Do I Need to Hire a Wedding Planner?
Hiring a wedding planner can be a real lifesaver. But is hiring one the best choice for you and your event? We’re diving in on this, and asking key questions to help you figure it all out…
How much time do you have to put towards planning?
In addition to working, sleeping and eating, think about how much flexible time you have. Are your social schedules, weekends, and evenings full or are you homebodies who enjoy cozying up on the couch and researching? Be ready to carve out evenings, weekends, take afternoons off of work, and spend a lot of time in your email and Google drive.
Do you have good help?
Do you and your partner both get excited to dive into the work it takes to plan an event? There are so many different types of tasks to complete, determine which ones would be a good fit for each of you. Are you more of a spreadsheet, info organizer, research oriented person - or do you thrive on sifting through images, colors and patterns to create a vibe and mood for the event? Do you have family or friends whom you trust to do some of the work for you without taking control of the event? Figure out who can be a part of your team and be ready to lead them through the planning process.
Do you know what weddings cost?
Every wedding is different - the list of professional services and options to choose from are long and wide. Have you determined what you want and need, and are you equipped to do the math to realistically determine what your expectations cost? It's almost impossible to back into an arbitrary number, so be prepared to do the research before booking any creative partners and service providers so you don't get stuck with a bigger bill than you can or want to pay later.
Do you have supportive people around you?
By supportive, we mean cheerleaders who also respect boundaries. People who will support whatever your vision or plan is, because they know that you are taking the time and consideration to think through what you want before you put it out there. People who don't question or shame your decisions, friends and family who won't use money to control the decisions you want to make for your event.
Do you have a plan of how the day will all come together?
The easiest event days are those that are meticulously planned, documented, and supported. Are you able to stay the course with planning until the very end? Have you hired vendors that you are confident in - have you had that final details meeting with them, paid them in full, answered all their questions, and been available to answer their questions the week-of? Are you able to step away once the weekend arrives so that you can be present and enjoy the friends, family and festivities you've worked hard to plan?
If you've answered yes to most of these - then good for you! You know what you want, you've figured out how to get it, and now it's just about staying organized, trusting your gut and getting excited!
If you've answered no to most of these - it might be worth exploring the services of an event planner.
Figure out where the gaps are in your capabilities and find a service and professional that complement your shortcomings.
If it's time you need more of - find someone who doesn't just give you vendor recommendations but will pre-vet, check availability, and "matchmake" you with vendors that will exceed your expectations
If it's help you need - find a planner who can be your feet on the ground, someone you trust to manage the project. Someone who has all the tips, tricks, hacks, templates, and processes to get it all done successfully.
If it's support and boundaries you need - find a planner who will be your cheerleader.
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