Byron Bay luxury wedding planned and styled by The Events Lounge featuring bespoke décor and an elegant reception.

Frequently Asked Questions

Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting things you will ever do – and it comes with a lot of questions. We have put together the answers to the ones we get asked most, covering everything from the difference between planning and styling, how we work, what things cost and how to get started. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, please don’t hesitate to get in touch – we would love to chat.

Wedding Planning

  • Wedding planning is so much more than just ticking boxes – it is the full journey from the moment you get engaged to the moment you walk down the aisle. As your wedding planner, we take care of everything behind the scenes so you can actually enjoy the process. From building your vision and sourcing and managing your suppliers, to coordinating timelines, managing all the finer details and being by your side on the day – we’ve got it all covered.

  • A wedding planner works with you from the very beginning, helping shape the entire vision, manage suppliers and guide you through every decision from start to finish. A coordinator typically steps in closer to the day to make sure everything runs smoothly. At The Events Lounge, we offer both – so whether you need someone with you for the whole journey or just to hold it all together on the day, we have you covered.

  • A venue coordinator is employed by the venue to oversee the venue itself – the catering, the venue requirements and the venue staff. They are there to look after the venue’s interests, not yours. We are employed by you, which means we are entirely in your corner from start to finish. We work across every element of your wedding — your suppliers, your timeline, your finer details – and on the day, we are there to field every question and handle everything that comes up so that you can simply focus on getting married. Think of us as the person connecting all the dots, so you don’t have to think about a single thing.

  • We recommend reaching out as early as possible – ideally 12 to 18 months before your date, especially for peak season weddings. The earlier we connect, the more we can help shape the big decisions from the very beginning. That said, if your date is sooner, please still reach out as we may have availability!

Wedding Styling

  • Wedding styling is the art of bringing your vision to life visually – it is everything your guests see, feel and experience when they walk into your ceremony or reception space. Where wedding planning covers the full journey and logistics of your day, styling is focused on the aesthetic – the florals, the furniture, the lighting, the linen, the little details that make your jaw drop and your heart full. Think of planning as the backbone of your day and styling as the soul of it. At The Events Lounge we offer both, and when combined, the result is something truly special.

  • Absolutely! Styling is a standalone service and many of our couples come to us purely for the aesthetic side of their day. If you already have your planning under control and just want someone to create something visually breathtaking, we would love to help bring that to life.

  • It all starts with getting to know you – your vision, your taste, your non-negotiables and the feeling you want your guests to experience. From there we develop a styling concept, source all the elements and take care of the full setup on the day. You show up and we handle the rest.

  • We actually made a very intentional decision not to – and here’s why. We never want your wedding to feel like something we have created before. Every couple, every love story and every vision is completely different, and that is exactly how your wedding should feel. Our job is to know the very best suppliers, understand what is out there and hand pick the pieces that truly reflect you and your story. The result is something completely unique – because it is.

  • We absolutely encourage it! Whether you have a Pinterest board bursting at the seams or just a feeling you can’t quite put into words, we love working with what you bring to us and turning it into something even more beautiful than you imagined.

Investment

  • Our full wedding planning service starts from $7,495 + GST. Wedding styling starts from $5,495 + GST and on the day coordination starts from $2,200 + GST. We have a detailed price guide available – simply reach out via our enquiry form and we will send it straight to you!

  • Private venue weddings are often a complete blank canvas – and we mean that literally. Before we even begin thinking about styling, we are bringing in the infrastructure that makes the event possible. Catering tent builds, bathroom facilities, generators, rubbish removal, every fork, knife and spoon — it all has to be sourced, coordinated and brought in. These weddings are often multi-day builds requiring significantly more hours, logistics and on the ground management. A restaurant wedding, by comparison, already has the infrastructure in place and we bump in on the day with far fewer moving parts. Both are beautiful in their own way – they are just very different in scope, and our pricing reflects that honestly.

  • Our fee is a management fee that covers everything from the very first conversation through to the moment your last guest leaves. This includes all of our time in the lead up — the planning, the sourcing, the supplier communication, the site visits, the logistics and every detail in between — as well as two staff onsite for the full duration of your event on the day. For larger weddings or those requiring significant setup, additional staffing may be needed and this will always be discussed and agreed upon upfront so there are no surprises.

Working with us

  • It all begins with an enquiry – from there we will be in touch to have an initial conversation, get to know you and make sure we are the right fit. Once you are ready to move forward we take care of the paperwork, get you set up in our planning portal and the fun really begins! From there we work through every detail together at a pace that feels right for you, all the way through to the day itself.

  • Once you are booked in with us you will get access to our dedicated wedding planning portal – think of it as your wedding headquarters! Everything lives in one place including your planning checklists and timelines, design inspiration and style guides, guest lists and seating charts, supplier contacts and all of your important documents. You can log in at any time to see exactly where things are at, add inspiration, leave notes and stay across every detail. No more endless email threads or lost documents – it is all right there!

  • Honestly — however works best for you! Some couples love living in the planning portal, others prefer regular video calls and some are happy to communicate mostly via email. We take our lead from you and find a rhythm that feels natural for your lifestyle. What we do love to do is schedule regular meetings throughout the process, as we like to break planning down into sections — working through each stage together, making suggestions along the way and making sure everything feels right before moving on to the next. It keeps things manageable, enjoyable and means nothing gets missed!

  • No! We never want you to feel like you are watching the clock or holding back a question because you’ve used up your allocated time. Planning a wedding is a big deal and we want you to feel fully supported throughout the entire process. Our regular milestone meetings are built into the process but beyond that, if you need a call, you need a call – we are here for it!

  • From your very first enquiry through to the moment you walk back down the aisle as a married couple, your main point of contact is Rachael — always. We never hand our couples over to a junior planner or pass you from person to person. You build a relationship with one person who knows your wedding inside and out, and that is exactly how we believe it should be!

  • Once you are ready to lock it in, a 50% deposit is required to secure your date with the remaining balance due six weeks prior to your wedding. We will walk you through everything at the time of booking so the process is simple and straightforward!

Suppliers & Vendors

  • Yes – over the years we have built a trusted network of suppliers who we know, love and genuinely believe in. These are people we have worked alongside, whose work we respect and whose values align with ours. When we recommend someone it is because we would put our name behind them without hesitation.

  • Absolutely not! Our preferred list is there as a resource and a starting point, not a requirement. If you already have suppliers you love or have your heart set on someone in particular, we will work with them wholeheartedly. Our job is to bring your vision to life and that means working with the people who feel right for you.

  • That is exactly what we are here for! Finding the right suppliers can feel overwhelming — there are so many options and it is hard to know who to trust. We will guide you through the process, make recommendations based on your vision and personality and help you find the right people for your day.

  • Yes — particularly for full planning clients. Managing supplier relationships, coordinating logistics and making sure everyone is across the details is a big part of what we do. You should never have to chase a supplier or feel unsure about where things are at — that is our job!

Locations

  • We are based on the Gold Coast and this is very much where we are at – but having grown up and worked in Sydney, we know that market and its suppliers incredibly well which is a real advantage for our Sydney couples. We regularly work across the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast and are absolutely available for interstate weddings including Sydney, Melbourne and beyond. If you have a destination in mind, chances are we are up for it – just ask!

  • For weddings and events outside of the Gold Coast, travel fees will apply and will be outlined clearly in your quote so there are no surprises. Get in touch and we can talk through the details for your specific location!

  • We do! There is something incredibly special about travelling somewhere beautiful to celebrate a couple’s love story and we would never say no to a great destination wedding. If you are dreaming of something further afield, we would love to hear about it.