Everything you want to know, answered.

Traditional planning models, day-of, partial, full-service, are built for couples who want to be closely involved in every decision. There's nothing wrong with that. But until now, there hasn't been a model designed specifically for the couple who is overwhelmed, short on time, or simply doesn't want wedding planning to be their part-time job.

Higher Love fills that gap. A fixed planning formula with published pricing and pre-curated options at every turn, including eight complete tablescape collections available to every planning client, with linens, place settings, glassware, candles, florals, and a matching signage suite. No design fee. No starting from scratch. The goal is to minimize decision fatigue and help you feel as calm during planning as you will on your wedding day.

Technically, no. Pricing is published, the process is clear, and you can reserve directly from the website. But a discovery call is always a good idea, not because you need to be sold on anything, but because hiring a planner is a real commitment and you should feel confident in the fit before you sign anything. It's a chance to ask questions, get a sense of how I communicate, and make sure this model is genuinely right for you. I'd rather you make the right choice than the fast one.

A minimum of three months before your desired wedding date. That's the minimum lead time needed to source a venue, build your vendor team, and plan the logistics properly. The earlier you book, the more options I have to work with. Popular venues and vendors fill up fast, especially in summer and fall.

St. Johns is home. It's where I'm based, where I have the deepest vendor relationships, and where a lot of my couples end up celebrating. But I plan weddings across Portland and the Pacific Northwest, and I love working in new spaces. Wherever your wedding takes place, the process is exactly the same: a fixed formula, a curated team, and someone who knows how to make a day run beautifully no matter the venue.

Two max. That cap exists so every couple gets the time and attention their wedding day deserves, and so the work stays quality.

The honest answer is: it depends on a lot of factors. The numbers below reflect a full, traditional wedding: a dedicated venue, outside catering and bar, photographer, DJ/MC, hair and makeup, and a dance party reception. They do not apply to full restaurant buyouts, elopements at Cathedral Park, or other non-traditional formats where the cost structure looks very different. For those, reach out and we'll talk through what makes sense for your situation.

Venue: Starting at $4,500–$7,000 for Portland Metro; $7,000+ for Hood River/Gorge venues. Popular or in-demand venues can run $10,000–$15,000 or more.

Catering: $75 per guest is the minimum for a licensed, insured, and properly staffed caterer. For a seated dinner with full service, budget $100–$150 per guest. For 75 guests, that's $7,500–$11,250 for food alone before bar.

Bar: There are two types of bartending service and it's important to know the difference before you start getting quotes. Regardless of the bar style you choose, Oregon law requires a licensed OLCC certified bartender at any event where alcohol is served.

Tableside wine or champagne service during dinner is almost always an upgrade with an additional cost, typically requiring dedicated attendants. If this is important to you, ask about it specifically when getting quotes.

Photography: Starting at $2,400–$2,500 for 6–8 hours from a licensed, insured Portland-area photographer with documented experience and full gallery delivery. Mid-range photographers run $3,500–$5,000. In-demand and editorial photographers start at $6,000–$6,500+ for 8 hours. Most packages do not include retouching, budget an additional $100/hour if requested. The photographer you fall in love with on Instagram will almost certainly be at the higher end of this range.

DJ/MC: $1,500 minimum for ceremony, MC, and reception coverage, though some companies start at $1,250 for a 4-hour package. Additional hours are typically billed at $200–$250/hour. A full evening reception of 5–6 hours runs $1,500–$2,000 for a mid-range DJ. Experienced, in-demand DJs run $2,500–$3,500. Party lighting is almost always a separate add-on: uplights, moving heads, lasers, and dance floor lighting packages typically run $350–$900+ depending on the setup. If you want your venue to feel like a real dance party, budget for lighting separately.

Hair & Makeup: $200–$400 per person is the starting range for a licensed, experienced artist, but in-demand and highly sought-after hair and makeup artists in the Portland market run $500–$700+ per person. Trials (a separate appointment at full price), travel fees, and early morning fees add to the total. A real-world example: a party of five at a recent Higher Love wedding came to $2,925, before the trial. For a couple plus a wedding party of four, budget $2,500–$5,000+ depending on the artist. If you have your heart set on a specific aesthetic or a particular artist whose work you've seen on Instagram, book early and budget accordingly. The best ones fill up a year or more in advance.

