Where Do

We Start?

Thank you for reaching out to First Coast Weddings for additional information about our services! You’re probably wondering, how does all this work?

Initially, we'll schedule a chat to discuss some basics about you and your wedding - the date, the style, the number of guests, and other important details.

After that call, we'll create a custom service proposal just for you, detailing how we will help you have a stress-free wedding planning experience. When you accept the proposal and sign your contract, a non-refundable retainer is due to begin work.

Planning packages start right away with setting up your online tools, an initial planning meeting to review your progress to date, and recommending wedding professionals to make your vision come to life.

Event management packages start 4-6 weeks before the wedding when we will begin finalizing all the logistics with your team of wedding professionals.

Check out the details of each package type below.

Wedding Packages

We offer three basic packages to use as a starting point, but we’re happy to customize a package to meet your needs. Schedule your intro call to discuss the specifics of your wedding in more detail! We love to chat via Zoom so that we can connect more personally, but we offer phone options too.

  • Pre-Event Services

    • Our Client Portal has tools to help you track tasks, budget, guest list, and more - access begins when you sign your contract!

    • We’ll meet with you and your venue coordinator 30 days before the wedding to review the setup details and schedule for the wedding day, and then we’ll confirm all the details with your team of wedding professionals.

    • We’ll attend the ceremony rehearsal and make sure everyone knows when to walk, where to stand and what to do.

    Day of Event Services

    • On the wedding day, our team will be on-site for up to ten (10) consecutive hours to execute all the wedding plans with your vendors, families and guests

    • We’ll act as the “conductor of your orchestra,” keeping things running on schedule (or adjusting for unforeseen changes), working with your vendor team to be sure you receive the services you’ve contracted, and making sure that you, your friends and your families get to enjoy the day!

    Optional Services:

    • Unlimited email contact (during normal business hours) with your coordinator throughout the planning process.

    • Additional hours on the wedding day

    • Additional meetings with your coordinator

  • PRE-EVENT SERVICES

    • Our Client Portal has tools to help you track tasks, budget, guest list, and more - access begins when you sign your contract!

    • For extra peace of mind, you’ll have unlimited email contact with your planner throughout the planning process! They will be there to answer questions, bounce ideas off of, and give you their expertise along the way.

    • We’ll have an initial planning meeting to discuss your budget, style and priorities, as well as where you are in the planning process. You’ll also have 10 hours of flexible meeting time with your planner for meetings with wedding professionals or planning/organizational sessions.

    • We’ll provide recommendations for with a minimum of three (3) pre-screened wedding professionals for each wedding-day service needed, based on your budget and style.

    • We’ll review your vendor contracts to understand what services/products have been contracted.

    • We’ll meet with you and your venue coordinator 30 days before the wedding to review the setup details and schedule for the wedding day, and then we’ll confirm all the details with your team of wedding professionals.

    • We’ll attend the ceremony rehearsal and make sure everyone knows when to walk, where to stand and what to do.

    DAY OF EVENT SERVICES

    • On the wedding day, our team will be on-site for up to ten (10) consecutive hours to execute all the wedding plans with your vendors, families and guests

    • We’ll act as the “conductor of your orchestra,” keeping things running on schedule (or adjusting for unforeseen changes), working with your vendor team to be sure you receive the services you’ve contracted, and making sure that you, your friends and your families get to enjoy the day!

  • PRE-EVENT SERVICES

    • Our Client Portal has tools to help you track tasks, budget, guest list, and more - access begins when you sign your contract!

    • For extra peace of mind, you’ll have unlimited email contact with your planner throughout the planning process! They will be there to answer questions, bounce ideas off of, and give you their expertise along the way.

    • We’ll have an initial planning meeting to discuss your budget, style and priorities, as well as where you are in the planning process. You’ll also have 20 hours of flexible meeting time with your planner for meetings with wedding professionals or planning/organizational sessions.

    • If you haven’t already booked locations for your ceremony and reception, we’ll provide suggestions and offer guidance with these decisions.

