Ten Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner

There is no question that weddings cost a lot of money. I'm often asked, however, with all of the other expenses, why would someone pay the extra money to hire a wedding consultant? After all, most of your parents and grandparents did quite well with their own wedding and not having a planner. But times have changed, and with it, more and more couples are finding it extremely advantageous to hire a wedding planner, or at least, a "Day Of" wedding coordinator.

Having a wedding coordinator will allow you to enjoy every aspect of your day, while your coordinator looks after the details. - Photo courtesy of Vermilion Photography

1.  A wedding planner has experience doing this; for most couples this is their first time planning a wedding. They know what to do, when to do it, and how to do it most efficiently while avoiding the pitfalls. Their experience will save you tons of time and research.

2.  A good planner will be able to listen to your ideas and make appropriate suggestions that work with your vision, your style, and your budget. In addition, they may be able to make suggestions that you never even considered before that will really add to your big day.

3.  Most planners offer a variety of programs or packages. You don't necessarily need to hire someone to do the entire thing, but maybe just help with one or two specific areas.

4.  Working in the wedding industry, they are familiar with and able to recommend a number of different vendors. It works the other way, too, and they can let you know who to avoid. This saves you a ton of time tracking down references and doing comparison shopping for your vendors.

5.  Many wedding planners get discounts from vendors, which in turn can end up saving you money. For example, all Wedding Planners Institute of Canada Certified have in their contract vendor discounts that will be passed on directly to their clients. This means, you get to save money!

6.  Your planner will be a liaison/negotiator between you and your vendors from the initial conversations right through to your wedding. Their expertise will be invaluable as you negotiate contract details, pricing, keeping track of dates, and keeping everyone organized and in the loop.

7.  The planner knows what is needed in terms of legal documentation and when to look after them so you don't miss important deadlines. This can prove to be extremely useful, especially with destination weddings where there may also be the legalization and translation of official documents required.

8. Your wedding coordinator will carry an emergency kit. A good coordinator is prepared for almost any situation. She has the sewing kit to repair the button that fell off the groomsman's rented tux, the Tide-To-Go for that smudge on your dress, and the Advil for the guest with a splitting headache plus numerous other "save-the-day" items that may be needed.

9.  Even if you just hire a "Day Of" Coordinator, having someone who will look after everything on your wedding day is invaluable! Their job is to make sure that everyone else has done their job. You don't want to be worrying about whether or not the reception site is ready, or trying to find out where the limo driver is. You should be able to enjoy your day, as should your family members and friends. Having someone look after these details is worth every penny!

10.  Your time is extremely valuable.  People are busier than ever with their careers, their family obligations, and even their friends. In the past, even if the bride had a job, the mother or aunt did not work outside the home and had the time to dedicate to planning the wedding. Nowadays, few people have the time required to really plan a beautiful wedding. Even if you take on parts of it, having a wedding planner to guide you and keep you on track will make the entire process more enjoyable and manageable. You will be able to relax knowing that someone else is looking after the details on your behalf!

Your wedding day is too important to leave to chance. Hiring a coordinator will make sure that the entire experience runs smoothly and without complications. - Photo courtesy of Vermilion Photography

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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area, who want a wedding that is a unique and personal reflection of them. She is also a destination wedding specialist, working with couples who desire to wed in various picturesque dream locations throughout the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at info@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com.

Breakdown Of A Wedding Budget

Setting up your budget is one of the most important tasks for a couple starting to plan their wedding. Ironically, it is often the task that is put off the most, or worse yet, completely ignored. Perhaps it is because it seems to be so overwhelming or maybe it is because people don’t like looking at the numbers. Whatever reason, setting up your wedding budget should be one of your first tasks before anything else. It will give you a guideline of how much money you have to spend, and therefore, give you a realistic idea of what you can and cannot do.

It is critical that the budget is established before you commit to anything else. This means sitting down with everyone involved, be it just the two of you, or including both sets of your parents as well, and figure out how much money you are willing to spend on the wedding. Anyone who is contributing should be at this meeting, or at least have sent their information

ahead of time of what they are willing to contribute. If people are offering to pay for certain aspects, such as your dress, or the alcohol at the wedding, still make sure that they give you an actual number to work with. You don’t want to make any assumptions, only to find out their idea and your idea of dollar amounts don’t mesh. By the end of this meeting, you will have a better idea of what you can spend, which will guide you through the rest of the wedding planning process. Too many times, couples forget this critical step and end up deeply in debt when they come back from their honeymoon.

Your budget will let you know what is realistic when you start meeting with vendors. There is no point of looking at a photographer that starts at $5000 when your budget only allows you to spend $2000. Of course, there is some flex room. If you find an awesome deal on your dress, then that may allow you to spend a little more elsewhere, such as on your flowers or your DJ. The other way it can work is if there is something really important, even essential, such as having your reception at a specific venue, then you can allot money for that. But on the flip side, when you overspend in one area, it means cutting back elsewhere in order to make that happen. This is where a wedding planner can prove to be extremely useful, as they are usually masters in manipulating the budget, and can sometimes even save you money through relationships they have established with quality vendors in the area.

An average breakdown of wedding budget expenses is as follows:

• Food & Beverage 30%
• Flowers & Décor 15%
• Wedding Planning 10%
• Venue Rental 8%
• Extra Cushion 8%
• Dress & Accessories 6%
• Lighting & Sound 5%
• Tipping 5%
• Photo & Video 4%
• Cake 3%
• Printed Materials 2%
• Transportation 2%
• Hair & Makeup 2%

There are a number of factors that will affect your budget. For example, the number of guests you have for your wedding will really set the tone and narrow down what you can and cannot afford. If you have a smaller number of guests, you will most likely spend less on food and alcohol OR be able to spend more per person on food. Another item to consider is in relation to the size of your wedding party. The more attendants you have, the more you will have to spend on flowers (e.g. bouquets and boutonnieres) and gifts for each member of the wedding party. Many wedding planners have spreadsheets that allows you to break the budget down even more, including adjusting the budget to reflect the number of guests you plan on having as well as the number of attendants.

Your budget is critical to the success and enjoyment of your wedding. No one wants to get married with the knowledge that they are going hugely into debt hanging over their heads. Creating and sticking to your budget will keep you grounded and make your wedding something that you can relax and enjoy, knowing that you planned smartly.

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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area. She is also a destination wedding and honeymoon travel specialist helping couples plan their weddings in paradise all around the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at info@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com.

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