An engaged couple may hire a wedding planner or wedding consultant to assist them in taking care of all the details associated with a wedding both before and on the wedding day. Depending on the couple’s budget, guest list, and desired wedding style, these details may be significant or minor. The wedding planner’s job is to coordinate all aspects of the wedding and relieve the couple or their parents of the responsibility of planning a dream wedding.
A wedding coordinator’s pay scale varies. Couples may be charged an hourly fee or a percentage of their total wedding budget for planning services; typically, 10-20 percent is charged. Some wedding consultants who work for high-profile clients will only work with couples who have larger wedding budgets, while others will work with couples who have any budget to help them make the most of what they have. A wedding planner may also be paid commissions if he or she refers couples to specific stores, caterers, or florists. If you hire a planner, you should be aware of this because he or she may be tempted to recommend only services or stores that pay a commission, leaving out valuable options for the couple.
The wedding planner first meets with the couple, or possibly the bride and her parents, to determine the couple’s budget and the type of wedding they want. The wedding planner makes recommendations for churches or other locations, possibly clergy or other legally authorized wedding officiants, reception locations, types of wedding cakes, photography services, musicians or music services (like DJs), and catering services based on budget. The next step is to decide on the theme and décor, which includes how food will be served, how the reception area will be decorated, and what kind of flowers will be used to decorate any bridesmaids or groomsmen, as well as wedding locations and reception areas. Successful wedding planners maintain a large network of contacts in order to showcase the various options and services available to those planning a wedding.
Wedding planners can also assist the bride and groom with clothing selections for themselves and their guests, such as showers and rehearsal dinners. A wedding planner should have a strong understanding of the appropriateness of choices for the wedding style, as well as any specific religious obligations that may need to be met before or during the wedding. The wedding planner is usually present on the wedding day to help coordinate the services of all parties involved and ensure that the event runs as smoothly as possible.
Depending on the budget, couples may still do some of the work. Furthermore, they are in charge of making wedding decisions after weighing the options presented a wedding planner. Some couples prefer to be involved in the decision-making process as much as possible, while others prefer to delegate the majority of the decision-making to the wedding coordinator. If you do decide to hire a wedding planner, you should start interviewing planners about a year before the big day. Some planners may be able to plan a wedding with less notice, such as four to six months, but the best planners are often booked a year in advance.