July 9, 2024
The Essential Guide To High-End Wedding Planning For A Luxurious Experience
Your wedding day will be one of the most important days of your life, together as a couple. Whether you are planning an intimate affair or a large-scale celebration fit for the pages of Vogue, the same considerations apply when planning a wedding. These ensure you achieve the day of your dreams which is elegant without being ostentatious.
In this post:
What defines a luxury wedding?
The words ‘luxury’ or ‘high-end’ have become quite the marketing tool across the wedding industry in recent years. These terms mean different things to different people — essentially, they represent a standard of quality, interpreted by what is, or is not, attainable to us.
To us, at ByChenai Events, for a wedding to be high-end and luxurious, it requires authenticity, not imitation. It’s about creating an experience that is bespoke, creative and unique to you. The wedding should make an impact, tell a story and represent you as a couple. It is never just about the way a wedding looks. It’s about how the wedding feels and how it is enjoyed.
Creating a genuinely high-end or luxurious wedding is complex. It’s not just about selecting the most expensive or well-renowned suppliers. It’s about striking the perfect balance between pushing the realms of possibility and creativity with understated elegance. Every element, from the biggest ticket price items down to the smallest details, needs to seamlessly work together as if by magic. Many small details can be overlooked, but every detail counts and contributes to the overall experience. The entire wedding needs a cohesive concept and sense of vision and purpose to bring it together authentically in the best way possible.
Many suppliers will call themselves ‘luxury’, but to offer something truly luxurious or at the ultra high-end, suppliers need to be at the top of their game. They must offer originality and artistry, possess business acumen, be client-focused and deliver impeccable customer service.
7 Key Considerations for creating a high-end wedding experience
Wedding planning is a joyous journey, marking the beginning of your life together. However, it can also be overwhelming. Forget about what is considered ‘luxury’ or ‘on trend’; your goal is to create a celebration that brings family and friends together and truly reflects your personalities.
We’ve put together a guide to share our top considerations when planning a high-end wedding experience, whether it be a single-day, multi-day or destination wedding.
1. Crafting a unique VISION, CONCEPT & DESIGN
Every wedding should start with a blank piece of paper, so you can build a vision, concept and design that is completely your own. Mood boards are your best friend in this process. Encompass colour palettes, textures and patterns, and consider all the senses – sound, sight, smell, taste and touch – to create a tangible base for your wedding. Together, the vision, concept and design form the foundation of your wedding planning, helping steer the direction whilst acting as an anchor to refer back to.
2. Establishing & managing your BUDGET
Regardless of the size or scale of a wedding, budgets are fundamental. Even for those who say “there is no budget”, there is still an upper limit somewhere that can’t be exceeded. And even if the budget seems limitless, it is still important to create a budgetary structure to help allocate funds and prioritise accordingly. This will help you determine your essentials and your nice-to-haves.
There is so much noise about what the ‘average’ wedding costs or what a ‘luxury’ wedding costs, but as I have touched on before, this is totally subjective. There is no one rule or one cost to fit all couples and weddings.
3. Choosing the perfect LOCATION & VENUE
Everyone knows the importance of the location and venue, but when it comes to a high-end wedding experience, there are further considerations to keep in mind. After all, the location sets the scene, so you want this to be right.
Be sure to consider:
- Exclusivity & Privacy: Can you exclusively hire the venue and make it your own? A place where guests can feel at ease.
- Flexibility: Will your venue allow you to use the suppliers you want to, or do they ask you to choose from their recommended list?
- Services: What services are offered as standard, which may be expected by your guests? Think of valet parking, laundry, childcare services, and so forth.
- Accessibility: How will guests get there from London or an international airport? What are the transport links like? Could you land a helicopter if needed?
Considering these factors will help ensure that your venue not only meets but exceeds the expectations.
>> Top UK Luxury Wedding Venues
4. Perfecting THE FINER DETAILS
From the printed stationery to flower arrangements to bespoke food and beverage, a trusted team of suppliers with a high level of attention to detail will deliver your wedding experience. But remember, no item should be considered in isolation. Each supplier, each touchpoint, and each decision should be well-thought-out, working together harmoniously to elevate the overall experience. Consider how these elements will transform your venue into a one-of-a-kind day for you.
