FAQ’S

How do you charge for services?

We have three packages listed on this website: Wedding Management, Partial Planning, and VIP Planning & Design.  Each of these packages has a starting rate, however, once we have our initial consultation, we will create a custom package rate that reflects the complexity of the job based on anticipated hours spent planning and staffing needs.

What is included in wedding planning services?

Each package is described in great depth on this website.  But we also know every event is different and the needs are different.  We want nothing more than to see your celebration succeed!  That’s how we earned a 5 star rating on Google and the Knot!  So in our initial consultation, we will get a sense of the scope and provide an estimate that reflects that and some ala carte items that most people don’t need included in our packaging, but a few may want it.  

Are deposits refundable?

Deposits are non-refundable. Our “dates” are our inventory and once you book with us, we do not take any more events on that date.  So in order to flourish and be compensated for work, we begin almost immediately, and move forward behind the scenes even when we aren’t in direct contact with you.

Uh-Oh. What if there’s an emergency? Can we change the date or details without additional fees? 

We understand that things happen that force you to change dates. This is why we insist that you have a website to train your guests to utilize it for up to the minute information, for just these situations.  But if need be, we will work with you to alert all vendors and venues about changes. We will work with you to find a viable future date that works for both of us and move deposits forward to that date.

How much time do we need to plan this thing!?

Weddings generally take at least 9-12 months to plan properly (our record is 6 weeks!), but as you know, that will depend on the event itself. Some weddings can be planned in weeks. Others may take years to pull off perfectly. Therefore, we strongly recommend hiring a planner right away to guide you to the best vendors that match YOUR aesthetic and budget, which will help you make decisions more efficiently and reach your point of relaxation sooner.

Do you have a caterer, DJ or photographer referrals or partnership?

Tons! We have many vendors we refer our clients to who are nice to work with, create beautiful events with us and are reliable.  So while some may see this as a partnership, we prefer to call them relationships.  We have worked very hard to learn about the creative process for everyone from stationary designers to musicians. But truly, one of the best aspects of this industry is we all become friends and work well together on your wedding day!! For our VIP clients we actually “match” you to the vendors who we think will execute your event the best. 

How much experience do you have?

Rel(EVENT) came to be over eight years ago, after more than 15 years designing events of all kinds like sporting competitions, dance shows, art festivals, all sorts of parties, fundraisers and celebrations.

What’s it like to work with a wedding planner?

Fun. 

Seriously. At least it should be.

We have a deep passion for this which allows us to rely on our experience & expertise and still have time to keep our clients happy and focused on the important things.  Like each other.  

Behind the scenes we create, plan and organize everything using your directives, ideas, dreams, and inspiration. 

That produces not only a celebration that reflects YOU, but also makes your engagement a pleasure, not a part time job planning your wedding!

Why do I need a wedding planner?

If you have read this far, you probably already know that you do. Because weddings are full of details that may be foreign to you, since this is likely the first time you have thrown an event this size!  And the emotions of falling in love, negotiating family expectations, and navigating the wedding industry can be stressful. And yet, you still have to go perform well at your job, walk your new puppy, decorate your new home, spend time with your family, and just enjoy being engaged.  It’s a busy time in your life! We get that!  Which is why we have regular meetings to check in and a great system in Google Drive that you will love to keep track of everything!

We are experts in weddings.  We cut through the fringe of vendors and stick with the best.  We watch trends and outgoing trends.  Remember you may be engaged for a year or more and styles, color palettes, and other trends change. We keep an eye out for tired trends and new incoming fresh ideas from all over the world!

We also love to learn about better ways to create events. Our new software creates timelines down to the minute.  We have floor plan software that we can simulate your wedding layout, colors, linens and flowers in your venue or tent and then you can fly through it in 3D!  So your floor plan will end up with ample room to dance and mingle. We also have resources (and a few discounts) that help you add personality to your wedding!  Want a pink Airstream bar?  We got that!  Want literally hundreds of linens to pick from?  Got it.  Want a horse drawn carriage to bring you to your ceremony?  Yup, that too. Drone light show? Weird, but yes we can do that, too.

