Wedding Planners- to have or not to have, that is the question?

As soon as all the phone calls, texts, tearful video chats, and celebratory outings have wound down post-engagement, you will probably be eager to sit down and start planning your big day. It is often at this point, that many engaged couples find themselves unsure as to where to start and ask the question- "Should I hire a wedding planner?"

Every aspect of organising your wedding day - from choosing your wedding venue to settling on your ideal menu, wedding planning takes a lot of preparation and work. You may go back and forth debating if you should try to tackle the tasks yourselves or whether it would be best to have some professional input and hire a wedding planner.

So ‘What does a wedding planner do?’

Wedding planners are exceptional organizers, negotiators, planners, and coordinators who aid engaged couples in preparing for and producing the wedding of their dreams. The services they offer may vary from planner to planner but essentially wedding planners can be involved in everything from creating a timeline of wedding events to negotiating services, managing your budget and overseeing your special day.

Many wedding planners are also stylists and designers. Some wedding planners have a team of assistants while others work alone. Depending on your wedding location and the available planners in your area, it may take some searching to find your ‘perfect fit’ for your wedding.

It’s important to thoroughly research the skills and services that any potential wedding planners offer and choose a wedding planner who fits your needs and budget. It is recommended that you discuss the different wedding planner types with your partner before deciding, while also keeping in mind that every wedding planner is different.

Below are descriptions of different Wedding Planner options which should give you a good idea of the general services offered by each planner type and assist you with deciding if you should — or shouldn't — hire a wedding planner.

Full-service wedding planner

This option is probably essential if you're planning a large wedding with a long guest list or you are too busy juggling a full work & life calendar. On this occasion, you might decide that you need a wedding planner who can oversee the process from start to finish. Full-service wedding planners or all-inclusive wedding planners, take engaged couples step-by-step through the wedding planning process. They typically work with the registrar and the venues, negotiate with vendors, manage wedding finances, set up accommodation requests, assist with invitations, help draft your ultimate wedding timeline, and so much more. In addition, they are there to coordinate and manage the events on the day of your wedding, ensuring that every aspect of your day is seamlessly delivered from the setup, decor, seating, music, and lighting, to your final ‘goodbye’ and that all your other wedding details match your vision.

While they are the most expensive wedding planning professionals to hire, you are paying your wedding planners to handle every major and minor wedding planning detail or hiccup and hence you can expect to pay approximately 12% of the total budget for their service.

Partial wedding planner

Many couples feel they need the extra support in the Planning process but don’t want to feel as though they are relinquishing all interest and excitement in their Wedding. Couples who choose this option have usually done most of the initial work themselves, while others are perhaps living away from their Wedding location but are familiar with it and want someone in the locality to be able to manage some aspects on their behalf.

Partial Wedding Planners generally commence working with couples 6-8 weeks before the wedding day. For partial wedding planning services, you should expect to pay around 8 – 12% of your overall wedding budget. Some planners will charge you on a percentage basis of your budget for this service and others will charge a fixed fee. In any case, you can expect the minimum fee for this sort of service from an experienced wedding planner to begin at around £2500.

When a Partial Wedding Planner gets involved, they may want to review your current contracts to check and confirm all the services and products that your wedding venue and vendors will be providing. Leading up to the wedding day, they may communicate event updates to vendors and ensure the provision of services. They may also work with you to create a wedding day timeline, and most handle day-of coordination, ensuring the smooth execution of the wedding day.

Wedding Day Co-ordinator

Wedding Day Co-ordinators provide an on-the-day service whereby you hand over the final reins of your existing Wedding arrangements for them to manage on the day itself. (Sometimes they will be there the day before or after if you request it) to set up, receive deliveries, manage suppliers, run the timeline, look after your Bridal party and problem-solve any last-minute hiccups which may arise on the day.

Some Wedding Day Co-ordinators will also be in contact with all of your vendors in the weeks leading up to your wedding to reconfirm every tiny detail with them, and to buffer away any of the last-minute questions and queries that can often arise. Couples may believe that this service is really “just a day” of a Planners time, but any dedicated professional will have put in many additional hours of their time to fully understand every detail of your wedding arrangements, from the ceremony to the final hurrah! Usually, a Wedding Day Co-ordinator will have invested a minimum of one week’s worth of familiarisation time, as well as the time on the day and any additional time travelling or sleeping over near your venue.

Often the charge for the services of a Wedding Day Co-ordinator will come in at around 5 – 7% of your overall wedding spend. Most wedding planners will offer a fixed fee for this service, but you can expect what you pay to be around this percentage of the overall cost of your day. Whatever you choose you are guaranteed a beautiful day!

Benefits of hiring a wedding planner:

v Hiring a wedding planner elevates a lot o

f the stress of wedding planning off your shoulders.

v You’ll have more time to focus on other tasks and enjoy being engaged.

v You have an expert to call on for advice and inspiration.

v Collaborating with a professional can help engaged couples avoid common wedding planning mistakes.

v Planners can negotiate with venues and vendors on your behalf.

v Professional wedding planners tend to have a large network of contacts that they know and trust.

v It is easier for you to enjoy your wedding day without worrying about last-minute hiccups or logistical issues.

Disadvantages of hiring a wedding planner:

v Hiring a wedding planner is a big expense and could require cutting other parts of your wedding budget.

v It can be difficult to find a wedding planner you trust or who sees your vision the same way you do.

v Your personalities could clash, leading to uncomfortable conversations, stress, and wedding drama.

v Working with a wedding planner could cause you to feel pressured, agreeing to details or vendors you don’t want.

v Online wedding planning sites and resources provide ample free planning tools, tips, templates, and hacks.