How to Choose A Wedding Planner
Find the Right Wedding Consultant
Follow the tips in this article to choose the wedding planner that is the right fit.
Some brides know that they can’t set aside the time that it takes to plan a wedding, so they need to hire a wedding consultant. Finding the perfect person that a couple can trust to carry out one of the biggest days in their lives can seem like a daunting task. Following the advice below can help simplify the process.
The couple should figure out what type of wedding planner that they need. The different types of wedding consultants are as follows:
- Event producer or full planner: If a couple wants a wedding planner that will help them through the entire process, then this is what they are looking for. The couple should look for an event planning service or wedding consultant that can produce the entire wedding from day one until the wedding is complete.
- Partial planner: This service is best for a couple that has already completed some of their planning. This couple may have already found a reception venue, chosen a cake, and sent the invitations. A couple who finds themselves bogged down with only two months until the wedding should look for a partial planner. These couples want someone who can take over and finish up last minute details.
- Week of or day of planner: A couple may want someone to help coordinate the events on the big day, so they don’t waste the day dealing with small mishaps. The couple should look for a planner that is willing to meet with them a couple times before the wedding so he/she understands the couple’s vision and needs for the day.
Once a couple has decided what type of planner they need, they should interview their prospects. The couple should keep their budget in mind when they are deciding who they should interview. Here is a list of things the couple should consider during the interview:
- Did the wedding consultant arrive on time?
- Was he/she organized?
- Did he/she understand the vision (main concepts) of the wedding? This is especially important if the couple is planning a green wedding.
- Did the wedding planner seem excited about the event?
- Did the couple feel comfortable with the wedding planner?
Questions for the interview:
- How long has the wedding planner been planning weddings?
- Is he/she a member of a professional event planning organization?
- How does he/she charge? By the hour, flat fee, percentage of the overall cost?
- Does the wedding coordinator have specific hours that he/she can be reached? Does the wedding planner have another job or is this his/her full time career?
- How many weddings has he/she planned?
- Can he/she provide references from couples and vendors that he/she has worked with in the past?
- Is he/she comfortable with the computer and the internet?
- Will he/she attend the meetings with the vendors and look over the contracts?
- Does he/she have an assistant or backup plan in case of emergency? Who is that person and can the couple meet him/her?
- Will he/she direct the rehearsal as well as help with the rehearsal dinner?
- Can he/she explain a last minute emergency that occurred at a wedding in the past and how he/she handled the situation?
- When will he/she arrive and leave on the day of the wedding?
- Will he/she provide regular written updates?
- Can he/she work within the budget?
The copyright of the article How to Choose A Wedding Planner in Wedding Planning is owned by April Bowles. Permission to republish How to Choose A Wedding Planner in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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