Our services
Whether you want the entire process handled for you, a collaborative partner, or expert wedding day execution, here’s how we can work together.
No matter which level of support you choose, my approach is the same: I start with you.
Before I recommend a single vendor, design a single detail, or build a single timeline, I take the time to learn who you are as a couple, your style, your personality, your priorities, the vibe you want your wedding day to have, and the experience you want your guests to walk away with.
Then I take what’s in your head and turn it into a real, detailed plan that reflects who you are as individuals as well as who you are as a couple. My goal is always to make sure your wedding day feels true to who you are.
That’s why no two Dovely weddings have ever looked the same. And it’s why I only take a limited number of couples each year, because this level of attention requires it.
The difference between my three baseline services comes down to how much of the process you want to stay hands-on with versus how much you want to hand off to me.
Full planning & Design
I drive the entire process from start to finish.
Full planning is for couples who want to be involved in the decisions that matter but don’t want to manage the hundreds of details and hours of work behind those decisions. You want to focus on the fun parts, have someone you trust handling the rest, and know that nothing is falling through the cracks.
Here’s what that looks like: I step in from the moment you book and take ownership of the entire planning and design process. I learn your style, your priorities, and your vision. Then I research and present you with curated and fully vetted vendor options that fit your aesthetic and your budget, develop your design concept, manage every timeline and contract, coordinate all vendor communication, and execute your wedding day down to the last detail.
You’ll never have to wonder if you’re missing something, if your timeline is realistic, or if your wedding day is going to look the way you picture it. That’s my job. Your job is to make the decisions that feel exciting and show up on your wedding day fully present and completely relaxed.
Who this is for: Couples with full schedules who want someone to take the wheel, bring you curated options, and handle the complexity so you can enjoy the journey. You care deeply about design and the guest experience, and you want a planner who understands your vision and knows how to execute it without overriding it.
Partial Planning & Design
We co-drive the process as a team.
Partial planning is for couples who enjoy being part of the process but want an expert making sure everything is actually coming together the way it should. You have opinions about design and you want to stay involved but you also know there’s a layer of coordination, logistics, and detail management that’s hard to handle on your own, especially with a busy life.
Here’s what that looks like: We work together as true partners throughout the planning process. You take on the parts you love such as sourcing key vendors like your venue and catering, making creative decisions, staying hands-on with the elements that excite you. I handle the organizational backbone such as keeping your timeline tight, managing logistics, coordinating between all vendors, making sure your design vision translates into reality, and catching the gaps you might not even know exist. And I execute your wedding day with the same precision as my full planning couples.
You’ll have someone in your corner who’s done this over 100 times, who can give you great vendor recommendations, tell you whether your guest flow makes sense, whether your timeline gives you room to breathe, and whether the things you’re envisioning will actually work in your space.
Who this is for: Couples who are organized and motivated but want a strategic partner making sure the pieces come together seamlessly. You enjoy the planning process but you know there are things you don’t know to think about yet and you want someone experienced filling those gaps so your wedding day matches what’s in your head.
Event Management
You drive the planning. I execute your vision.
Event management is for couples who are confident in their ability to plan their wedding but want an expert in their corner early and a guarantee that their wedding day comes together exactly the way they’ve envisioned it. It’s also the right fit for couples whose venue requires a planner and who want that requirement to actually mean something, not just be a box that gets checked.
Here’s what that looks like: From the time you book me, I’m available as your planning consultant. You can come to me with questions, run vendor decisions by me, ask whether your timeline is realistic, get guidance on design elements, and lean on my experience whenever you need a professional opinion. I’ll review your vendor contracts, audit your planning progress, and make sure nothing critical is being overlooked.
Then I build your complete wedding day timeline, coordinate directly with every vendor, do a full venue walkthrough, manage setup and breakdown, and run your entire wedding day from first look to last dance so you, your partner, and your family and friends can all be fully present, relaxed, and enjoy every moment.
Who this is for: Couples who have the time and capacity to drive the planning process but want the peace of mind that comes with having a professional execute the day. You don’t want to be the one making sure everything runs on time. You don’t want your mom or your bridal party managing things behind the scenes. You want everyone, including yourself, to simply enjoy it.
A NOTE ON DAY OF COORDINATION
I’m often asked if I offer day-of coordination. I don’t. And here’s why.
Hiring a day-of coordinator is one of the biggest mistakes couples can make.
I know that sounds harsh, but I’ve watched it play out too many times to sugarcoat it.
The couple wants to save money. The coordinator wants the work. So a deal gets made and everyone tells themselves it’ll be fine.
Then the wedding day arrives and the coordinator walks in for the first time with a timeline she’s just received yesterday, vendors she’s barely spoken to, and a couple she just met.
It’s a lose-lose situation. The coordinator is set up to fail because she’s reacting to problems that could have been prevented if she’d just been involved in the process earlier.
The couple is stressed all day because they can feel that nobody actually has a handle on what’s happening. And the wedding they spent a year planning gets executed by someone who joined the team barely a week ago.
Your wedding day deserves better than that.
That’s why Event Management is my starting level of service.
When I show up on your wedding day, I already know you and your wedding inside and out. Your vendors. Your venue. Your vision. Your priorities. What matters most to you and what doesn’t.
You don’t have to spend hours getting me up to speed and when something inevitably goes wrong on your wedding day, I know exactly how you would want it handled.
That’s the difference between a safety net with holes in it and genuine peace of mind.
beyond the wedding day
Your celebration doesn’t have to stop at the reception.
For my planning couples, I also offer support for the events surrounding your wedding day because the celebration is often so much bigger than just one day.
Whether it’s a welcome party for out-of-town guests, a rehearsal dinner, a bridal shower, a farewell brunch, an after party, or even your honeymoon planning, I bring the same level of care and design to every milestone. Several of my couples have even continued working with me long after their wedding for gender reveals, baby showers, birthday celebrations, and more.
These services are available exclusively for couples I’m already working with and are quoted based on the scope of each event. If there’s something you’d love help with beyond your wedding day, just let me know, I’d love to be part of it.
NOT SURE WHICH LEVEL OF SUPPORT IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
That’s exactly what the consultation call is for. I’ll ask you about where you are in the planning process, what’s been on your mind, and what matters most to you and then I’ll customize a recommendation for you around the level of support that best fits your situation.
Because every couple needs a different level of support, I create custom recommendations for each couple based on exactly what will be most helpful and make this process feel more manageable and enjoyable for you. On average couples invest about $7,500 for more comprehensive planning support with the investment scaling up or down from there based on the level of support you need.
I currently have 6 openings remaining for this year, and my calendar for next year is already starting to fill. Once those spots are claimed, I close my calendar for that year.
EMAIL: DOVELYEVENTPLANNING@GMAIL.COM
SERVING
Washington, D.C. Maryland Virginia and available for destination events