Congratulations!!!!! You are about to begin the most fun and the most stressful thing you will go through in your life thus far! I know this because I talk to frazzled bides EVERY day. BREATHE!!!!! It is all gonna be alright! More often than not, i hear couples say oh, i dont need a planner, I know what i want, my mom is gonna do it all and i dont want someone taking control.”
Let’s start with a few definitions before I address the rest of the stuff you want to know~
There are 3 broad categories of professional services and specialties
1) Event designer: This is the professional who will assist you with the overall look and feel of your event. Think of it as the writer of a script!
2) Wedding/Event Planner- This is the professional who will assist you with the planning. ASSIST is the key! This is the ideal option for the couples who know what they want but arent really sure where to start or are so busy that they need someone to keep you focused and assist you with appointments etc. A professional will not put all the burden on you NOR will they take control of the planning process beyond your comfort level. Think of a planner as the Casting director! The one who puts the cast into place and keeps the filming on schedule!
3) Wedding Coordinator- This is the professional who ensures your wedding day is executed as you have planned. This professional will meet with you to get the details and then run the show. Think of it as the director of the script. Once everything and everyone is in place, all you need to do is relax and enjoy your day.
Now when you are deciding who you want to hire and what level of service you need, i am going to give you the most important piece of information…………… DO NOT HIRE JUST ON PRICE!!!! If you are looking for a cheap planner/coordinator, I will just direct you to Craig’s List. They have a plethera of cheap planners who will meet your budget.
I am gonna address the next question briefly here but the first question i get is……..”How much do your services cost?” I compare that to asking “how much does a car cost?” Give that answer and you will understand- Honestly, IT DEPENDS. If you are having a wedding with 100 guests the amount of time and staff I need is nowhere close to a wedding of 400 people at your wedding (and yes I do indeed work with weddings that large.) So how on earth can i give a generic price in an email! We offer complimentary consultations for a reason! There needs to be a level of trust AND you must like working together. If you hire someone by JUST price, you may end up with a big problem! SO keep that one little piece of information handy!
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