Planning a wedding involves s
o many details – choosing locations for the ceremony and reception, handling caterers and menus, finding the perfect flowers, getting the wedding cake made and hiring a photographer. You may find that you need help. The solution – hiring a professional! A good wedding consultant or wedding planner will not only take care of the details, she will bring you in under budget and also help you have a stress-free and enjoyable wedding.
Since your wedding planner will be helping you make important decisions regarding the most significant day of your life, it’s essential you find one who you feel comfortable working with and who listens and understands your needs perfectly. But first, you need to realize that a wedding planner is hired to serve ‘you’ and will be receptive to your ideas as long as you communicate them clearly. So, here are some steps to hire a wedding planner to coordinate your wedding.
1. Get References: You can ask friends or relatives who have recently been married for referrals, or even check on the internet for a wedding planner. Contact a professional association of wedding or bridal consultants and ask for local referrals, this will ease any doubts in your mind about the planner’s background.
2. Explore Your Options: It is always better to explore the market. Make appointments with two, three or four wedding planners. Most of them offer a free initial consultation. And this enables you to pick one who suits your needs the most.
3. Verify Credentials: Ask to see the wedding planner’s business license, certificate of membership in a professional organization, or some other indication that she is in business and not just a hobbyist. Always ask to see letters of reference. Also ask about the planner’s additional experience, including education, other work experience and special talents. A good wedding planner should know what to recommend. They need to have a keen sense of planning so that you do not end up sending contemporary wedding invitations when you are having a modern one.
4. Checkout Previous Assignments: You must always make sure that you ask to see pictures of weddings that a wedding planner has coordinated or assisted in previously. Ask as many questions as you can. A pro should be able to answer these questions easily and with confidence.
5. Communicate Your Needs: Tell the wedding planner what type of wedding you want and what your budget is. She will tell you how much of your dream wedding she can produce on that budget. Also, check about payment. The consultant may charge a percentage of the wedding budget, a flat fee or an hourly rate. Consultants who work for hotels, restaurants and DJ services may be paid by their organizations.
6. Make It Formal: Always sign a written contract stating when and how much you will pay for the services you require, and what the arrangement will be if the wedding is called off. Get everything in writing with a letter of agreement signed by both of you that clearly states what each of you will do so that you know who will send out the formal wedding invitations, who will make appointments and more. This ensures that each party holds up its end of the deal.
You can also keep a couple of tips in mind – like consider hiring a novice. Not only will she be eager to learn, but also eager to please. And always treat your wedding planner with consideration to ensure good service and a great wedding. Right from sending elegant wedding invitations to arranging for the wedding dress, the wedding planner should see you through all requirements of the wedding. You can even indicate your willingness to give a reference if you were satisfied after the wedding.
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