cost-questions · run 01

input {
  "category": "photo"
}

output {
  "result": {
    "projected": true,
    "currency": "GBP",
    "target": 15000,
    "totalEstimate": 15000,
    "totalActual": 0,
    "assumptions": {
      "guests": 99,
      "day": "Saturday",
      "season": "peak",
      "excluded": [
        "video",
        "liveband",
        "entertainment",
        "planners",
        "Insurance",
        "stationery"
      ],
      "targetAssumed": true,
      "guestsAssumed": true,
      "dateAssumed": true
    },
    "allocation": [
      {
        "name": "Photographer",
        "supplierType": "photo",
        "share": "7%",
        "estimate": 984,
        "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",
    "target": 15000,
    "totalEstimate": 15000,
    "totalActual": 0,
    "assumptions": {
      "guests": 99,
      "day": "Saturday",
      "season": "peak",
      "excluded": [
        "video",
        "liveband",
        "entertainment",
        "planners",
        "Insurance",
        "stationery"
      ],
      "targetAssumed": true,
      "guestsAssumed": true,
      "dateAssumed": true
    },
    "allocation": [
      {
        "name": "Venue",
        "supplierType": "venue",
        "share": "35%",
        "estimate": 5106,
        "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"
    }
  ]
}

input {
  "topic": "budget"
}

output {
  "topic": "budget",
  "content": "# Budget (Coach Reference)\n\nHow to help a couple set, allocate, protect, and stretch their wedding budget,\nusing real 2026 UK figures. The budget isn't a constraint — it's the\ndecision-making framework. Once a couple knows what they have, every other choice\ngets easier. Lead with that framing.\n\n## Setting the budget (do this before booking anything)\n\n1. What can they genuinely afford from savings — without touching the emergency\n   fund or taking on painful debt.\n2. Family contributions — have the conversation *early* and get a **specific\n   number**, not \"we'll help out\". 29% of total UK wedding spend now comes from\n   family.\n3. Savings + confirmed contributions = total working budget.\n4. Add a **5–10% contingency**. Unexpected costs always arise.\n\n## What UK weddings actually cost (2026)\n\n- **Average spend: £20,604** (excl. honeymoon and engagement rings); **£25,815**\n  including them.\n- The spread is huge — ~25% spend under £10,000, ~25% spend over £26,000, 10%\n  over £35,000. Don't anchor a couple to the average; anchor to *their* number.\n- Gen Z spend ~12% less on average (£18,485 vs £21,016), mostly via midweek dates.\n- Regional: London highest, South East/South West above average, Scotland rising;\n  the North, Wales and Northern Ireland below average.\n\nUse these to reassure (\"plenty of couples have a lovely wedding for £12k\") or to\nreality-check (\"£8k for 150 guests in London will need real trade-offs — let's\nlook at the levers\").\n\n## Allocation framework\n\nStandard planner percentages as a *starting point*, then adjust to priorities.\nEvery time you raise one category, lower another — the total doesn't change.\n\n| Category | Suggested % | On £20,000 |\n|---|---|---|\n| Reception (venue + catering) | 45% | £9,000 |\n| Photography / Videography | 10% | £2,000 |\n| Dress / suits | 8% | £1,600 |\n| Entertainment | 7% | £1,400 |\n| Florist | 5% | £1,000 |\n| Ceremony | 3% | £600 |\n| Stationery | 3% | £600 |\n| Cake | 2% | £400 |\n| Transport | 2% | £400 |\n| Hair / makeup | 1% | £200 |\n| Rings, favours, gifts, other | ~14% | £2,800 |\n\nCommon adjustments: music lovers push entertainment to 10–12%; photography-first\ncouples push that to 12–15%; foodies load the catering. Always rebalance, never\ninflate the total.\n\n> If the couple has a live Bridebook budget, use *their* personalised allocation\n> (which varies by budget tier, guest count, day and season) rather than these\n> generic percentages. Venue + catering typically run 50–55% of the real budget.