Do You Need a Wedding Planner?

So many details…so little time!  Exactly how much time do you have to plan your marriage ceremony and the reception that will follow?  For a growing number of brides, the help of a professional wedding planner is a surprisingly cost-effective service that can take your ideas and turn them into reality. 

            

Even the simplest wedding celebrations require countless hours of careful planning and dedicated attention to a vast number of details.  Not only will you need help in choosing the right wedding specialists for the day, but you’ll also want to avoid making potentially embarrassing mistakes.  A consultant can become your best friend as you work together to take the effort out of creating the perfect wedding. 

There are times when the services of a professional consultant are especially helpful to the bride and groom; for example, if you are planning a destination wedding or if you have a guest list of over 300 people.  Similarly, when keeping to a budget is a high priority, a professional wedding planner can advise on spending wisely and steering clear of costly mistakes.  He or she can negotiate the contracts with the service providers, making sure that no detail is forgotten. 

Of course, a wedding planner is the obvious option if you are reluctant to handle the inevitable mountain of telephone calls and appointments yourself and want to avoid facing difficult questions and challenging dilemmas. You’ll also be able to  relax completely on your wedding day, confident that any last minute crisis will be expertly handled by someone else!

Hiring a wedding planner - While some brides hire consultants to handle the entire event or the day-of-coordination, others sign them on to take over specific assignments.  Obviously, the decision is usually dependent upon the budget.  Professional wedding planners can be paid by the hour or they can charge an agreed percentage of the fees from the caterer, florist and musicians that they book on your behalf.  The relationship between the bride and the consultant should be settled at the first meeting, and before any planning begins. 

Decide what is best for your situation and budget when hiring consultants

•  To give general party planning advice and local suppliers at an early stage.
• To take care of specific aspects that aren’t familiar to you or your families
• To direct a rehearsal and make sure everything runs smoothly on the Big Day.
•  To handle every detail and be on hand until you leave for the honeymoon.

Finding a wedding planner.  The preferable option is by word of mouth.  If you have a friend or relative who raves about the service they got, snap up the phone number....but find one today! 

MCB xo

P.S.  This bride and groom didn't hire a wedding planner... but wish they had.  Read article here.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/reflective-bride/why-we-didnt-hire-a-wedding-planner_b_5724608.html