What to Expect When You're Expecting... A Luxury Wedding

“Luxury” isn’t an inflated term for elegance and it doesn’t just reference a hefty price tag, either. It’s a feeling - one that is curated through the thoughtful designs and carefully customized approaches, intended to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience for you and all of your guests to enjoy. 

We’ve mastered the art of designing lavish events and are sharing the inside scoop on what you can expect when planning and hosting an extravagant celebration. Say goodbye to traditional and hello to the transparency you need to decide if “luxury” is truly what you’re looking for.

First - What Does “Luxury” Mean?

The word “luxury” may mean something different to different people. To some, there are levels of luxury. To others, it’s left in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps opulent venues and 200-guest ceremonies or luscious florals and faraway destinations come to mind. Either way, you more than likely associate it with its high-class ambience and grand appeal. 

To us, as luxury wedding planners, it means a top-notch outcome brought to life through inspiring designs, intricate planning processes, and lots of dedicated time. Most importantly, to us, it means that your day turns out to be simply one-of-a-kind and everything you’ve ever dreamed of.

Luxury is the experience your guests can take away from your event, did they have to think about anything other than enjoying each detail? Could they fully immerse themselves in the food or entertainment because they weren’t worried about where they were going next? Were they taken care of like the VIP’s that they are? To us, luxury isn’t always about the flash, but the substance behind it.

Traditional vs. Luxury Weddings - What Sets Them Apart?

Outside of the budget and project scope, luxury weddings set themselves apart through the details. For most traditional weddings, couples and guests will enjoy one day of loving events. However, luxury weddings often give attendees the chance to soak up all of the romance, throughout the course of a weekend. They don’t just include the standard rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony, and reception. Welcome parties, social hours, and send-off brunches are intimate additions to the weekend’s agenda.

Additionally, they have the ability to break the mold of traditional wedding customs, through various opportunities to really personalize their day, so that it’s tailored to perfectly reflect their uniqueness and preferences.

Another key element is high-end entertainment and guest experiences. Of course you’ll have striking tablescapes, statement floral arrangements, and overall inspiring interiors to help awe your guests, but upping the production level will guarantee an incredible time for all. Luxury weddings leave no details behind, which includes considering your guests’ comfort and time a top priority. Whether it be providing transportation and travel accommodations or open bars and unforgettable entertainment, if you want your wedding to reach the lap of luxury, then leave no stone unturned.

Traditional celebrations ask you to attend and tell you where and when to be there; luxury celebrations ask you to attend and tell you where you are staying, provide transportation - with snacks and beverages, cater to your every thought or need. Do you have a group that loves exercise - let’s plan a pickleball welcome as guests arrive into town, or private picnic lunches for guests to grab on their way to golf or bike rides. Do you have a group that LOVES to be on the dancefloor - highlight a world class band that has a great variety, does costume changes and takes every song up a notch.

What Does a Luxury Wedding Cost? 

No two weddings or budgets are the same - each individual element is unique and custom to the vision and desires of the couple. That being said, if you want a luxury wedding, it does come at a price. Each couple should expect to spend a minimum of $1,500 per person for a one-day function or a minimum of $3,000, if you’re opting for a full weekend of festivities. 

The price tag of a luxury wedding matches the “no-corner-cutting” requirement that it takes to design, coordinate, and execute an event that fully encompasses your vision, traditions, and desires. It’s true - weddings are a big investment, but the return on them is nothing short of priceless.

And to drive home the point that no two weddings or celebrations are the same, we custom create our budget outlines based on those details and expectations that are most important to you in delivering that high-touch experience, beyond just the standard events. One couple may love turn-down service when traveling and want to create a custom experience each night to ensure surprises throughout the weekend; while another wants to put more money into a 4 course wine pairing dinner. Your costs will reflect what is important to you.

How Do You Plan a Luxury Wedding?

Elaborate events require experienced planners - especially if you’re looking to achieve a luxurious outcome. Not only are you going to receive unparalleled design concepts, but working with a luxury planner offers a heightened level of service and attention to detail that is tailored specifically to you. 

When booked for full service planning, they manage everything from start to finish and each event is customized for the perfect experience. Planners not only have established connections with top-tier venues and vendors, they also know what is expected of all parties in order to execute. They cover florals, linens, rentals, lighting, timelines, and entertainment. On the day(s) of your event, they are there to manage the logistics and bring all of the elements together for the smoothest production. They are your storyteller, designer, coordinator, liaison - your overall right-hand. 

Let’s face it - simply spending money isn’t going to get you the luxury wedding experience you’re looking for. It takes hundreds of planning hours and loads of organization to pull off the day that you envision. Afterall, luxury is not about money - it’s about experience.

How Do You Get Started?

At Allison Event Design, we're not just about weddings; we're about shaping those significant life moments, whatever they may be, into a celebration that reflects you. So, let's start planning. Here's to creating a day that's true to your unique story and one you'll delight in reminiscing about, time and time again.

Want to learn more about working with a luxury wedding planner? Read our blog Behind the Scenes: How Wedding Planners Take the Lead.