\n\n## The two biggest levers\n\n**Guest count** is the most powerful variable after total budget. Every extra\nguest adds catering, drinks, favours, stationery and seating. Cutting 20 guests\nfrom a 120-person wedding can save £1,500–£3,000. Combined venue + catering median\nis **£117.10 per head** (up 23% year on year). Cost per head falls as numbers\nrise, but the total still climbs — fewer guests is the cleanest saving. UK couples\nare already inviting ~11% fewer guests than in 2024.\n\n**Day and season.** Off-peak months (Oct–Apr) can cut venue costs by up to 40%\n(Jan–Feb cheapest). Weekday weddings save significantly; Sunday sits in between.\nThis is how couples have kept venue+catering spend roughly flat despite per-head\nrises — flex the date before cutting the vision.\n\n## Saving strategies that actually work\n\n- **Guest count and date first** (above) — biggest impact, least compromise.\n- **Cake as dessert** — removes a separate dessert course, and the cake gets eaten.\n- **Cocktail-style reception** instead of a formal sit-down can be much cheaper.\n- **Limit the bar** — welcome drink, wine with the meal, toast drink, then cash bar.\n- **In-season flowers** — peonies in June are cheap; in December they're imported\n  and costly. Ask the florist what's in season on the date.\n- **Use the venue's existing features** rather than hiring decor to cover them.\n- **Repurpose ceremony flowers** at the reception.\n- **Digital invitations** (or physical invites with details pushed to a wedding\n  website) cut stationery sharply.\n\nFor category-specific saving tips, the knowledge base has a \"How to save money\non [X]\" article for almost every category — find it via `article-index.md`.\n\n## Hidden costs to build in from day one\n\nThese are what catch couples out — name them early so they're not a nasty surprise.\n\n- **Service charge / gratuities:** many venues add 10–15%.\n- **Corkage:** £5–£15 per bottle if you bring your own drinks.\n- **Overtime:** running past the agreed finish is often charged at 1.5–2× rate.\n- **Venue extras:** chair covers, linen, lighting, sound — often not in the base fee.\n- **Dress alterations:** £200–£500. **Hair/makeup trials:** £50–£150.\n- **Supplier travel/accommodation and meals** for remote venues or full-day suppliers.\n- **Admin:** marriage certificate copies, name-change fees.\n\n## Family contributions — protect the relationships\n\nAssign each contributor's money to a **specific supplier or category** (\"Mum and\nDad are covering the flowers and cake\") rather than a vague pot (\"the reception\").\nWhen people fund a specific element, their input naturally stays contained to\nthat element — this preserves the couple's creative control while making\ncontributors feel valued. Keep them updated on \"their\" supplier, top up quietly if\ntheir amount doesn't cover the full cost, and never compare one contributor's\namount to another's. (Family/money tension is one of the most common stress\npoints — see the escalation note in SKILL.md.)\n\n## Monthly check-in\n\nWhen coaching budget over time: total spent vs budget on track? New quotes\nlogged? Deposits due this month? Are overspends in one area offset by savings\nelsewhere? Is the contingency intact?\n\n## Per-supplier average spend (2026 UK)\n\nUse these to answer \"is this a fair price?\" and to ground trade-offs. Full table\nand durations in `wedding-stats-2026.md`; key ones: venue hire £6,040 (excl.\ncatering), reception catering £5,406, photographer £1,484 (full day averages\n£2,024), dress £1,532, florist £1,187, reception music £1,061, cake £360.\n\n## Sources\n\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/professional/pro-budget-management-guide.md`,\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/tools/tool-wedding-budget-breakdown-guide.md`,\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/reports/report-2026-wedding-costs-breakdown.md`.\n",
  "articles": [
    {
      "slug": "the-ultimate-wedding-budget-breakdown",
      "title": "Wedding Budget Breakdown: How to Allocate Your Wedding Budget"
    },
    {
      "slug": "pro-budget-management-guide",
      "title": "Professional Budget Management Guide: How to Plan, Track, and Control Your Wedding Spending"
    },
    {
      "slug": "who-traditionally-pays-for-what",
      "title": "Wedding Etiquette: Who (Traditionally) Pays For What?"
    }
  ]
}