cost-questions · run 01

input {
  "category": "photo"
}

output {
  "result": {
    "projected": true,
    "currency": "GBP",
    "totalActual": 0,
    "assumptions": {
      "theirs": {},
      "stoodIn": [
        "total budget",
        "guest count",
        "weekday and season"
      ],
      "excluded": [
        "video",
        "liveband",
        "entertainment",
        "planners",
        "Insurance",
        "stationery"
      ]
    },
    "allocation": [
      {
        "name": "Photographer",
        "supplierType": "photo",
        "share": "7%",
        "booked": 0
      }
    ]
  }
}

input {
  "topic": "supplier-booking"
}

output {
  "topic": "supplier-booking",
  "content": "# Supplier Booking (Coach Reference)\n\nHow to help couples book suppliers in the right order, at fair prices, after\nproper comparison. The core coaching insight: **book in scarcity order.** The\nsuppliers that book out furthest ahead, and that other decisions depend on, come\nfirst. Get the sequence right and nothing good gets missed because it was left\ntoo late.\n\n## The booking order (and why)\n\nVenue is always first (see `venue.md`) — it sets capacity, catering, date and\nstyle. After the venue is confirmed, work down roughly in this order. The logic:\nthe best individual suppliers in popular categories (especially photographers)\nget booked 12+ months ahead, and some decisions depend on others (you can't\nfinalise stationery before the design and details are set; catering may be tied\nto the venue).\n\n1. **Photographer** — books furthest ahead; the most \"named-talent\" category\n   where the best are gone first. Prioritise right after the venue. → then\n   **videographer** (decide first whether you want video at all).\n2. **Caterer** — if not venue-provided. Often tied to the venue's rules.\n3. **Florist** and **cake maker**.\n4. **Reception music** (live band or DJ) and **ceremony music**.\n5. **Hair, makeup & beauty** (trials needed before the day).\n6. **Wedding fashion** runs in parallel and has its own long lead time — dress\n   orders + fittings can take many months, so start browsing early even though\n   it's not \"scarcity-booked\" like a photographer.\n7. **Stationery** — save-the-dates early; invitations once details firm up.\n8. **Transport**, **specialists** (celebrant, toastmaster, entertainers),\n   **décor/hire** — later, once the style is set.\n\n> When a couple asks \"what should I book next?\", anchor to this order *and* their\n> timeline stage (`planning-timeline.md`). Don't let them jump to a cake maker\n> before the venue is confirmed.\n\n## Average supplier spend (2026 UK)\n\nUse these to answer \"is this a fair price?\" and to frame trade-offs. They're\naverages — actual prices vary by region, date and scope.\n\n| Supplier | Average spend |\n|---|---|\n| Venue hire (excl. catering) | £6,040 |\n| Catering — reception | £5,406 |\n| Catering — evening | £2,002 |\n| Marquee / tipi | £4,633 |\n| Dress | £1,532 |\n| Planner | £1,543 |\n| Videographer | £1,514 |\n| Photographer | £1,484 |\n| Decoration | £1,404 |\n| Florist | £1,187 |\n| Reception music | £1,061 |\n| Rings / jewellery | £1,057 |\n| Menswear | £859 |\n| Ceremony music | £845 |\n| Other entertainment | £844 |\n| Transport | £593 |\n| Toastmaster | £514 |\n| Celebrant | £504 |\n| Accessories | £449 |\n| Hair styling | £417 |\n| Make-up | £394 |\n| Stationery | £378 |\n| Cake | £360 |\n\n**Photographer by duration:** <half day £519 (£200–£800); half day £911\n(£350–£1,690); full day £2,024 (£600–£2,500); more than full day £1,780. 68% of\ncouples book a full day. (Note the £1,484 *average* spend above blends all\ndurations — quote the duration-specific figure when relevant.)\n\n**Cake by source:** professional designer £395 (44% of couples use one); venue/\ncaterer £313; non-traditional dessert £269; family/friend £181; high-street £109.\n\n## Helping couples compare and decide\n\nCouples trust AI most for **finding/comparing suppliers and writing enquiry\ndrafts** — lean into that. When comparing shortlisted suppliers:\n\n1. **Match to vision first, price second.** A photographer's *style* (light/airy\n   vs dark/moody, documentary vs posed) matters more than a small price gap. Tie\n   the recommendation to the look the couple described.\n2. **Compare like for like.** Same coverage hours, same deliverables (album,\n   prints, digital files, highlight reel), travel included or not.\n3. **Check the practicalities** the price hides: deposit and balance schedule,\n   travel/accommodation charges for remote venues, supplier meals, overtime rates.\n4. **Read reviews** — UK couples read ~6.9 reviews per supplier; reputation is a\n   real signal.\n5. **Make a recommendation** with reasoning, then leave the choice with them.\n\n## Enquiries\n\nCouples often feel frustrated by slow, generic supplier responses early on. If\nhelping draft an enquiry, make it specific — date, venue, guest count, exact\ncoverage/deliverables wanted, and a direct ask for an itemised quote — so the\nfirst reply is actually useful and comparable.\n\n## Saving without cutting what matters\n\nMost categories have a \"How to save money on [X]\" article in the knowledge base\n(find via `article-index.md`). General levers: book a half-day photographer if a\nfull day isn't needed; DJ instead of (or alongside a short set of) live band;\nin-season flowers; cake as dessert; serve the cake from the venue/caterer rather\nthan a separate designer if budget is tight. Always protect the categories the\ncouple has said matter most — find the savings elsewhere.\n\n## Sources\n\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/reports/report-2026-wedding-costs-breakdown.md`,\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/tools/tool-wedding-planning-checklist-guide.md`, and category-specific\nprofessional guides (photography, flowers, entertainment, cake, catering,\nstationery, transport) via `article-index.md`.\n",
  "articles": [
    {
      "slug": "pro-photography-styles-and-hiring-guide",
      "title": "Wedding Photography: Styles, Albums, and How to Hire the Right Photographer"
    },
    {
      "slug": "wedding-photographer-checklist",
      "title": "Wedding Photographer Checklist"
    },
    {
      "slug": "wedding-prices-photography",
      "title": "Wedding Photography Prices UK: How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost?"
    }
  ]
}

