What to look for in a Wedding Planner

5 things to Consider while choosing your planner

     Imagine you are sitting in your favorite chair, flipping through the beautiful wedding binder that you created filled with your mood boards from that Pinterest board you started back in grade school. You are so excited that the day you’ve been dreaming about is within arms reach. You go through the emotions: anxiety, stress, overwhelming joy and you are only days out from marrying your best friend. On your wedding day, you get started bright and early at 8am. The birds are chirping, you are surrounded by the smell of hairspray and the people you love, you feel like a princess, a real dream come true. Then, the flood of questions come rolling in like a tidal wave. “Who’s taking the alcohol home at the end of the night?” “Who is going to take down the flowers from your arbor?” “Did you remember the event insurance?” “Who’s staying back to clean up?” “What do your centerpieces look like again?” The dysfunction of the morning trickles into the afternoon. Your vendors are in disarray because they were given the wrong times, your bar service cannot start until dinner because your uncle Jimmy forgot to grab the apps on his way over, your guests start to leave early. You’re upset, your day is ruined. 

     That would never happen to you though, you hired a wedding planner. They gave you monthly checklists to help keep you on track. They asked those questions you never would have even thought about throughout the wedding process so they weren’t overwhelming. They sent out your timeline to all of the vendors you hired so everyone was on the same page come wedding day. They go over all of your décor, read through your contracts– even the fine print. You feel so taken care of, they become your best friend.  On your wedding day, your planner shows up with an assistant and a plan. You blink and your tablescapes are set out just how you imagined- charger, plate, knife on the left, fork on the right, napkin shaped like a crescent moon– perfect. The day rolled seamlessly into the night and your wedding is the one to remember!

     Your wedding planner is not only going to be your capeless superhero, but also your best friend! Since you will be working so closely with them, you want to make sure they are the absolute best choice for you! Here are some things you should consider when hiring your planner.

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1. Your budget. First things first, set a budget for how much you can comfortably spend on your planner. You can inquire with planners to get quotes and give yourself a price range. If you want full planning, you will be paying more than you would for just day of, so keep the type of planning you’d like in mind while setting your budget! 
2. Levels of Service. Piggybacking on your budget, figuring out what level of service you would like will aid you in selecting your planner. Most of which have full, partial and day of planning, but some solely coordinate and/or design. Weeding out those that do not accommodate your needs will save you time in the long run. 
3. Style. Look at your potential planner’s past work. Have they orchestrated a wedding that matches your vision? Do they only cater to a specific type of set up, or are they well versed in different set ups? Are their past weddings very uniform or do they allow for individuality? Determining their style will allow you to better envision how they can make your day look!
4. How well do they problem solve? Your planner will do everything in their power to make sure your day is perfect, yet hiccups are going to happen along the way, and you want to be able to trust the person in charge when those problems arise. Give your planner a scenario and see how they respond, or ask them about a recent problem that came up at a wedding and how they solved it. 
5. How well do your personalities mesh? Lastly, though it may seem like a no brainer, personalities that complement each other are going to work better than personalities that clash. However, that does not mean opposites aren’t the right fit. If you are all over the place, you will benefit from a Type A planner that keeps you on track and organized. If you are extremely type A, you will benefit from someone who will allow you to take the reins but show you guidance as you navigate the process.  

    After you’ve done your background research, set up a consultation with your potential planner(s). Really get a feel for them as a person, they will be your right hand during the wedding process after all, and trust your gut. There is someone for everyone, and having a genuine connection with your planner is going to alleviate so much stress during the process!

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