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 we have to work with — popular venues and vendors fill up fast, especially in summer and fall.

St. Johns is home — it's where we're based, where we have the deepest vendor relationships, and where a lot of our couples end up celebrating. But we plan weddings across Portland and the Pacific Northwest, and we 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.

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 our calendar. Your tablescape collection is invoiced separately by our rental partner once your venue 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 we never accept commissions or kickbacks from vendors. Every recommendation we make is based on what's right for your wedding — not what benefits us financially.

Once your deposit is paid and your booking is complete, I'll reach out to schedule your first 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 first 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. We work with whatever team you've already assembled and fill in the gaps. Just let us know who's confirmed at the time of booking and we'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 Canva signage templates suite is also included — welcome sign, seating chart, table numbers, and bar and catering menus. Matching templates for your wedding website and e-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.

We have a close working relationship with our rental partner. We know their inventory, we know their process, and we 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.