Ready, Set, Plan
Kimberly Ryerson
If you ask most brides-to-be how long they’ve been planning their wedding, most will tell you they’ve been mulling over the details since oh, say, childhood, give or take. Which little girl hasn’t pictured herself as a beautiful princess in the fairytale of her future big day? Or whispered last-minute instructions to a nervous Ken and Barbie just before the start of their sandbox ceremony? While dreaming of your wedding as a child is a pleasant exercise of the imagination, actually planning the real thing as an adult can prove to be an overwhelming task of large proportions.
With endless decisions to make in a limited amount of time, hiring a wedding planner to help coordinate the details of your big event can save you a lot of time and effort. It can also spare you from unnecessary stress, which will better allow you to enjoy the months leading up to your big day.
what does a wedding planner do?
The role of a wedding planner is similar to that of a movie director. Each are given the complex task of coordinating the many facets of a large-scale event involving a significant budget. Some of the aspects to be managed include: the stars (the bride and groom), the supporting cast (the wedding party), crew (wedding professionals), set location (event site) and movie extras (guests). For a director, success may be defined by box office sales or critical acclaim. The goal of a wedding planner, however, is to be able to transform your unique vision for your wedding day into a reality. Unlike an actor on a movie set however, since you are paying a wedding planner for his or her services, you are the one in charge of the wedding’s final cut – the look and feel of the finished product. Though he/she is there to offer their expertise, your planner should serve as a flexible advisor who will keep the focus on you.
It can take more than 250 hours to plan the average wedding. For many couples, carving out that amount of time (and energy!) from an already hectic schedule can prove difficult. Hiring a wedding planner is like having a personal assistant who can spend the business hours you may not have contacting wedding professionals, making appointments, and comparing all of your options. Depending on how involved the role, your planner can help you choose everything from your ceremony and reception site(s), flowers, cake, menu, musicians, decorations, invitations and even honeymoon preparations. In addition, they can create a wedding planning schedule to help you keep track of tasks that are completed and those that still need to be done, as well as a wedding day schedule to keep everyone and everything on track, allowing you to relax and enjoy your big day rather than spend it worrying about the details.
Tips for selecting a wedding planner
The purpose of hiring a wedding planner is to alleviate some of the stress associated with planning your wedding, not add to it. Therefore, it’s important to interview several candidates before making your final selection, to ensure that you and your planner are a good “fit.” While education, experience and credible references are all important, your planner’s personality is vital as well. It’s important to get along with the person you’ll be spending many hours of your time with. While a planner can provide valuable input, don’t let him/her talk you out of what you want as it relates to your wedding’s style and theme. Start your search close to home. If a newlywed friend recently worked with a planner she really liked, definitely consider interviewing that person. You may also make contacts by attending local bridal shows or visit Longislandbrideandgroom.com. When interviewing a prospective wedding planner, be sure to ask them the following questions:
• Are you licensed and insured?
• How many years of professional training and work experience do you have?
• Do you belong to any professional organizations?
• Do you attend educational seminars, in order to stay updated on industry trends?
• Do you have references from wedding professionals and past clients?
• Do you provide a written contract?
• Will I be able to choose any wedding professionals I want, or will you limit my selection?
• How many events will you have the same week/day as mine?
• Will I be working with you specifically, or be assigned to someone else in your company?
• Do you have a qualified replacement should you suddenly become unavailable on my wedding day?
• Do you accept referral fees or commissions for wedding professionals that you recommend?
Why a wedding planner makes sense
According to a recent survey, almost one-third of couples who handled their own wedding said they wished they had used a wedding planner. Most brides can benefit from a professional wedding planner. A wedding planner’s experience in negotiating contracts with reputable wedding professionals can save you a lot of time and possible headaches when it comes to organizing your big event.
Your wedding planner’s organizational and time management skills, as well as extensive expertise and contacts, can prove to be an invaluable resource when planning a last-minute, out-of-town, or simply “out-of-this-world” affair to remember.