what is a ‘virtual’ wedding design or wedding planning package?
If you’ve just got engaged (or you’re realising you’ve got 3 months left ‘til your big day and you still haven’t sorted your wedding design, decor and styling) WITHOUT engaging the services of a professional Wedding Planner or Wedding Stylist then this post is for you.
It’s to show you you CAN do it - with an injection of expert help (that’s where I come in). Let’s hit some FAQs about my Design My Wedding online-only packages…my way to provide wedding pro help that’s inbetween the two extremes of hiring a Planner or Stylist with full planning and support, AND doing everything yourselves with no support.
Q: WHY HAVE YOU INTRODUCED THESE online styling PACKAGES 🧐?
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE doing Full Styling Packages for weddings (mainly in London) but I’ve realised over the past few years that fewer and fewer people have thousands of pounds to spend on making their wedding look a certain way.
I wanted to find a way to help couples get the most out of smaller budgets - whilst still having their day look and feel as stylish, curated and beaut as possible. This can be challenging but involves being savvy; knowing where to shop or hire, how to create visual effects and spectacles, where to focus your efforts PLUS learning how to make money back afterwards and avoid waste (particularly if you buy bits from high street shops to dress your day).
ESSENTIALLY I want to show you how to save money on wedding decor without it looking cheap/bad/unconsidered.
Having a design plan early on can change how you feel about your wedding - and not just on the day itself
Booking wedding styling for a lot of couples feels like a luxury or the last thing on their list they might invest in but I believe if couples flipped that and put a Wedding Design Plan in place FIRST (the backbone of my virtual wedding packages) the whole experience of planning their wedding would be SO MUCH BETTER in every way. By having a wedding design & styling plan in place you enable:
less stress
less indecision
less time researching/trial & error
more fun
more creativity
more money saved
more time for general life
q: WHAT IS A ‘VIRTUAL’ or ‘online-only’ WEDDING DESIGN PACKAGE?
‘Virtual’ is how I’m describing my Design My Wedding packages (which have two different levels) because they’ll take advantage of online technology to be delivered without the need for face to face in-person meetings - but you still get 1-to-1 bespoke advice from me…read on 👇🏼
The packages are the opposite of a one-size-fits-all, pre-recorded programme which tells you your colour scheme and what to put on your tables. I use things like questionnaires and Zooms to tailor completely bespoke advice about your venue and wedding day.
Did you know when you work with a wedding stylist or wedding designer, the majority of design work will be virtual/happen on computers anyway..?
Here are some of the ‘virtual’ tools I’ll use:
Zoom - for a 1 to 1 real life chat and consultation with me, focused on creating your bespoke design and giving you all my wedding stylist tips
Online Questionnaire, Pinterest, file sharing i.e. videos or pics of your space you might have taken on your phone to look at specific design issues
Email chat - to follow up and get more detail if needed
PDF Design Plan - like a mini book written just for you and your day
I’ve done this before, so you don’t have to re-invent the wheel!
Why start from scratch on the blaring blank page of a new Google search when I can shortcut your research process by taking all your event specifics into account - venue, vibe, logistics and budget - to suggest relevant and creative solutions, saving you oodles of headspace and time.
Q: WHAT DO WE GET WHEN WE WORK WITH YOU?
MY LITTLE BLACK BOOK
I’ve spent years working on events, finding niche suppliers, online suppliers and have made relationships with reliable, quality sellers - both online and in person.
You get to benefit from my personal contacts and relationships with wedding and non-wedding industry suppliers who like working directly with a planner/stylist rather than with couples - you can still benefit from those connections WITHOUT hiring me as a full time stylist, by being referred or me making links with my contacts on your behalf.
Suggestions could include: Venues, Florists, Sign makers, Neons, Lighting hire/buys, Faux and real plants, London Wedding Photographers, Guest book experience ideas, tableware hire companies, glassware and cutlery hire companies, furniture and prop sourcing…to name a few! I can also cater to very specific styling or prop requests if you want to throw some my way!
AN EYE FOR SOURCING
A huge part of my job includes sourcing for all types of budgets and getting creative with how products or materials are used. I have an eye for design and can always find amazing products in low-cost retailers that I pass on to my couples, as well as sourcing secondhand finds, collections or cool hire companies.
10 YEARS+ DESIGN EXPERIENCE - LOGISTICS, SETTING UP, PLANNING & DESIGN
I’ve been creating events working with couples but also corporate companies, brands and charities for over 10 years (read more about some of my non-wedding experiences HERE) so I can go into a space and have very specific design and decor ideas FOR THAT SPACE, as well as knowing what will and won’t work with my internal risk-assessment brain - all without needing to set it up and seeing it fail on your big day! (Not sexy but very helpful on events 😂).
Often when couples have their wedding venue in place they need to know how to work in a site-specific way with that space (that’s where I can help) - a lot of ideas seen on Pinterest or Instagram simply can’t be cut and pasted into a venue.
NEW IDEAS & ORIGINALITY
Both Pinterest and Instagram can become a bit same -same; sometimes its nice to come across things that the algorithm HASN’T suggested to you! In the course of our time together, if I’ve seen or discovered something that I think could inspire you or give you a brilliant idea for your wedding, I’ll pass it on.
Q: can we add wedding set up on to a package?
