Question 1

How are your services different than a venue coordinator or catering manager?

Answer

This is a big one. All three are critical to the success of your event, but we all have different focuses and specialties. There's a misconception that wedding planning and coordination services are a luxury and not a necessity. That couldn't be more wrong, and I will break down why: Your venue coordinator's primary focus is to manage activities taking place in their space, and manage the space from a facility and operational point of view. What happens if hair and makeup is running behind? What happens if your transportation company only supplies one bus when you've arranged for two? These issues arise all the time, and it often falls on the family, wedding party, or the couple to solve them in the moment. Your catering manager's primary focus is to manage the food and beverage experience. Much of the reception timeline falls on the shoulders of the caterer, and out of necessity, they step in to manage it. You're spreading your catering manager very thin when they're asked to coordinate their staff as well as the many other vendors on site, and not to mention your wedding party, your family, and you! Our primary focus is simple - it's YOU. We work with you to determine your priorities and expectations for your day, and then we make them happen. It's as simple as that. The bottom line: when there is not a wedding coordinator present who is exclusively focused on managing the overall quality of experience, your other vendors need to step in and collectively play this role. But, it is not (and should not be) their primary focus. Their focus should be to capture that amazing shot at sunset, to provide the absolute best food service possible, to play your favorite songs at just the right time.

Question 2

Will working with a planner save us money?

Answer

It absolutely can. Hiring a planner is a front-loaded investment with long-term benefits and savings throughout the entire process. While I can't make any promises, I can confidently say that I have saved every single one of my clients money - equal to the amount of my cost of services - or more. But more importantly, I've saved them time and their peace of mind.

Question 3

How do you compare to other planners in Greater Boston?

Answer

Every planner offers a unique set of experiences, skills, and values. We all have different backgrounds, approaches, and personalities as well. There is a planner out there for every budget and every style, and it's super important that you not only identify your need for a planner, but identify the right fit. Our years of professional experience are reflected in the price tag. We aim to be accessible, without compromising on value and integrity of our work. The saying of "You get what you pay for" is definitely true in the event industry. It certainly pays to invest in a quality, professional service at the earliest stages of planning. Every planner is different, so we always encourage our clients to shop around to ensure their planner is the perfect fit for them. And once you've found them, invest in them!

Question 4

When is the right time to book?

Answer

It's never too early. For full service planning, the earlier the better. For other services, all we need to know is your date, venue, and anticipated guest count! Saturday dates during the popular months of June, September, and October can book out a year or more in advance. We only book one event per week/weekend.

Question 5

Do you travel?

Answer

We do! We are happy to travel for weddings and events throughout New England. Travel outside of the Northeast Region will depend on lead time and availability. All travel expenses are built into our flat rate fee.

Question 6

What's required to book with you?

Answer

A signed contract and non-refundable retainer are required to reserve your date and make it official! When we issue a proposal for services, it's valid for a 2 week period, during which we will notify you if another inquiry comes in for your date and give you 48 hours before your date is released. The non-refundable retainer is 25 for Custom Planning and Design and 50% for Event Management.

Question 7

Are you insured?

Answer

Sure are! We carry general liability and personal property insurance.

Question 8

Do you offer any discounts?

Answer

We offer a discount to non-profit organizations, active military, and veterans. Unlike some vendors that work in higher volume, we are not able to offer a discount for non-Saturday or off-season events. We only take on one event per week and a limited total number of events per year, so due to the limited volume and high-touch service that we provide, we are not able to offer tiered pricing in this way. Rather than seeking a discount, we encourage conversation about your desired budget so that we can design a service within that range, or refer you to another professional who can!

EXPERIENCE YOUR CELEBRATION

WITH JOY AND PEACE OF MIND

" Deciding to hire Elaina was by far the best decision I made during the planning process.

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Somehow, she was able to capture my vision and bring it to life. If anything went wrong that day, I wouldn't know because Elaina handled it. I will be forever grateful to her for the amazing work she did and the incredible support she gave me."

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- Sara and Simon -

FULL SERVICE PLANNING, DESIGN,

AND EVENT MANAGEMENT

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FOR THE BUSY HOST WHO CRAVES A GUIDED, STREAMLINED EXPERIENCE

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We're the Perfect Fit if You Are:

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- Busy and limited on time

- Feeling overwhelmed by the planning process

- Planning a destination wedding in New England

- Hosting at a nontraditional venue, tented space, or private residence

- Wanting to enjoy the planning process and have a streamlined experience

- Any or all of the above!

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How Does it Work?

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Services May Include:

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Regular Planning Meetings

Budget Setting + Expense Tracking

Finding a Venue

Curating Your Vendor Dream Team

Contract Review

Complete Management of Venue/Vendor Communications

Personalized + Tailored Event Design

Wedding Day/Weekend Management

Planning of Ancillary Wedding Events (showers, brunches, rehearsal dinners...)

And more...

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We meet you wherever you are in planning process and design a service that's tailored for your wedding or event's unique needs.

" My only regret was that we didn't meet and hire Elaina sooner. She is a game changer.

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I thought that I could handle all the moving parts but there was so much I didn't know. Elaina is a true professional; we hired her as a full service planner and always tell people it is the very best gift I have ever given myself. "

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- Elyssa and Jim -

EVENT MANAGEMENT

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FOR THE PLANNER AT HEART WHO WANTS TO BE A GUEST AT THEIR EVENT

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This Service is a Great Fit if You Are:

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- Looking for more than just a coordinator

- Wanting to take the pressure off family + friends for helping out that day

- Enjoying the planning process but want access to a pro for questions

- Wanting to step out of planning mode as you get closer to your event

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How Does it Work?

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Base Service Includes:

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Email Access and Planning Resources

Complimentary Budget Consult

Venue Walk-Through

Creation of Event Day Timeline

Assistance with Floor Plan Creation

Several Planning Meetings

Review + Confirm All Details with Venue and Vendors

Ceremony Rehearsal for Weddings

Full Event Day Management

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Please note that we offer limited dates for Event Management.

We open our calendar for event management clients six months ahead of your date. For example, if your wedding is in October 1, you can book as early as April 1.

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Event Management begins at $3800

INVESTMENT

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Full Service Planning + Design typically works best for overall budgets that begin at $ 800 per guest

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Event Management services typically work best for overall budgets that begin at $ 400 per guest

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We assess a flat fee, calculated based on scope and scale of work. We do not charge a percentage of your total expenses and we do not mark up other vendors' products or services.

To determine a flat fee, we take into account: where you are in the process, scope of work, location(s), guest count, and complexity of logistics. After we connect to learn about your event, we put together a custom service proposal that's tailored to your event.