Weddings are about teamwork. The bride and groom are the ultimate team, but all the best teams are great because they have the best support. Over the years I’ve had the privilege of working with some truly brilliant wedding planners. They are the perfect support act for lots of brilliant weddings I’ve worked at. But why?
I’m not sure many British people had even heard of the concept of wedding planners until Jennifer Lopez starred in a film called ‘wedding planners’. So even though the concept of hiring a wedding planner isn’t a completely freakish concept for many couples, why don’t all couples hire a wedding planner? If you haven’t been to a wedding that has been managed by a kickass wedding planner maybe you’re not aware of the many reasons hiring one is such a good idea. Guess what, I’m going to tell you.
The power of negotiation.
Months, sometimes years before your wedding day you’ll be thinking about which venue to use. You’ll be pondering which caterer, wedding dress maker and wedding cake baker will give you the best deal. I dare say you’ll be wondering which wedding photographer will be able to capture your special day in just the way you wish (hint hint). A good wedding planner will instinctively know which suppliers will work out best for you and your partner. They’ll be able to see through all the marketing nonsense wedding suppliers punt out, because having seen them in action many times they’ll know who can walk the walk as well as talk the talk.
Just as importantly they’ll know how to get the best prices from your wedding vendors. Wedding planners are excellent negotiators. They know when someone is trying to pull a fast one and will likely be able to negotiate the right price for your wedding budget.
If your budget is becoming restricted a wedding planner will know from experience which cuts will be the least painful to make, and which areas should not be skimped on.
The negotiation skill of a great wedding planner doesn’t stop with people who want your money. I’ve seen wedding planners deal with difficult family members and well-wishers in ways that are truly inspired. Everyone wins.
Managing your big day with zero stress
Once your wedding planner has helped you decide on the rest of the supporting cast for your wedding they’ll coordinate and make sure everyone is in the right place at the right time, doing what they should be doing.
A big wedding can be a logistical nightmare for anyone who doesn’t have their focus entirely on the little details. If you’re planning your own wedding it’s impossible to deal with any problems that might arise. Any wedding planner worth their salt will have seen issues beyond reasonable control arise many times before, and experience gives them the skills needed to solve these issues so smoothly you’ll probably never know they existed.
Will the cake arrive at the venue on time? What time do you need to make sure you’re booked into the hotel so that you don’t lose your honeymoon suite booking? What time should the free bottles of wine disappear and be replaced by the cash bar? What’s the venue’s policy on… anything. Your wedding planner will know all of these things.
Weddings can be broken down into a series of events. The ceremony, the group photos, the meal, the first dance. The list is long, and your wedding planner knows from experience how long each of these parts of your big day will take, and can advise on a schedule that will keep everyone happy, and will make sure everything that should happen does happen.
A good wedding planner is the difference between your wedding being a stressful event, or a day where you glide effortlessly from one magical experience to the next.
But aren’t wedding planners expensive?
Choosing a good wedding planner is a bit like choosing a good accountant. Cheap accountants are likely to let a few details fall through the cracks. A cheap accountant may not be as focussed on your needs as you may wish they were. Much like a good accountant an excellent and experienced wedding planner can actually save you much more money than they cost you.
A brilliant wedding planner is worth every penny you pay them.
You may find that well meaning family members or friends offer to plan your wedding for you. They may well excell, but there’s also the unfortunate truth that an amature wedding planner can be about as much fun as an amature dentist.