How to Find and Hire the Perfect Wedding Planner for Your Wedding
Your wedding day. Possibly the most important day of your life. Couples spend months—often even years—planning for just one day. The logistics, deadlines, and details can feel overwhelming. Where do I start? What needs to be done first? How far in advance should I book each vendor? If you’re starting to stress about planning your wedding, know that you don’t have to go it alone. Professional wedding planners, with industry and event planning expertise, help couples stay on schedule and on budget, while planning the wedding of their dreams. Read my tips below to learn how to find and hire the perfect wedding planner for your wedding.
Image via StocksnapWhat is a wedding planner?
A wedding planner is your own personal wedding logistics coordinator, and day-of planning expert. They are professional event planners with expertise in the wedding industry. They have relationships with wedding vendors in their service region, and know the best practices for budgeting, planning, booking, and executing a wedding event of any scale.
What do wedding planners do?
Wedding planners serve as liaisons between couples and their vendors. They help you set a budget, determine your theme and colors, review and book vendors, and plan the schedule for the wedding day itself.
What should I know before hiring a wedding planner?
You’ll want to choose a wedding planner you are comfortable with, that you can be honest with, and that you feel truly understands your vision for your wedding, and is committed to making your vision (and not theirs), a reality.
I recommend that to find the right wedding planner, you start by interviewing several candidates. Yes—interview. A wedding planner should earn your business and finding a planner you feel compatible with requires speaking with several candidates and choosing the one who best vibes with your personality, and proves they can help you accomplish your goals.
Image via StocksnapWhat questions should I ask during the interview?
Be prepared to ask specific questions to ensure the planner can meet your goals. Ask how many weddings they have planned, how they like to communicate with their clients, and if they plan to be present on the day of the wedding. Also, be sure to ask how many clients they work with at one time to be sure the planner you choose can offer you the dedicated attention you deserve.
Where should I look for a wedding planner?
I recommend that you consider hiring a wedding planner who specifically services the region where you’ve chosen to get married. For example, if you live in New York, but have chosen to get married in Los Angeles, even though most of your interactions will be via phone or email, you’ll want to choose a wedding planner who lives in California. He or she should have existing relationships with vendors in the LA area, will be familiar with the best local venues, and will have a better understanding of the average cost for services in the area, compared with an out of area planner.
What if my wedding is international?
If you’re planning a destination wedding outside of the country, consider a wedding planner who specializes in destination weddings. More specifically, search for a partner who has planned several destination weddings at your chosen location and can show you a portfolio full of examples.
Image via StocksnapHow do I hire the perfect wedding planner of my choice?
Start your search early. Wedding planners get booked just like venues, especially during wedding season. Once you find the one, ask to contract with them before they get overbooked and aren’t able to take you on as a client.
How much do wedding planners cost?
Costs typically vary by planner, but as a general rule, plan to spend 10 percent of your wedding budget on your planner. Ask about rates up front, before you sign a contract or make a verbal agreement, to be sure your budget can accommodate the planner’s service fees.
Remember that the ideal wedding planner will keep you and your goals at the center of their focus. All their recommendations should be made with your desires, preferences, and budget in mind. By doing your research and planning ahead, you’ll be able to find and hire the perfect wedding planner for your wedding that will help you plan and execute an event to remember for a lifetime.
Image via Stocksnap