    • We’ll provide recommendations for a minimum of three (3) pre-screened wedding professionals for each wedding-day service needed, based on your budget and style.

    • We’ll assist you with all the choices for your wedding day, from stationery to decor to menu selections! We can even help with tracking your RSVPs.

    • We’ll review your vendor contracts to understand what services/products have been contracted.

    • We’ll meet with you and your venue coordinator 30 days before the wedding to review the setup details and schedule for the wedding day, and then we’ll confirm all the details with your team of wedding professionals.

    • We’ll attend the ceremony rehearsal and make sure everyone knows when to walk, where to stand and what to do.

    DAY OF EVENT SERVICES

    • On the wedding day, our team will be on-site for up to ten (10) consecutive hours to execute all the wedding plans with your vendors, families and guests

    • We’ll act as the “conductor of your orchestra,” keeping things running on schedule (or adjusting for unforeseen changes), working with your vendor team to be sure you receive the services you’ve contracted, and making sure that you, your friends and your families get to enjoy the day!

Additional fees may apply for weddings outside Duval County, weddings at home or at venues that require extensive setup, weddings over 175 guests, and weddings that require travel between two locations.

 

 

what makes us different?

There are lots of wedding planning companies to choose from - what makes First Coast Weddings and Events different? Read about some of our benefits below.

 
 

team approach

First Coast Weddings and Events was founded in 2002 with the mission to create stylish, fun, and memorable weddings on Florida's First Coast. Our entire team is trained in event logistics, managing vendors and wedding protocol to ensure you receive the most professional service possible.

Your lead planner will be assigned to your wedding once your contract has been signed, and she will be your main contact throughout the planning process and wedding day. We match you with your wedding planner based on the services contracted, your wedding venue, and other factors that ensure a good fit for your event.


Online planning tools

All of our event management and planning packages include our Client Portal to streamline the planning process and keep you and your planner on the same page. The Client Portal is based in Google Drive, which means you can sign in using any Google account, files are as easy to use as Word or Excel, and documents can be accessed using any computer browser, via the Google Drive app on your phone or tablet, or even offline.

Click here to check out more about the Client Portal!


Longevity and connections

We’ve been in business since 2002, and have planned and coordinated hundreds of weddings. We realize that every couple is unique, and every wedding should be too. But having this many years of experience means that we have connections to all sorts of wedding professionals - locally, nationally and globally! We are involved with national associations and attend annual conferences to stay up to date on trends, processes and ideas to make your wedding one of a kind!

 

What Past Clients Are Saying

 
 

"We cannot recommend First Coast enough!! We had the pleasure of working with Laura, and she was incredible. From the moment we decided to work together, she made sure I had everything I needed including details that hadn't even crossed my mind. During the wedding, I knew I could count on her excited smiles and "Do you need anything"s. She gave me my peace on one of the best, most chaotic days of my life and that is more than I could have asked for. Thank you so so much!"

“I would recommend First Coast Weddings and Events to every bride getting married. Laura was absolutely wonderful to work with, and helped answer any questions that I had. She was able to provide us with a seamless day, and I am so glad we found her. 10/10 recommend!”

 
 

“Heather and her team were absolutely incredible throughout this entire process. She kept us on a great timeline, found incredible vendors, and generally took a huge load off of our plates during this busy time. Heather also provides a sweet, comforting, and calming presence both on the big day and at every meeting leading up to the wedding. She struck the perfect balance of providing helpful information while also encouraging us to express what we wanted on our day. I came in with not a lot of clarity on what I wanted the day to look like and she was amazing at guiding us and helping craft the perfect wedding. The wedding day was everything we hoped for and more and I could not recommend Heather and the First Coast Wedding team highly enough!!”

“Heather and her team truly made our wedding come to life. I manage events professionally so I was very particular in finding the most qualified team to trust with one of the most special day. Heather is just spectacular- she is calm, insightful and truly in expert in her craft. We were truly able to be fully present and enjoy our wedding day because we knew we had Heather and her team. Working with First Coast Wedding and Events was one of the best decisions we made.”

 

WE’D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR CElebration!