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Your wedding should be the happiest day of your life, but it will also undoubtedly be one of the most stressful. There are so many intricacies and moving parts to consider, all of which need to be working together in perfect harmony if the big day is to go off without a hitch.
That’s why so many couples decide to hire a wedding planner, to take a little of the weight off their shoulders and sort out the things they might not have realised need sorting. Planning a wedding will be completely new to most couples but for wedding planners, they have tons of experience as they go through the wedding process repeatedly.
If you’re considering using a wedding planner but aren’t fully sold on the idea, here’s a run-down of what they do and how they can help you with your wedding.
There are so many analogies to describe a wedding planner but essentially a wedding planner is someone who is employed to help with the planning and organisation of your wedding. They will go through your wedding checklists with you, offering advice and support on all aspects of your big day.
It is possible to bring in a wedding planner quite late in the game when you’re starting to panic that everything doesn’t seem to be lining up. However, it’s always best practice to have them there from the get-go. That’s because a wedding planner is so much more than just a friendly face that sorts out the flowers and helps you with seating plans.
There are various levels of service offered by most planners, with some offering full planning services or simply ‘on-the-day’ co-ordination services. A typical scenario for a full plan would begin very early in the process. A planner will help formulate the concept and design, find the venue and source suppliers. They can be given as much decision-making power as your desire. So, for example, if you want them to provide you with a list of potential photographers that you will then choose from, that’s fine, but if you want them to choose for you, that’s fine too. The wedding planner duties are dependent on the type of wedding planner you choose and how much you want them to be involved.
As weddings have become larger and more ambitious affairs, there is so much more to consider than just getting to the church on time. Indeed, the average wedding now entails around 15 different suppliers that require booking, negotiation and (perhaps most crucially) co-ordination. That’s where a wedding planner comes in. Of course, how a wedding planner works for you and what responsibilities you give them is entirely up to you. However, generally speaking, they will help with everything relating to the wedding that involves logistical planning. This means sourcing suppliers for food, drink, flowers and other assorted decorations as well as wedding photographers, videographers and any bands or DJs for the evening reception. A planner will have developed countless connections within the industry, so will be better equipped to not only wade through the various options but get better prices and arrange more reasonable terms.
Absolutely. A wedding planner offering a full planning package will typically ask for between 10% of 15% of your total wedding budget, but with the savings they could make to the supply chain, it’s perfectly possible that they might end up paying for themselves! Indeed, they will probably have worked with certain venues, photographers and suppliers hundreds of times, so will be able to negotiate far more reasonable costs. They can also help you stick to your budget, advising on areas where you can spend less and save money.
This is a very personal one, as the planner you choose is someone you’re going to be working very closely with, potentially for months to come. So first and foremost, it’s important that you find someone you actually get on with. This is one of the few industries where personality is almost as important as expertise. Speaking of which, whilst we wouldn’t necessarily recommend against utilising the services of someone relatively new to the game (although they will most likely be a more affordable option), experience often speaks for itself. Experience is particularly important when you’re looking for a planner who is going to be more hands-on when it comes to the more creative aspects of the wedding such as design and concept. Ultimately, the most important thing, however, is to make sure you have comprehensively interviewed and met with your planner before signing the contract. When looking at potential candidates, the most important attributes you may want to look out for a calm and organised persona. Wedding planning is stressful, but a good coordinator will manage that burden, so you don’t have to worry about anything. Them being calm when communicating with you, and organised when sorting the day will help the process go much more smoothly.
This will depend very much on the type of wedding planner you choose to hire (see below). It should, however, be something you consider from the very start, even if you plan on bringing them on board later in the game. If you are planning a very short engagement, meanwhile, then getting a wedding planner involved ASAP might be the only way you manage to avoid the overwhelming stress that can often come from trying to fit everything into such a short period of time.
As previously mentioned, there are many different ‘types’ of wedding planner that will offer different levels of service and will vary their prices accordingly. The exact terms we’ve used may not be consistently used as they are written below throughout the industry, but the labels should help give you some idea of the level of service you should expect.
Full-service - The complete package. Planners advertising a full-service package will be with you every step of the way, helping with conceptualisation, design, guest lists and invites, dress and suit shopping, and even arranging transportation for your guests. If you’re planning an elaborate event with hundreds of guests then it is always recommended to go with a full-service planner as otherwise, it’s easy to get lost in the details and end up spending a lot of money you don’t have to on a lot of things you don’t need. This is also the ideal option for couples who both work full-time so won’t be free to meet with vendors and suppliers during the week. A full-service might even include helping you to plan and book your honeymoon, which is another stress that is rarely considered during the initial planning stages. They will be able to advise on name changes and passport applications, an issue which you may have not have even considered.
Event designer - If your wedding is a smaller affair and you think you have the logistics taken care of, but don’t know where to start when it comes to the look and feel of the day itself, this might be an option to consider. A designer will let you and your own ‘wedding team’ take care of the organisation and will instead focus all of their attention on the design. They will liaise with florists, stationers and even set designers (if needs be) to bring your vision to life within a given budget.
A la carte - If you are working to a smaller budget but still require the services of a wedding planner to help you understand exactly what needs to be done (and by whom) then there are plenty of planners willing to take on individual tasks for an hourly or flat rate. Whether you want to hire somebody to sort catering (including the cake) or make sure the bar is fully stocked, these planners will typically offer a range of services that you can pick and choose from as you see fit. For couples that already have a pretty solid idea about what they want but need someone to help them execute it, this is the perfect option.
On the day coordinator - You might think that you have everything taken care of and that the day itself will run with military precision, but even if you have the logistics under control, you’ll still want somebody there on the day to make sure all of the pieces fit together and everyone is where they’re supposed to be at the right time. A day-of coordinator will come on board around a month before the wedding itself when all of the pieces are already in place. They will most likely charge a flat daily rate and are there so you can relax and enjoy yourself whilst they take care of all the busy work. If you want to be in complete control of how your wedding looks and runs but need someone to pass the baton to at the last hurdle (you’ll have your hands full as it is, after all) then this is an ideal compromise.
Wedding planners offer a very useful service. While some rates may seem expensive and some of their duties may feel doable by your own wedding party, you should take into account the time and effort they can save you during one of the busiest times of your life. Wedding planners are purely based on personal preference – some will love the idea of having no stress and someone organising everything, but others will hate relinquishing control. Whichever side you are on, they do provide a valuable service. They aren’t for everyone though and it is completely up to you how you want the build up to your big day to go. If you are unsure about whether a wedding planner is for you, perhaps it’s worth having a chat with someone and seeing what they have to offer you.
If you're planning your big day, why not take a look at our personalised wedding party gift ideas? Show your appreciation with a token gift that is thoughtful, unique and memorable.