input {
  "category": "venue"
}

output {
  "result": {
    "projected": true,
    "currency": "GBP",
    "totalActual": 0,
    "assumptions": {
      "theirs": {},
      "stoodIn": [
        "total budget",
        "guest count",
        "weekday and season"
      ],
      "excluded": [
        "video",
        "liveband",
        "entertainment",
        "planners",
        "Insurance",
        "stationery"
      ]
    },
    "allocation": [
      {
        "name": "Venue",
        "supplierType": "venue",
        "share": "35%",
        "booked": 0
      }
    ]
  }
}

input {
  "topic": "venue"
}

output {
  "topic": "venue",
  "content": "# Venue Selection (Coach Reference)\n\nThe venue is the single biggest decision and biggest expense, and nearly\neverything else flows from it — capacity, catering, date, style, logistics. Help\ncouples choose it methodically rather than falling for the first pretty photo.\nThis is usually the **first thing** to lock in after budget.\n\n## Step 1 — Align on the brief before browsing\n\nGet the couple aligned on these first; it prevents one partner falling for a\nvenue that's wrong for the other and saves hours of looking at the wrong places.\n\n**Style & location:** What area (balance where they live, where families are,\nwhere most guests travel from)? What type appeals — manor house, barn, castle,\nboutique hotel, country pub, warehouse, garden, rooftop? What's their personal\nstyle — contemporary, classic, rustic, glam, minimalist?\n\n**Practical:** Venue-only budget (not the whole wedding)? Day guest count *and*\nevening count? Ceremony on-site or at a church/registry office? Is outdoor space\nessential or nice-to-have? Exclusive use or happy to share? On-site accommodation\nneeded? Own caterers or venue-provided?\n\nIf the couple is unsure of any of these, that's a coaching opportunity — work\nthrough it with them; don't send them off to browse with a fuzzy brief.\n\n## Step 2 — Where to find venues\n\nWedding directories/apps (filter by area, capacity, style, budget); the local\ncouncil's list of approved premises for civil ceremonies; National Trust /\nEnglish Heritage properties (stunning but often more restrictions); personal\nrecommendations; location hashtags on social media for real weddings.\n\nUK couples typically view ~13.9 venues digitally before visiting ~3.5 in person,\nand 79% book within 4 weeks of first contact — so the shortlist-then-visit\nfunnel is where your help matters most.\n\n## Step 3 — Read the small print (restrictions that change everything)\n\nA venue can look perfect and still be wrong because of its contract. Prompt the\ncouple to check all of these *before signing*:\n\n- **Sound/music:** Is there a sound meter and decibel limit? Handheld (a person\n  can be reasonable) or wall-mounted (can cut power to the band automatically)?\n  Band-size limits? Any \"no dancing indoors\" rule (some country houses / NT\n  properties — would force a marquee)?\n- **Guest numbers:** Minimum spend/guest number (you can end up paying for empty\n  seats)? Maximum capacity that works for *both* day and evening?\n- **Suppliers:** Must you use their preferred/in-house suppliers (often\n  commission-driven)? Can you bring your own caterer? Restrictions on\n  entertainment?\n- **Timing:** Finish time (11pm / midnight / 1am)? Supplier access/set-up times?\n  If not exclusive use, what else is happening before/during/after?\n- **Other:** Confetti rules; corkage charge; cancellation policy and payment\n  schedule.\n\n## Step 4 — The site visit checklist\n\nOnce shortlisted, in-person visits are essential. Evaluate systematically instead\nof being swept away:\n\n- **Exterior:** arrival/first impression; parking (how many cars, overflow,\n  surfaced or muddy field); grounds for photos & drinks; wet-weather backup.\n- **Interior:** flooring (affects decor, dance floor, sound); wall condition;\n  furniture provided. **Round table sizes:** 5ft seats 8, 5ft 6in seats 8–10, 6ft\n  seats 10–12. Note focal points (staircases, fireplaces, windows) — assets to\n  work *with*, not cover up.