So you aren't sure if hiring a Wedding Planner is right for you and you are thinking about planning your big day yourself and skipping the Wedding Planner option altogether. Before you embark on a very stressful journey alone I want to share the top 4 myths I often hear about hiring a Wedding Planner.
Wedding Planners are a lot like fairy Godmothers. Sure they don't have magic wands and can’t pull things out of thin air but they are by your side to guide you through the entire process and share their knowledge and connections with you to create a more seamless process and help you manage the stressful parts of wedding planning so that you don’t have to do it all alone. Now, doesn't that sound magical?
Myth #1: The venue has its own coordinator.
The venue offering its own Coordinator for the day of your wedding is helpful but, keep in mind that your Venue Coordinator and your Wedding Planner have two very different roles. Their knowledge of the venue is very helpful and does make planning your wedding within that venue a bit easier. But, keep in mind that the Venue Coordinator works for the venue and your Wedding Planner works for you. The Venue Coordinator is responsible for the venue and are sometimes only hired to manage the staff and venue on the day of your wedding. Guests lists, rehearsals, flower arrangements, hair and makeup schedule, hotel room blocks, transportation logistics, you name it are not the responsibility of you Venue Coordinator. These types of tasks would then be placed on you as the couple to handle without a Wedding Planner. I have often found, in the past, when a venue sells to a couple that they offer a Coordinator when booking their venue, that tends to confuse the couples into thinking that they have a lot more help with all the little details and in reality, that just isn't the case. There are things that are within your Venue Coordinators responsibilities and what is not, is often where your Wedding Planner steps in to help fill the gaps and create a seamless and smooth running event. It is extremely helpful to have a Venue Coordinator who knows the venue well and can help on that end of all the logistics. As a Wedding Planner, I love working along side your Venue Coordinator because together, we can make a great team to bring your wedding to life! If you are wanting guidance and advice and help all throughout the planning process with all the details along the way, you will likely want to hire a Wedding Planner in addition to your Venue Coordinator. Your sanity will thank you later!
Myth #2: I have pretty much planned it all on Pinterest & can totally do it myself.
Pinterest definitely makes understanding what you want for your own wedding a bit easier. As a Wedding Planner, I have mad appreciation for getting to see my client’s taste and ideas so clearly with the share of a Pinterest board. It can really tell you a lot about a couple’s style and vision. However, it's easy to be deceived by how much actually goes into the whole planning process and often how complicated bringing those Pinterest ideas to life can actually be, on your own. It’s very easy to get carried away while Pinteresting as well, which often leads to misunderstanding of pricing and logistics. This can cause overwhelm, frustration and disappointment. Making each little decision is time-consuming and patience-wearing. With having a Wedding Planner we are able to help you maintain realistic expectations and help bring your ideas to life in a way that is realistic for your budget and your time and we know just the right places and vendors to make your dreams come alive.
Myth #3: A wedding planner will take over my wedding and not listen to me.
This one gets me every time. This myth is very far from the truth. The whole wedding planning business is built on creating relationships. When selecting a Wedding Planner it is very important to make sure you, as the couple, mesh well and feel comfortable with your Wedding Planner. Your Wedding Planner is simply there to make your planning process easier and help you create your perfect day. It’s our job to work along side you to help you create a vision that is uniquely your own and then, help you bring that vision to life. At the end of the day, your wedding day is all about the two of you so your wedding and your planning experience should be focused around the two of you. Your Wedding Planner is there to guide you, advise you and help you make your dreams come true. I said it once and I’ll say it again, your Wedding Planner is like having your own personal fairy Godmother.
Myth #4: I can’t Afford A Wedding Planner.
Couples often are afraid that hiring a Wedding Planner will bust their budget or cause them to over spend when in reality, having a Wedding Planner on board especially from the beginning, can actually help you save money. Wedding Planners have years of experience planning weddings. They know their markets and their vendors and they know how to help you find vendors and services that will provide you with the best quality service for your budget. Often times couples have no idea what the realistic costs of planning a wedding in their desired area will actually cost them so a lot of times they are walking into this process completely blind of the costs. Wedding Planners can help you navigate these costs and services, help you narrow down your budget to focus in on the things that are priorities to you as the couple and help you find ways to stretch your budget on the areas you are willing to compromise in. Hiring a Wedding Planner can be built into your overall wedding budget or kept separate, depending on your own personal preferences. However, having a Wedding Planner on board who understands your budget, your needs and the market can save you money and stress in the long run. Hiring a Wedding Planner is less about the cost and more about the value that they can bring to you within the planning process and their knowledge and expertise can often be priceless.
While there are plenty of other false myths about Wedding Planners out there, just know that each Wedding Planner has their own unique way of doing things and working with their couples. You want to make sure that you vibe with the Wedding Planner you choose because the relationship you build with your Planner will make all the difference in your planning experience and in your big day.
Happy Planning!
Love,
Naticia