Florals: Starting at $2,500 for a simple, minimal look. A full floral installation with ceremony arch, centerpieces, and personal flowers runs $5,000–$10,000+.

Officiant: $300–$600 for a licensed, experienced officiant who will meet with you in advance, help craft your ceremony, and file your marriage license. Many couples choose to have a friend or family member officiate instead. Oregon makes this easy, as anyone can become ordained online through organizations like Universal Life Church at no cost. Either way works beautifully. What matters is that whoever is standing up there knows you, means it, and has a valid Oregon officiant registration on file before the ceremony.

Videography: $2,500–$6,000+ for a professional wedding videographer with full-day coverage and edited highlight film delivery. Videography is one of the most commonly regretted skips. Photos capture the look of your wedding, but video captures the sound, the movement, and the feeling. In-demand videographers in Portland book just as far in advance as photographers.

Transportation: $500–$2,500+ depending on distance, vehicle type, and number of runs. If your ceremony and reception are at different locations, or if you're hosting out-of-town guests, budget for shuttle service. Guest transportation is both a hospitality gesture and a safety measure when alcohol is being served.

Cake & Desserts: $500–$1,500+ for a custom wedding cake from a Portland bakery. Price varies by tier count, design complexity, and flavor. If you're doing a dessert table or alternative to cake, budget similarly.

Stationery: Printed save the dates, invitations, envelopes, and day-of signage can run $300–$1,500+ depending on paper stock, printing method, and design complexity. But digital is worth considering seriously. E-save the dates and e-invitations are more sustainable than paper goods, reduce paper waste, and eliminate the carbon footprint of mailing hundreds of envelopes across the country. They also cost significantly less. Your Higher Love planning package includes digital save the date and invitation templates designed to match your tablescape collection, plus matching day-of signage templates. All templates are edited in Canva and can be ordered and printed directly through Canva, no third-party print shop required. If you love the look of paper goods, budget $500–$1,500 for a print run. If you go digital, your stationery cost drops to near zero.

Attire & Alterations: Easy to underestimate. Dress alterations alone run $300–$800. Budget separately for attire, accessories, and alterations for both partners.

Gratuity & incidentals: Budget at least $1,200 for tips, unexpected costs, and day-of incidentals. Tipping vendors is standard practice and is not included in most vendor contracts.

A realistic starting budget for a Portland wedding with 50–75 guests is $20,000, and that's a lean, well-planned event with mid-range vendors and minimal florals. The average Portland wedding runs $28,000–$35,000. If you're seeing magazine-worthy tablescapes, lush florals, a live band, and a stunning venue, that's a $40,000–$60,000+ wedding. For Hood River/Gorge weddings, add 15–20% to all of the above. $20,000 is a floor, not a ceiling.

Higher Love works exclusively with licensed, insured, and experienced vendors, because your wedding day deserves nothing less. The minimums above reflect the real cost of that standard in the Portland and Hood River markets.

Think of your wedding like a symphony. Your coordinator is the conductor, but the musicians still have to show up and know what they're doing for the show to go on. No amount of coordination can compensate for a vendor who is underqualified, understaffed, or unreliable.

If the numbers above feel out of reach right now, that's okay. It just means the timing might not be right yet, and I'd rather you know that now than after you've booked. If you're close but have questions, reach out. I'm happy to talk it through.

Planning packages start at $3,800 for a Reception Only celebration and $4,500 for Ceremony + Reception. Pricing is published on the website by celebration type and guest count. No inquiry required to see what it costs. Tablescape collections are priced separately, scale by guest count, and are invoiced directly by our rental partner.

The $1,500 deposit reserves your planning package and locks in your spot on my calendar. Your tablescape collection is invoiced separately by our rental partner once your wedding date is confirmed.

Planning package balances are invoiced one month before your wedding date, based on your confirmed guest count. Your tablescape collection balance is invoiced directly by our rental partner on their own timeline, usually about two weeks before your wedding date.

No, on both counts. Pricing is published before you reach out, and I never accept commissions or kickbacks from vendors. Every recommendation I make is based on what's right for your wedding, not what benefits me financially.

