time to celebrate their engagement, before jumping head first into planning. If they've already told their friends, family, maybe had a small party, let's get going!

Kaiti and Jon enjoying one another during their engagement photos!

Now, we can either meet again, discuss via e-mail or phone about the vision for their wedding day. Everything from style of food and service (ie. Traditional Buffet, BBQ Stations, Italian Family Style) to their priority list of vendors (Photography is most important to them, Music isn't as important, etc) and budget. Once I have their vision, their priority list and budget, I start creating my own list of vendors (both from our preferred list, as well as vendors local to the area that they will be getting married in). After sending that list to our couple, I'll get a small list back of ones they really like and want me to check the vendors availability on. From there, I'll send some emails to vendors, maybe get some sample menus, price lists, etc and send them back to our couple. Our couple might like Forget Me Not Vintage Rentals, and want me to accompany them to their warehouse. That's a-okay with me, I love working with Renee (a small plug, definitely).

During all these emails to vendors, and to our couple I remind them to start creating their guest list. If they want to send save the dates, they should get on that too (and in the midst of looking for photographers, some offer free engagement sessions which make great Save the Dates!)

So after quite a few emails to vendors, and then a little less than that to our couple, they book their vendors. A florist might not be priority to them, so they want to wait until they know pricing of what's in season, (and that's okay, I'll remind them when they should start looking at the florist list again). With vendors booked, there's some down time. I'll send a monthly checklist, and will still be available to them 24/7. That monthly checklist can include as much, or as little as they want me to be involved in such as, attending any vendor meetings like cake tasting, dj listening, dress fitting or easy things like, "Have you chosen your bridesmaids dresses yet?" And it continues. E-mails, follow up with vendors, attending some meetings, going out for coffee/tea, answering sometimes crazy calls from mothers, and the list goes on.

Now of course that's not the end of our package, some of the most exciting times are just ahead. Our full planning will continue with RSVP management, follow ups to vendors, visiting the ceremony and reception sites, creating a timeline, day of coordination, etc. But in order to show you all three of our packages, I'm saving the next few months for our Partial Planning services, and then finally Day of Coordination. (Once those posts are done I will have links to those blog posts.)

I hope this has given you better insight to what I really do. And believe me, there's even more things that come up, get tossed at me, and changed (like a complete vision of the day) that I am prepared for. Our full planning package means I'm available to you 24/7. When you're lying in bed and you remember "Oh crap, I forgot my great grandpa needs a boutonniere", you can text me and by the morning your florist will have added it. We become friends of sort. Sometimes I have to give you a kick in the pants, and other times I have to tell you to slow down, and take a breather. This is your wedding day we're planning together, but you and your fiance are planning your marriage. Celebrate this time as often as possible. Make date nights without any wedding day talk. Enjoy it.

A donut cake at an elopement shoot, because why not? Photo by Kelley Spurlock.

Thanks so much for reading, and I truly can't wait to be a part of your celebration. Go ahead and click that Contact Us button now. We're booking up, but want to be available to as many Full Planning weddings as possible in late 2016 and 2017.

Take care,
Candice Mock
Wedding Planner