I have enjoyed posting past weddings, but I realize a lot of people might be looking for wedding planner
tidbits also. I was asked recently by a vendor "Why don't all brides hire coordinators, it makes their lives so much easier and helps the wedding day go much smoother?" Now grant it this vendor and I work together a
lot, but I really don't think there is just one answer. Here are a few reasons and my response to them.

1. Coordinators are too expensive. This really depends on what you consider to be expensive. Is it worth
the money if you have spent the last year of your life planning the biggest event of your lifetime and you don't know how it's all going to come together? If a particular company is too much, do they have an assistant who offers less expensive packages or can they refer you to a different company in your price range? Do not assume that cheaper is better, because you get what you pay for. Coordinators do a lot to make sure your day is what you have envisioned and what the two of you have detailed down to the color of the ribbon on the favors. At a minimum you should hire someone for the "day of" your wedding. Be sure and meet with them a month prior to finalize the wedding weekend agenda so there are no surprises.

2. My site already has a coordinator: I have had more brides hire because of this very reason. You want someone who is only concerned with your plans. You don't want to worry about who is going to hand out the flowers, cue the music and the million other details when your site coordinator is in the kitchen due to a meal issue. The site coordinators have very important jobs, but how many hats are they suppose to wear? What
time are they staying until? Do they load all your gifts? Do they have an emergency kit? Will they run to the
store if something was forgotten? Do they recommend their vendors based on their past experience with
them or are their commissions involved. The last one does not happen often, but you need to be aware of it. Your coordinator should know which sites receive kick backs and which sites offer legitimate referrals. Bottom line, let the church and reception site coordinators do their regular job and let your coordinator oversee all the
details and vendors

3. I want to plan my wedding myself: Coordinators offer a variety of packages and should be able to
customize a package so you can be as involved in your wedding as you want to be. You don't want to hire someone who bullies you or doesn't listen, so that's a no brainer. If you have the "right" coordinator she/he should be able to guide you through the more stressful times and make planning your wedding a great
memory instead of a time when you wanted to pull your hair out. They are going to offer you great ideas,
the best vendors and make your fiance a lot happier that you aren't going crazy with all the planning.

 

4. I don't know which coordinator to hire? There are a lot of decisions to be made and this is one of the more important ones. It's very important that you meet or at least have a long phone interview with several different planners. You should "click" with the right one. There should not be any "red flags" while you are talking to them, they should be familiar with your facility or with the area you are getting married. They should make you feel very comfortable in their capabilities to take care of any last minute emergency or change that pops up on your wedding day. It's not enough that they are nice and you like them. Ask area vendors (photographers, bakers, caterers) for their recommendations of who they have worked with in the past. Don't give up the right
fit is just waiting for you to call.

That's about it on this topic, more to come.
Barbara
www.barbarasbrides.com