Fiona Lau Events

Otherwise known as – How do I book a date?

The short: Send a request for your date via the contact form or email us at hello@fionalauevents.ca and we’ll set up a video call  or potentially an in person meeting when it’s possible! When you’re ready to choose a package, a proposal will be sent to you. You are required to pay 30% of the total as a retainer to reserve your date. The signed contract and deposit is due within one (1) week of the contract being sent.

The long: Our planning process starts the moment we receive an inquiry. Based on the information you give us, we’ll be thinking up ideas even before our call. The more info you give us when you contact us, the better! We want to develop some ideas with you even on that first call. 
Once the 30% retainer is received and the contract is signed, we get straight to work! Our process will depend on what service is booked.

For full planning packages, we’ll meet around 1x a month to go over any items that need to be done, and what updates you have for me. Partial planning: we have 2 planning meetings, another halfway point meeting, and then our final consult a few weeks before the day.  With elopements + intimate weddings, design or set up and tear down, we’ll meet as needed, and in the 6 weeks leading up to your wedding, we’ll meet 1 – 2 times to finalize logistics!  package!

Within Ontario or Quebec: We charge a rate of $1.25/km, applied to accumulative travel in excess of 150 KM (there and back) from the Fiona Lau Events office. Our home bases are Ottawa ON, Belleville ON, or Toronto ON, so weddings within those cities likely won’t have a travel fee!

If the wedding is taking place more than 100 kilometers from those home bases, just pay for our travel and lodgings and we’re set!

For example, since we’re an Ottawa based wedding planner, the venue is 89 KM from our office in Ottawa so we multiply that by 2 to equal 178 KM. We minus the 150 KM included, so 28 KM is billed per vehicle. Since the distance one way is less than 100 KM, no lodging is required.

There’s a couple reasons why this is super important!

First, when you hop on a call with us, it means that you’ve done your research on us and like what you see! You’re putting in the effort beyond price shopping and are interested in seeing if our packages will work for you. 

Second, it’s even more important that we’re a good fit. While you’re interviewing us, we’re also interviewing you! We use this time to make sure we connect and can enjoy each other’s company. It’s a productive way to understand your vision and needs, allowing us to provide an accurate quote.

Our job is to connect you with vendors that fit your budget. To receive the best level of service from a vendor, they need to feel valued! Asking for a discount communicates that you do not think they are worth what they are asking, with the assumption that you know what it costs for them to run their business. The result of receiving a discount is never going to be the same quality of work that led you to the vendor in the first place – based on reviews, recommendations, and so on. We also have vendor relationships to maintain and nurture, so asking for discounts puts us in a negative position with them so those seeking discounts are not the right fit for Fiona Lau Events.

In addition to the above, Fiona is WPIC certified, which means that:

We do not accept kickbacks (money for referrals) from vendors. Vendors must know that the clients are the recipients of any discounts given.

For the WPIC Code of Ethics, click HERE.

There’s a myth out there that because you’re using the word “wedding” you’re having to pay more for services. To put it bluntly, it’s a load of codswallop! Wedding professionals do typically charge more for a wedding, but it’s not because you tacked the word “wedding” to the inquiry. There is a level of expectation with a wedding that doesn’t exist with most other events. Think about the time and talent it takes to execute some of these things. For example, photographers take more photos (more editing!), have to pose more people, and only have one chance to capture flawless photos of your most cherished moment. This takes experience – ergo, time and talent cost money. 

This is the case with florists – let me tell you, keeping flowers alive for longer means buying quality florals (plus making sure the florals will withstand posing, moving, + tossing), & artfully arranging a variety of hard to get blooms, is a HARD job. To save yourself some tears and wilted blooms on your wedding day, it is worth booking a professional florist!

We could go on about all the various wedding vendors, but the overarching idea here is that these vendors have the experience (and professional equipment) to give you that dream wedding you’ve always imagined. Things are priced the way they are because they’re delivering goods & services that demonstrate their excellent skills that took time, money, and energy to cultivate. You wouldn’t be happy if someone just slapped together something for your wedding day for a low price would you?

Speaking from experience, I worked for some time as an Events Service Representative at an arboretum and at a winery — as the venue coordinator effectively.  An in-house venue coordinator or banquet manager has loyalty to the hall or restaurant, not to the client first. They’re in charge of booking the space and making sure nothing is damaged before servicing the client.  In that position, when a client wanted something personal or special, I had to check with the higher ups to see if it was possible. If they said no, I was not in a position to advocate for the client. 

On the wedding planner side, personal touches is a super important element in the experience! We get to know our clients, and can make suggestions that will maximize the inclusion of those super personal touches! 

Connecting with the vendors is another element of difference. As the venue coordinator, we never touched or saw contracts or communicated with external vendors prior to the wedding day unless it was related to safety reasons of set up. If a client called or emailed asking for personal vendor referrals, they were sent a PDF. 

As a wedding planner, handling vendor liasons is a key job for us. Wedding planning can be pretty stressful, and if your first time doing it, it’s normal to be a bit stressed out about vendor contracts and who to even contact! We can walk you through contracts (not as legal advice), make suggestions regarding the best vendors for your vision, and help with vendor logistics including making sure the wedding day goes smoothly.

From first hand experience, they are not interchangeable jobs and can work really well together to ensure you have the best day possible! We each have our own role to play in your wedding day.

We’re an Ottawa based wedding planner! We also have home bases in Belleville, Ontario + Toronto, Ontario and call all 3 areas home.

Yes! Out of town, out of province, and out of country are all definitely on the table. If you’re getting married and aren’t sure if service your area – send us a message!

Absolutely!! We have an Elopements + Intimate Weddings package that’s perfect for 2-50 guests. This is perfect for you if you’re not the biggest fan of big crowds or a giant party. Sweet, and intimate, with a touch of magic.

PLUS, we have the Our Little Wedding package. Connect with us for more info!