Yes - if your wedding is in London
SETTING UP YOUR WEDDING DESIGN ON THE DAY
IF you don’t have anyone to set up for you (I’m thinking of hands-on, practical friends who know what they’re doing, don’t mind coming early and can get up ladders) then I can arrange for a trusted, talented stylist to come and set up for you on my behalf - or I’ll come and set up myself if available.
Q: WHAT DOES THE PROCESS LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU BOOK A PACKAGE?
Normally after finding me online, couples follow a similar path which includes:
Browsing my stuff online (website, instagram, blog, pinterest, google reviews) to see if we’re a good fit vibe-wise
Book a free 15 minute chat easily on Calendly where couples get to ask me 1 thing about their wedding. It could be something you’re stuck with or want advice on. This is a great way to focus the chat and help give you a little injection of value so you can see what it’s like working with me. I’ll assess which package I think might suit you best during the call and answer any questions you might have.
Couples often want to add extras to the DMW packages (commonly - On The Day Set-Up if available) so sometimes I’ll send over a bespoke quote and payment link to pay easily online in installments.
Once paid, I’ll send over the Welcome Pack which includes handy info to get the most out of our time together and the initial bumper Questionnaire to collect as much info as possible about you, the wedding and much much more. Then I can get to work delivering your bespoke, boutique, Wedding Design Plan 😎
I WANT TO MAKE BITS FOR OUR WEDDING, HOW DOES THIS GET FACTORED IN?
A lot of couples I work with are creative souls (I think we’re drawn to one another!) and are often keen for a bit of making and creativity - yes to help their budget go further but also because they enjoy making stuff, crafting and using their hands!
I’m a BIG believer in the joy of crafting. Making stuff also makes wedding days super personal to guests, and the scope of personalisation when you make things is infinite - matching unique colour schemes, cultural references, patterns and more are all possibilities.
I CAN HELP YOU DIY THINGS FOR YOUR WEDDING THAT ARE ACTUALLY QUITE DECENT
You might have a great idea, or you’ve been inspired by something on Pinterest or Instagram but have no idea how to make it, what the materials are, how much it might cost or what tools are needed. This comes up a lot when people realise they need a table plan, name places or table names to help the day flow smoothly (but also want them to look good and reinforce their visual theme or identity).
That’s when I can come to the rescue and give you the lowdown. I can supply a breakdown for creative ideas and how to make them. HOW? I’ve worked as a maker, artist, prop designer and set designer for the past 15 years - working out the best way to make things is my bread and butter - I can often look at a piece of decor or a prop and deconstruct the making process in my head…allowing you to shortcut lots of hours of trial & error, plus money wasted on the wrong materials or tools.
At the questionnaire stage of the packages, I ask what level of making you’d be up for, what you’d like to make and available tools so I can give you appropriate ideas, materials and techniques to try.
Equally, if you just want to order everything in and not pick up a glue gun, that’s totally doable too.
how much time do we need to get a design my wedding package?
When people get married they often leave the decor, dressing and venue styling until the last thing to organise - when a lot of decor (especially on tight budgets) can take a time to source, make and put together.
Luckily for couples that DO leave it until last (I’m thinking 3 months or less before their big day) I have invaluable wedding and creative experience to shortcut time, trial and error, PLUS knowing ways to decorate your space that don’t rely on booking lots of other suppliers that you could DIY.
I’d love for you to come to me as soon as you get engaged, so you can get the most out of me but I’ve delivered Design My Wedding Packages for couples with THREE MONTHS to go til their day. I can’t guarantee my recommended suppliers will be available but I’ll endeavour to do the best I can with that timescale!
The Wedding Quickie SOS level can be booked at any point upto your wedding - but I’d recommend having at least two months to go before your day, so any help, changes and advice can be implemented.
Q: WHAT IS THE ‘QUICKIE SOS’ SERVICE?
I included this level as some couples are doing very much DIY weddings but may just have a small list of wedding elements they’re stuck with. It’s an HOUR consultation on Zoom where you can dive into my brain and event and wedding design experience.
You might have tried to make something but it looks like a dog’s dinner, need installation ideas for a tricky part of your venue or want to shortcut research time and want to know where to source particular hire items, or get recommendations of which suppliers to choose over others in terms of reliability and quality.
This is where getting on Zoom for an hour and going over everything, sharing screens, pics, vids and having that focused time together can unlock and unstick a couple, ready to get going again on their own planning and creative process. After the call I’ll forward you any links or references that came up via email.
You can book a WEDDING QUICKIE SOS HERE
Q: are your packages ONLY FOR LONDON WEDDINGS?
As I’ve been doing events and weddings in London for the last decade, I’ve made contacts with suppliers that may be based in London, or only supply to London and surrounding areas.
If you’re getting married in Glasgow, I’m not going to know off the top of my head where we can hire mirrorballs or a collection of tropical plants (for example). I still use national suppliers outside of London who deliver UK wide, but elements like the site visits and set-ups are location specific, hence why I’m focusing on London venues and weddings (for now).
I also know many London wedding venues which can be an amazing resource for you to tap into.
Q: WHAT’S YOUR CURRENT AVAILABILITY LIKE?
Signature Design My Wedding Packages are available to book now from January 2025 onwards.
Wedding Quickie SOS Hours are available to book now from January 2025 onwards.
You can book a Discovery Call to chat about booking any of the packages at any time.
If you just want to stay in touch for now, feel free to join the monthly mailing list below and get your FREE WEDDING DESIGN KICKSTART GUIDE 👇🏼