your frequently asked questions, answered.
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We offer wedding planning and design services, including Full Planning, Design + Coordination, Event Management, Elopements, and Destination Weddings. Whether you want someone by your side from the very beginning or need a team to step in closer to the wedding day, we’re here to help you create a celebration that feels intentional, personal and completely you, no matter where in the planning process you are at.
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Full Planning is our most comprehensive experience, beginning early in the planning process and including venue and vendor sourcing, budget management, design, logistics, and wedding-day coordination.
Design + Coordination is the perfect middle ground, offering design-focused assistance. Our team will create a unique design vision, source design-focused vendors, and bring everything together on wedding day along with wedding-day coordination.
Event Management is designed for couples who have planned most of their wedding themselves but want professional guidance on logistics and coordination during the final eight weeks and on wedding day. We offer logistics support immediately once a couple books with us so they can make informed decisions when booking their vendors!
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Our pricing is based on your location, season, guest count, and the logistical needs of your celebration. Current starting investments are $10,000 for Full Planning, $7,000 for Design + Coordination, and $3,500 for Event Management. Elopements, destination weddings, and custom wedding weekends are priced individually.
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Yes! We love creating custom experiences, most commonly for wedding weekends, elopements, and destination weddings. We’ll talk through what level of support you are envisioning and create a proposal around it!
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There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but we recommend reaching out as soon as you have a general idea of your date/date range and location. Full Planning is especially helpful when you’re early in the process as you choose a date and venue, while Design + Coordination and Event Management can be a great fit after you have booked a venue and started sourcing your core vendors like photography, beauty and catering!
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First, we’ll check our team’s availability for your date. If we’re available, we’ll invite you to an introductory call with one of our leads so we can learn more about you, your plans, and what you’re looking for. From there, we’ll send a personalized proposal and walk you through the next steps.
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Absolutely! Where you are in the planning process and the level of support you are envisioning helps determine which package is the best fit. Event Management is ideal if you’ve handled your vendor bookings and need help bringing all the logistics together. Design + Coordination is a great fit if you’re booking your own vendors but want professional design guidance, creation and execution. Full Planning is designed for couples who want to partner with their planner from the beginning, including selecting and booking your venue and vendor team, as well as creating and executing the overall design.
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It starts with an inquiry, an introductory call, and a personalized proposal! Once you officially book, you’ll receive your welcome information and planning portal, and we’ll begin building your planning process from there. Depending on your package, that can include vendor bookings, design development, budget tracking, timelines, layouts, meetings, and ongoing guidance.
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That depends on your package and where you are in the planning process. Full Planning includes monthly progress meetings, while each package has communication tailored to its scope.
For all couples, our team strives to respond to emails within 48–72 business hours, with business hours generally Monday–Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Response times may vary during high-volume wedding seasons.
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Yes! We provide access to our preferred vendor list and will recommend vendors based on your needs, aesthetic, location, budget, and overall wedding vision. Our relationships with vendors are a big part of what allows us to guide you toward a team we trust!
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No! You are always welcome to choose the vendors who feel right for you. Our preferred vendors are simply professionals we’ve worked with, vetted, and trusted to provide the level of service and quality we want for our couples.
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Yes! Budget creation and management is included with Full Planning, as well as, design-budget creation and management is an important part of the Design + Coordination process. We help you understand costs, track vendor investments, and consider the budget as decisions are made so you can make informed choices throughout the planning process.
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We become the point of contact so your vendors come to us, not you. Our team coordinates setup and the event schedule, manages the timeline, directs ceremony and reception transitions, communicates with vendors, oversees design execution (for design and full packages), assists the wedding party, handles final details, and helps manage venue cleanup.
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Our team arrives when the venue opens or according to the contracted access time needed for your event.
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Yes, within the scope of your package. Our team coordinates setup and helps with wedding-day breakdown and venue cleanup. We do not replace specialty vendors such as full-service florists, caterers, or rental companies for services that fall within their contracted scope who do manage their own setup and cleanup.
