WHAT IS A WEDDING PLANNER?
WEDDING PLANNER, WEDDING COORDINATOR, BRIDAL CONSULTANT... a professional who is required to take on many different roles using their knowledge, experience and expertise to ensure the ultimate 'party of your dreams.' They offer creativity, décor, financial planning and advice to ensure the most important day of your life is a memorable one .
If you're finding that making the plans for your wedding is a bit overwhelming, you may appreciate the assistance of a bridal consultant - an experienced professional that specializes in organizing events.
Most people relate wedding planners to the popular movie staring Jennifer Lopez - "The Wedding Planner" however Wedding Planners or Bridal consultants offer a wide range of services such as finding a party space, caterers, florists, and/or bands. Some consultants often supervise the flow of events during the actual day of the wedding. Bridal consultants can save you a lot of time because they do all the legwork for you - a great thing if you've got a very busy schedule or you're planning a destination wedding.
The degree to which the planner is involved in your wedding is up to you and your fiancé. A wedding planner can help you plan your entire wedding or coordinate certain elements of your wedding day. Coordinators can take on responsibilities including
- Creating an ideal wedding that's customized to your style and needs.
- Helping to select your venue, colour scheme, invitations, food, flowers, arranging the wedding rehearsal, etc.
- Helping you stay within your budget and find the best value for your money
- Suggesting vendors that will fit your budget, ideas and those that have a history of quality work wedding coordinators have contacts within the industry, often receiving a much better rate on services
- Creating a wedding planning schedule to know which tasks need to be done and when this can lower the stress level
- Expertise on wedding etiquette, so whenever you have a question about what is right they will have the answer
- Preparing a wedding day schedule
HOW DO I FIND ONE?
Other wedding professionals, such as caterers and reception site coordinators, are often a good resource for locating talented and reliable consultants. Remember to interview more than one consultant.
SELECTING A WEDDING PLANNER
Your wedding planner will be helping you make important decisions so it's essential that you find one that you feel comfortable working with and that listens and understands your needs. A wedding planner is hired to serve you and will be receptive to your ideas, as long as you communicate them clearly.
There are several things you should consider and ask before hiring one:
Be sure to interview a few different planners before making your final decision Inquire how many weddings (s)he has previously coordinated Find out how long they have been in the business Check their references, making sure references are from recent brides Tell her about any special requirements or ideas you would like to have incorporated into your wedding day Establish payment ask the pricing policy; determine in advance how your coordinator will be paid Get everything in writing with a letter of agreement signed by both of you that clearly states what each of you will do Determine your own needs Do you want the planner to find all your vendors and you will handle the details? How involved do you want the coordinator to be? Having a dependable and trustworthy wedding planner can ease the planning and decision making of your wedding day, allowing you and your fiancée to relax and enjoy your engagement.
QUESTIONS TO ASK
Here are some good questions to ask a prospective wedding planner:
Ask the consultant how many weddings he or she has coordinated.
Inquire about what kinds of parties the consultant has overseen - how many people, what kinds of budgets.
What kinds of details does the consultant take care of?
How does the consultant communicate with clients - through telephone or email?
Will the consultant read over vendor contracts with you?
Can the consultant act as a go-between with your hired vendors?
Can the consultant help you receive discounts with vendors?
Will the consultant coordinate delivery, arrival, and setup times with the photographer, florist, musicians, caterer, etc.?
In order to ascertain what you're looking for, remember that the consultant should have many questions for you too. Choose someone who you feel comfortable talking to. Make sure the consultant is a good listener, and is patient and understanding of your budget and wishes. Remember to sign a detailed written agreement before you establish your relationship. And of course, make sure to ask for referrals from the consultant's past clients to establish that he or she has a solid reputation.
HOW MUCH DO THEY COST?
Wedding planner were once thought of as a luxury or for the elite. Now wedding planners are not only affordable, but they can save you money with their contacts and resources..
The cost of a wedding planner varies based on level of experience, services required, and overall size of the wedding. Typically, there are three different ways a wedding planner can charge: by a percentage of the total wedding costs, a flat fee, or by the hour. It's better to have a flat fee when possible so you'll know the complete cost up-front. Most consultants will meet with you for an initial consultation at no cost or obligation to discuss how they can help with your wedding. A professional wedding planner will work with you towards a dream wedding all within your budget.
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