Congratulations! You have picked your perfect date at Searles Castle!
Photo by A Photographic Memory
We know that this is the beginning of an exciting, yet stressful new chapter in your life, so we want to help as much as we can in your wedding planning journey.
The next steps will solidify your wedding date with us. To do this, we will need to draft a contract. That contract will be due back within 10 days with your initial deposit of $3,000.00. Once that is all squared away, you are officially booked!
The next thing to come up will be any important dates that you need to know about: future deposit schedules, menu tastings, planning meetings, etc. Your events team at Searles Castle will walk you through all the important dates to know and give you plenty of notice as those dates start to come up.
After you organize all your dates with Searles Castle, it is time to research vendors. Searles Castle works with some amazing teams and can help direct you to the right people who will match your aesthetic. Some vendors, like your DJ and photographer, you will want to get squared away sooner rather than later. These vendors can only take on one wedding at a time. Your cake and florist can do multiple weddings, so you can wait a bit before having those vendors booked. You will want to have all your vendors set by 6 – 9 months before your wedding.
Now, you will reach a lull in the planning. This is a good time to think about the little details like favors, decorations, or any unique guest books. In the meantime, make sure you sign up for one of our menu tastings! We hold tastings in January and February of the year you get married. This is a great opportunity to try some of the food that you would like to offer at your wedding. Our coordinators will also be available to answer any questions you may have.
Photo by Nu View Photography
Once you figure out your meals, you will want to schedule a planning meeting with your coordinator. This happens about two months before your wedding. At this meeting, you will discuss everything from top to bottom of your wedding. We will confirm the timeline, décor, floor plan, meal selections, and vendors with you. You will leave this wedding confident that we will make your dreams happen. We will also schedule your rehearsal and drop off times with you.
At your rehearsal, we are going to go over the walking order and show your wedding party where everyone is going to stand. It should be a quick practice, lasting no longer than 30 minutes. Usually, the longest part of the rehearsal is waiting for that notoriously late person to arrive!
Photo by Quiet Glimpse Photography
On your wedding day, it is your job to breathe, relax, and be with your new spouse. Your wedding coordinator is there to make your dream wedding come to life.