During every initial consultation, I always say “There are no silly questions in wedding planning”. Over the years, I have heard the same questions which led me to creating this Frequently Asked Questions: Wedding Planner Edition.
Why should you invest in a wedding planner?
A wedding planner is your insurance for your wedding day. Wedding Planners keep you on track in terms of the budget, schedule and design from the day you hire them. They are there to put out any fires that may spark, without you even noticing. They are there to alleviate any stress during the planning process, but most importantly, on the biggest day of your life. It’s time you’ll never get back, it’s stress you’d wish you saved yourself and it’s a sense of calm you wish you had hired when you’re up all night steaming your bridesmaids dresses the night before you say “I do”.
Wedding planner vs. wedding coordinator: which do you need?
A Wedding Planner is hired to assist, design, and execute throughout the wedding planning process, all the way until the big day. A Wedding Coordinator begins only a few months prior to the wedding day to piece together the years or months of planning to execute on your wedding day. The difference is if you need support as soon as you say “yes”, or if you feel capable to handle the planning process but need support only come the wedding day.
My venue comes with a Coordinator on-site. Do I need a separate Wedding Planner?
A Venue Coordinator focuses solely on your time at the venue only. They are not present for your time getting ready in the morning, making sure breakfast arrived, transportation is on time or your outfits are being steamed. Venue Coordinators do not oversee or determine logistics with your other vendors, except when it comes to venue rules or regulations.
A Wedding Planner is a vendor who is there with you from the beginning of the morning to ensure your day is going smoothly and stress free from the moment you wake up. A planner is there with you from the very beginning by building your team to ensure everyone is on the same page, guaranteeing your design is coming to fruition and is your voice for decisions so you can enjoy every minute.
In order to answer this question for yourself, consider if you will be stressed throughout the planning process along with the day of your wedding. If you feel you need someone there to keep track of your to-do list and keep everyone on time, then a Wedding Planner is best suited for your needs.
How do you choose the right vendors for your wedding day?
Vendors could all have the same pricing, packages and overall aesthetic but at the end of the day you want to be working with vendors who have the best personality for you. Vendors should always be on your team and have your best interest in mind. If you had those butterflies when talking to a vendor, then you know your personalities are a match and it will be an unforgettable experience throughout planning.
What are the roles and responsibilities of a wedding planner?
Each wedding planner is different in terms of what their scope of services entails. In general, wedding planners are your liaison between you and your vendor team throughout the entirety of your planning journey, creating and managing budgets, creating an extensive design proposal and creating along with managing a timeline along the way. It’s always best to ask this question when “planner shopping” to ensure you’re selecting the right fit for what you need!
How do I allocate for my budget?
Budgets in wedding planning are unique to each couple. Some can be foodies, so catering would be a priority. Some couples love flowers, so floral design would be a priority. I think you can see where I am going with this! Sit down together and create a simple list of your top 3 priorities, then you can start basing your budget around those first and let everything else follow in line.