\n- **Ceremony room (if licensed for civil ceremonies — not all pretty venues are):**\n  which room, capacity, where guests wait, where the couple enters, space and\n  power for musicians, lighting, heating/aircon.\n- **Drinks reception:** indoor/outdoor flow; permanent bar vs tray service; what\n  drinks; room for a welcome/cocktail station.\n- **Wedding breakfast room:** distance from drinks; if it's the same room as the\n  ceremony, what's the turnaround time and who resets it; where the table plan\n  goes. Allow 20–30 min to move 120 guests from drinks to seats.\n- **Accommodation:** guest room access times; can guests be checked in on their\n  behalf; a secure room for certificate, cards and gifts overnight.\n\nPractical extras: visit at the time of day the wedding will happen; check the\nloos (quantity and quality matter for 100+ guests); meet the actual day-of\ncoordinator; book a second visit with a trusted friend before signing.\n\n## Step 5 — Compare objectively\n\nAfter several visits, venues blur. Use a 0–10 score per criterion: location/\naccessibility, capacity (day & evening), ceremony space, outdoor space, catering\nflexibility, supplier freedom, finish time, accommodation, value for money, gut\nfeeling. Total /100. A venue that ticks every practical box but leaves them cold\nisn't right — and neither is the one they love that can't fit the guest list.\n\n## Sixteen questions to ask at every viewing\n\n1. What's included in the hire fee? 2. What's *not* included (and what does it\ncost)? 3. Available dates in our month? 4. Min/max capacity? 5. Sound/music/\nentertainment restrictions? 6. Supplier set-up access times? 7. Latest finish\ntime? 8. Exclusive use included or extra? 9. Own caterers/suppliers allowed?\n10. Corkage charge? 11. Wet-weather backup? 12. Parking? 13. How many bedrooms\nand at what cost? 14. Cancellation/postponement policy? 15. Who's our contact and\nare they on-site on the day? 16. Can we revisit at our wedding's time of day?\n\n## Cost context by venue type (2026 UK)\n\nMost expensive → least: **Castles** (often £30k+) > Stately Homes > Country\nHouses > Barns ≈ Outdoor ≈ average > City Venues > Event Venues > Hotels >\nRestaurants/Pubs (lowest). Wedding-led venues (castles, stately homes, country\nhouses, barns) cost more due to maintenance, grounds and exclusive-use pricing;\nmulti-use venues (hotels, restaurants) offset costs through other revenue.\n\n**Most popular types:** Hotels (22%) and Barns (22%), then Country Houses (14%),\nPubs/Restaurants (8%). 71% of ceremonies are held at the venue.\n\n**Catering models:** in-house 76% overall (hotels 95%, restaurants/pubs 87%);\nexternal-required-list highest at barns (23%) and outdoor (25%). **Pricing:** 59%\nof venues charge venue hire + price-per-head (barns 79%), 41% price-per-head only\n(hotels 65%). See `wedding-stats-2026.md` / `budget.md` for per-head figures.\n\n## A note on enquiries\n\n81% of couples felt frustrated by slow or generic venue responses early on, and\nthey don't ask twice — they move on. If helping draft enquiries, push for the\nspecific questions above so the couple gets the detail they need first time.\n\n## Sources\n\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/professional/pro-venue-selection-expert-guide.md`,\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/reports/report-2026-wedding-costs-breakdown.md`,\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/reports/report-2026-key-themes-summary.md`. Deeper sub-topics (venue\nfairs, open days, viewings, barn/beach/marquee weddings) via `article-index.md`.\n",
  "articles": [
    {
      "slug": "pro-venue-selection-expert-guide",
      "title": "Venue Selection: The Expert Guide to Finding Your Perfect Wedding Venue"
    },
    {
      "slug": "wedding-venue-checklist",
      "title": "Wedding Venue Checklist"
    },
    {
      "slug": "the-ultimate-guide-to-wedding-venue-viewings",
      "title": "The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Venue Viewings"
    }
  ]
}