To hire a wedding planner….or not…?? That is the question

I’ve heard it all…time and time again… I’m super organized and love DIY. I don’t need a coordinator. I know you spend hours on Pinterest and reading wedding blogs and bridal magazines and you have a ton of fun doing it and that’s wonderful. It’s even better that you’re so organized! Wedding planners are not there to take away your fun, your vision or your creativity. A planner will however, ensure that your thoughts and ideas are executed the way that you want. The DIY bride has such a specific vision and has spent so much time creating all of those special touches that represent you as a couple. You need someone who will take your vision and execute as you would. The DIY bride needs a coordinator more than any other type of bride. But why? Because the expertise that goes into creating another person’s precise vision is not something you want to put on a friend (because there is no way you can do it that day and not hate life — and all friends and family that day). It’s too much to expect. Wedding planners live for this stuff! At some point, you will get stressed and overwhelmed and you’ll need professional advice, a professional eye and/or professional connections. A coordinator is there to provide these things. We have a friend/family member who LOVES planning weddings/events/parties and she offered to help with our wedding.
This is an extremely generous offer, but most likely this person is not a professional in the wedding industry. This can lead to even more stress because of your relationship. If you’re not happy with the way your friend is doing things, will you be able to complain or ask for something different without offending them? Do they have insurance, do they know the logistics of managing vendors? Don’t put a relationship in jeopardy in an attempt to save money. We’ve all heard that you shouldn’t mix business with pleasure. Your wedding is NOT the time to break that rule. With family and friends, everyone has an opinion and that’s sweet but you need an unbiased opinion to step in and solve the problems. We’re on a really tight budget and simply can’t afford a wedding coordinator.
You shell out thousands of dollars on wedding vendors so that they can have the wedding of their dreams. Sadly, a coordinator is often an afterthought. Many people feel that a planner is a luxury as opposed to a necessity. The vendor relationships and connections in the wedding world that a planner possesses is a resource that will save you time and money. Most likely, you will end up saving money by hiring a professional wedding planner.

The venue and/or catering company already offers a coordinator, so no need to hire another wedding planner.
This is one of the worst misconceptions. Your venue has hired this coordinator as a manager for the venue staff. Venue coordinators are wonderful and a necessary addition to your team, but NOT a replacement for you wedding coordination. The venue coordinator is not going to execute your vision and manage those wonderful vendors you’ve hired. What happens when the linens arrive in blue instead of teal or the limo goes to the wrong church? Who is going to get your guests seated and line up your bridal party and cue the DJ? These problems are going to be solved by your professional wedding planner, not the venue coordinator. I’ve never once heard someone say, “I didn’t need that wedding planner I hired”. No amount of planning can guarantee a perfect day. There will always be something that doesn’t go as planned. Thankfully, if you’ve hired a professional wedding planner you can rest assured that she is going to manage any problem that arises so that you, your family and/or your friends don’t have to. The job of a coordinator is the most intricate of all the vendors you will hire. From the extremely detailed timeline to the heavy communication between vendors, this is definitely a job for a professional. If you’re interested in enjoying not only your wedding day but, the entire planning process, a wedding planner should be the FIRST vendor you hire. This will give you peace of mind knowing that you have a professional that is there for you each step of the way. This is an invaluable resource. A wedding coordinator is your friend, your therapist, your problem solver, a specialist in the wedding industry who is familiar with the wedding world and who works with other professionals in your area. Let us help you! xo,
Erica