You can't build a house without a solid foundation, and we're a lot like a general contractor in that respect. Seamless event flows, innovative experiences and show-stopping designs that don't just look good on paper are products of time, transparency and trust. So our process follows suit!
After a healthy dose of "get to know you" (and believe me, we're going further than the Bachelor ever does), we'll begin spinning the wheels on allocated investment strategies, destination discovery, week-of-the-event flow and the creative team.
Much like white before red at a wine tasting, order matters. And years of experience have taught us that the best approach at the beginning is to leave no question unasked, no expectations undiscovered and no parameters unaddressed.
Whether it's rough and tumble luxury or cinematic grandeur you're after, our foremost mission is to uncover that hidden mecca of styles, passions and stories that epitomize you and devise an event reflective of your spirit.
Through a playful consortium of workbooks, light-hearted soul-searching and a bit of strategic dialogue over wine + cheese, we'll peel back the layers of the onion before ever brushing shoulders with colorways, moodboards, venue recs or timelines.
Our Approach to Full-Service, High Touch Event Production
We've been known to Maria Von Trapp a thing or two. Whether we're turning curtains into table linens or stage blocking the band, we're never far off from conducting sparkling serenades to stand the test of time. This leg of the journey is fairly hands-off for you, thanks to our recent séances with your design spirits - still fresh in the mind!
With you as our muse, we're dreaming up designs with substance, experiences with transcendence and an iconic backdrop for wickedly good times.
Manifested through digital renderings, floral mockups, paper good proofs, menu and cake tastings, textile samples and a glossy, editorial-style design dossier, this phase of the planning process is downright fun, warm and collaborative.
Our goal is to make a radiant return to your stories, ever-curious about how we can weave your fabulous DNA into every guest touchpoint while remaining considerate of your desired spend.
Beauty and function are the dynamic duo in our book, so you best believe we're putting every potential design moment through this unforgiving litmus test before determining it's up to snuff.
Our Approach to Full-Service, High Touch Event Production
You lucky star, you! These final months leading up to your celebration are fringed with carefree repose as you log a coveted number of REM hours, achieve your Goodreads goals and soak up the absolute bliss that is this intermission of sorts.
We may spur you to consider a headstart on your guest seating assignments or getting those final fittings in the books, but generally speaking, this stretch of months is a time to kick back and enjoy that delicious removal from all things nitty gritty. We'll take a piece (or a hundred) of that cake!
The gracious, talented and endearingly like-minded vendors we work with are truly the unsung heroes of it all. Their commitment to excellence and can-do attitude allows us to bring spell-bindingly immersive concepts to life in a way that rivals haute couture runways during Paris Fashion Week.
So while these intensive months mean having our creative comrades on speed dial, it's always worth seeing our clients experience their parties in riotous laughter, as genuine guests... entirely burden-free.
Saying tsk to convention is one of our hallmarks, so you can bet we'll be neck deep in meetings + zoom calls for this duration of the planning journey... and loving every second of it!
Donning our many hats, we're unceasingly focused on turning good into great, tying up loose ends and preparing for every worst-case scenario... be it flooding, broken limbs or international customs. Been there. Been there. And definitely been there.
Our Approach to Full-Service, High Touch Event Production
This is definitely, unequivocally, positively the best part of the planning process. As you shift your gears into Do Not Disturb mode, all you have to do is settle into the best seat in the house. You're front + center, baby. And it's time to feel exhilarated, unstoppable, and entirely euphoric.
Transitioning you and your guests through the entire series of events in a way that feels exciting, effortless and completely level-headed, we've got boots on the ground in dozens of places at any given time to ensure every moment of your event flows seamlessly.
While you're soaking up the spotlight, we're behind-the-scenes rigging the curtains, cueing the orchestra, prepping your wardrobe changes, and metamorphosing the sets amid rapid scene changes.
And that's after days of meticulous 1) on-site production with your rockstar vendor team, 2) rehearsals for you, your VIPs and entertainment crew and 3) putting out any fires so you never know they happened!
Our Approach to Full-Service, High Touch Event Production
CASE STUDY
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Behind-the-Scenes in Saint-Tropez
Deep dive with us into a 3-day destination wedding in the French Riviera's most iconic harbor town.
Colorways with pizazz
{our palette hall of fame}
Be Curious
You have your own lens through which you see and experience the world. That alone makes it special!
So in a society that sees more repetition than a pin-stripe print, we like to approach events from a highly individualized place- one that excavates the quintessence of you by asking well-rounded, contemplative questions and picking up on those subconscious cues you never quite knew how to articulate.
Staying innovative with childlike curiosity is a hallmark of our craft, and we wouldn't be able to produce the sky-is-the-limit events that we do without a healthy dose of optimism, imagination and Plato-endorsed introspection. #KNOWTHYSELF
We love us some witty banter + rose-colored glasses, but don't let our Southern charm fool you into thinking we lack the chops to tell it like it is.
Honesty with a take-it-or-leave it dollop of tactful guidance is our specialty, so whether we're having a tête-à-tête about the different ways to optimize your investments, the challenges/opportunities we foresee or the tough calls we have to determine on the fly, we'll be confident, upfront and entirely judicious as we advocate for your best interests.
While ultimately every green light belongs to you, we'll invariably signal, from our POV, if you should stop, slow down... or rev up the engine and collect $200.
