The coven - web development

The Coven - Architecture Review & Development Brief
Purpose

I am looking for an experienced development team to review the project, evaluate possible technical architectures, and provide recommendations before further development proceeds.

I am not committed to a specific technical solution.

I would like recommendations on the best approach for:

scalability
maintainability
user experience
SEO
cost
speed to market

The outcome of this review should be a recommended architecture, estimated timeline, and estimated budget.

Project Overview

The Coven is a platform for sexuality facilitators.

The platform serves two audiences:

Facilitators

Professionals working in:

sexuality facilitation
somatic practice
tantra
embodiment
intimacy coaching
relationship coaching
related fields
Seekers

Individuals looking to find and connect with facilitators.

The vision is to create a platform that combines:

Professional directory
Facilitator profiles
Community
Courses
Resources
Messaging
Practice-building tools
Existing Assets

The following assets already exist:

Brand identity
Sitemap
Domain and hosting
WordPress installation
BuddyBoss setup
LearnDash setup
Membership structure
Replit prototype

The Replit prototype currently contains much of the desired user experience and design direction.

The WordPress ecosystem currently contains much of the desired backend functionality.

What Needs To Be Built
Public Marketplace

Public-facing website including:

Homepage
About
Pricing
Facilitator directory
Facilitator profiles
Resource pages
Course pages
Facilitator Portal

Authenticated member area including:

Community
Messaging
Resources
Courses
Profile management
Membership management
Future Features
Booking calendar
Session payments
Facilitator reviews
Analytics
Events
Course publishing
Facilitator Memberships
Starter (Free)
Profile creation
Community access
Resources
Peer messaging
Basic analytics
Pay-per-course access

Not publicly visible in directory.

Pro ($39.95/month)

Everything in Starter plus:

Public directory visibility
Client inquiries
Client messaging
Priority profile visibility
Monthly course credit
Studio ($59.95/month)

Everything in Pro plus:

Booking calendar
Availability management
Session scheduling
Payment collection
Practice management tools
Facilitator Application Flow

Facilitators complete an application form.

Applications enter review status.

Profiles become publicly visible only after approval.

Core Directory Features

Search by:

Location
Modality
Session type

Current modalities include:

Somatic Intimacy
Tantra
Pleasure Education
Consent & Boundaries
Erotic Massage
Sexual Trauma Support
Couples Intimacy
Embodiment
Sacred Sexuality
Kink & BDSM
Non-Monogamy
Breathwork
Relationship Coaching
Trust & Safety

The platform should support:

Facilitator review process
Community standards
Reporting system
Profile approval workflow

The Coven is a platform and does not mediate disputes between facilitators and clients.

SEO Requirements

The platform should support:

Public facilitator profiles
City pages
Modality pages
Search-friendly URLs
Indexable directory content

Examples:

/facilitator/name

/directory/city/london

/directory/modality/tantra

Architecture Review Request

Please evaluate and provide recommendations for:

Option 1

Continue with WordPress, BuddyBoss, and LearnDash as the primary platform.

Option 2

Use WordPress/BuddyBoss/LearnDash as the backend with a custom frontend experience.

Option 3

Rebuild the platform entirely using a modern custom stack.

Option 4

Any alternative architecture you would recommend.

Questions To Answer

Please provide:

Which architecture would you recommend and why?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of each option?
Estimated development cost for each option.
Estimated timeline for each option.
Long-term maintenance considerations.
Scalability considerations.
SEO considerations.
Any risks or concerns you see with the project.
Primary Goal

The goal is to create the leading professional ecosystem for sexuality facilitators, combining community, education, visibility, and client discovery within a single platform.

The priority is making the right long-term architectural decision before committing further development resources.

I have attached a site map

I have built a prototype of the site on replit and that can be found here:
https://replit.com/join/nhhnkjvxpq-marc504