Let’s talk about trusting the experts when planning an event or wedding. I’m going to start talking about this more because for most couples, this is their first time investing in a formal event. With everything to consider it’s totally understandable with I over hear people in passing saying how awful the process of planning their wedding was. The fact of the matter is that should never be anyone’s experience, no matter how much the process is romantized by movies and Pinterest.
Aside from the romantic side of it, you’re attaining contracts from multiple businesses, all with legal and liability responsibilities to maintain. A planner is your buffer and almost like your unofficial insurance plan to make sure your wedding celebration is worth the investment and doesn’t turn into a cautionary tail.
Take It Easy:
For those with Type A personalities and/or tight budgets we have to work extra hard to set and maintain the right expectations. No matter the personality type or the budget, using the wrong order of operations when booking vendors can result in a lot of unnecessary stress and lots of money wasted. Take it easy and put a wedding planner to work.
If a wedding planner doesn’t fit into your budget, assess how much longer you need to save to throw a wedding planning ninja into the mix BEFORE you get started. You should just be focused on the fun things, like tasting cake and toasting it up with your bridesmaids. Then get ready to be the couple enjoying the process rather than the ones who are so thrilled when it’s over.
Knowing Your Budget
On our contact form, we put a range that gives an idea of the correlation between wedding size and budget because often times the general public has no idea. Many couples provide us with an arbitrary number that makes their vision impossible to achieve based on their number of guests. You have to know, that if you’ve been scrolling through Pinterest and Instagram – or more specifically, following us (@pink__wasabi) on Instagram, you need to budget for at least $400-$500 per person.
Once you have your budget set, share that information with your planner so we can put all the puzzle pieces together that hit that number and if we can help it, not a dollar further without your approval. Wedding planners know how much your budget will stretch in the best and/or worst of circumstances.
“Includes a Planner”
Understand that when you see or hear the words, “includes a planner” or includes “coordination” as part of the services provided by a venue or catering company, you are talking to a Venue or Catering Salesperson who’s doing their very best to make their sales goal. You are essentially a customer, not a client. That salesperson relationship is mostly transactional, whereas, with a planner, the relationship is far more intimate.
Most people who expect their experience to mirror that of Jennifer Lopez as “Mary Fiore” and “Fran Donolly” from The Wedding Planner are terribly disappointed and left feeling confused, frustrated and abandoned when they aren’t receiving anything that resembles that level of care and service from a venue coordinator or catering salesperson masquerading as a Planner or Coordinator. Handing you a list of preferred vendors and raving about their favorites does not amount to wedding planning.
Venues, caterers and everyone in between should have a list of their favorite planners and designers to provide you when you’re securing their location or service. They should be ready with their perfect recommendations for you or allow you to interview planners and designers from their list. Not send you on what I promise you will feel like a wild goose chase trying to manage every detail of your styling, design, and production.
Wedding planners should not be viewed as a luxury but a necessity for pulling off a memorable event that’s mostly stress-free. Juggling the logistics, design, styling in addition to dealing with redundant questions from family members, wedding party and other guests will have you wishing you never bothered.
I don’t want to toot our own horn but we’re worth our weight in gold. Not to mention, most vendors are happier with working with a planner because they can have that transactional relationship with us, coddling you is often a burden for most event vendors. Not for lack of care, but the volume of events produced in regions like, South Florida, NYC, and Los Angeles make it difficult for vendors to give you those warm and fuzzy wedding feels when they have events in production almost 24/7. Planners allow you to maintain the “warm and fuzzies” as much as humanly possible.
The “included planner” is generally a myth, don’t bother with it. Ask your venue if there are any additional fees associated with finding your perfect fit, then assess your decision based on their response. Some of our clients have paid additional venue fees to work with us, and if you ask them today, they stand firmly in the importance of that investment. We work for you, not the venue, or any other entity, just you.
Bonus:
Your wedding planning company will also manage the coordination of your wedding day so everything is seamless. So you truly get to enjoy your engagement AND your wedding day. You will wish you could have a wedding every year if you do it right!
Ooh and remember book your planner THEN your venue!
Photography by Aurora Photography
