The Art of an Intentional Wedding: Budgets and Design with Jennifer of Tufts & Toile

Fairview 1855 proudly partners with Tufts & Toile, led by Jennifer Kennedy-Maksymiw, a planning team deeply familiar with Fairview and trusted to bring each wedding to life with ease and precision. This summer we had the opportunity to interview her, and see a glimpse into her world of planning, budgets, and design for intimate and intentional weddings.

Couples often begin planning with a budget in mind, but not always a clear understanding of what different investment levels can create. How do you help couples align their vision with a realistic wedding budget?

Tablescape designed by Tufts & Toile. Photo by Calvin Frank.

I find that couples often come to me with a budget in mind, but that number isn't always based on the wedding they're actually envisioning. They may have heard that “the average wedding costs X” or read a number online, but it's difficult to find information that's truly tailored to their guest count, venue, location and priorities.

That's why I think one of the best places to start is with a professional who has extensive experience working with real wedding budgets. I ask couples about their anticipated investment before we even have our initial conversation, and based on their guest count and the type of wedding they're describing, I give them a realistic range to work from. If their expectations and their vision aren't aligned, I'd rather have that conversation right away so we can find the right path forward together.

Fairview is a wonderful example of this because it's such a customizable venue. There is so much opportunity to make the space completely your own, which is one of the things I love most about it. At the same time, that flexibility means couples are bringing in many of the elements that create their experience — catering, florals, entertainment, décor, rentals and more — so those pieces need to be considered when establishing the overall investment.

For me, it's not about telling couples they need to spend more. It's about helping them understand what their investment can create and where it will have the greatest impact. Sometimes that means adjusting the guest count, sometimes it means prioritizing certain elements, and sometimes it simply means being realistic about what is achievable within a particular budget.

I always come back to the idea of creating intention rather than simply spending more. One of the things I love about weddings is that they can be such a personal reflection of the couple. No two weddings I create are ever the same because no two couples are the same. But creating that level of personalization requires thoughtful planning and a budget that supports the vision.

My goal is to help couples understand those possibilities from the beginning, so they can make informed decisions and ultimately create a wedding that feels completely like them — beautiful, personal and financially comfortable.

Where do you see couples get the greatest return on their wedding investment — not necessarily in appearance, but in the overall guest experience and how the day feels?

Ceremony design by Tufts & Toile. Photo by Brittany Williams.

When it comes to guest experience, I think the greatest return often comes from investing in the things your guests actually experience throughout the day — and food is probably at the very top of that list. I tell my couples again and again that hiring an exceptional caterer, one that provides not only incredible food but equally incredible service, can completely change how a wedding feels. Guests may not remember every detail of the décor, but they will remember that the food was amazing and that they felt well taken care of.

Entertainment is another area where I think couples can see a huge return on their investment, particularly if having a great party is important to them. A really good DJ does much more than press play. They read the room, understand the energy of the crowd, adjust when something isn't working, and actively contribute to the atmosphere. There is a big difference between someone playing a playlist and an experienced DJ who is truly engaging with the room.

And if a couple wants a really lively reception and a packed dance floor, a great live band can be an incredible investment. There's something about live music that creates an energy that's difficult to replicate.

You don't necessarily need to spend more everywhere. I encourage couples to think about the parts of the experience that matter most to them and their guests, and put their investment there. Beautiful design certainly contributes to the overall experience, but when you're deciding where to prioritize your budget, think about what your guests will actually feel and remember.

We've noticed many couples are becoming more intentional about who they invite. How does a thoughtfully curated guest list change the atmosphere and experience of a wedding?

This is something I've believed in for a very long time, and it's one of the reasons I've always offered intimate wedding planning packages. I genuinely love intimate weddings. There is something incredibly special about being surrounded by only your nearest and dearest — the people you truly want beside you when you're celebrating one of the biggest moments of your life.

When the guest list starts growing, sometimes people are added because they're expected to be there rather than because the couple genuinely wants them there. Maybe it's distant family, parents' friends, or people the couple hasn't actually spent much time with. Of course, every family situation is different, and I completely understand that parents may be contributing financially and that can influence the guest list. But there is a noticeable difference in the atmosphere when a wedding is filled almost entirely with the couple's favourite people.

There is also a financial benefit to being thoughtful about your guest count. So many wedding expenses multiply with every additional person — catering, rentals, stationery, linens, florals and the number of tables you're designing. When the guest count doubles, so much more of the budget is naturally allocated toward accommodating those additional guests, leaving less room for customization elsewhere.

A smaller guest count can give couples much more freedom with those dollars. Maybe it's the flowers they've been dreaming about, beautiful stationery, an incredible meal, or a detail they've saved on Pinterest for years. You can take some of those beautiful ideas that inspired you and actually bring them to life because you're not multiplying them across 150 people.

Dining under the Willows at Fairview, Designed and Planned by Tufts & Toile. Photo by Kat Arndt

And there's an emotional side to it, too. I often hear couples with larger weddings tell me they're nervous about the day because they're not accustomed to being the centre of attention. With a more thoughtfully curated guest list, the day can feel less like you're performing for a room full of people and more like you're celebrating with the people who know and love you best.

To me, an intentional guest list isn't about having the smallest wedding possible. It's about asking yourself, “Who do we genuinely want to experience this with us?” When the answer is rooted in the people who matter most, the atmosphere can become incredibly warm, personal and joyful — and that's a kind of wedding-day magic that you simply can't buy.

What does a thoughtfully planned $50,000 wedding look like today, and what becomes possible when a couple invests $75,000 or more?

