SARA JANE
Creative, Inspiring, Scottish Weddings & Elopements
Destination Weddings
It’s no secret that planning a wedding can be a big undertaking, and planning a destination wedding creates a unique set of challenges. We have many years of experience helping couples plan their dream wedding here in Scotland and everything we do is geared towards making long-distance planning both fun and easy for our clients.
When we work with you, we're there every step of the way to create not only your dream wedding day, but also a truly incredible experience for your guests here in Scotland. Every aspect of your wedding celebration is uniquely tailored to you, from finding the perfect location to the right photographer to fit with your style and all the elements to bring together the happiest day of your lives and we've worked hard to find the best suppliers and services across the country.
As we specialise in planning destination weddings for clients based overseas, we have adapted the way we work to accommodate the distance-based process. We use sophisticated online systems to share effortlessly every detail of the wedding and we keep in regular contact with our clients over Skype, regardless of the timezone. As well as planning weddings, we are also experts at managing the unique demands of a destination wedding - from visa applications to travel assistance.
Our wedding management system makes the long distance planning process a breeze. At the click of a button, our couples can access every detail of their wedding or find out what tasks they need to complete. Automated reminders make sure nothing is ever missed.
What We Do
Venue
We find the perfect ceremony and reception venue (s) for you and negotiate the best terms on your behalf. We then handle all communications and details with the selected venue throughout the process so you can be sure everything is taken care of on the day.
Conception
We work together with you to establish a realistic budget and overall plan for your trip from the outset and make suggestions so you can get the very best from your visit to Scotland, including venue specific recommendations for local sightseeing, tourist attractions or evening entertainment.
Design
Weddings By Sara Jane is known throughout Scotland for designing the most stunning weddings and events, and for each couple we work with, we create a bespoke wedding design. The starting point for our planning process is to create the event story; interpreting your vision and to design a truly bespoke concept. We then match each client with the ideal suppliers, from florist to stationery to bring their vision to life.
Logistics
We coordinate of every element of the wedding plans from a logistics perspective, from timings to organising suppliers so we can make sure you can just relax and enjoy the trip without needing to worry about who is doing what.
The Ceremony
We advise our couples from the outset on their options for the ceremony and pair them with the perfect celebrant for the big day. We also offer guidance on the content of the ceremony; from music to readings and personalised vows.
The Paperwork
We've been planning weddings in Scotland for couples from overseas for almost a decade now and we know how daunting this process can be, so we guide you seamlessly through the process to keep this stress free and simple.
Communication
We know how hard it is to attend a meeting with the florist when you’re living in the US, so with our full planning service, we handle all that for you and act as your representative here in Scotland. All you have to do is tell us what you want, and we make sure it happens!
Gentleman’s Outfitting
While you handle the dress from home, we’re here locally to coordinate kilt hire for the Groom if he wishes to get into the Scottish spirit.
Hair and Makeup
We team you with the perfect hair and makeup team to have you looking flawless on the big day. Once booked, you can talk directly to your stylists to go over the looks you have in mind and we can even organise a trial for you the day before the wedding if you wish.
Photography and Videography
We have used our years of experience to identify the very best photographers in Scotland, and we will work to pair you with
those best suited to your design, style and budget. If we get discounts or incentives, we pass those on to you so you can benefit from our years of expertise and have beautiful memories to take home and share with your friends and family.
Entertainment
If you'd like live musicians at your wedding ceremony, we have a little black book brimming with wonderful local performers; from traditional bagpipers to string quartets. In the evening, we can connect you with a huge variety of bands and DJs to suit whatever you're looking for.
Administration
We project manage the wedding in every area, including the timeline, checklist, budget, guest list, RSVPs, layouts, designs and all logistical plans and administration. We work closely with you and your suppliers throughout the entire planning process to ensure all your plans are perfectly executed.
Planning Portal
All our clients benefit from our online planning portal, which allows real-time access to every detail of your wedding, from the guest list to our designs. During your first meeting with Sara, you will get a tour of this fantastic system!
Bridal Party Support
We assist with coordinating and organising your wedding party to ensure they know what they have to do on the day and have all the information they need, including a personalised booklet for each of them.
Meetings & Contact
Our destination clients have access to unlimited phone and email support as well as regular meetings by video chat to keep of track of details and design as needed. Evening and weekend appointments are available.
Travel, Accommodation & Activities
While we don't handle your flights and transport for you, we do make recommendations for the best accommodation choices and how to get around when you're in Scotland. We can also help organise local activities or sightseeing adventures so you can make the most of your visit.
A Full Itinerary
Almost all of the weddings we plan would include a 2 - 3 day itinerary for guests. As part of our planning service, we would typically also plan a welcome event and departure brunch, but your itinerary can be adapted to fit with however you envisage your stay in Scotland.
The Little Extras
We are also able to create custom welcome baskets for your guests, professional childcare, stationery design and much more.
Investment
We charge a fixed fee for wedding planning dependent on the size, complexity and length of the celebration. To receive a price list, please contact Sara Jane with details you have in mind and we will send you the options we have. Our services are offered at two levels:
Partial Planning
Our Partial Planning service is designed to provide our couples with all the support and inspiration they need to plan their dream wedding in Scotland from a distance. This service includes 12 working days of time from your planner to assist you with coordinating the key aspects of your wedding here in Scotland, including sourcing your venue, matching with key suppliers, creation of a bespoke wedding conception and design, assistance with legalities and local advice, the use of our wonderful planning portal to keep you on track and On The Day Management of your wedding to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Full Planning
While our Destination Planning service is designed to provide a full range of support for couples planning their wedding in Scotland; it is also designed to be time-efficient and accessible to couples of all budgets. We understand though that some couples require something a little extra. Our Full Planning Service is therefore designed for those couples who would like a more extended level of services to include unlimited working hours in keeping with the budget and scope of your wedding plans. With our full planning service, we manage the administration and communications on your behalf throughout the wedding as well as managing additional tasks such as tracking RSVPs.
Intimate and Micro Weddings
For smaller weddings, we offer the same services at reduced rates to reflect the reduced workload required. At the time of your enquiry, please let us know your approximate number of guests and we will forward on the appropriate pricing.
Our Guarantee
As Elite Members of the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners, Weddings by Sara Jane is committed to a "No Commission" guarantee. Meaning, we never take a cut of any kind from your venue or suppliers. Our ethos is to help couples all over the world plan exceptional weddings in Scotland, where we help them to get the very best from their budget and as such, we’re completely committed to remaining commission free. For that reason, when working with us, you can rest assured we are working hard to get you the very best rates from venues and suppliers. All suppliers are recommended to you based on their merit alone with no vested interest.