Kindred Weddings and Events FAQ

As an engaged couple who is mindful of the big wedding decisions they make, including booking vendors and how to spend their budget, I know you’ve got questions for Kindred Weddings and Events! So here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions I get during a free consult session.

Should I hire a wedding planner or a coordinator?

If you are 10+ months out from your wedding and feel drained when you think about wedding planning, you probably have decision fatigue. It’s time to use your lifeline and phone a pro! I’m talking about hiring a wedding planner. If you have no idea where to start and want someone to coach you through which vendors you should book first, how to think outside the box when it comes to crafting your dream wedding, and basically be there for you through the whole process, hire a wedding planner.

If you and your significant other are energized by making lists and checking things off, are ready to do some research and tour venues, and are willing to say “no” to the things that just aren’t you enough for your wedding day, give yourself some helping hands. Hire a wedding coordinator (or book a wedding management package) to manage things in the months leading up to the big celebration. That way you can focus on the important relationships in your life.

What does a wedding designer do?

The world around us is full of intricate and subtle designs that help shape us into who we become. Design can do the exact same thing at a wedding. Serve as a pool of reflection of the couple professing their love to the world. A wedding designer encourages, supports, and educates you so you feel absolutely confident in your couple style and wedding ambiance!

I specifically walk all design clients through our signature Wedding Planning Foundation Guide to help you find the pieces of your personalities that can uniquely tie into your wedding decor, ambiance, and guest experience. I also partner with you and your design vendors (florist, rentals, venue, etc) to create, plan, and execute your design decisions.

Wedding design for me is a world of exploration as I get to know you. Where every idea is connected and leads to the final iteration. Take a peek into my design process and thoughts when I was featured as Planner of the Month at the Provenance Rentals Showroom.

How far in advance do I need to book my vendors?

It’s important to start your vendor conversations early in your planning, so you have an idea of where your budget meets reality. The order you book your vendors will depend on your priorities and wedding vision.

Typically most clients should be booking their foundational vendors first about 10-12 months out. This includes your venue (and your date), wedding planner, and catering, staffing, and bartending services. These vendors help build out the foundation of your event, and knowing the logistics of their services can help you craft an event around them.

If you want to hire a professional and well-seasoned wedding vendor like Kindred Weddings and Events, inquire ASAP to see if your date is available!

My venue provides a “coordinator”, do I still need to hire a wedding coordinator?

These two roles provide a different level of support for you during wedding planning and on the wedding day. A venue coordinator is employed by the venue. Therefore, they are focused on running the venue staff and exceeding the expectations of what they have promised to deliver per your contract. Did that contract mention helping you decide on floral arrangement colors? Or cement them as the point person running your rehearsal hour? Or confirm being the point of contact for all your vendors when setting up? Nope, this is going to be the job of your wedding coordinator or planner!

We partner with the venue coordinator to double-check logistics and communicate last-minute changes. The venue coordinator implements these changes on their end with their venue staff. And most of the time, the venue coordinator is not present for the entirety of your wedding event. A banquet captain will probably be your main point of contact during the wedding. With a wedding coordinator or planner on your team, you get to relax on your wedding day and not be bothered by any last-minute questions!

Do you have specific vendors you will refer for my wedding day?

Absolutely! Kindred Weddings and Events has created many valuable relationships with all different types of vendors throughout Southern California. All clients who book us for wedding management will have access to our top picks (a list of over 150 vendors and growing) after the booking process has been completed! We start with a minimum of 3-4 custom recommendations for all our design and planning clients based on needs, approximate budget, personality, and wedding style.

What is the average investment clients make for a wedding designer vs. a wedding coordinator?

Since these two services not only differ from one another but also from wedding to wedding, the investment will vary. There are many factors to think about, including your wedding location, the length of the planning timeline involved, planning sessions, your guest count, design sessions + research, the number of vendors involved, all-inclusive venue vs. BYOV (bring-your-own-vendors) venues, etc.

For Wedding Management, clients can expect a starting price range of $2800. For Wedding Planning & Design packages, clients can expect to spend an average of $6400. You can see a more in-depth glance at these package options on our Services page! All packages are customized to your wedding vision and needs, including Partial Planning Packages for those who have already started planning.

Why do you only focus on intimate weddings?

After several years of wedding planning and coordinating, I have seen a wide variety of experiences. The ones that I gravitate towards most allow a couple the space to lean on their foundation. This gives them the freedom to be wholly and completely their most genuine selves! What do these weddings have in common? They are celebrated on a smaller scale – less people, less noise, less tradition, less fuss!

An intimate wedding setting lets you the couple, embrace all your relationships as they are. You can craft a guest experience that is quite particular to your needs and the needs of your guests because they overlap in many ways! This is why we focus on weddings of 100 guests or less.

Let’s be real, your time is so so valuable!! I want to make sure that through the entire process, from making vendor decisions to enjoying your day, you don’t miss out on a single moment of being present and feeling like your best self.

What do we talk about on a Discovery call?

The Discovery call is basically the meet-cute of the wedding planning world! You know, when we find out we have SO MUCH in common. Like you have a pet you treat like the king or queen of the castle. Or you grew up in NorCal and love escaping to the big trees. Or you’ve created fun + meaningful traditions around the holidays with your person.

Plus, I really just want to get to know you! I’m definitely going to gush over your Christmas day proposal, find charm and wedding inspiration in the story of your meeting at a Super Bowl party, and give you serious kudos for keeping the dating flame alive while working through med school together!

I can’t wait to hear all the details you’ve been dreaming of. From an outdoor ceremony under a canopy of trees and string lights to the perfect dessert that you had on your first date that is still your favorite. We’ll chat preliminaries – like what vendors you have booked, and which ones you may need help finding. I’ll ask you to share your top 3 priorities – is it delicious food, a venue that gives you all the feels, a dance floor that doesn’t stop, or a non-traditional intimate ceremony with lots of room for guest interaction?

Communicating with my couples is my TOP priority, that’s why the consult call is so important. I want to hear from you. About what in life elates you, what drains you, what you wish there was more space for, and what you want to make margin for. These items help me SEE YOU, so we can create a planning foundation that incorporates these elements, making your event so reflective of who you are at your core that your guests can’t help but exclaim, “This is SO THEM!”

Just like you felt that zap of energy, that release of tension, and the electrifying joy when you found your person, you should feel the same way about meeting your vendors! A consult call gives us a chance to connect beyond the list of tasks I can help you accomplish.

What is the booking process like?

I’m so excited to hear about your wedding plans and expectations! First, let’s set up a time to chat through your love story. I’ll tell you all about how Kindred Weddings and Events can elevate your wedding celebration and the guest experience. After we chat, I’ll be able to put together a custom proposal for you based on your wedding planning or design needs. This proposal will hold your wedding date for 14 days, upon which the signed contract and retainer will be due to move us forward.

Who will I be working with at KWE?

You’ll be working directly with me, Sarah! I’m the owner and lead planner at Kindred Weddings and Events, and I cannot wait to meet you.