If thinking about planning your wedding makes you stressed - maybe you don’t know what to do or how to get started, you don’t have the time, or you just don’t like planning events - a wedding planner is a great investment! Today, we’ll look at what a wedding planner can help you with and if it’s worth your investment to hire one. Even if you are a Type A bride who is excited to plan your own wedding, a planner can be beneficial, or at the minimum, a wedding coordinator will be an investment to look into (come back next week for my next post about why to invest in a wedding coordinator).
Save you time on researching vendors
A lot of time goes into researching vendors and packages. A wedding planner helps save you this time. Often, they know lots of vendors that will work well for your budget and vision. When you work with me, you'll receive a list of vendors that would be a good match. Then you can check out the websites and portfolios and let me know your top 3-5 vendors in that category to get more information from and set up consultations so you can meet them and get started on the booking process.
Help Create Budgets and Allocates Money Effectively
Wedding planners help you set a realistic budget and allocate your money effectively for your priorities. They know how much different vendors charge and make sure your budget is realistic which helps keep your expectations realistic as well. They also know what areas to save money in and which areas to splurge, according to your priorities. They can help you find ways to save money. After booking my full planning service, our first consultation will be focused on the budget, and I’ll help you allocate funds based on your priorities for your big day. Throughout the planning timeline, I keep the budget updated and we’ll revise the numbers as needed.
Communicate With and Book Vendors
Wedding planners are the ones doing the back-and-forth communication and booking vendors and consultations for you. I inquire about availability, set up consultations with your top choices, book your favorite vendor, and take care of communication for you, which saves you a lot of time!
Help Design and Style Your Wedding
Most wedding planners help design and style your wedding. A few only work with the logistic side of booking vendors, so make sure this is included in your package or if you can add it on as an a la carte service if it’s not. There are also wedding designers, planners who only focus on the design and style aspects of planning. With my full planning services, one of our consultations will be focused on the design and style of your wedding. I’ll create a design booklet that showcases the design, color palette, and details you want for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. The booklet will then be sent to the florist, baker, rental companies, and other vendors to help guide their design process.
Keep Your Planning on Track
Wedding planners know when to focus on different areas of planning. No matter if you have six months to plan or two full years, they will keep your planning on track with timelines and due dates for tasks. This helps elevate the question of “What do I focus on now?” After booking my planning package, you will have access to an online project manager that helps organize the to-do list and due dates for tasks and a spreadsheet that organizes your budget, guestlist, and more important information. I also send bi-monthly emails that give you tasks to focus on next.
Keep all your event information and details organized
This is a life saver if you are not a naturally organized person. No more digging through emails to see what was decided or having notes all over the place. Some planners have an online hub where everything is kept organized, some use Google Docs, or the more traditional binder system for organizing all your information. I use an online project manager, Google Docs, and Google Sheets to keep all your wedding information organized and easily accessible by both of us.
Give Tips and Tricks of Planning
A planner will let you in on all the little things you don’t always think about or know what to do. Such as don’t forget to break in your shoes well in advance! Or, have all your items for detail flat lays in a box ready for the photographer. Wedding favors are often left behind by guests, so let’s put that money towards one of your priorities. Let’s have the caterer hold some appetizers and serve them to you when you arrive after photos, and we’ll have a box of leftovers for you to take to the hotel afterwards. Set your RSVP date for 6 weeks out because you need final headcount 4 weeks out and it gives you time to check in with anyone who missed the deadline and send a reminder of the RSVP date 8 weeks out.
You Can Still Be Involved in the Planning and Make Decisions
Some brides, especially Type A brides who want to plan themselves, think that wedding planners do all the work and make decisions. All decisions are made by you, we just help you make informed decisions and do the logistic side of planning. You can be as involved as you want to be! I only contact the vendors you tell me are your top choices, you are the one who gets to pick your vendors. Your vision will come to life with the design and style booklet. Your priorities and the details that you want to tell your love story are what I focus on, and you are in the driver’s seat! However, I help you make informed decisions and can help you make tough decisions when you are not really sure.
When you invest in me as your planner, you’ll get an easy and fun planning experience without the stress and overwhelm wedding planning is known to bring! You’ll also get an elevated wedding design, even on a modest budget. Message me here to become a Southern Belle Bride today and let’s start creating the wedding of your dreams!
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