How can we help?

The Dream Builder is a short quiz that captures your style preferences, guest count, location, budget, and must-haves. Our algorithm then scores every vendor and venue on the platform against your criteria and presents you with a ranked shortlist. The better the match, the higher they appear.

Yes. All planning tools -- the checklist, budget tracker, guest list manager, agenda builder, and vendor messaging -- are completely free with no subscription and no trial period. The only fee is a small 2.9% processing fee when you pay a vendor invoice through the platform.

Once you find a vendor you like, click the "Enquire" button on their listing. This sends them a message with your wedding details. They will respond with a detailed quote you can review, compare with others, and accept -- all within the platform.

Absolutely. You can use all of our free planning tools -- checklist, budget tracker, guest list, and agenda builder -- without booking any vendors through the platform. The tools are designed to help every couple, regardless of how they find their vendors.

Most couples start 12 to 18 months before their wedding date, but our checklist adapts to your timeline. Whether you have two years or two months, the tool will prioritise the tasks that matter most for your schedule.

Yes. You can update your wedding date at any time from your dashboard. Your checklist deadlines and timeline will automatically adjust to the new date.

Click "Apply to Join" on our vendors page and complete the application form. It takes under 10 minutes. Our editorial team reviews every application to maintain quality, and most are processed within 2 business days.

There are no listing fees, no monthly subscriptions, and no hidden charges. We take a 5% commission only when a couple pays you through the platform. If you do not earn, you do not pay.

We welcome photographers, videographers, florists, caterers, DJs, wedding planners, makeup artists, cake designers, stationers, decor specialists, and venues. If your business serves the wedding industry in South Africa, we would love to hear from you.

When couples use the Dream Builder, our algorithm matches them with vendors based on style, budget, and location. You will only receive enquiries from couples who genuinely match your offering -- no time wasted on bad-fit leads.

Yes. You have full control over your packages, pricing, and availability. You can update your rates at any time from your vendor dashboard. Transparency is core to the platform -- couples see your real prices from the start.

Use our built-in quoting tool to create detailed, itemised quotes with your branding. Couples can review, compare, and accept quotes directly on the platform. Once accepted, invoicing and payment happen automatically.

Every payment made through Novia is held in escrow -- meaning your money is secured by the platform and only released to the vendor once you confirm the service has been delivered. This protects you from non-delivery and gives you full control over when funds are released. All transactions are processed through Paystack with bank-level encryption.

If a vendor fails to deliver the agreed service, you can raise a dispute through your dashboard. Our team reviews the case with both parties and works towards a fair resolution. For confirmed non-delivery, we issue a full refund from the escrowed funds. For partial delivery or scope changes, we mediate an appropriate adjustment. Our goal is always to protect your investment.

The Novia Trust Score is a transparent rating system that tracks vendor performance across multiple dimensions: quality of delivery, punctuality, communication, and client satisfaction. Scores are calculated from verified reviews left by real couples who booked through the platform. Vendors progress through four tiers -- New, Verified, Trusted, and Elite -- with each tier unlocking greater visibility and premium placement.

Each milestone payment is held in escrow for 14 days after you pay. During that window you can confirm delivery (which releases funds to the vendor), or raise a dispute and request a refund through our resolution process. After the 14 days the milestone auto-releases and refunds are no longer available through the platform — any concerns at that point need to be resolved directly with the vendor. For cancellations before payment, refund terms follow the vendor cancellation policy in your booking agreement.

Every vendor on Novia goes through an editorial review before being listed. We check business legitimacy (CIPC / tax registration), require pricing transparency per our standards, and review the portfolio for quality and fit. We do not run criminal background checks or perform insurance audits — vendors are responsible for their own compliance, and we recommend you confirm anything material before booking. After approval, performance is tracked via the Trust Score system and verified couple reviews.

When a couple accepts a vendor quote, they can pay directly through the platform. Payments are processed securely by Paystack, South Africa's leading payment gateway. Funds are held in escrow for 14 days from receipt — released to the vendor (minus commission) sooner when the couple confirms delivery, or automatically at day 14 if no dispute is raised. A 2.9% Paystack processing fee is added at checkout to cover the card-network cost.

All payments are processed through Paystack with bank-level encryption. Novia never stores your card details. Paystack is PCI DSS compliant, which is the highest level of security certification in the payments industry.

Couples pay a 2.9% processing fee when paying an invoice through the platform. All planning tools, matching, and messaging are completely free.

Yes. Many vendors offer milestone-based payment plans -- for example, a deposit to secure the booking, interim payments tied to deliverables, and a final balance after your wedding day. Each instalment is held in escrow independently and processed separately through the platform.

If you have a concern about a payment or a vendor, you can raise a dispute through your dashboard or contact our support team at hello@novia.wedding. Because payments are held in escrow, your funds remain protected throughout the resolution process. We review every case individually and work to find a fair outcome.

Click "Start Dream Builder" or sign up from the homepage. You can register with your email address. The process takes less than a minute.

Yes. You can share your sign-in credentials with your partner so you both have access to the same planning dashboard, guest list, and vendor conversations.

Click "Forgot password" on the sign-in page and enter your email address. You will receive a password reset link within a few minutes. If you do not see it, check your spam folder.

Novia works on all modern browsers including Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge. The platform is fully responsive and works on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.