Frequently Asked Questions
What do your packages include?
We offer several packages depending on your needs and the size of your wedding
ALL our packages always include:
- Location consultation
- Planning of all aspects of your wedding day
- Concierge Service
- Coordination with additional vendors
- Officiant
- Flowers for 2
- Cake
- Day-of Coordination
- Professional photography by Viera Photographics
How far in advance do we need to book?
For weekend micro weddings, we suggest you book well in advance as there are limited dates available. If you are open to a weekday, we can turn weddings around in as little as 3 weeks. We have done elopements in as little as a few days.
Are the food and beverage fees included?
Food and drink are not included in our package fees. As part of our service, we will find you the best caterers, private chefs, beverage service providers, restaurants, bars, cafes, and tasting rooms to give you options that fit your event and your budget. Whether your style is taco cart or a seven-course chef’s inspired tasting menu, we’ve got you covered!
What if I don’t need something from your package, can you extend a discount?
Our packages are set and include what we think is needed for a great wedding so we don’t discount them. We do, however, allow the use of your own officiant (for example).
Is the venue fee included?
Venue fee is not included in the package fee. From the moment we begin working for you, we will present you with the best options that fit you. After our initial location consultation and once we have all your requirements and budget information, we’ll be able to give you a range of options, in line with your needs.
I want an additional service that you don’t provide, can I do that?
While we keep our curated micro weddings streamlined to decrease stress and provide the most value, we know you may want just a bit more. We’ve got you covered, and will find you vendors such as hair and make-up, videography, musicians, rentals, and transportation if it is needed.
What are the next steps if we would like to book you?
You will receive an online booking proposal, if you would like to secure our services, everything can be done online. We need a signed contract and a 50% retainer – and we get started straight away! The rest is due 30 days prior to the event.
What form of payment do you accept and do you have a payment plan?
We accept all major credit cards.
Do you carry personal liability and professional indemnity insurance?
We carry a 2mil liability policy. However, we strongly recommend getting your own wedding insurance to cover you. We can talk about this more later!
How will we meet?
We utilize a combination of online questionnaires, online meetings and a dedicated chat room to be able to personalize your wedding just for you!
How do we get started?
Just as soon as you sign your contract, we send you your first online questionnaire and connect you with our team via our chat room! We will contact you shortly thereafter to set a date for a video meeting (or phone call if you prefer) to start the location consultation process.
Are we required to use all OLW preferred vendors when we book your package?
We’ve spent years building relationships with the best local vendors in the industry so we are able to pair most couples with their perfect vendors based upon their individual styles. We understand that occasionally you have someone you love that you’d like to bring on board and we get it! In such cases, we are happy to speak with your preferred vendor just to pre-qualify and then integrate them into the day. Because we set our standards quite high, we charge $150 per vendor outside our network. This includes finding some alternative options (if you haven’t already), asking them all the relevant questions pertaining to how they work, your day and the venue, reviewing their contracts and confirming insurance certificates, connecting them with the venue and ensuring that they’re able to do what they need 100%.
What if I need a unique vendor, something that is customized for our dream wedding?
We’ve worked with lots of peripheral vendors in the past such as henna artists, hot air balloon companies, vintage car rental companies, furniture and lighting rentals, bands and DJ’s and are happy to recommend from our preferred vendors list. If you bring in your own vendors or would like us to dig in and research to find you just the right person or team, then we would be happy to do so, at the rate of $150 per vendor outside our network. This includes finding some alternative options (if you haven’t already), asking them all the relevant questions pertaining to how they work, your day and the venue, reviewing their contracts and confirming insurance certificates, connecting them with the venue and ensuring that they’re able to do what they need 100%.
How are you going to assist us to secure our Marriage License?
We are always happy to assist in getting your marriage license, and are here for any questions you have. When we do our initial planning meeting – we discuss this, and pass on the information you need to obtain it.
How early should we apply for our Marriage License?
They are valid for 90 days, you must appear in person in any CA county.
What areas do you service?
We all over California! We look forward to expanding to other locations in the near future so if you’re interested in something a bit further afield, feel free to ask!
Are venue fees included in your package?
Venue fee is not included in the package fee. We do custom location searches for each of our clients. After our initial location consultation and once we have all your requirements and budget information, we’ll be able to give you a range of options, in line with your needs.
Do we have to use your venues?
We have a huge database of venues but are always searching for new ones and are always happy to do some additional research to find something super special for you.
What kind of venues do you work with?
We’ve worked everywhere from urban bowling alleys to hilltop vineyards all the way up to the majestic old growth redwood forests of northern California. We also work in more familiar spaces (which are just as special when you’re in them) such as regional parks, Airbnbs, actual B & B’s, and restaurants. Once we get to know a bit more about you, we can help advise on a good venue for you.
