Why should I hire a Wedding Planner?

I get this question a lot from potential clients. I often hear, my mom said she would plan my wedding, or I have an aunt who said she would help out on the wedding day. As wonderful and generous as it is for family and friends to offer their assistance with your wedding, it is still crucial to have a professional wedding planner to assist you and manage the details of your big day.

First, hiring a wedding planner can save you time and money.  They know lots of wedding vendors in all budget ranges.  They can help you find vendors that are in your budget. This saves you the time from googling and calling 20 different florist to find one that fits with your needs. Also your planner knows your style and personality so they will also recommend vendors they feel will work well with you. Which makes the planning process smoother.

Secondly a wedding planner can help make the wedding vision in your head a reality.  These days most brides to be have a Pintrest board of  all of their wedding ideas. It’s great to have a visual to share when explaining to vendors what you want. However sometimes the vision and the reality are two very different things. Your planner can help you prioritize you vision and narrow down options. This will ensure your wedding day doesn’t look like a big explosion of every wedding day idea you’ve ever had.  They will assist you in creating a beautiful event that speaks to your style and personality.

The final and most important reason you want to hire a wedding planner is, because you want to actually enjoy your wedding day!  Having a wedding planner means that the day of the wedding you can turn over all the details of set up, schedule, and guest management to your planner. We oversee everything from vendor arrivals, alphabetizing escort cards, lining up the bridal party,  and any other detail you  can think of on your big day. This allows you to actually enjoy your wedding, spend your day dancing and chatting with your guest. Instead of worrying about when the cake is going to arrive or who is going to make sure the band knows where to set up. For this reason alone I say hiring a planner is absolutely necessary.  Your wedding day goes by so fast and you only get one chance to enjoy it. When you hire a good wedding planner you well on your way to ensuring that you will enjoy every moment of the big day. I’d say that is money very well spent.

You’re engaged you’ve told all your friends and family, posted pictures of the ring on Facebook and are over the moon with happiness and excitement. Then the questions start coming. Where are you getting married? Have you set a date? How many guest do you want to have? Can I be in your wedding?

All those feelings of excitement and euphoria, are now feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed. True there are many details and moving parts to planning a wedding. It does not have to be stressful, this is one of the happiest and most exciting times of your life. Planning your wedding should be a fun experience for you and your family.

Where do you start? The first and most important thing to start off the planning process is to establish a budget. Establishing a budget right of the bat is key. The amount of money you have to spend will determine your guest count, your venue and your vendor selection.  It will narrow the field of options to places and vendors who are in your budget. So before you tell your entire office they’re invited to the wedding, get your budget established first.

Sit down with your fiancé and any other parties who are planning to financially contribute to the wedding and discuss how much money is available for your event.  Your budget should include cost for the following:

• Attire (wedding gown, grooms tux, shoes, alterations etc…)
• Flowers
• Food/Beverage
• Entertainment
• Stationary (invitations, save the dates and other correspondence with guest)
• Photography
• Event planner
• Venue
• Postage
• Bridal party gifts
• Guest Favors
• Transportation
•  And any other cost that may be associated with your wedding

I know some of the items on the list are obvious, like food and flowers. While other items like postage and bridal party gifts don’t always make the line items on a wedding budget. It is smart to account for every possible expense you can think of up front. It saves you the stress and anxiety of having to come up with the unaccounted for funds later on in planning process. So be as detailed as possible when planning your budget, it reduces the financial surprises down the road.

Money and budget conversations are not the fun part of the wedding planning process but it is the most necessary.Once you get the money stuff out of the way, and know what you have to work with the fun can start like shopping for your dress and picking a venue. All of which will be covered over the next few weeks in our Wedding Wednesday Series.

Happy Planning!

If you are one of the many people who think Valentines Day is just another corporate holiday, devised to make us spend money on cards, candy and flowers. Or, if you think it’s a manufactured expression of love. Allow me to share a different point of view.

I agree, one day a year does not define your relationship. Love is not measured by how many roses you get or a heart shaped box of chocolate. I definitely don’t think there is a one size fits all way to express your love or your feelings for someone.

In that vein I take a different approach to Valentines Day, I don’t just look at it from a romantic love point of view. I see it as day to acknowledge all love in my life from family, friends and romantic. I think it’s a day to take a moment to recognize all the people you love and who love you.

Last year I did something I hadn’t done since I was in Elementary school. I made Valentine cards for my loved ones. It was a fun and easy craft project a friend and I worked on together one afternoon . What was better than the fun of making them was the joy expressed to me by those who received them.

As adults we rarely get mail that isn’t a bill or something boring, and everyone expects the standard Christmas card at Christmas. However, getting a handmade Valentine in the mail is a pretty rare if ever occurrence. It was a small token to say I am thinking about you and thank you for your love and support.

It is a genuine expression of love and caring that will be greatly appreciated by those who receive it. These Valentines will, be remembered long after the roses have died and the chocolates been eaten.

If you are looking for a unique way to express your love to the people in you life, try making your own funny Valentine.

BTW, you can find all the supplies you need at your local craft store and since Valentines day is this Friday they will likely be on sale too.

These are some of the cards I made this year.