WHAT DOES A WEDDING PLANNER ACTUALLY DO?

Planning a wedding can be a fun and exciting experience especially when you think of the big picture. However, once you start thinking about all the details, decisions you have to make, and research to be done, it can quickly become an overwhelming experience. This is likely your first time planning a wedding (or an event of this size) and on top of that, you probably have a full-time job or other commitments where you need to spend your time. Sure, you may have a family member that is really good at organizing things and has more free time to help, but what happens when their opinions become too much or the wedding weekend arrives and they want to enjoy the fun?

That is where a wedding planner can step in and help you through the research and decision-making process, keep you on track, and ensure you and your family and friends can enjoy the moment. Wedding planners are experts in the event industry and can be an invaluable resource in what it takes to coordinate an event that is not only personalized to you but beautiful and logistically sound, all while respecting your budget comfort zone.

A planner allows you, and anyone else involved in the planning process, the chance to focus on the overall details and what most consider the “fun” parts of the planning process (menu tasting, design, etc.) while they handle the logistics and back and forth details with the vendors involved.

Many planning companies, like ours, offer a variety of packages ranging from event management (also known as day-of coordination) to full-service planning. These packages may vary between planning companies, however, at the core of what all these packages include is ensuring the wedding day runs smoothly. Sounds simple, right? The reality is your planner will spend anywhere from 30-40 hours on an event management package and 150+ hours for a full-service package -and around an average of 12 hours straight on your wedding day alone! Let’s briefly break down the high-level difference between an event management package and a full-service package, and what a planner might be responsible for in each of these offerings:

Event Management:

• Typically steps into the planning process around 6 months prior to the wedding

• Assists in communicating final details and logistics with vendors you selected

• Creates a comprehensive wedding weekend timeline to share with vendors as well as you and your wedding party

• Is onsite on the wedding day directing vendors and ensuring the timeline is being followed and the day runs smoothly

Full-Service:

• Is with you from the beginning, sometimes even before you have selected a date and location

• Assists you in establishing a vision and realistic budget

• Connects you with professional vendors to bring your vision to life and will review all contracts

• Communicates all details and logistics with vendors throughout the entire planning process

• Helps create a cohesive design based on your vision and budget

• Is there to guide you during the planning, providing etiquette guidance on aspects such as invitations, family situations, and wedding day flow

• Creates a comprehensive wedding weekend timeline to share with vendors as well as you and your wedding party

• Is onsite on the wedding day directing vendors and ensuring the timeline is being followed and the day runs smoothly

Planning packages offer a long list of services and details a planner will do to help make the wedding process stress-free and enjoyable for you and your family. However, in addition to that long list of service offerings, there are so many more services not listed to help make your wedding day seamless and let your friends and family have the experience of a lifetime. Some of these unknown services are:

1. Handles that overly drunk uncle with grace

2. Sews back the groomsmen’s broken bowtie

3. Makes an extra boutonniere when one breaks

4. Fashions a bustle out of safety pins and thread underneath your dress when yours breaks

5. Sews your bridesmaid into her dress when the zipper breaks

6. Finds another vendor last minute (without you even knowing) when your classic getaway car breaks down on the day of your wedding

7. Gives you and your partner (and wedding party) breath mints and tissues before walking down the aisle

8. Makes sure you have your room key/phone/wallet at the end of the night before you leave

9. Provides blank notes with envelopes in case you/your partner forgot to write your letter to each other 10. Helps out photographer/videographer to get the perfect shot (throws veil in the air for a wind-blown shot, holds extra lights, crouches behind you holding dress so it doesn’t get dirty, etc.)

So, a wedding planner is so much more than someone who shows up on the wedding day and tells people what to do! It’s important to trust your planner and know they have your best interest in mind. They are experts in their field and have seen a thing or two when it comes to weddings.