A wedding planner, a wedding consultant, a wedding coordinator – whatever the title, do we need one?

We are often asked this question by both brides and grooms.

For the sake of simplicity, we will refer to all of them as wedding specialists.

Actually the tone of the question varies between boyfriends and girlfriends.

Brides get very excited and excited when planning their dream wedding. Most want to plan it.

Grooms often would like to take an active role but believe, or think that their brides believe that women should plan the wedding. Many would like to, but don’t volunteer because they don’t want to “take away” the enthusiasm their girlfriend has for planning her special day. We are also asked by brides and grooms who have jobs or professions, go to school or both, and are pressed for time.

The question of whether you need to hire a wedding specialist is quite complex. It cannot be answered with a yes or a no.

Many factors must be considered and will influence the decision.

The first step in answering the question is to determine

What is a wedding specialist?

A wedding specialist is a professional who is familiar with the wedding circuit in their region, usually possessing a lot of experience, creative ideas, knowledge, a sense of organization, attention to detail, and strong contacts with vendors and service providers.

The most experienced wedding specialists have learned over the years what to expect, what to ask, and how to negotiate with their peers.

Now consider the following:

How much time and energy do you have to devote to planning your wedding? Can you rely on the help of your friends and family?

Planning a wedding can and should be fun. However, you must remember and be prepared for:

realistic wedding budgets that you need to set and stay within,

various schedules you need to plan,

endless details that you must take care of,

logistics you need to coordinate,

many vendors and service providers that you need to interview, hire, work with, and supervise when necessary,

delegation of some responsibilities and being aware of what, by whom and when to list and follow up.

If so, to what extent would you like to hire the wedding specialist?

Consult regarding what needs to be done, a realistic budget to execute it and how to do it?

To contract with vendors and service providers who can work on your behalf?

To hire, work with, and supervise vendors and service providers for you?

To do everything other than the outfit, from save the date to favors and everything in between and supervising during the wedding?

To oversee the wedding day itself, alone?

You do not want to hire a wedding specialist.

How much can you budget for the service of a wedding specialist?

Keep in mind that some wedding specialists charge:

A flat rate that depends on what you want them to do,

A percentage of the cost of your wedding,

A fee from you and a fee from the vendors and service providers they offer your wedding to,

There are a few other fee schedules, but they are less common.

Are you planning a destination wedding?

Unless your wedding venue offers their services as part of the wedding package, this is the only situation where you should budget for and hire a local wedding specialist. Hire the most experienced wedding specialist in the place where you plan to have your wedding, because it is impossible to plan a wedding from afar.

The only exception is if you have friends or family in the region who can plan on your behalf.

However, I do not recommend it.

Many brides and grooms don’t want to miss out on the excitement of planning their own wedding, but aren’t quite sure how to achieve professional results. The following are some tips

WHAT PROFESSIONAL WEDDING PLANNERS, CONSULTANTS AND COORDINATORS DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW

As for most endeavors, there are tools you must have.

You need information.
So, read as many wedding planning books and articles as you can lay your hands and eyes on.

The Internet offers many informative articles.

Attend as many bridal shows as you can

Pay attention to how various vendors and service providers interact with each other.

Gather as much literature, brochures, and business cards as you can.

Write informational notes and comments to each other on the back of the business card.

If you have questions for any vendor or service provider, please ask! You have to be informed!!!

You need to be organized and you want wedding planning memories.

So arm yourself with a complete wedding planning kit that includes:

a timetable,

a dating book,

a 3-ring binder with dividers and sheet protectors,

notebooks,

wide trunk,

2 small diaries and plan to always have with you,

a business card folder,

a mini photo album

scissors, tape, and a mini stapler

a cute box or tote bag to store these items

a computer, a printer and a camera are very useful tools.

The following tips apply to most of the vendors and service providers you need.

To save money and make negotiations easier, contact vendors and service providers and request a quote over the phone before your first meeting because:

For whatever reason, most vendors hear the word wedding and raise their prices.

Wedding professionals charge higher fees than their general counterparts.

Look for vendors and service providers, not wedding vendors and service providers.

Please contact a vendor, service provider, not a wedding vendor or service provider.

While on the phone to make an appointment for an interview, request a quote for a party, event or meeting. Whatever, but don’t call it a wedding.

Provide service providers with basic information, including number of guests, date, time of day, and number of hours requested, and request a quote.

If the salesperson asks if it’s a wedding, ask why it’s important. Beware of the fees!

With a quote in hand, you can tell the seller when you meet that it’s a wedding.

Interview AT LEAST 3 providers – service providers by category before deciding who to hire.

Your team of vendors and service providers.

A wedding is a very important event and requires the participation and synergy of many vendors and service providers.

You want to make sure that your vendors – service providers have:

wide experience,

the necessary and updated training

all required licenses and documentation,

adequate and sufficient insurance,

health permits if they handle any food,

comprehensive contracts that are clear and easy to understand.

You should also make sure that you hire professionals, not amateurs.

Have you ever been to an event where all the vendors and service providers came to do their jobs and went home?

Have! It was a disaster! I attended a wedding that left the bride and mother in tears and the groom and parents so angry they wanted to scream.

The wedding ceremony was beautiful, but the reception…

The couple arrived from the church only to find the florist arguing with the band leader about the flowers on stage. The photographer was literally everywhere at the same time taking pictures. The vendor began serving almost as soon as everyone was seated, leaving no time for formalities, toasts, and congratulations.

You get the picture. It was really sad!

There is only one way to avoid such a fiasco.

You must contract vendors and service providers who:

Work well as a professional team.

They take your event seriously, care and go above and beyond for you.

Once they know how you want your wedding to be, they can imagine your wedding individually and as a team so that it is the one you can call, without hesitation, the wedding of your dreams.

How do we find a group of vendors and service providers that work well together?

The best thing you can do is consult institutions that are not unrelated to events.

Contact or visit the Chamber of Commerce, churches and synagogues, and other similar establishments in your region.

Find out if they have a list of approved vendors and service providers they work with.

Most churches use vendors and service providers for Church events such as certain Christmas celebrations, fundraising dinners, wedding receptions, special (25)(50) anniversaries, Communion, Baptisms, Quinceañeras, Sweet 16s, etc. .)

Even if you are not Jewish, visit synagogues and temples and ask for their approved list. Each Synagogue – Temple has such lists that the institution uses for events such as holidays, fundraising dinners, weddings, special anniversaries (25 (50), Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, etc.).

One more group or individuals to consider is within your own circle.

They may not have special training or credentials, but they do have experience.

Find out if any of your friends or family have planned an event at work or privately.

Check out your list of couples who successfully planned their own wedding, parents who planned special life-cycle parties for themselves, their children, other loved ones, etc.
Pay special attention to the people you know who can contribute to your success, and just as you ask for bridal attendants, ask for their involvement in the wedding planning. Most will be honored to be asked and willing to help.

I hope the information helps you make the event of a lifetime, an event of a lifetime.

Copyrights © 2007 All rights reserved Nily Glaser