Why should you need a wedding planner?

Photographer by Jeremy Lyn- Wedding by Infinity Weddings & Events, LLC, of South Florida- by the House of Wetherington

So do you think we are useful? When planning your event, whether big or small, do you feel that a wedding planner would be useful in your wedding planning and day?

You don't have to answer that question, as we, as professionals ask that question all the time.

I can understand the mentality of some brides who think that having a wedding planner is a luxury and for some having to scrap the wedding planner if budget is tight. After all, a wedding can be pulled off without a planner, but not a photographer, caterer, baker or officiant. So in the bride's mind, the planner is perceived as more of a luxury than a necessity.

So what do we do- what are the benefits of hiring one? Glad you asked ;0).

Well first let's talk about money- How can we save you or get you what you want without you feeling like you have been taken to the cleaners.

I do find that being a wedding planner, I can go to vendors and see about getting a discount....most vendors do not offer a bride a discount and some don't ask. But if you are working with someone on an ongoing basis, the vendor is more inclined to give a discount to someone they work with on a regular basis. It is basically the laws of supply and demand. We have a vast network of vendors that we work with and know what they offer, how they offer it and their professionalism in getting the task done.

However, the job of a wedding planner is not just to help the day of. A good planner will identify money saving areas, as well as let the bride know when she is paying too much. Recently, I met with a mother of the bride who is considering hiring me. I took one look at her catering contract and noticed that she was being charged twice as much on the rentals than she should have. She was already paid for it. We resolved the issue and that savings alone paid for my services. Or when I have a bride who insisted on giving me a check to bring to a photographer to book him when she never met the man. I told her it is against my policy to book someone that way. I had never worked with the person and she just looked at pictures on the internet. She did end up meeting with the photographer and then had him forward his contract to me. After reviewing the contract and finding so many issues with it and things she had not anticipated she decided not to use the photographer. In the end she thanked me for not allowing her to make that mistake and end up with a bad photographer. Fortunately for her she had a planner and didn't end up stuck with him.  So in reality, brides can actually save more money in the end by hiring a planner versus not hiring one.

Now the "Bridezilla" factor.
I have yet to meet a "Bridezilla"- they just don't exist. Let that be for the cameras and TLC. For me, I can't see why a bride would want to have her wedding day having to deal with any problems that arise....the day is meant to be stress free and to enjoy....planners take your headache and make it theirs....that is my opinion.... Now an unhappy person- that is a whole different matter- but 99% of the brides we have coordinator for, worry. They worry about everything from the dress fitting perfectly, to all guests arriving, if what they have chosen represents them and does everyone see it as fabulous. Ok- maybe not everyone- but there is that or those someone you want to see impressed with your fabulous selections and decisions. When it is all said and done we have our brides and happy and always saying that they are glad that they hired us.

The "I can do it myself"

I agree there is the beginning of a trend in which brides are being told through certain media outlets that they can be a D.I.Y bride. I am not sure where it was ever said that you can not or should not be a part of the planning or even the creative force. I have been known to sit with the bride and my staff and make kits, bags, gifts and much more. People like D.I.Y until they realize just how much work it really is to pull it off! It is definitely a time constraint for major projects and for your wedding, its the one time (hopefully!) that you will have a special event like this. Where you are the princess of your wedding day. I always say, just because you can do it yourself doesn't mean you want to. Besides you can do your own manicure/pedicure but why should want to?

In addition to that, we as wedding planners keep educating the public the valuable services that we provide. I have met some brides who think that the venue will take care of everything. Not knocking the venues at all, but who is going to track down the flowers or the DJ or photographer, when they are a no show? A venue can only do so much and this were we step in. 

For me, as a planner, I wouldn't have my own personal event without the services of a professional planner, especially on my wedding day, because although I would probably have input during the planning stages, I would most certainly want to ENJOY my event along with my guests. 

As a planner, I know the amount of legwork that goes on during the day of the event, so why would I want to work my own event -- it would certainly take the fun out of it.

"Thank God its over" or "What a wonderful time we had!" which do you prefer to say?

It is really unfortunate that many Brides, Grooms and family members feel the same way AFTER their/the wedding without a planner in their corner. I find that 40 to 50% of a wedding coordinator's job is education about how much stress relief and time saving we actually provide. It is so nice to hear a first hand account of the value we provide.

I just read a great article about getting beat down by clients who don't see the value... at Hey Gorgeous Blog, and this one comment really stopped me in my tracks:

"If you EVER need someone to vouch for what you say, from the “done it wrong” end, please please email me. My daughter got married 3 years ago and she and fiance planned everything beautifully, but the one thing my daughter felt she didn’t need was a day of coordinator and she was right, for everything up to the wedding. The day of though, I was the one carrying the flowers all over the city, putting together the table settings because the venue coordinator had not thought about how much time it would take and when the reception finished, the lights went out and I was cleaning up the huge room, loading up the cars with things that had to be taken. My hair and make up were ruined before the wedding because of the heat and all of the running and stress. I’d do anything for my daughter and while she was willing to change and help clean up afterwards, it was her day, and I was determined nothing would ruin it for her. And it didn’t. But as MOTB, I felt defeated. I had no quiet time with my daughter before the event, no pictures of she and I together, and to be honest, while it was her day, I wanted to be able to look back on the day and cherish it fully. I’m sad that while it was a beautiful day and the memories are great, there is a side of me that feels like I missed that MOTB moment.

When you don’t use a coordinator, you don’t realize how sorry you are until it’s too late. Someone has to do the anticipating of all the little details; it doesn’t just happen, fall into place, no matter how organized you are beforehand.
You are well worth your cost and I hope people realize that."

One last thought: why spend the money on a gorgeous venue, a catered dinner, flower arrangements, lighting, programs, menus, favors -- the list goes on and on.... if there is no one dedicated to making sure that the setup is correct, that you can enjoy your food, that the flowers go in the right place, that the lighting folks work in sync with the venue and the florist, that the programs/menus/favors and all the stuff the bride tirelessly DIY'd actually get put on the tables in the right locations and are enjoyed by the guests the way they were meant to be?

 

Infinity Weddings and Events, LLC, of South Florida

                             786-427-5360 

We have been providing our brides and grooms with high end chic weddings since 1995!

Providing a full array of services from Officiating, to full catering service, rentals and vendor referrals, we are poised to make your wedding the elegant one that everyone will be talking about!

CALL TODAY!