Do I Really Need a Wedding Planner?
You’re engaged, the ring is shiny and new, and you get to start planning a life together with your favorite person - what a dream! In the midst of all the newly engaged excitement, though, some of the wedding-planning pressure might already be starting to creep in - how soon do I need to start looking for a venue? What to-dos do I need to check off the list first? Will everyone PLEASE stop asking me if we have a date yet?!
Girl, I hear you. Take a deep breath, pull up a chair, and let’s chat about it!
It’s no secret that the wedding planning process has the potential to be very stressful - in many cases, you’re planning the most elaborate, expensive celebration of your life, you have to find the perfect team of vendors to execute your vision while staying as close to your budget as possible, you’re expected to look like the most put-together and polished version of yourself, AND you’re merging two lives and two families. Is it warm in here, or am I just sweating profusely?
One of the most daunting tasks to tackle when you begin the wedding planning process is assembling the dream team that will make your day look like your Pinterest board, which raises another question - do I need a planner or coordinator? Is it worth it?
Below, we’ll look at a few cases that might help guide whether hiring a wedding planner is the right choice for you.
You want to maximize your budget
One of the greatest benefits of hiring a wedding planner is the opportunity to leverage a professional’s experience putting together a budget, anticipating unforeseen expenses, and stretching your wedding budget dollars. A planner can negotiate on your behalf for the best possible value for money from your vendors, and offer guidance about which expenses are unnecessary and which ones will add a meaningful impact at your event.
You want an advocate in your corner
The wedding planning process and the day itself can put an enormous level of pressure on the couple, where both client-vendor relationships and family dynamics are concerned. Hiring a planner provides you with an intermediary so you are not responsible for directly communicating with (or problem solving with) your vendor team on the wedding day. Your planner can also help ensure that only authorized decision makers are communicating with vendors.
You want a professional’s opinion and recommendations
Hiring a planner gives you access to a professional’s eye for the details of your event such as assembling a beautiful tablescape that brings together the design elements you love most, or which floral pieces will have the greatest impact in your venue. You will also be able to leverage your planner’s vendor relationships, which gives you the security of knowing your vendor team is trusted and reliable, and that they will work smoothly with your planner on the wedding day.
You want a low-stress, smoothly run day
After putting in all the hours of work to dream up your day, create your guest list, find the perfect dress, and choose your perfect menu, you should be able to relax and enjoy your day without worrying about receiving floral deliveries, lining up your bridal party in the right order for grand entrance, or ensuring your reception timeline stays on track. Having a planner or coordinator onsite will give you the freedom to sit back, relax, and enjoy the work you have done to create the day of your dreams with the assurance that the logistical details are taken care of.
