Wedding Planner Misconceptions

The wedding planning industry is a very misunderstood profession. The most common misconception is that wedding planners are there to take complete control of your wedding, including making decisions without the couple about creative, business, and money aspects. If you are working with an experienced wedding planner, this is absolutely not true unless you want them to take that much control over your wedding. A good wedding planner is your side-kick during this experience. We're not there for anything but guidance, professional advice, and assistance.

Many people also think that they don't need a wedding planner. While every person is different, I believe everyone needs a little help somewhere. Someone might need help from the beginning, the middle, or the end. A popular service many wedding planners now provide is "Day-Of Coordination." In this service, we are there to be your "eyes and ears" while you, your family, and your friends get ready, take pictures, and enjoy your day. I would say at the least, this would be a valuable service to anyone.

Another common trend that is coming around is wedding coordinators that are included in a package offered at a venue. While these coordinators are wonderful, they only help with your ceremony and reception set up and tear down. They will also help with asking you what time you would like the toast to occur, what time you would like to serve dinner, etc. However, they do not help with the other vendors and planning like a wedding planner would. While these wedding coordinators and your wedding planner work very well together on the day of, the facility wedding coordinator will refer to your wedding planner so they can relay any delays or issues to the correct people. But what about your DJ, is he there? What time is he setting up? Is your florist using the correct flowers for the arrangements? Did the correct chair covers arrive? Does the cake look the way it's supposed to? The facility's wedding coordinator does not take responsibility for these aspects of your wedding. Your wedding planner, however, knows these details and can make sure everything is ready and properly set up.

With the wonderful career opportunities women have now, a wedding planner is almost required. Women now have 9-5 jobs, bills to pay, and themselves to take care of. If it takes over 250 hours to plan a wedding and engaged couples usually only have a year to plan, how will anyone be able to make time? Life is already so hectic as it is. With a wedding planner by your side, you will have someone dedicated to making your wedding day everything you hoped it would be, and more!