Be DISCERNING
Normalize levelheadedness on an event day! Contrary to popular belief, you're not doing it wrong if you're calm, cool and collected the whole way through. We wouldn't be doing our jobs if you weren't!
We firmly believe that keeping our demeanors unflappable and our attitudes solutions-oriented ultimately fosters an experience where you feel safe, held and deliciously unburdened.
Even the best laid plans fall victim to whims of nature, the man, and unforeseen circumstances that affect the entire globe. So if and when the hogwash hits the fan, you can rest assured knowing our survivalist hearts thrive in moments where adaptability is paramount.
Be OPEN
Our Philosophy
Behind the Velvet Rope
From the storybook towns of Eze and Saint Paul de Vence to the ritzy beach towns of St. Tropez and Cannes, the Côte d'Azur is a mecca of glamour that's famously beloved by artists, designers and the enviable jet set
A 4-day destination wedding in Les Alpilles with a Chinese Tea Ceremony, Michelin-starred Rehearsal Dinner, limestone quarry Welcome Event, modern elegant Wedding Day beneath the plane trees and rosé-themed Pool Party
CASE STUDIES
A 3-day wedding in Saint-Tropez with a colorful midcentury fishing village Welcome at La Ponche, a Trinidad & Tobago inspired Beach Club Day and a Mediterranean garden ceremony at Chateau de la Messardière
claire & sid
Kate & chad
natasha & felix
SHOW ME MORE
A Nancy Meyers inspired wedding weekend in the Provençal hilltop village of Gordes with a pasta-filled Italian Welcome Night, a romantic blue + white garden Wedding Day and a whimsical vineyard tour Recovery Day
claire & sid
From the storybook towns of Eze and Saint Paul de Vence to the ritzy beach towns of St. Tropez and Cannes, the Côte d'Azur is a mecca of glamour that's famously beloved by artists, designers and the enviable jet set
claire & sid
SHOW ME MORE
An urban sanctuary Welcome Cocktail in London, followed by a timeless wildflower-inspired Wedding Day at a Georgian Mansion in London’s Countryside overlooking the River Thames
SHOW ME MORE
ALEX & PETER
Kate & chad
Behind the Velvet Rope
From the storybook towns of Eze and Saint Paul de Vence to the ritzy beach towns of St. Tropez and Cannes, the Côte d'Azur is a mecca of glamour that's famously beloved by artists, designers and the enviable jet set
A 4-day destination wedding in Les Alpilles with a Chinese Tea Ceremony, Michelin-starred Rehearsal Dinner, limestone quarry Welcome Event, modern elegant Wedding Day beneath the plane trees and rosé-themed Pool Party
CASE STUDIES
A 3-day wedding in Saint-Tropez with a colorful midcentury fishing village Welcome at La Ponche, a Trinidad & Tobago inspired Beach Club Day and a Mediterranean garden ceremony at Chateau de la Messardière
claire & sid
natasha & felix
A Nancy Meyers inspired wedding weekend in the Provençal hilltop village of Gordes with a pasta-filled Italian Welcome Night, a romantic blue + white garden Wedding Day and a whimsical vineyard tour Recovery Day
claire & sid
claire & sid
An urban sanctuary Welcome Cocktail in London, followed by a timeless wildflower-inspired Wedding Day at a Georgian Mansion in London’s Countryside overlooking the River Thames
ALEX & PETER
Kate & chad
CONNECT
If you like piña coladas (or that sweet spot where travel meets design), get in touch today to share your own destination event reverie!
ALLONS Y
Our Clients Are Sensational!
Kicking off your wedding planning process can be extremely overwhelming. When my husband and I started our research, we couldn’t decide if we even needed to partner with a wedding planner, let alone which wedding planner to choose. Being a very detailed person myself, I had originally contemplated orchestrating this day on my own. Looking back, we now know that trying to plan a destination wedding by ourselves would have been an impossible task. There is no better decision I could have made for this huge milestone than partnering with Alexis and the entire Willow & Oak team. Trust me when I say they are worth every penny you will spend, and they are just the absolute dream team when it comes to turning your wedding day/weekend into a reality!
We worked together with Alexis and her team for about 18 months. During that time, there was no detail glanced over, no email left without a quick response, no creative stone unturned, and no shortage of enthusiasm & pure excitement from Alexis along the way. She always treated our wedding as if it were her own, and when my decision paralysis kicked in, I always knew I could count on her to take over and have our best interest at heart.
I never left a conversation with Alexis without being amazed at how organized, detailed, and thorough she was. Willow & Oak truly does it all - from venue scouting, vendor suggestions, coordination, and design. Each portion of our wedding day was carefully thought out to ensure our guests had a unique and seamless experience.
I always heard that the days/weeks leading up to your wedding can be some of the most stressful. But I can honestly say I went into our wedding week feeling extremely calm and confident, knowing that Alexis and her team had it all under control. When the wedding day rolled around, there was nobody I would rather have in my corner than Alexis. She worked tirelessly for almost 24 straight hours to ensure the entire day was executed as smoothly as possible – and even during the times where some minor things didn’t go as planned (as they always do), Alexis handled them with ease, ensuring my husband and I were able to have the best possible day with our loved ones.
We can’t thank Alexis & the team at Willow & Oak enough for turning our wedding day into an insane reality that we will forever be in awe of and have to pinch ourselves to remember that it even happened.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
kind words & Warm Fuzzies
ALEX & PETER | LONDON, UK
