What Does Wedding Planning Look Like at Lavender on the Lake
Wedding planning can be overwhelming. Let’s face it. It takes lots of planning to create the day that we have dreamed about since we were young. Therefore, we want to explain our process from start to finish so that you can rest assured that your planning process will be as seamless as possible. So let’s dig in: Your Dream Day: From First Inquiry to ‘I Do’ at Lavender on the Lake.
Perhaps you found us organically through Google or Instagram or through a friend’s suggestion. Or maybe you are using a wedding website that helped to locate us. Regardless, thank you for reaching out to us! I have a feeling that you have already inquired with us if you are reading this. We feel so blessed to have created this space for memories and moments for our families and community. Again, this blog is still for you even if you have not begun your wedding planning.
Engaged; now what?
Photo Credit | The Deans Photography
Jason and I got engaged on the banks of the Suwannee River which is our most favorite place in Florida. Needless to say, he caught me by complete surprise; he dropped to his knee many years earlier than what I thought we agreed on. Of course, I wasn’t 1 bit sad about it!
You may want to get to wedding planning right away, or perhaps you want to wait a bit to enjoy your engagement. Either way, this is YOUR process so do what feels right for you. Finding a venue will be one of the first things that you will want to do in your planning. (Here are some good questions to ask your venues.) Start researching venues to determine which ones you would like to visit.
If you inquire with LOTL, what comes next?
You will be in direct contact with me- one of the owners- in whatever way you have reached out to us. We do not have hired help at this time, so you will get me, all me! Upon receipt of your inquiry, I will get back to you with availability, pricing and our inclusions via email. I will also provide you with a link to directly schedule a visit with us. It is helpful to experience the charm of Lavender on the Lake firsthand in order to make your decision.
My goal with this first interaction, is to provide you with the information that you deserve. Selecting a venue is a huge decision. I aim to also connect with you to let you know that we are team. It is important for you to find the right venue, and we truly want what is best for you. If we are not a good fit for you, you will not be happy which also means that we will not be happy. I like to ensure that you will have your sensational wedding day: from first inquiry to ‘I do.’
Schedule your visit and come out for a tour!
You will be greeted by myself, Jason, or the both of us. We are a small, family owned business and we are busy working to build our dream while also protecting it greatly by being extremely hands on. We are finding that it is beyond exciting to truly get to know our couples along our visits and throughout the wedding planning process.
Sorry! I couldn’t help myself by adding a family photo of us. Our kids have been so supportive our dream.
We love to show you around the property.
We will greet you at the front door, and will show you around the building. Here is a blog that shares about the space of LOTL a well as some photos from weddings. I am a visual person, so I need to see things in order to fully grasp them.
We explain the booking process and go over the fees that are not included in pricing at the end of your visit. The only outstanding fees are 7.5% sales tax and a $500 fully refundable damage deposit. Those two things are factored into your final payment which is broken into 3rds: 1st 3rd to save your date, the 2nd payment is halfway between booking and your wedding, with the final payment 30 days out. The only other fee is a $200 Event Liability policy which can be paid closer to your wedding. There are no hidden fees.
I will follow up with a Tour Follow Up that breaks down our discussion and will send over our approved vendor list. We always encourage questions so that you can make the best decision for yourself, and we know that it is a big one!
We will gather information through our Onboarding questionnaire that gathers all of the necessary information for us to create a contract to send to you electronically if you decide to book with us. Once your signatures are collected, we will sign the contract as well, and your date is saved!
Booked! Now what?
Finally comes the fun part! If you want some help with planning your wedding check this out! I will be in frequent contact with you to answer any and all questions that you have. I will, also, send over a Final Walk Through Planning Sheet so that we can help on our end with organizing your vendors, knowing your guest count, finalizing your floor plan, etc. It sure takes a village and if you have chosen LOTL, we are honored, truly, to walk alongside you during such a special time in your life. Don’t hesitate to reach out!!
I really am thankful that you visited my blog, and I hope that you found it to be helpful! If you are new, thanks so much! If you have been following, I appreciate you keeping up with my crazy train of thought. You will find that in support of other locally owned, small businesses, I mention 5 locally owned venues from across the country.
XO
Shelley