Thinking about hiring a wedding planner? It is always better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to planning your big, special day. The last thing you want is for a disastrous person to come in and take over your wedding planning, and your wedding to turn out completely than what you had wanted in the first place. So when it comes to considering wedding planners and coordinators, or even if you just have a friend helping you plan the wedding, there are definitely some things you want to keep in mind before you make any rash decisions about deciding who will help you prepare for the day.
“Have you had any experience before when it comes to weddings, or is this your first wedding” or “Will you be willing to step back if I want something that is way different than what you want?” are only a few things you could ask potential wedding planners. So for the prepping brides, read on for some suggestions on what to ask possible wedding planners and coordinators.
1. Are you available on my wedding date?
It may seem like an obvious question, but if the wedding planner is not even available on your wedding date, then they are obviously not a good option for you. Unless for some reason you are willing to change your wedding date (which in this case, they better be a GREAT wedding planner!).
2. On average, how much does a wedding that you plan cost?
You do not want a wedding planner that plans weddings that are way above your budget. The normal fees from a wedding planner is fifteen percent of the wedding budget or cost. So if their weddings on average cost fifty grand and your budget is ten thousand, you may want to weigh the options and consider your options.
3. Do you have a minimum wedding budget that you require?
Once again, some wedding coordinators have a minimum budget that they work with and if your budget is not up to par with theirs, then there is no point in pursuing them.
4. How many weddings have you planned in the past?
You do not want someone where this is their first rodeo. It is definitely an advantage if they have planned lots and lots of weddings and other events, like parties or other corporate occasions, but if they only have a few under their belt, this does not mean you can’t go with them. Just be sure that from the beginning, you know how much experience they have.
5. Do you design and coordinate? If not, in which one do you excel?
Some brides prefer that their planners excel in one or the other, so be sure that you know whether or not your planner specializes in either, and if they love and excel in both, then you get the best of both worlds.
6. Do you handle the professional and payment processes?
This will show you who is control of the budget and who will handle paying. You will want to know before whether or not you are okay with them taking care of the payment processes or if they will allow you to take care of the money situation if you really want it.
7. Do you do everything from the rentals to the arrival of the vendors on the actual day?
You will want to know how involved your planner will be on the actual day and the days beforehand. If she is just there to give guidance and does not plan on actually coordinating on the big day, you may want to find a separate person for the actual day, or a different wedding planner in general.
8. Do all of your weddings have the same theme? Do they all look exactly the same? Would you be willing to change for my wedding theme?
Beware of the wedding planner that has only planned one type of wedding with the same theme. They might be willing to accommodate you, but they do not have the experience with the theme you are desiring. But also beware of the wedding planner that might try to change your theme to fit their specialty, because that is definitely not what you want.
9. How many people from your staff would be helping at the wedding?
Maybe this is not a big deal for you. But if you want to be extra positive that you can relax on your wedding day and not have to deal with the madness if something happens, the more staff helping out the planner, the better.
10. What happens if you are sick the day of the wedding and are not able to come?
You want to make sure that if for some reason the planner cannot attend the wedding, that they will be able to trust another assistant or staff member of theirs to take over for the day. A wedding planner without plan B is not a good sign.
11. Are there additional fees for traveling, gas, or other extra items?
Are all of the fees covered in the estimate that the wedding planner gave you? If not, be sure that you are willing to budget those and if not, reconsider your options.
