the ultimate engagement guide
www.couturebotanical.com
jane.a.goldfinch@gmail.com
welcome
Congratulations on your engagement! As you embark on this exhilarating journey towards your wedding day, we're thrilled to present to you our Ultimate Engagement Guide, meticulously crafted by the crème de la crème of luxury wedding floristry. This isn't just any guide; it's your bespoke roadmap through the enchanting world of wedding planning, designed to inspire, guide, and elevate every moment from here to "I do." With an eye for the exquisite and a touch of modern edge, our guide is tailored for the daring couple ready to make a statement. So, take a deep breath, let your imagination run wild, and step into a realm where your floral dreams are about to blossom into breathtaking reality.
about me
It all started when… I created my first wedding arrangements 30 years ago. At Couture Botanical we truly believe that the little details do matter and that having a professional with you on your floral journey makes a real difference in creating a timeless, stress free and stunning wedding.
I adore glorious, structured, seasonal and statement blooms with all my heart! Florals that are thoughtfully crafted and woven together to make all your ‘big day’ dreams come true.
Whether it be an intimate gathering or an extravagant celebration, my goal is to create something truly memorable and unique for you and your people.
Florals are such a personal and FUN part of your wedding, also the one thing you won’t have an exact image of until it surprises you on the day! What excites you? Colourful chaos, trapping from the eaves, lush backdrops, glorious bouquets?
Let's bloom...
Jane Goldfinch – principal stylist
why couture
botanical
We are regularly approached by industry leading publications such as Hunter Valley Wedding Planner to feature the unique & bespoke way we transform our client's vision into their dreams. Our couture headpieces have also been featured in the international publication Flowers To Wear.
Jane is passionate about professional development & continual growth in her field and has recently completed an intense masterclass with the illustrious 5 time gold medal winner of the Chelsea Flower Show, Joseph Massie. This masterclass focused on on a wide variety of art projects including botanical couture, sculptures and installations. He is considered ‘the floral artist of his generation’.
Jane has also graduated from the Ivy & Bleu Academy. This academy focuses on strengthening services in styling, floral design, planning & on the day Coordination from some of the best in the Wedding Industry.
We have received the Wedding Industry Awards Top 10 wedding florist in 2021, 2022 & 2023. These awards are based on client reviews.
Jane also holds the following
Advanced Certificate in Floristry
International Event and Wedding Planning Professional (IEWP)
Member of Professional Florists Association NSW
the basics
1 Share the happy news with your family!
(BEFORE you post on social media). Then you can share on social media and shout it from the rooftops.
2. Get insurance. If your ring wasn't purchased with insurance, make sure you have it insured by taking the appraisal to an insurance agent.
3. Get yourring sized. Maybe your beau had your exact ring size (good for them), but if they're like most people, it will need a little tweaking to be the perfect fit.
4. Enjoy it! Seriously, celebrate with your fiancé and let it sink in that you are getting married.
5. Go for dinner or cook your favourite dish together to savour the moment.
6. Get a manicure so you can properly show off that new bling.
our tip
Make your guest list first. This will help you determine the capacity you need from your venue. If you have 120 guests and are considering a venue that can only hold 80 people, then you need to re-evaluate.
set a realistic date
Got engaged in December, but you want a Autumn wedding? Consider waiting a full year and a half to have your wedding, so you don't have to rush your planning in a 5 month time frame. It can take up to 10 months to get your custom wedding attire.
Make sure the date you choose works for your closest family members (parents, siblings, etc.)
The venue and other important vendors you choose (particularly if they are popular and you have your heart set on engaging them) may determine your date based on their availability.
Think about the season. If you want a Winter wedding, look for a fabulous indoor venue.
Consider yourlocation options. How close are you and the majority of your guests? How much travel will be involved? Is there adequate accommodation around if needed?
Start putting together your budget. It's not easy to budget for something you've never done before, so a great place to start is making your guest list.
find a venue
early planning
01 Get Inspired
We give you full permission to scroll Pinterest, buy all the wedding magazines and start finding things you love.
02 Wedding Party
Now you're ready to ask your closest friends or family to be a part of your wedding party. Keep reading to see our tips on this!
03 Find Your Venue
Now that you have your guest list set and your preferred season, start looking for a venue to accommodate those needs. (PS your planner can help with this too!)
04 Pick Your Photographer
Think about what you want your wedding photos to look like. Some photographers have bright and airy composition while others shoot moodier or more true to colour sultry images. Make a list of your top 3 faves and inquire.
05 Site Visits
Whenever possible, visit venues before booking and have your important questions ready to ask the coordinator or manager. If it's the one, get it booked and secure your date asap.
