If you have already started planning your own wedding, you're probably aware of how much work it can be. The good news is that there are professionals who are available to help you with this: wedding planners. We're here to give you some tips and advice to help you choose the right wedding planner for you.
First, decide how much help you need.
Wedding planners have different service packages that they offer. A great starting place is to decide how much assistance you need with your wedding. Do you want someone to take the reigns and plan all of the details, or do you really just need someone there on the big day to help things run smoothly?
Here are some of the packages that the Whimsical Events team offers:
EVENT MANAGEMENT Be a guest at your own wedding! With our Event Management package we will coordinate the rehearsal, ceremony, and all vendors on the day of the event from set up to tear down and take care of any emergencies or anything you or your bridal party may need. You have done all the planning and now it is time to hand over the reigns so you can relax and enjoy it!
This package is often referred to as "Day-Of" Coordination.
PARTIAL PLANNING Everything included in our Event Management package plus extra help wherever you need it. Vendor recommendations, budget and guest list management, plus help making your Pinterest board a reality, we are here to help make your vision come to life (without breaking the bank)! We will tailor this package to fit your needs and your budget.
FULL PLANNING This package is designed for the couple who wants to soak up all the fun that engagement has to offer and have an amazing wedding without all the stress of planning. You can be involved as much or as little as you like. We would love to guide you through the whole process and take the work of wedding planning off of your plate so you can focus on the fun stuff.
EVENT & FLORAL DESIGN
Together we will plan and create the design of the event to bring your vision to life, assisting you with floral, rentals, decor and lighting. We can even do the florals in house! Because the best events are the beautiful ones.
After you've decided what kind of services you need, it's time to start shopping around for the perfect planner. Here are several things to consider as your search:
Personality and Trust: Of course you are going to be a chill bride, but just incase your inner bridezilla should start to show, you want someone by your side who is going to be able to calm you down and ensure that it's all going to be perfect. You will be communicating with your planner often, so you want to make sure that your personalities mesh. You also need to make sure that your trust your planner's decisions and instincts- after all, they will be the one calling the shots on your big day.
Portfolio: It's important to find a planner who understands your wedding vision. Bonus points if they've done a wedding before that had some similar aspects to what you're envisioning. Check out the websites and social media accounts of your prospective planners to see pictures of weddings they have worked in the past. If all their past weddings look like they were grand and elaborate 300-person ballroom events, but you're hoping for a small, intimate garden ceremony, you might want to enlist in a different planner.
Communication: They say don't judge a book by it's cover, but do judge a vendor based on their communication. If it's taking someone days or weeks to respond to you BEFORE you've hired them for your wedding, don't think that will miraculously change once they've been chosen. Find a planner who gets back to you in a timely manner and matches your communication style.
References: Ask around and talk to past clients and your other vendors to see if you can learn more about what it would be like to work with a prospective wedding planner. Check out reviews on local wedding site, like The Knot, to read up on what past brides have to say about how their planner impacted their wedding.
Trust your Gut and Enlist in a Professional: Though your type-A bestie or aunt might try to tell you to save your money and let them help you plan your wedding or coordinate your big day, we strongly recommend hiring a third-party professional. After all, hiring a wedding planner can actually save you money in the long run!
We want you to know that we are here to serve you and make sure that all of your wedding dreams come true! We like to think of ourselves as the bride's BFF, because ultimately that's what we'll become. Here at Whimsical Events, our mission is to ensure that every wedding is as unique as the love story that started it all. If you are engaged and looking for a planner, we'd love to hear from you and see how we can be a part of your big day. To learn more about our team and how we can assist you, click here.
Happy Planning!
All photos by Amy Maddox Photography