By Invitation Only...event Planning & Design

What By Invitation Only...event Planning & Design does

By Invitation Only...Event Planning & Design is a privately held, boutique wedding planning and event design firm founded in 2005 by Melanie Murphy and headquartered at 701 Whaley Street, #104, in Columbia, South Carolina. The firm operates as a small, owner-operated practice of approximately five employees, including named lead planner/designer Melanie Murphy, planner/designer Ashly Gregor (USC 2016), and trained event associates who execute on-site setup and breakdown. The company's offerings are organized into two package tiers — Essential Planning (day-of coordination, vendor referrals, timeline creation, rehearsal management, and setup/breakdown) and Full Event Planning (comprehensive engagement adding budget management, venue selection, vendor meeting management, decor and design, invitations, culinary consultation, transportation, and guest travel assistance) — with both packages customizable via quote-based pricing and a complimentary initial consultation.

The business is a direct-to-consumer professional services firm targeting couples planning weddings, with a secondary positioning toward luxury full-service engagements. Geographic focus is South Carolina, spanning Columbia, Charleston, Lexington, Camden, and surrounding areas, with stated availability to travel. There is no proprietary technology platform; operations rely on personal client relationships, a portfolio-driven website (murphyweddings.com), and an established preferred-vendor network that includes photographers, florists, caterers, lighting and rental providers, bridal apparel, and stationery partners. The firm generates revenue through professional services fees tied to package selection, with no publicly disclosed pricing, headcount changes beyond the 2016 addition of a second planner, no funding history, and no M&A or ownership transitions. It functions as a lifestyle-oriented local services business rather than a venture-scale operation.

Name

By Invitation Only...event Planning & Design

Legal name

By Invitation Only...Event Planning & Design

Website

https://murphyweddings.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

By Invitation Only...Event Planning & Design is a Columbia, South Carolina boutique wedding planning firm founded in 2005, serving South Carolina couples with Essential and Full Event Planning packages, vendor coordination, design, and day-of management through an owner-led team of approximately five.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Wedding Planning Services: Professional wedding planning services offered in tiered packages ranging from hourly consultations to full-service wedding production. Revenue generated through service fees for Essential Planning and Full Event Planning packages, with additional ancillary services as needed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

By Invitation Only...Event Planning & Design provides wedding planning and event design services in South Carolina, ranging from one-on-one hourly consultations to full-service wedding production. The firm offers two main package tiers (Essential Planning and Full Event Planning) tailored to each couple's needs, covering rehearsal, ceremony, and reception coordination, vendor referrals, decor and design, budget management, and day-of execution.

Product overview

By Invitation Only...Event Planning & Design offers wedding planning services through two distinct service packages: Essential Planning (entry-level coordination and day-of management) and Full Event Planning (comprehensive planning with all Essential services included). Both packages are customizable, and the company provides a range of à la carte services including vendor referrals, floral recommendations, and event design consultation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Essential Planning Entry-level wedding planning package for couples in South Carolina, including Full Event Design, Vendor Referrals, Wedding Day Timeline, Rehearsal and Day-of Management, Reception and Ceremony Setup/Breakdown, Etiquette Advice, Ceremony and Reception Diagrams, Gratuity Guidelines, Marriage License Information, Timeline Updates, Pre-wedding detail meetings, and Access to Decor Inventory.
• Full Event Planning Comprehensive full-service wedding planning package that includes all Essential Planning services plus Budget Planning and Management, Venue Selection, Vendor Meeting Scheduling and Management, Decor and Design, Invitation and Stationery Assistance, Culinary and Menu Consultation, Transportation Services Management, Guest and Bridal Party Travel Assistance, Menu Planning and Design, and wedding errand services (gown pickup, invitation assembly, welcome bags).

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Joshua Aaron PhotographyminorOthersPreferred photography partner featured in multiple real wedding showcases on the company website
• Carolina BlossomsminorOthersFlorist vendor partner consistently featured across multiple wedding events
• Jessica Roberts (Photography)minorOthersPreferred photographer partner for several featured weddings
• Bonnie Brunt CakesminorOthersCake vendor partner featured in multiple wedding events
• Party ReflectionsminorOthersRental vendor partner for wedding events
• Silver Spoon Bake ShopminorOthersCake and dessert vendor partner
• Pretty and PinnedminorOthersHair and makeup vendor partner
• Gown Boutique of CharlestonminorOthersBridal gown vendor partner
• Alicia's Gifts and InvitesminorOthersInvitation and stationery vendor partner
• Hudson's Classic CateringminorOthersCatering vendor partner
• Southern Way CateringminorOthersCatering vendor partner featured in wedding events
• Ambient Media (Lighting)minorOthersLighting vendor partner
• Ed's BartendingminorOthersBar services vendor partner
• Events by Snow (DJ)minorOthersDJ services vendor partner

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Bash Please: Boutique wedding and event design studio with a strong design portfolio and signature aesthetic. Comparable to By Invitation Only in its emphasis on bespoke design and small-team personal service.
• David Tutera: Celebrity wedding planner and lifestyle brand offering full-service wedding planning and design. Comparable in business model: a single named creative lead delivering customized, design-forward wedding experiences.
• Engaging Events: Established wedding and event planning firm offering tiered coordination and full-service packages. Comparable in service structure (entry-level coordination vs. full planning) and direct-to-couple sales motion.
• Easton Events: Boutique luxury wedding planning firm based in the Southeast serving destination weddings. Closely comparable to By Invitation Only in scale, geography, and full-service design-led approach.
• Mindy Weiss Party Consultants: Long-established luxury wedding and event planning firm with a celebrity-driven brand. Comparable to By Invitation Only in that it sells bespoke full-service wedding planning and design to couples seeking a high-touch, owner-led experience.
• Colin Cowie Lifestyle: Premium lifestyle and wedding design brand built around a single celebrity planner. Closely mirrors By Invitation Only's owner-led, brand-driven boutique model and emphasis on bespoke event design.

Broad incumbents

• Zola: Wedding planning, registry, and website platform with a national consumer brand. Reaches the same couple segment as By Invitation Only through a digital-first planning experience rather than hands-on coordination.
• WeddingWire: Wedding vendor marketplace and planning platform connecting couples with planners nationwide. Particularly relevant as a referral channel where couples discover boutique planners like By Invitation Only.
• The Knot Worldwide: Dominant wedding marketplace and planning platform serving couples and vendors nationally. Reaches the same end customer (engaged couples) and offers planning tools, but competes through scale and content rather than bespoke service.

Others

• Aisle Planner: Wedding planning software for professional planners. An enabling tool that small boutique firms like By Invitation Only could adopt to scale operations; not a direct competitor buttersects the workflow.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/by-invitation-only...event-planning-&-design

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about By Invitation Only...event Planning & Design