4 minute read
A new do-it-all wedding service.
A wedding at The Wool Factory brings an edgy, modern aesthetic to your big day.
Wedding in a box
Advertisement
New service helps get you to the altar
By Carol Diggs
This is it—you’ve found The One! You’re ready to hold the ceremony in which you tell each other, your families and friends, and the world that you are beginning a new life together, and you want the occasion to be perfect.
But to get there, you face months of decisionmaking—finding a venue, choosing vendors, negotiating calendars, cross-checking every detail—and signing lots of checks.
“Weddings are wonderful, but they’re still a pain to plan,” says Adam Healey, founder and CEO of Novela. “It’s hard to know what things cost and who’s good. The vendors all have different offerings and terms of service. And it’s also expensive.”
Healey started Novela in January 2022 to help couples navigate this process: “We see ourselves as a wedding concierge.” Novela does the upfront market research and pre-vetting in order to connect its clients with venues and suppliers that fit their style—and their pocketbook. The goal, says Healey, is to put the right couple with the right partner for the perfect wedding.
Novela begins with an intake interview to go over what the couple wants, what they need, and what they want to spend. Then Novela develops a customized list of recommendations for wedding planners, venues, caterers, and a host of other services. The plan provides three options for each category—all of them prequalified to make sure they fit the budget and have availability for the couple’s date. “And we’re there to help guide you through the entire process,” says Healey.
To do the interview and plan development, Novela charges an up-front fee of $295; that fee is fully refunded once the couple hires any of the recommended vendors. The company’s business model is based on the referral fees paid by vendors, all of whom have been pre-vetted and agree to a best-rate guarantee.
“Charlottesville is our hometown, and we have a lot of relationships here,” Healey notes. He has a background in the industry; in 2011, he founded Borrowed & Blue, a Charlottesvillebased wedding marketplace bought by Zola in 2018. Unlike Zola and The Knot, which are essentially vendor listings, Healey describes Novela as “a more curated service—really a new concept for the wedding industry.” Eventually, he hopes to expand the Novela model to other markets.
Why not just hire a planner straight off? “There’s a wide variety of tastes and personalities among planners,” says Healey. “And they offer different levels of service—some just handle event management for the day of, others will plan the event soup to nuts, or they offer everything in between.” For the full-service option, fees can vary from $10,000 to $15,000, he notes.
Callie Opie's has multiple wedding options on our 25-acre rustic property to fit your budget. Onsite catering and beverage services available.
Minutes from the lake on Rt. 522, 4533 Zachary Taylor Hwy., Mineral Va Minutes from Lake Anna on Rt. 522, 4533 Zachary Taylor Hwy., Mineral Va 540-894-4343 • www.calliesopieorchard.com 12 PASSENGER TRANSIT LIMOUSINE
The Transit Limousine has all the luxury you have come to expect from a standard limousine, but with enough room for everyone. This is the perfect vehicle to enjoy Charlottesville’s many wineries and breweries with friends and family.
EXECUTIVE SEDAN
We proudly feature late model Lincoln Sedans in our fleet. Any of our Executive Sedans will fit 3 Passengers with luggage comfortably. These meticulously maintained vehicles are the mainstay of the Chauffeured Transportation Industry.
47–55 PASSENGER MOTOR COACH
The Motor Coach is the largest vehicle type in our fleet. We have two sizes of Motor Coach, 47 Passenger and 55 Passenger, both of which are ideal for large groups. These vehicles enable you to transport a significant number of passengers at one time
25 PASSENGER MINI BUS
Our Mini Buses are great vehicles for medium sized groups. These 25 Passenger vehicles, with their large viewing windows and individual seating, are a great way to tour the local area or shuttle guests from one location to another.