Guest count is really the biggest factor when we talk about what different wedding investments can create. A thoughtfully planned $50,000 wedding can be absolutely beautiful — particularly when you're talking about an intimate wedding of around 50 guests. At that guest count, there can be quite a bit of flexibility to create a wedding that feels highly personalized and special.

As the guest count increases to 75, 100 or beyond, that same $50,000 budget naturally becomes more limiting because so many wedding expenses are tied directly to the number of people you're hosting. Catering, rentals, stationery, linens and florals all increase with your guest count.

And then there are the elements that couples often dream about adding: specialty rentals, abundant florals, beautiful printed wedding invitations, videography, a content creator, live music instead of a DJ, or a specialty late-night experience like an outdoor pizza oven. Those are the details that can take a wedding from beautiful to incredibly personal, but they do require room in the budget.

For couples who want a highly customized wedding with those kinds of details, I generally recommend planning for approximately $700–$1,000 per guest. That isn't a hard-and-fast rule, but it provides a helpful starting point for understanding what kind of investment allows for a beautifully customized celebration without having to constantly sacrifice one priority for another.

So, when you move toward a $75,000+ investment, it's not necessarily about simply having more. It's about having more freedom and flexibility. You have more opportunity to choose the vendors you love, incorporate the details that feel meaningful to you, and create an experience that feels completely your own.

Ultimately, I don't think a wedding needs to have a huge budget to be beautiful or memorable. It's about making thoughtful choices with the budget you have. A $50,000 wedding can be incredibly special, while a larger investment gives couples more flexibility to accommodate a larger guest count and the level of customization they envision.

What types of couples tend to fall in love with Fairview, and what is it about the experience that resonates with them?

Custom Bar Design by Tufts & Toile. Photo by Kat Ardnt.

I think the couples who fall in love with Fairview are those who want their wedding to feel connected to nature and to the setting around them. They're drawn to a beautiful environment, but they also want the freedom to make that environment their own. They don't necessarily want to be put into a box with one designated ceremony location and one reception space. They love having options and the ability to use the property in a way that feels personal to them.

I also think the weekend-long experience is a huge part of what resonates with these couples. Their wedding isn't just half a day at a venue that flies by; they have the opportunity to arrive, settle in, have a rehearsal dinner, spend meaningful time with their closest people and really soak in the experience. There's something very special about having the time and space to slow down and actually enjoy what you've spent so much time planning.

The couples who are drawn to Fairview also tend to be looking for something a little different. They care about the details, but they also care deeply about how the experience feels. They want a team that is invested in them and in bringing their vision to life. They don't want to feel like another number on a venue calendar. They want to feel known, supported and genuinely cared for.

Ultimately, I think Fairview resonates with couples who want to be present for their wedding rather than simply move through a schedule. They want to be surrounded by nature and by the people they love, with the freedom to create a celebration that feels uniquely theirs. Fairview gives them the space — both literally and figuratively — to do that.

When we describe you to engaged couples during tours, we often tell them how lucky we are to have the planner/designer version of Martha Stewart on our team — your “wedding BFF” that will take your day to “the next level.” What about Fairview aligned with you to collaborate with us?

I think what initially drew me to Fairview was the intention behind it. I've worked at a lot of venues over the years, and one of the things that can be challenging for couples is feeling limited by a long list of rules and restrictions. There can be a very defined formula for how a wedding is supposed to unfold, and before you know it, every wedding starts to feel a little bit the same.

What I love about Fairview is the flexibility. It gives couples the opportunity to create something that feels completely personal rather than feeling like they're stepping into a template. That aligns so closely with how I work because I never want two of my couples' weddings to feel the same. The whole point is to create something that feels like them.

And then, of course, there's the property itself. I absolutely adore it. As someone who has always loved historic homes, I was immediately drawn to the history and character of the house and the property. I could see the potential from the very first time I walked the property. Getting to work with Paige as she developed the property has been such an honour. I've loved being a part of those early conversations around the packages, the pavilion and how we can really showcase everything Fairview has to offer.

But what really made the collaboration feel like such a natural fit is Paige's approach to the experience. She genuinely wanted to do things thoughtfully and intentionally from the beginning. Her preferred vendor list is a great example of that. The vendors a couple works with have such a significant impact on their overall experience, and carefully curating that team can make such a difference. It's clear that Paige isn't just thinking about how to create a beautiful venue; she's thinking about how to create an incredible experience for the couple from beginning to end.

That's exactly what I want for my couples, too. They only get to plan this day once. There will inevitably be little bumps along the way when you're planning something as complex as a wedding, but I want my couples to feel supported, cared for and confident that the people around them are invested in making the experience as wonderful as possible for them.

I saw something really special in Fairview from the beginning, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of its story. I truly believe it’s a place where couples can have weddings that are deeply personal, incredibly beautiful and completely their own. I would bring my couples to Fairview in an instant, and I can't wait to see all of the magic that this property brings to them for years to come.

Ceremony Designed by Tufts & Toile. Photo by Calvin Frank.

When a couple looks back on their wedding weekend at Fairview years later, what do you hope they remember most?

I hope they remember the moments. I hope they remember being surrounded by the people they love most, the feeling of saying their vows, the little moments throughout the weekend, and that feeling of pure magic that you can only really understand once you're in it.

And I hope they were able to truly take it all in. That's one of the greatest gifts a planner can give you — the ability to be fully present for your wedding rather than worrying about what's happening behind the scenes.

Ultimately, I hope that years later, they can look back on their wedding at Fairview and still feel that same warmth and magic. I hope it always feels like one of the most special weekends of their lives.