Do I Need A Wedding Planner/Manager?

When do I need a wedding planner/manager?

• Do you have 250+ spare hours to plan your own wedding?
• Do you have access to exceptional vendors and services ... within your budget?
• Are you a good manager of people and time?
• Are you able to handle the stress of planning your wedding?
• On your wedding day, do you want your mother, sister or best friend attending to you ... or dealing with vendors, caterers, deliveries and last-minute changes?

What kind of services does a wedding planner/manager offer her clients?

• Setting a budget
• Answer etiquette questions
• Prepare a wedding timeline
• Recommending, hiring, dealing with and confirming vendors
• Checklist for obtaining the wedding license
• Prepare rehearsal and wedding day schedule
• Helping you get your legal documents together
• Assisting with and planning the rehearsal dinner
• Attending vendor meetings with you
• Booking hotel rooms
• Arranging transportation
• Creating welcome bags
• And anything and everything you can think of.

How much does the planner/manager charge?

That depends on the planner.  Some planners charge 15% of the total budget of your wedding.  Others will charge a flat fee and those fees will vary on the package you choose.  The other planners who say that their services are "free" when you buy wedding attire or catering services from them, hmmm, let's just say the services are not exactly free.  Because they get paid by the other vendors that you hire from their recommended vendors list.  Those vendors raise their prices to pay the "planner" for recommending their services to you.  You end up paying the planner after you hire the vendor in the end.

How do I find a wedding planner/manager?

Here are two organizations that you can contact for refrences:

Association of Bridal Consultants  (860)355-7000  or  website

Weddings Beautiful Worldwide  (804)342-6061  or website

All wedding planners/managers are not the same.  We are human beings with strengths and flaws.  I am certainly not perfect but i do everything to the best of my ability.  I am certainly not going to take over someones wedding.  I am already married.  I am working for the bride and groom, their wish is my command, so if you do get a planner/manager who is getting bossy, call her on it.  If she does not change her ways then fire her and get someone else who will listen to you.  It's your wedding and no one elses's.