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You’ll have an assigned lead planner who will be your primary point of contact throughout the planning process. They’re supported by The Gathering Co. team, our COO, Maddy, and our founder, Chelsy, so you’re never relying on just one person behind the scenes.
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That’s exactly why we’re there. We’ll assess the situation, communicate with the appropriate vendors, and work toward the best solution without unnecessarily bringing stress to you. Our goal is for you to stay present and enjoy your wedding while we handle the moving pieces.
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Absolutely! You don’t have to have everything figured out before reaching out. Tell us where you are, what feels overwhelming, and what you need help with, and we’ll determine the best way to step in.
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We’re people first, always. We believe your wedding should reflect who you are as a couple, not simply follow a formula. Our team combines intentional planning, thoughtful design, strong vendor relationships, and detailed coordination with a genuine investment in getting to know our couples.
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Fill out our inquiry form on our website or emailing home@thegatheringco.us. We’ll look forward to connecting with you!
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That’s okay! You don’t need to have a perfect plan before you inquire. Send us whatever you know about your wedding so far, and we’ll use your introductory call to help determine what kind of support makes the most sense.
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You’re still welcome to inquire! We understand that for most people they are still learning what all is included in a wedding budget and we are here to help guide and educate! We’re happy to help you understand which service may be the best fit. Our current starting investments are $10,000 for Full Planning, $7,000 for Design + Coordination, and $3,500 for Event Management, with custom pricing for elopements and destination celebrations.
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Yes! Depending on your wedding date, what has already been completed, and what still needs to happen, we can determine how our team can step in and help get things moving.
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Plans can change! We’ll work with you to navigate updates to your vision, vendors, logistics, or even your wedding date when possible. If you need to cancel or reschedule, the terms of your contract will determine any applicable fees or remaining balances.
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We welcome the people who matter most to you into the process while always coming back to you as the couple. Our job is to help you create a celebration that feels authentic to your relationship and story while thoughtfully navigating the many voices that can come with planning a wedding.
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Yes, within the scope of our services. We can help navigate wedding-related logistics and communication, particularly as they affect the timeline, vendors, or overall flow of the celebration. Individual guest concierge or ongoing personal guest communication is outside our standard scope.
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We handle it. From timeline delays to vendor questions and unexpected logistical changes, our team is there to assess the situation, communicate with the appropriate people, and find a solution. Our goal is to protect your experience and let you stay focused on celebrating, while prioritizing you and bringing you in when your input is truly needed for the best resolution.
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Yes! Your lead planner is supported by additional The Gathering Co. team members on wedding day. The number of assistants depends on your guest count, venue, locations, and logistical needs, and any additional staffing needs are discussed with you in advance
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Yes! While we’re based in Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina, we serve couples throughout the Carolinas and beyond. We’ve planned celebrations in destinations including Italy, Spain, Mexico, South Carolina, and more, and we can help with everything from finding the right destination and venue to creating and executing the wedding itself.
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Yes, we do! We love helping couples plan a full wedding weekend, not just the wedding day. Our wedding planning services can include welcome parties, rehearsal dinners, brunches, post-wedding events, and other wedding weekend celebrations. We can help with everything from event design and vendor coordination to timelines, logistics, and day-of management, creating a cohesive experience from the first celebration through the last. After an intro call, we’ll create a custom wedding planning proposal based on your wedding weekend plans and the level of planning and coordination you need.
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An in-house wedding planner works directly for your venue and typically focuses on the venue’s logistics, policies, and operations. A third-party wedding planner, like The Gathering Co., works directly for you, advocating for your wedding and overseeing the details across your entire vendor team. We’re familiar with wedding venues throughout Raleigh and Charlotte, but we also love working at new and private venues, taking the time to learn each property and its unique logistics. Your venue team knows their venue best, while your third-party planner knows your wedding best. Having both means you have a dedicated advocate focused on your vision, your guests, and making sure every detail comes together seamlessly.
