Advice | Do We Need A Wedding Planner?

Hello, everyone! Rachael here. I'd like to tackle a very basic question that's on many brides' (and grooms') minds:

"Do we need a wedding planner?"

Well, yes, of course!

What's that you say? Perhaps I am slightly biased on the subject? Well, granted. As a wedding planner, of course I think that my services are invaluble and darn near life-saving.

But honestly, the short answer is that every couple can benefit from hiring a wedding planner. Even if your wedding is small and relatively simple, I'm betting that you still have lots of details to oversee. And you want your day to be stress-free, smooth, and totally "you," right?

Okay, perhaps some concrete examples are in order. Here are some common problems that a planner can help you solve.

1. Which wedding vendors should I hire? This is a big one for wedding planners. We've worked with all types of local DJs, florists, venues, limousine companies, and the like, and we can match you up with someone who is going to be reliable, friendly, and just your style.

2. How can I get the best prices for photography, catering, etc.? Lots of people don't realize that having a planner can actually reduce the cost of your wedding. How so? A planner not only saves you time by recommending only the best vendors, but we can also save you money by negotiating "planner rates" that you wouldn't be able to get as a bride. We also know where to get discounted items, invitations, and other must-haves.

3. What is proper etiquette for my specific situation? There's so much that you're expected to know when you're planning a wedding. A planner can tell you all the proper ways to word invitations, create seating plans, manage unruly guests, structure your ceremony, schedule all of your tasks, and more. You'll never have to guess what Emily Post would do.

4. How am I going to get everything done in time? We live in a ludicrously busy world. Most people simply don't have hours and hours (an average of 200 to 250 hours!) to arrange every tiny detail of a wedding themselves. Planners often get calls from panicked brides at the last minute, stressed out of their minds and pleading for help. Having a planner to help you with all of your wedding tasks can be a tremendous relief.

5. My vendors say they'll be ready for my wedding, but how do I know they will actually do what they say they'll do? To you, your dream wedding is your special, once-in-a-lifetime day. To your vendors, it's sometimes just another job on their long list. But if you have a wedding planner, you have an outspoken advocate to coordinate every last one of your vendors. You can be sure that every vendor will have the correct information, and all the details will be as YOU want them.

6. How can I make sure my bridal party and family know what to do? Whether you have two attendants or twenty-seven (our advice: don't do this), a wedding planner knows how to bring them all together. We can run your rehearsal, hand out notes and schedules to everyone, reconfirm arrival times, and direct everyone to their places on the day of your wedding. Wouldn't it be nice to have a stage manager, so you can walk down the aisle in peace?

7. What if something goes wrong during my wedding? Wedding planner to the rescue! We have an "emergency kit" to take care of every need you may have, from fabric cleaner to bobby pins to extra nylons for your bridesmaids. We're on the lookout for any sign of trouble, so we can nip any problems in the bud, often before you even know they exist.

8. How can I make my wedding look extra swanky? Well, besides helping you pick the perfect decor, themes, favors, and vendors to make your wedding look like you spent a lot more than you actually did, your friends and family will be totally impressed that you have a wedding planner for your big day. You'll have a personal assistant who solves all of your problems, conveys all of your orders, and treats you like the royalty you are. Seriously, how posh is that?

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