Wedding planner – why do I need one?

Posted on by Holly Collins

Wedding planner – why do I need one?

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I meet with wedding couples and experts regularly. One of the top questions that comes up is about wedding planners. Questions include what do wedding planners do, and why would I need one? Wendie I put together a panel of wedding experts for Holly’s hot wedding tips to answer these questions and more.

 

Wedding planner expert panel

 

The experts for the panel had a variety of backgrounds. April Schaffer from a new taste sensation has a background in hotels and runs a chocolate fountain business. Norie from Weddings by Noire is a Master Wedding Planner life events specialist. Wendie Bass is the ABC (Association of Bridal Consultants) representative for the Midwest, and a master wedding and event planner. All three ladies are a wealth of knowledge and experience.

What does a wedding planner do?

 

One of the best analogies I heard is they take your wedding from having squirrels everywhere, to having ducks in a row, seamlessly. Your wedding planner can see the big picture for your vision for your wedding and work out the logistics to make your dream come true. You can have a wedding planner work with you from the beginning and assist with contracts and wedding insurance. Or you can have help keeping your event running smoothly day of. Either way you can relax and enjoy your event and let them deal with day of dilemmas seamlessly.

 

What doesn’t a wedding planner do?

 

Your vision for your wedding is important to your wedding planner. They are not there to take over your event and steal your limelight. They are there to keep your timeline moving forward and to basically be command central for all the vendors and guests. Planners may not be there to have fun, but they are there to make sure you and your guests have memorable event.

 

What is the difference between a Wedding Planner and a Site Manager?

 

Many event centers have onsite staff. The site staff are there to make sure the facility is safe, clean, that it’s running smoothly. Site managers are there to deal with things like kitchen, electrical and plumbing issues. They are not there to bustle your gown, take out someone who doesn’t belong there, or to get your first dance started. The site manager works as a part of your team with the wedding planner, but they don’t fully help you run your wedding.

 

What is the average cost of a wedding planner?

 

I like to make a budget when I plan an event. It is good to know the general cost of each professional that I am looking to hire. I asked my panel of experts what the cost range will be for hiring a wedding planner to coordinate your wedding day of. Realize the day of coordinator will spend a minimum of 10 hrs. on your event. The average day of wedding planner will charge around $1500. The professional and experienced wedding planner will run from $1800 – $2000 for day of services.

 

What is the value of having a wedding planner?

 

I like to know what I am getting for what I am spending. I asked my panel what the value of a wedding planner is. They came back with freedom from Murphy’s law and. fun, Let’s look at both.

 

Murphy’s law at your event

 

Life happens. Murphy’s Law often comes uninvited into our lives. A wedding planner is there to make sure you do not need to deal with Murphy’s Law no matter how often he turns up at your event. So can you imagine then if you’re a bride. You’re stressed out, this is your big day of your life. You’re trying to do everything by yourself, you’re there at the wedding. Your mother in law is melting down, the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s are arguing, and they’re coming to you because you’re running the event. You oversee managing every detail. Then there’s a problem in the kitchen, the cake truck broke down, or the oven went out. Who’s going to take care of that? Are you going to leave your wedding and go deal with all the last-minute malfunctions?

 

Fun at your event

 

With a planner present you are free to enjoy your day. You benefit from the knowledge and experience of a wedding planner onsite the day of. At the end of the day you can say, “This is the best day of my life. Thank you for helping me.” You get to have a good time with your friends, your family, your loved ones. Let somebody else take care of the details. Your planner is the ultimate servant there to serve the event, serve you, and your guests.

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Contact information:

Chocolate cheese and caramel dipping fountain

Holly Collins
WEDDING DANCE instruction
DANCE LESSONS.
author of
Holly’s hot wedding tips, 
Historically Accurate Princess Dances,
Winner of the Knot best wedding dance,
Winner of top 50 Dance Blogs
Champion Ballroom Dancer & Coach
owner of
Adventures in Dance
720-276-0562
info@adventuresindance.com
www.adventuresindance.com

 

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