wedding-planner Archives

Hiring the Right Wedding Planner: 4 Tips to Consider

Hiring a planner can be the difference between your wedding being the best day of your life or a stressful and chaotic event for you and your family. Here are some tips on how to hire the correct planner:

Know what you want your wedding to look like

Remember, you’re hiring a planner for their expertise and ability to make things happen. If you need to figure out what you want your wedding to look like, this person can help you figure it out. That’s what they’re there for! Getting in-depth on the details of how your wedding will take place can seem overwhelming and unnecessary when you’re in the throes of planning. It’s easy to get caught up with figuring out how much money is left in the budget and when to book the caterer. But if you are still determining exactly what your wedding looks like, it will be easier to get the people responsible for helping make it happen on board. The best way to work with a planner is by communicating your vision for your big day—and being specific about what that means. Your wedding will have elements from every part of your life—your interests, friends, family members, and hobbies—and all of these must come together seamlessly. If someone isn’t clear about what you want your wedding to look like, they may assume that certain details are implied or unimportant and miss them altogether.

Be clear about your budget

Another question you should ask yourself when hiring a wedding planner is how much you’re willing to spend. It’s the basis for all decisions that follow: how many days you want to allow for wedding planning, who you’ll be working with, what experience that person has, and so on. Some planners are generalists and will take on any size job, while others specialize in a certain budget or type of event. You should also be frank about your expectations: if you want something done a certain way, it’s important to ensure the person you’re hiring will be able to do it and do it well. Saying your budget is “under $5000” isn’t specific enough. Is it $4999? $4999 plus travel expenses? A good planner will ask questions like this to get an idea of where their clients are coming from and ensure everyone is on the same page from the beginning. If you can’t decide on a number, consider giving an estimate instead—it might be more helpful than trying to nail down an exact (and potentially inaccurate) amount.

Find out if they’re a good fit for your personality and style

Make sure that your personalities mesh and that they have experience planning weddings with similar styles (they should have plenty of examples of their work); it’s also key for them accurately assess your needs. You don’t want someone who can only plan certain aspects — you need someone who can handle every size event, whether a small ceremony or a huge reception. What’s more, you’ll want someone to help create a customized plan that fits whatever budget you’ve set. Don’t let them apply cookie-cutter solutions — they should be able to show you how they’ll handle anything that might come up on your big day. You’ll also want samples of their work and references from past clients.

Ask about their experience

When planning a wedding, you want to be sure that your planner is experienced and skilled. When you ask about their experience, you can get an idea of what they’ve done in the past and if it’s made them better at what they do. For example, a planner who has worked with clients who have been satisfied is someone who makes people happy. This can mean fewer headaches for you down the line. There are many different ways to assess someone’s experience – through word of mouth, on their website, or even an online portfolio or social media account. You can then ensure that your potential planner has the right skills to take care of all your needs throughout the process. This includes being able to handle your budget and any special requests that you may have. If they don’t have the skills necessary to fulfill these roles, they’ll need to bring in other people or companies to help – which might add more costs to your final bill (and even more headaches).

Due to the hectic nature of planning a wedding, especially when there are other aspects that you have to attend to, it is important to hire a planner and ensure they have time to organize everything.

About The Author

Sheryl Wright is a freelance writer who specializes in digital marketing, inclusive business, and interior design. If she is not at home reading, she is at a farmers market or climbing in the Rockies. She currently lives in Nashville, TN, with her cat, Saturn.

Wedding Planning Tasks You Can Do from Your Home

It is no secret that many of our grand plans were forced to be postponed last year. Many brides and grooms have found themselves at home, instead of out there, organizing their big day. However, there is a lot you can get done even without stepping out of your house. Engage yourself in these tasks for the time being and you’ll get a head start when things are finally back to normal!

Make your guest list

Regardless of the size of the celebration, coming up with your guest list requires some forethought. You probably don’t want to go overboard with the numbers, but you also don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings. With plenty of time to think, it will be less likely that you miss someone important. It would be a good idea to stay organized when putting together your guest list. Create a spreadsheet to keep your side and your fiancé’s side separate and easy to look through.

Create a wedding registry

Nowadays, many couples utilize a wedding registry. It’s a fantastic way to make things easier for both the couple and the guests. You don’t have to worry about unwanted gifts, while your guests don’t have to come up with gift ideas. You can use your time at home for coming up with a wedding registry that will give a solid start to your new life together! First of all, decide where you will register. You can choose a particular website like Amazon or use a registry service where you can add items from any store. You can also go for a cash registry if you need money for home renovations.

Research vendors

Finding the right vendors for your big day is a time-consuming task. Before you even start giving them calls, you need to narrow down your list. This is something you can do from the comfort of your living room. Go online and research each vendor thoroughly. Don’t stop at reading what’s on their website; you can get even more authentic information if you seek out reviews on other sites. People don’t shy away from sharing their experiences on forums and social media.

Book what you can

You don’t want to end up without your favorite DJ or find yourself in a pinch because your florist is already fully booked. So, you should get things in order and start booking what you can for your big day. Thankfully, you can do everything online nowadays. If you already have your eyes on a venue, it’s a good idea to call dibs on it. Booking wedding day transportation ahead of time is paramount as well, especially if you are thinking about adding style to your big day with a special wedding car hire. Needless to say, you should also contact your photographer, videographer, baker, and the list goes on.

Put together a playlist

Your reception playlist is what’s going to determine the mood for the night and whether people will feel inclined to stand up and dance. While putting together a playlist might not look like a difficult task, leaving it for the last minute is not a good idea. As soon as you sit down to compile the playlist, your mind will go blank. So, add songs gradually and watch your playlist grow. If you have a particular theme for your wedding, think about what kind of music would fit the vibe and search the depths of Youtube for the perfect songs.

Try different hair and makeup looks

You don’t have to wait for your hair and makeup trials in order to start experimenting with your wedding day look. There are so many resources on the internet that you can simply sit down and follow tutorials to try out something new. In addition, since you are at home, you don’t have to hold back – you can try anything and see if it’s something you like. Who knows, you might unexpectedly come across a fantastic and easy-to-do hairstyle and you’ll end up doing your own hair on your big day.

Browse décor

The decoration is one of the most fun parts of organizing your wedding. However, it can also be tedious, especially if you aren’t one to make compromises. You can get started with preparing your wedding décor while at home. If you have yet to decide on the atmosphere, browse Pinterest for inspiration and secure your décor in online stores. Going DIY is also a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding décor. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming either. You can simply customize napkins, candles, and other pieces of décor to make them unique.

No one would argue that wedding planning is hard work. Thankfully, you can get a lot of things done while staying at home. Hopefully, this list will be helpful.

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