FAQ

It's often said:

“You don’t need a planner.”
“Anyone can do it.”
“It’s just one day — why spend so much?”

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But here’s the truth: most couples who try to go it alone end up feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, and resentful of how much time it takes — not just in the final week, but over many months. Full wedding planning can range from 250-400+ hours of work!

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Planning a wedding isn’t just about the day itself. It’s a full-time job with hundreds of small decisions, contracts, visuals, communications, logistics, and emotional dynamics.

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If no one is doing that job, it usually falls on you — or your family and friends. This short and sacred season of walking toward marriage shouldn't be consumed by checklists and stress. It should be a time of clarity, beauty, and peace.

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Investing in a planner or coordinator isn't just about avoiding stress on the wedding day — it's about protecting your entire engagement season.

In the Chicago boutique-style planning market, here are common price ranges:

• Coordination (Month-of): $3,000–$4,500+

• Partial Planning: $10,000–$15,000+

• Full Planning + Design: $15,000–$25,000+​
   

These rates reflect the hands-on hours, logistical expertise, and specialized care needed for each level of planning. 

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At Elea, my starting prices are intentionally lower than many agencies, boutiques or planning firms — not because the work is less, but because I’ve chosen a boutique model rooted in relationship, slowness, and presence. I only take on a few weddings each year so I can give each couple my full attention. It’s a different pace, and a different kind of care — one that’s deeply personal, not mass-produced.

My pricing is based on a flat planning fee plus a percentage of your total wedding budget, with a minimum budget requirement depending on the package.

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This hybrid structure reflects the reality that the more vendors and logistics involved, the more time, expertise, and care your celebration requires. Like in any project-based work — whether it’s design or consulting — this approach ensures your support scales with the complexity of the event.

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Note: My Month-of Coordination package is offered at a flat fee + complexity of details only, since it’s limited to executing the plan you’ve already made — not extensively revising or expanding it.

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It’s a thoughtful question — and a common one. But in reality, a seamless wedding day requires much more than simply showing up. At a minimum, I step in one month before to offer: 

 Planning & Preparation

• Access to me as a resource for quick check-ins or questions after booking

• 1 full planning handoff meeting (~6 weeks out)

• 1 layout & timeline finalization meeting

• Guest count confirmation + vendor check-in

• Review of all contracts and logistical documents you've arranged

• Review of your final budget + troubleshooting red flags

• Wedding day timeline review + edits

• Processional planning + ceremony/reception flow guidance

Vendor & Production Oversight

• Final vendor communication to align on load-in, setup, and transitions

• Rehearsal direction with your wedding party and officiant

• Assistance prepping final shot list, cue list, and music transitions

• Review of layout and decor placement plan

Wedding Day Coordination

• Up to 12 hours onsite

• Vendor point-person and problem solver

• Set-up oversight + styling of personal décor items

• Cueing of ceremony, toasts, dances, and transitions

• Management of flow, timing, and troubleshooting

• Tear-down guidance + packing of personal items
   

Even for a more limited role, I bring extensive expertise, tools, and preparation. My approach is always personal and intentional. I don’t just arrive on the day — I walk with you in the weeks leading up to it, so everything flows smoothly and meaningfully when the day comes.

It’s a common question — and an important one. Many venues do provide a “coordinator,” but that role is often limited to venue-specific logistics: unlocking doors, managing their staff, keeping to the venue’s rules, and ensuring the space is left how it was found.

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What they typically do not do is:

• Set up or style any personal items or decor (signage, favors, photos, candles, etc.)

• Cue your ceremony, toasts, or dances

• Confirm or communicate with outside vendors

• Track your wedding timeline hour-by-hour

• Troubleshoot any issues unrelated to the venue
   

That’s where I come in. As your planner or coordinator, I’m there to carry the vision you’ve been building for months, with presence, clarity, and care. I manage every transition, every detail, every nuance — so you and your people don’t have to.

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This isn’t just about keeping things on schedule. It’s about allowing you to fully inhabit the joy, the beauty, and the meaning of the day you’ve been waiting for.

Being organized is a tremendous gift — and if you’ve created a clear plan, you’re already ahead of the curve. But even the most thoughtful plans need real-time execution. That’s where a professional steps in.

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Month-of coordination isn’t just about following your checklist — it’s about making sure your plan actually works on the day itself. A seasoned coordinator knows how to anticipate flow, adjust for the unexpected, and keep every detail aligned behind the scenes.

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You deserve to be fully present — not cueing the DJ, managing vendor questions, or solving timeline hiccups.

 

This package ensures your months of preparation translate into a seamless, meaningful celebration — so you can enjoy it all.

Yes — but only for Partial Planning or Full Planning + Design packages.

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Executing a wedding well from a distance requires deeper involvement in the planning process. To give you the care and excellence your day deserves, I need to be involved early enough to ensure every detail is thoughtfully in place before I ever hit the road.

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Because of the time, travel, and energy required, I only take on out-of-town weddings when they meet a certain planning threshold — it allows me to serve you wholeheartedly and sustainably.

Weddings unfold through a series of interconnected phases, each with its own responsibilities, decisions, and emotional tone. Here’s a fuller picture of what’s truly involved:

1. Envisioning – “What do we want this to feel like?”
   The foundational phase. You begin dreaming, collecting inspiration, imagining aesthetics, tone, story, and priorities. Often includes moodboarding and talking about values, not just visuals.

2. Budgeting & Scope – “What’s our investment, and what does that include?” Determining your total wedding budget, setting spending priorities, and clarifying what’s in scope (DIY vs. full-service, guest count, weekend vs. one-day, etc.).

3. Decision-Making – “What are our core choices?”
   Venue selection, guest count, date, vendor style preferences, and early contracts are signed. These decisions shape everything that follows.

4. Design Development – “How will this look and feel in reality?” Designing the visual and sensory identity of the wedding: color palette, textures, paper goods, floral vision, signage, rentals, attire, tablescape, and cohesive aesthetic direction.

5. Planning & Infrastructure – “How do we make this happen?” Building timelines, task lists, vendor trackers, budget spreadsheets, layouts, contracts, and overall organization. The admin engine of the wedding.

6. Communication – “Who needs to know what, and when?” This includes everything from invitation and RSVP processes to vendor emails, family updates, hotel blocks, shuttle schedules, and signage. Clear communication prevents chaos.

7. Vendor Management – “Who is doing what — and how do they work together?” Researching, booking, and aligning vendors with your vision and needs. Later includes confirming details, coordinating logistics, and troubleshooting issues.

8. Logistics & Coordination – “How does it all come together on the weekend?” Final walkthroughs, seating charts, packing lists, timelines, delivery schedules, cue sheets, and preparing everyone for their role. This is the “closing the loop” phase.

9. Execution & Oversight – “It’s happening — let’s carry it out.” The wedding weekend itself. Includes set-up, styling, cueing, problem-solving, and ensuring every moment flows — while you’re fully present in it.

10. Tear-Down & Closeout – “What’s left to wrap up?”
    Managing teardown, collecting personal items, final vendor payments and gratuities, and debriefing after the day.
     

Each of my packages enters at a different phase and takes on different responsibilities.
• Full Planning (Root to Fruit) guides you through every phase start to finish.
• Partial Planning joins around Phase 3 or 4, and helps structure and coordinate what you’ve already begun.
• Month-of Coordination steps in at Phase 7, confirming and managing what you’ve already built.
• Design Services focus on Phase 4 exclusively — visual identity, aesthetic cohesion, and creative consultation (not day-of styling or install unless combined with planning).