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| 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.
"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.
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!