Do you have people to assist with setup and get all my stuff packed up at the end of the night?

We have a team of one lead planner, four assistants and several interns. Depending on the scope of the event, we bring along a crew and schedule them to be where they are needed most at various times.  Some are there or set-up, some go with the couple to assist with photos, some stay for breakdown at the end of the night to make sure you have everything when you leave, especially gifts! 

How many events do you do a year? You seem so busy on your IG! 

Depending on our annual corporate events each year, we take a limited amount of weddings per season, with no more than two per month in order to be present and focused on our couples at the most crucial part of their engagement period.  

Do you only work with your preferred vendors or can we select our own?

For our VIP clients, you will likely be hiring the vendors we have matched to you personally, who are top-notch insured professionals who excel at their craft.  For all of our clients, we are open to meeting new vendors, as long as they are talented professionals and provide a certificate of insurance.  If you insist on hiring a non-professional, we reserve the right to charge an additional fee for the additional time we will have to spend with them guiding them through the planning process and the day itself.  And they will still need to purchase and provide proof of insurance for the day. 

Ask us what we think of Uncle George behind the camera or your college roommate playing off his Spotify playlist. 

We got stories.

How far will you guys travel?

We go anywhere you want to be married and we do have passports.  We are familiar with Charleston, SC, Asheville NC, SoCal, NJ, NYC, and Florida.  We love Costa Rica, Mexico, Lake Como, Rome, Florence and Paris. We know how to get the right venues and vendors from afar because we know how to ask the right questions of the best people.  Research is one of our many super powers!

I want to have an outdoor wedding and/or reception.  How do you handle bad weather?

Before you even commit to an outdoor event we will discuss the location, wind, rain, flooding, and all the what ifs and options. 

Then we will have a Plan B and even a Plan C.  With umbrellas, tarps and paper towels.

Then we will discuss event insurance (super cheap) to protect you and your investment.  Because weather is unpredictable, but peace of mind is something you need to be able to rely on, as you plan.

Will you set up our wedding website and online RSVP’s?

We know not everyone is comfortable creating websites and relying on online RSVP’s, but we are happy to create your website, if you provide the information and photos, for an additional fee. However, guests RSVP’s will have to be monitored by you or a family member to assure direct communication, so changes or special requests are documented immediately. Guests are more likely to contact you or a family member and this reduces possible omissions or mistakes.

Can you create and handle the assembly of my 200 favors and 30 welcome bags?

We love that you want to spoil your guests and know that these tasks (while fun to dream up) can be time-consuming to purchase, package, tag and deliver!  Our team will gladly take care of it all and make sure they are received for a nominal fee. But if you decide too assemble everything, we will deliver them for you at no additional charge.

What is the best way to communicate with you?  

We are in the office almost daily from 9-5:00, unless we are at appointments. We find email is best for brain dumping after hour thoughts or documenting details that need to be remembered.  Scheduled calls are appreciated, so we can set aside the time you need, sit with your file and are focused solely on you and your event.  We don’t mind an occasional short text during business hours (especially to share great ideas) or when you are enroute to meet us somewhere and you’re running behind. But if you need to discuss something immediately during business hours, just call and if we are free, we will happily chat with you!  We do our best to respond to any messages within two business days or sooner.

What else can you tell us about your team?

We love what we do. 

We love love. 

We love diversity, cleverness, intelligence, challenges and humor.  

We laugh. 

A lot.

Our team is made up of motivated, passionate, organized, creatives who make a point of getting to know you, even if you only meet them on the day of your wedding!  We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we do take each event seriously. 

It is such an honor to design, plan and execute your event and then watch you relax and enjoy it.  We see you. We have seen head banging brides dancing, groomsmen breakdancing, children learning their first moves on the dance floor, grandparents dancing a slow dance on the dance floor. Dad’s smile beaming from ear to ear, while mom is dancing barefoot to “Get Low”. 

And many tears of joy, 

Which is why we have such a big emergency kit full of bandaids, tissues and Advil.