SHOULD I HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER?

Questions to consider to determine if you really need one for your wedding

Hello, brides-to-be!

Embarking on the journey of organizing your own wedding, I know, is not a walk in the park. There are millions of things to consider, bureaucratic procedures to follow, and a lot of patience required while trying to navigate it all within what is called “daily life”! 

If you are someone who tends to experience stress quite a bit, risking a nervous breakdown, hiring a wedding planner could truly be the best decision you could make. A professional not only takes care of organizing every phase of the wedding from start to finish but also provides the tranquility of having a support and guide ready to ensure everything goes smoothly.

I know, however, that there’s that nagging question in your head: “Is this extra expense really worth it?”

Well, I pose a different question to you: “Can you put a price on spending your wedding day in a serene and relaxed manner?”

If you’re still unsure, I’ll reveal 3 questions you should ask yourself if you want an unforgettable day.

DO YOU NEED A WEDDING PLANNER, WEDDING DESIGNER, OR WEDDING COORDINATOR?

Certainly, you may have heard of these roles used interchangeably or even think they’re the same thing, but each has a distinct meaning and role. Let’s analyze them together:

★ Wedding planner: Helps build your vision of the wedding and organizes everything from start to finish, whether it’s planning invitations, organizing decorations, finding the venue, or anything else you may need. This is the highest level of support you can have to realize your wedding, and the professional is present during the event.

★ Wedding designer: Focuses solely on the aesthetic side of the wedding, planning color palettes, layouts, bouquets, and centerpieces. They are the creative minds behind the wedding and generally are not present at the actual event.

★ Wedding coordinator: On the day of the wedding, this professional oversees every aspect, managing all involved vendors and handling the resolution of any hiccups or issues. They start working about a month before the celebration and are present at the wedding until the cake cutting.

WHY SHOULD I HIRE A PROFESSIONAL WEDDING PLANNER?

Not only do these organizational wizards relieve stress, allowing you to enjoy the big day with all the necessary peace, but they can also save you a lot of money along the way (also read my article dedicated to the value of a wedding planner).

The wedding planner will always be there to help you like a referee, to keep you grounded. Because, of course, even your mother or aunt can help you organize the wedding, but remember, this is not a Sunday lunch. Even the most experienced organizers turn to wedding professionals to plan their own weddings!

Even though the wedding planner represents an additional expense, it’s not just their industry experience that keeps you within budget but also the relationships they have built with vendors. Instead of contacting dozens of vendors for quotes, a wedding planner can narrow down the list to those willing to work according to your needs. A wedding planner can also help negotiate contracts and prices and build a plan that maximizes savings.

Are you planning a wedding away from home? Getting married away from home can become really complicated, and I say this as a Tuscan who moved to Verona! It becomes a job, and you probably won’t even meet your vendors in person until your wedding day, or at least not as many times as you should. Having a trusted person active in that area becomes crucial for a successful event.

Are you organizing an elopement? Today, a love escape can be done with style. Couples don’t want to give up traditional wedding elements just because they want a quiet celebration for two with very few close friends. Even if it’s a small group, having a wedding planner there to direct the photographer, organize setups, and set up logistics will make your day much easier.

Are you planning a wedding between two different cultures? Wedding traditions vary from culture to culture, and having someone who knows the details of your traditions and can communicate them to vendors will be one less thing to worry about. Seeking someone experienced in creating the type of wedding you want will ensure that every detail is authentic and that every tradition is honored appropriately.

WHAT TYPE OF SERVICES DO I REALLY NEED?

Here we are, dear brides, with the types of services that each professional generally can offer and that you might need. I list the main ones (which you can also find on my website):

• Consultation: It can be useful if you’ve already organized several phases of your wedding but are still dissatisfied because you demand the utmost fun for your guests and can’t find the right supplier, or if you just need a simple style advice that can unlock your mind. It’s a service provided at an hourly cost; some professionals can offer targeted packages for a certain number of consultation hours, or there can be supplier-specific packages.
• Coordination: It can be useful if you have already organized everything as you wanted but wake up one morning and wonder, “who will set up and manage everything on that day?”. And that’s where the wedding coordinator comes in, the professional who coordinates all aspects and all the suppliers you have already chosen, managing them from setup to teardown. They get in touch with them about a month before your wedding, after talking carefully with you and taking all the necessary information, and they will be present at the wedding. Their role is one of great responsibility, as well as an extreme ability to plan all the team’s timing in a very short time, get in touch with everyone, understand what you want to set up and how you want to do it, and solve any unforeseen issues during the event.
• Total Planning: It can be useful if you need a professional to think about everything (absolutely everything!) from 12 to 18 months before the wedding, a real guide, a support on which to lean entirely. The great responsibility of their work? Well, I don’t think it needs to be said, they only have the most important day of your life in their hands!

The decision to hire a wedding planner, in summary, depends on your needs, personality, and visions for the big day. 

Stress and Patience: If the mere thought of managing the organization of the wedding causes you stress and nervousness, a wedding planner can alleviate the emotional burden, allowing you to enjoy your day without worries.

Specific Roles: Understanding the differences between a wedding planner, wedding designer, and wedding coordinator will help you grasp which role might best fulfill your needs. The choice depends on the stage of your planning and which aspects require more attention.

Time and Money Savings: Contrary to common perception, a professional wedding planner can help you save time and money. Their relationships with vendors, negotiation skills, and industry experience can result in more efficient budget management.

Destination Weddings or Elopements: If you’re planning a wedding away from your home region, an elopement, or a wedding with complex cultural elements, the presence of a local or specialized wedding planner can be crucial for smooth planning.

Service Types: Evaluate the services offered by a wedding planner based on your specific needs. If you only require advice on certain aspects or coordination on the wedding day, it might be more cost-effective than total planning. 

I will never tire of passionately suggesting, without any ulterior motive other than giving you the best advice for your wedding, to hire a wedding planner as soon as you say YES to your future husband’s proposal: managing situations already in progress is not always profitable or even simple for a professional, so giving her the entire planning process from the beginning is undoubtedly the best thing you can do.

Word of a wedding planner!