One of the best decisions that Jay and I made during our engagement was hiring a wedding planner. We knew we’d need someone to help us plan and coordinate many aspects of our wedding day and we’re so glad we trusted her because she handled all the logistics of our wedding day perfectly. From helping us find a venue to coordinating our vendors to making sure my father knew where he had to be at all times, her help was invaluable on our wedding day. Our experience with her makes me wish that all of our brides had a wedding planner to help them navigate their wedding day! Of course, figuring out just how much help you need for your wedding day is the hardest part, so today I invited our former bride, Jeanne from Bogath Weddings and Events, to tell you everything you need to know about hiring a wedding planner!
What’s Your Wedding Planner Plan?
Guest Post by Jeanne from Bogath Weddings and Events
Wedding planning can get complicated, but it’s also supposed to be fun! Weddings can be stressful, but no one wants to be stressed out on their wedding day! When I got married I thought that a wedding planner was way out of my budget, but I was wrong.
A good wedding planner is worth the investment. We all know hiring a wedding planner will save you time. What most people don’t realize is that a wedding planner can show you exactly what you need to spend money on. Where you can cut corners without it looking like you did. They can help you to figure out which that ones you can do yourself and which ones are worth hiring a professional to do. And, most importantly, they can help you figure out what vendor costs are supposed to look like, and through their relationships with vendors may be able to save you money.
Planners can also help to manage all your different projects, vendors, and your “to do” list. They will help you get it done. If you are planning a destination wedding, or you and your fiancé live in different cities/states, or your wedding is not in the same city/state where you live, a wedding planner is going to be your new best friend.
There are lots of wedding planners out there and they are all priced differently. And get this: you don’t have to hire a wedding planner to do everything! You can hire a full wedding planner, partial wedding planner, or just a day-of wedding planner. But what’s the difference? How do you know what the right type of planner is for your big day? Here’s a quick guide to the differences between basic planning packages.
Full Wedding Planning
This type of planning is for the bride who wants everything.
With full planning, you will work with your planner to design the event and guest experience from the very start. You may have chosen a venue, but after that, you may want the rest of the details managed for you. Full planning will generally include the creation and development of a concept that will result in the wedding of your dreams. You planner will help you find the perfect vendors that fit your vision and budget. They will manage your wedding day timeline. And they’ll be hands-on with all aspects of the planning process, figuring out everything; stationery and paper goods, favors, tablescapes, seating, centerpieces, backdrops, staging, lighting, draping, florals, rental management, menu design, entertainment, and event enhancements. You may also have your wedding planner manage your RSVPs and your guest list. They will plan out the entire wedding experience.
Partial or Month-of Planning
This is for the bride who has done almost everything and may be starting to freak out a little knowing there’s only so many days left before the Big Day and there are still a lot of things to do!
This is when partial wedding planning comes into play. You will hire a planner to tackle your final “to do” list. At this point every bride breathes a huge sigh of relief as the weight of all those details lifts away. Your planner will involve you in all the details and event management; but imagine not having to worry about confirming with dozens of vendors or creating timelines for your venue, bridal party, and family!
Wedding Day Management
So you’ve done everything. But on the day of your wedding, you just want to relax, chill, and enjoy yourself knowing every aspect of your vision is going to be perfectly executed.
This is when a wedding day management package is right for you. Usually a month before your event, you will sit down and share all your wonderful plans and materials with your wedding planner. They will go through your plan with a fine-tooth comb and help you to ensure that you’ve left no detail out. They will be at your side, or working with your vendors, the entire day. Imagine having no worries. No need to send anyone to make sure deliveries have been made, or that vendors are setting up the way you wanted. The job of your day-of planner is to ensure that when you show up to walk down the aisle and party it up, everything is the way you dreamed it would be.
No matter which type of wedding plan you choose, working with a wedding planner professional will ensure that your day turns out perfectly.
A big thank you to Jeanne for putting together this post for our brides! Check out more of her resources on her website here: LBI Wedding Planner Bogath Events.
Engagement Session Planning Guide
Did you find this post useful? Fill out the form below to get our free Engagement Session Planning Guide along with lots of tips and tricks for planning your wedding!
