wedding planner...need advice

[stephp]

Hello Ladies
I recently got engaged and I want my day to be perfect. WE are both really busy and though it might be beneficial to hire a wedding planner. I don't really know much anout this and I was wondering if anyone could give me any insight on it. I have looked at a few websites but it would be more helpful to hear from someone who has gone through the experience. I just want to know what I should be looking for and if anyone has any stories good or bad about their experience with a wedding planner. Hopefully someone might be able to help. And congrats to all on your engagement.
Thanks,

Steph

[sstark1218]

Thanks, you too! When is the big day? If you give yourself enough time, you should be able to plan it on your own. If you are wanting a coordinator, just make sure the price is reasonable and they have your interest in mind. WebLady will be able to give a better response, I'm sure.

[Foreverweddings]

Congratulations on the big day! This is the most exciting time of your life and a wedding coordinator can help keep it that way. I am a certified wedding coordinator, so let me tell you a little about how one can help you. Most coordinators will do as little or as much as you want them to. If you want to do most of the planning but don't know where to start, they can help you with that. If you don't want to touch a part of it, they can do that for you. Many offer day of services which is where the coordinator will help primarily with the actual service, although they will meet with you sometimes months prior to go over details. I'm not sure where you are and pricing is different everywhere. However many consultants can work with vendors to get you discounts on their services so even though you are paying for a coordinator, it may work out to where you are actually saving money in the long run. A coordinator also knows how to work with vendors who will stay in your budget, so you are saving time by not having to call around asking about pricing. A coordinator can be a tremendous help and keeps all of your family and friends and yourself sane by allowing you to enjoy the wedding instead of having to work at it. Consultants in my area offer free consultations, so call around and see if they offer that where you are. Then you can talk with them about how they can help you without any obligation. Good luck, email me with any questions.

Misty
Forever Weddings
misty@forever-weddings.com

[wedbyjean]

As a Professional Bridal Consultant myself, let me give you some tips to look for in a consultant. (Although I am using “she,” there are many wonderful male consultants out there).

Make sure she has ongoing training and experience in wedding planning. Just having planned her own wedding (or a sisters’ or friend’s) is not enough. Am I saying that your sister or friend who is already married won’t be a great help? Not at all! But she is not a professional, and is not experienced in the ins-and-outs of what goes on at a wedding, expecially behind the scenes.

Make sure she is affiliated with a wedding consultant organization (such as June Bride, The Association of Bridal Consultants, and the Association for Wedding Professionals International). This shows a true interest and dedication to her craft, and that she views it as being something more than just a “hobby.”

Make sure this is her job, and not just a hobby, or something she does after she gets home from her day job. You want her to have the time for you.

Make sure she is not the “in house” consultant for another type of wedding vendor (such as a venue, baker or florist). Her #1 priority should be to you, NEVER to another vendor.

She should not be the photographer who also does wedding consulting, or the dj who also does wedding consulting . . . She CANNOT be in more than one place at a time, and doing two different things at a time. Her focus will be divided, and it will show!

As far as price, look for someone who will work with you and your budget. Not everyone’s budget will be suited to a consultant’s full service package, but she should be able offer some level of guidance that will be more comfortable to your budget.

The National Average price for a consultant is 10-15% of your total wedding budget. Personally, I do not charge in this fashion. Instead I charge a flat fee for only the work the bride and groom want me to do. Others charge by the hour. Because of the different methods of determining fees, it would be best to contact your local consultant(s) and ask them directly. Don’t be surprised if you don’t get an actual price on the phone (although getting a price range isn't unreasonable). So many brides are unclear as to what a wedding consultant can truly offer, so by getting a price over the phone without having the benefit of knowing what you are going to get for that dollar amount (or without knowing what options the consultant offers) will only leave you with the tip of the iceberg. We want you to be an informed shopper, with us and with all of your other vendors.