I already have my venue picked out! Can we still use your services?
Absolutely! We would cover reviewing the venue contract, asking any questions of the venue that might be important for us to know, and coordinating with the venue for the timeline. We’ll basically just take over everything so you can relax and enjoy!
Do you do destination weddings?
If you’re enquiring from outside of California, then perhaps California is a destination wedding for you! Many of our clients travel here from far away and oftentimes with a group of friends and family. Concierge services are part of all packages and we can help you find accommodations, refer you to some great local activities, advise on great places to eat, and basically anything you might need to feel right at home. If you’re from California and planning a destination wedding somewhere else, like Cabo San Lucas, New Zealand, Portugal, (ok…doesn’t necessarily need to be one of our favorite places to work) just let us know as we’re planning to expand outside of Northern California soon!
Are the food and drink included in your package?
Food and drink are not included in our package fees. As part of our service, we will connect you with the best caterers, private chefs, beverage service providers, restaurants, bars, cafes, and tasting rooms to give you options that fit your event and your budget. Whether your style is taco cart or a seven-course chef’s inspired tasting menu, we’ve got you covered!
Does your package include coordination for food tasting with the chosen caterer?
We try to keep things simple, and this approach gives us the best pricing possible. If you’d like to set up a tasting beforehand, we’re happy to arrange one for you and that’s included as part of our service. For weddings under 50 people, the chef/caterer will typically charge a small fee.
Can we use our preferred caterer/chef for our wedding?
Yes! There is an additional fee of $150 when we work with vendors outside our family of trusted partners but we are happy to bring on board your preferred vendor. We would cover reviewing their contracts and confirming insurance certificates, connecting them with the venue and ensuring that they’re able to do what they need 100%. We’ll basically just take over everything so you can relax and enjoy.
Who is the photographer?
All photography is done in by us! Jaime and Dennis (the husband and wife team and founders of OLW) have owned Viera Photographics for 17 years. They have travelled all over the world shooting high end weddings. Their style is photojournalistic and they have received many awards through the years. Their love for little weddings and documenting stories inspired them to create the business we have today.
We realize that in having a little wedding, some people are going to miss being there and so we photograph your day using a blend of editorial and photojournalistic styles to provide a comprehensive story. This makes even those who weren’t there feel like they were a part of it all! All the photos you see on the website are ours, and once we’ve spoken with you, we’d be happy to forward a full wedding gallery so you can see how it all really works. Just before the wedding, your photographer will reach out to say hi and get to know you a bit better and answer any questions you may have before the wedding day.
How do you select your vendors?
We have spent years looking for vendors that are the best in their class. We vet every vendor we use thoroughly.
Are we required to use all OLW preferred vendors when we book your package?
We’ve spent years building relationships with the best local vendors in the industry so we are able to pair most couples with their perfect vendors based upon their individual styles. We understand that occasionally you have someone you love that you’d like to bring on board and we get it! In such cases, we are happy to speak with your preferred vendor just to pre-qualify and then integrate them into the day. Because we set our standards quite high, we charge $150 per vendor outside our network. This includes finding some alternative options (if you haven’t already), asking them all the relevant questions pertaining to how they work, your day and the venue, reviewing their contracts and confirming insurance certificates, connecting them with the venue and ensuring that they’re able to do what they need 100%.
What if I need a unique vendor, something that is customized for our dream wedding?
We’ve worked with lots of peripheral vendors in the past such as henna artists, hot air balloon companies, vintage car rental companies, furniture and lighting rentals, bands and DJ’s and are happy to recommend from our preferred vendors list. If you bring in your own vendors or would like us to dig in and research to find you just the right person or team, then we would be happy to do so, at the rate of $150 per vendor outside our network. This includes finding some alternative options (if you haven’t already), asking them all the relevant questions pertaining to how they work, your day and the venue, reviewing their contracts and confirming insurance certificates, connecting them with the venue and ensuring that they’re able to do what they need 100%.
How did OLW start?
Jaime and Dennis, the husband and wife photography team behind Viera Photographics eloped to Thailand 17 years ago. Photographing large high end weddings around the world for the past 17 years, they both longed to create a business with a greater focus on simple yet elegant weddings. In 2015 they came up with the idea and bought the domain name ourlittlewedding.com. It wasn’t until they had downtime in 2020 (when the pandemic hit and all the large weddings were canceled) to launch what they had been dreaming of for 5 years.
You can find a little more about them here.
Who is on your team?
We have built a great team of women that have years of experience in the wedding industry and exceed our high standards of customer service to provide our clients with the best of the best. Casey, Precious and Stef will be with you every step of the way!
Tell us your story!