Invest in the best when it comes to your caterer, florist, production, entertainment, photographer and so forth. This doesn’t necessarily mean choosing the most expensive option or the one with the most followers on Instagram. The best suppliers are those who fully capture your vision with a unique approach and are truly invested in your wedding. Trust in them, and their expertise will elevate your wedding to an ultra-high-end experience.
Remember the importance of the senses – sound, sight, smell, taste and touch. Keep these in mind when deciding on the finer details of your wedding, as they will all impact the senses to create a lasting memory. And you want it to be a positive one!
5. Elegant WARDROBE Choices
For the most important walk of your life, walking down the aisle, you want to feel your absolute best and THE dress is a huge consideration. For us, high-end and quietly luxurious wedding attire doesn’t automatically mean couture. It’s the outfit that gives effortless confidence and exudes elegance. You don’t need a couture designer to define your style and outfit; guests should recognise you and how exquisite you look without needing to know who made it.
Of course, we do love couture, so if a designer gown is important to you, then absolutely go for it. Be sure to keep lead times in mind for a dress to be designed, created, fitted, altered, finished and even shipped. And with the dress comes accessories. Often, less is more, and we suggest considering the neckline and structure of your dress when choosing jewellery to strike the perfect balance. You might like to enlist the help of a dedicated bridal stylist to help create your perfect look. Bridal stylists are becoming increasingly popular, especially for wedding weekends, where brides want carefully put together and curated looks for each part of their wedding experience.
Now, let’s not forget the gents! There is nothing smarter than a properly fitted, made-to-measure suit, so we would always recommend the gents opt for a bespoke, tailored suit. You want to balance each other, without outweighing each other. There are no standard patterns or sizes to conform to; and it will be unlike any other suit he owns – the perfect cut and tailored, with bespoke touches.
6. Ensuring an exceptional Wedding GUEST EXPERIENCE
You want to surpass everybody’s expectations and leave a lasting impression. Yes, that’ll come with impactful decor and impressive florals, but it’ll also come with exceptional hospitality, attentive staff, and a well-managed schedule. These are the elements guests will remember, too! Consider the itinerary and timeline carefully. It should be well-organised, flow seamlessly, but also leave people wanting more! They always say, end the party on a high!
7. PLANNING SUPPORT
As wedding planners, we love the logistical side of weddings. Not the most glamorous we know, but oh so imperative to create a flawless experience. There is an endless list of logistical elements to think of when planning a wedding – no matter the size or budget, logistical issues can arise. You want to ensure you are one step ahead of the game by asking your venue pre-emptive questions before you sign the contract. Are there any restrictions on how late you can party or how loud the band can play that could negatively impact the day? A wedding planner will know all the details to check along the way!
Planning a wedding can be overwhelming and daunting, especially for high-end weddings when there are larger budgets at play, and higher expectations to meet. Chances are, you’ve not organised a wedding before, let alone at this level, so consider enlisting the help of a wedding planner who specialises in supporting you, planning meticulously and delivering to the highest standards. You won’t regret it.
How working with a dedicated wedding planner will help you achieve your vision?
Our approach blends dedication, expertise and experience with our client’s dreams to produce the most exquisite, bespoke weddings. We curate original concepts and enlist the best of the best to bring your vision to life. We hand-pick the finest team, who we know will go above and beyond to deliver an exceptional experience!
Wedding planners act as musical conductors, carefully orchestrating every aspect of the wedding. From guests to the caterers, the band to the valet drivers—ensuring each element is meticulously thought out and planned to create the most beautiful event.
Our advice is to feel confident in your planning, whether you are doing it on your own or with a dedicated wedding planner. If you choose to work with a wedding planner, carefully decide who is the best match for you. Not everyone takes the same approach. It’s crucial to find someone with whom you can build a personal connection while maintaining professional boundaries.
We would love to connect with you to discuss your wedding. Let’s explore how our tailored services and bespoke approach can elevate your wedding experience.
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