FAQ

Can I pay my balance early?

Absolutely! There is no penalty for early payment. You can access your invoice at anytime through your client contract portal on our website.

I don't want to keep track of payments. Can I set up autopay?

Yes! When you view your invoice, you should see the option to set up autopay. A declined transaction will result in the autopay being cancelled. You will still be responsible for any late fees.

Can I make smaller or more frequent payments?

Yes, you can. You are welcome to make payments at your convenience, as long as the full scheduled payment is paid on time. Contact your planner if you'd like to set up a more frequent autopay schedule.

How do I schedule a planning meeting?

You can schedule a planning meeting via our scheduling app via this link. 

Do you give a timeline to the vendors & wedding party?

Yes. We define the timeline for the entire wedding weekend. We will typically share this timeline with all of your vendors no less than 3 weeks before your wedding. The relevant parts of the schedule should be shared with your wedding party. The choice is yours if you want to send this to them or if we will.

Will you provide an emergency kit on my wedding day?

Yes. We will have an emergency kit handy on the wedding day. We will also supply you a list of items that you (or a member of your wedding party) should pack to have on hand, just in case.

What time will you arrive and leave the day-of?

Your planner will stop by your getting ready room about an hour after preparations have begun, on their way to the venue. This allows the hair stylists & make up artists to get settled & the first few people on the schedule to start their services. This will be a short drop-in visit to make sure everything is progressing well & to address any issues. If your package includes it, your associate planner support team member(s) will arrive shortly after your planner departs. Your planner, or a member of the SWE team, will remain on site until the end of your reception, unless otherwise agreed to.

What happens if you get sick on my wedding day?

In accordance with Paragraph 34 of your contract agreement, if your planner is unable to perform their duties on your wedding day, we will ensure a suitable replacement is in place for your event.

What will I need to do on the wedding day?

If you trust us during the planning process and complete all the tasks we've given you, you won't have to do anything on your wedding day except get married and have fun! Because the day is often very long, we encourage you to eat a healthy breakfast, stay hydrated (minimal alcohol before the wedding, please), relax, and be fully present to enjoy the entire experience of your wedding day.

If I'm from another state, can I marry in Illinois?

Absolutely! If your legal marriage will take place in Illinois, you need to apply for a marriage license in the county of your venue. Also ensure your officiant is in compliance with the county's requirements. 

Cook County (including the City of Chicago) 

Dupage County 

Will County 

Kane County

If I live in Illinois, can I get married in Indiana?

Yes. If you live in Illinois, you can get married at a venue in Indiana. You will, however, need to get an Indiana marriage license for the county your ceremony will take place in. You can not use an Illinois marriage license in Indiana. The same is true if you live in Indiana & choose to marry in Illinois. Keep in mind that your officiant must be in compliance with requirements of the state that issues your license.

I want to save money & buy linens from Amazon. Will you place them on the tables?

The short answer is No. There are many risks associated with online purchases like this - quality, inconsistent dye lot (colors aren't the same), incorrect sizes, etc. For this reason, we strongly discourage this approach. Doing this increases your work load before the wedding (ironing & transporting wrinkle-free linens) and after (cleaning & storing or attempting to resell them). If you choose to not use a recommended vendor for linens, it will be your responsibility to have someone provide and apply wrinkle-free linens in the timeframe that we will define in the final event timeline.  

Will you set up my DIY items?

Yes, we will set up your DIY decor items for an additional fee. If this is something you desire, you will be required to provide very detailed instructions via a Decor Instructions & Agreement document for EACH item in your design. We will not assemble anything. We will also not be responsible for items not packed, not labeled, or not set up as you expected if pictures and all components are not provided. Because of the stress DIY projects often cause couples, we strongly discourage this. Instead, we recommend hiring a designer or decorator to ensure your decor is what you envision.  

Personal items such as signage, place cards, and family photos will be set up at no extra charge.