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.

Receiving Lines – A Thing Of The Past?

Receiving lines are as much a tradition as the wedding ceremony itself. It was an opportunity for the newlyweds, their parents, and key members of the wedding party to personally welcome their guests and thank them for being part of their special day. It could happen after the ceremony at the church or at the reception that evening (usually during cocktails prior to the main meal).

Most of us have either had the experience of standing in line for what seems like forever, waiting for those in front of us to stop talking and move along, or worse yet, actually been in the receiving line as part of the wedding party, shaking numerous hands of people we really don’t know and making small talk as they move along, really just wanting to pass along their good wishes to the bride and groom. Neither could be considered a pleasant experience, but we do it because it follows the rules of etiquette.
More recently, in light of H1N1 and other illnesses, people are questioning the wisdom of having a receiving line. Just think of how many hands you’re shaking, and therefore, how many germs are being spread. Ewww!

Don’t get me wrong! It is still important for the couple to speak with and thank each and every one of their guests for coming, but a more popular option nowadays is for the bride and groom to move from table to table throughout the evening, greeting each guest individually. Sometimes you may even arrange for the photographer to follow you and get a photo of the couple at each table with the guests there just to ensure that you have a picture of everyone. It’s a little more time consuming this way, but I think the conversations are more genuine. An ideal time for this usually is as the couple finishes their meal and before the cake is cut.

If you’re having an ultra formal wedding, you may not be able to escape the receiving line experience, but there are a couple of things you can do to speed it up. As a rule of thumb, if the guest list is over 125 people, then just include the bride and groom, their mothers, and the maid of honor. If the guest list is under 125, you can include more members of the wedding party. It is up to you whether or not the fathers of the bride and groom and the best man join the receiving line, but remember that the less people the guests have to greet, the quicker the line will move.

And make sure you use lots of hand sanitizer….

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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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