A new approach to wedding planning in the midlands - the collaborative experience

Discover why Midlands wedding planner Naomi Payton created The Collaborative Experience, a new full planning package built on connection, collaboration, and operational expertise.

Introduction

After 12+ years as a Wedding & event manager managing catering operations and coordinating hundreds of weddings, I've learned something important, couples don't just want someone to "handle everything." They want to be heard, they want genuine connection and they want a planner who truly understands who they are.

That's why I created The Collaborative Experience, a full wedding planning package that's foundations are built around connection by truly understanding who you are.

Here's why.

If your wedding day feels authentic to you, you will in turn feel your absolute best on your wedding day - radiant, relaxed, joyful. This is transportation to your guests - they feel a deep connection to you and embrace that radiant energy that surrounds you. The day flows better, the vibes are high-energy, connection and celebration. All of this is possible if you find a wedding planner who brings you that authentic wedding day. Which all stems from truly understanding who you are, what you love, how you spend your weekends, what you value in life and what makes you you.

Connection-led planning creates weddings people talk about for years.

The Gap in Traditional Wedding Planning

Most full planning packages look the same:

One initial consultation

Email updates throughout

Supplier bookings and logistics management

A final venue visit

Day-of coordination

It's professional. It's organised. But it's also generic.

For modern couples who want weddings that feel deeply personal and authentic, generic isn't enough.

Here's what's missing: real connection.

You can't plan a wedding that truly reflects who someone is after a single consultation and a few Zoom calls. You can't understand their values, their relationship, what makes them feel radiant and confident, without genuinely knowing them.

As a Midlands wedding planner I've seen first hand what happens when planning is built on connection versus when it's purely transactional. Its more personal and feels easy for all.

What Modern Couples Actually Want

Through conversations with couples planning bold, personality-driven weddings, I've noticed clear patterns in what they value:

✓ Collaboration, not dictation - They want expert guidance, but they also want their voice heard
✓ Genuine relationships - Not surface level supplier-client dynamics, but real human connection
✓ Support throughout the journey - Not just at scheduled check-ins
✓ A planner who gets them - Someone who understands their vision instinctively
✓ Depth, not volume - They want to feel like a priority, not a number

Introducing The Collaborative Experience

The Collaborative Experience is full wedding planning reimagined.

It's built on one foundational principle: planning with couples, not just for them.

Here's is some of whats included that makes it different:

Dinner as the First Meeting

Our first meeting isn't in an office. It's over dinner at a restaurant you love.

We don't start with timelines and budgets. We start with you. What do you do on weekends? Where did you last travel? What's important to you when hosting friends?

I need to understand who you are as people before I can plan a wedding that feels authentically yours.

Intentional Connection Moments Throughout Planning

Instead of relying on emails and Zoom, we meet in person multiple times. Coffee dates to check in on how you're feeling. Wine tastings to choose your drinks together. Design sessions where we collaborate on your vision and a final "Flow & Feel" venue visit where we walk through how your day will unfold. These aren't "extras", they're essential to creating something deeply personal.

You're the Co-Pilot

You're not a passive passenger in your wedding planning.

I guide, I advise, I handle logistics and heavy lifting, but your voice, your instincts, your desires lead the way. We make decisions together.

Ongoing Support When You Need It

WhatsApp support throughout planning. When questions arise or you need reassurance, I'm there. Because wedding planning doesn't happen in tidy office hours.

Only 5 Couples Per Year

I limit myself to 5 full planning couples per year.

This isn't about maximizing bookings, it's about giving every couple my complete attention, care, and presence. Depth over volume, always.

Why My Background Matters

As a Midlands wedding planner with 12+ years managing wedding catering and venue operations, I bring something most planners don't: operational mastery.

I've managed teams delivering 7,000 meals in two hours. I've dealt with broken boilers on wedding days, extreme weather conditions, broken-down suppliers, medical emergencies. I’ve handled last-minute crises with a solution focused approach, whilst always ensuring a seamless flow for hundreds of celebrations. I’ve learned the skill to constantly adapt to any situation, to be one step ahead at all times, to see problems before they’ve even happened, a sixth sense for what’s to come and how to handle it.

I understand:

✓ Kitchen logistics and service timing
✓ Bar flow and glassware requirements
✓ Guest experience and atmosphere creation
✓ How to spot problems before they surface
✓ What makes a timeline actually work (not just look good on paper)

But operational expertise alone isn't enough.

What sets extraordinary planners apart is combining operational mastery with genuine connection, precision with personality, logistics with care.

That's what The Collaborative Experience delivers.

My Vision for Wedding Planning

I believe the wedding planning industry needs to evolve. Couples aren't looking for planners who just "get things done." They're looking for someone who:

Understands them deeply

Empowers confident decision-making

Collaborates rather than dictates

Genuinely cares about their experience

Brings expertise that goes beyond supplier lists

The Collaborative Experience is my answer to that.

It's planning built on connection, not transactions. It's relationships over efficiency. It's depth over volume and it's exactly what modern, bold couples deserve.

Who This Package Is For

The Collaborative Experience isn't for everyone and that's intentional. It's for couples who:

Value genuine connection and relationships

Want to be collaboratively involved, not sidelined

Are investing £50k+ in their celebration

Refuse to dim their personality for tradition

Want immersive, high-energy weddings that feel transportive

Appreciate depth and intentionality

Final Thoughts

Wedding planning doesn't have to be transactional. It can be collaborative. Connection-led. Built on genuine relationships and operational expertise working in harmony.

That's what I'm creating with The Collaborative Experience.

Naomi

Interested in finding out exactly what’s included in this package - send me a message today.