06 Interview Planners
Hiring a wedding planner or designer can be a lifesaver when the wedding overwhelm starts to set in - it happens to the best of us. Do you research and inquire with your top 3 choices.
Make your guest list first. This will help you determine the capacity you need from your venue. If you have 120 guests and are considering a venue that can only hold 80 people, then you need to re-evaluate.
5 questions to ask potential venues
Are there spaces for both ceremony and reception on site suit your guest count comfortably ?
What is the backup plan if it rains or is extremely hot?
If they provide catering, do they allow cake from an outside vendor?
What time do you give access to vendors for set up and when does it have to be cleared out?
Do you have a venue coordinator and what services do they provide before and during the wedding?
how to ask your wedding
When you get engaged, one of the first things you start thinking about is - who will be standing up there next to me? Holding my flowers, fluffing my dress, straightening my tie and calming my nerves.
Once you decide on how many friends or family you want in your wedding party (fyi discuss this with your fiancé as they will be picking theirs at the same time) it’s time to ask them if they’re up for the job! Here’s how we recommend you do this:
Face To Face
If you live in the same city, we suggest going for lunch or drinks when you are ready to ask. A little gift or card goes a long way to show how much they mean to you too.
FaceTime or Zoom
When getting together isn't a possibility, setting up a FaceTime call is the next best thing.
Old Fashioned Mail
For anyone you can't see face to face, we highly recommend send a handwritten card along to make the ask personal and thoughtful.
party
Make your guest list first. This will help you determine the capacity you need from your venue. If you have 120 guests and are considering a venue that can only hold 80 people, then you need to re-evaluate.
5 questions to ask potential venues
Are there spaces for both ceremony and reception on site suit your guest count comfortably ?
What is the backup plan if it rains or is extremely hot?
If they provide catering, do they allow cake from an outside vendor?
What time do you give access to vendors for set up and when does it have to be cleared out?
Do you have a venue coordinator and what services do they provide before and during the wedding?
interview questions for your wedding planner
These questions can be used when you interview wedding planners, wedding designers or wedding coordinators.
What kinds of services do you offer?
Can you work within our budget?
What is your design process like?
Do you help us choose other vendors such as florists,rentals, caterers?
What's your selection process for choosing other vendors?
How many people will you have on staff on our wedding day?
What happens if you're sick or otherwise unable to attend our wedding?
Do you handle set up and tear down services?
How do you communicate with your clients? Do you have set timelines?
What is your fee?
Are you available on our date?
bonus
tips
Use these tips to help minimize any stress and set you up for
wedding planning success.
OPEN A WEDDING SAVINGS ACCOUNT
Each partner can contribute to the wedding savings account as you start your planning journey. Use this account to pay all of your wedding related invoices.
STAY ORGANIZED
Put all of your payment dates into your calendar so you never have to worry about missing a payment with any of your vendors.
CREATE A NEW EMAIL
Keep things streamlined and easy to find by creating a new email account for all things wedding communication. An email like "thefuturejones@gmail.com" is really sweet and will allow both of you to be in the loop on everything from planning communications to catering decisions.
REMEMBER
Take things one task at a time, one vendor at a time. Our best piece of advice when you start to feel overwhelmed is to hire a professional wedding planner & designer. Not only do they use their expertise to guide you through the process, they also have connections with the best in the industry, which is a huge advantage for you.
interview questions for your wedding planner
Let's introduce you to some of our favourite vendors
Having great vendors is a must. And having vendors that work well together and have similar styles will make your day enjoyable for you too! Remember that you'll be hanging out with these people all day! We want to make your decisions as easy as possible so we've compiled this list of our preferred vendors for you to check out at your leisure!
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Bryce Noon Photography Alex Jack Photography
Lucie Love Photography Jason Corroto Photography
Rope & Pulley Photography
VENUES
Wallalong House Adam’s Peak Country Estate
Redleaf Wollombi Krinklewood Estate
Anamaba House
BAKERS
Hello Naomi - the best in the area Cakes by Han
FURNITURE HIRE
Opulent Events - French Provincial styling
Moments Events - Luxury Italian styling
ABN 56514029408
jane.a.goldfinch@gmail.com
Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up to date and inspired!
Follow us @couture_botanical
couture
botanical
"I cannot recommend Jane highly enough! She understood exactly what I wanted and executed it perfectly. She was extremely helpful in more ways than just florals. Thank you for helping making my wedding day magical."
HAYLEY - WALLALONG HOUSE 21/1/23
what is done with love, is done well