Once your deposit is paid and your booking is complete, I'll reach out to schedule your planning call. That's where we talk through your venue preferences, vendor priorities, and vision for the day.

From there, I'll present your venue menu: three ranked, hand-picked options tailored to your wedding vision, each with honest pros and cons to help you decide. Once your date is locked in, the same process repeats for vendors. Depending on your timeline, we can hire vendors in waves to keep decision fatigue to a minimum.

As much or as little as you'd like. If there's a part of the planning process you're excited about, florals, music, the aesthetic, let's collaborate on it. If you'd rather hand it off entirely, I'll take it from there and only check in when a decision actually needs to be made. The goal is to meet you where you are, not force you into a mold.

After your planning call, I research venues available for your desired timeframe and present up to three options, each ranked with honest pros and cons. My top pick is always listed first, with clear reasoning so you can agree or push back.

Once your venue is confirmed, the same process repeats for vendors: a curated shortlist of up to three per category, matched to your vision, budget, and aesthetic. Already vetted, already narrowed. You choose; I take it from there.

No problem at all. I work with whatever team you've already assembled and fill in the gaps. Just let me know who's confirmed at the time of booking and I'll take it from there.

Every table includes a full-length table linen, coordinating runner, coordinating napkins, table number frame, charger plate, dinner plate, water goblet, dinner fork and knife, 6 bud vases with florals, 6 votive candles, and taper or pillar candles matched to the collection. A signage templates suite is also included: welcome sign, seating chart, table numbers, and bar and catering menus. Matching templates for your wedding website and digital save the dates and invites are also available if you'd like to use them.

Yes. A tablescape collection or custom tablescape is required with every planning package, and here's why it's a feature, not a limitation.

I have a close working relationship with our rental partner. I know their inventory, I know their process, and I trust the quality of what they deliver. That means no back-and-forth about who is providing what, no endless decision-making around details, and a setup team that knows exactly what to expect.

It's also one of the best value propositions in the package. Each collection is a professionally designed tablescape: linens, place settings, glassware, candles, and florals, with no design fee. Because the design is used across multiple weddings, the creative work is already done. You get a beautiful, cohesive table without paying a designer to build it from scratch for you.

Our rental partner delivers and picks up all rental items. Our team styles and clears the tables on the day, a setup team that knows exactly what to expect when they walk in the door. You don't need to coordinate any of it.

The eight collections are pre-designed and complete as-is. That's what keeps the process efficient and the pricing clear. If your aesthetic falls outside the eight collections, a custom tablescape is available. Custom options are quoted separately after an initial consultation.

Guest counts can fluctuate within your booked tier at no additional charge. If your final count exceeds your tier maximum by more than 15 guests, your planning package upgrades to the next tier and the price adjusts accordingly. Tablescape collections are always invoiced based on your final confirmed guest count, so you only pay for the tables you actually need.

Two. Both are on-site for the full event, up to 8 hours for Reception Only packages and up to 12 hours for Ceremony + Reception packages, from the start of setup through the end of teardown. We oversee setup and direct vendors according to the production plan, style your tablescape, and manage the day from start to finish. The physical setup work is done by your vendors. We make sure everyone knows where to be, what to do, and when.

We oversee setup from start to finish: directing vendors, managing the production timeline, and making sure everything is executed according to plan. We style your tablescape and coordinate the placement of personal items like signage, guest books, and escort cards. The physical labor of setup, furniture, AV, catering equipment, and bar setup with alcohol you've purchased, is done by your individual vendors. Our job is to make sure every vendor knows exactly what to do and when, so the day comes together seamlessly.

We arrive before your guests, oversee vendor setup, run the ceremony and reception timeline, manage any issues that come up behind the scenes, and stay until the last vendor is out. You won't be fielding questions or watching the clock, and neither will your family. Everyone who loves you gets to show up and celebrate you, not work your wedding.

It's our job to anticipate problems before they happen and solve them before you know they exist. Between two coordinators on-site and a detailed production plan built well in advance, most issues are resolved without the couple ever knowing. If something truly unexpected happens, we take care of it. That's what we're there for.