Hiring a wedding planner is something I hear a lot of engaged couples have mixed feelings about. Listen up, guys: It is important, and no, your venue’s event coordinator is not the same thing. Your wedding planner will be by your side through vendor selections, and they will help you with everything from narrowing down your style to staying on top of your invitation orders. Most importantly, they will handle all those logistical questions and last-minute dilemmas on your wedding day, so you can enjoy sipping champagne with your bridal party and let your hair and makeup artists pamper you. If you’re ready to start the search for your perfect wedding planner, here are a few questions to ask to ensure they are the right person for your wedding.
1. How would you describe your wedding style? Wedding planners normally have a style they promote along with their brand. If you’re envisioning an eclectic and vintage-inspired wedding, consider looking for a wedding planner who incorporates this look into the weddings they plan.
2. If you had to pick your favorite moment at a wedding, what would it be? Your planner should LOVE weddings. They should be in the industry not just for the logistics, but also for the special and unique moments that come with planning a wedding. Asking a question like this will give you an idea of how much your potential planner loves their job and whether they will go the extra steps it takes to create a perfect day for you and your future husband/wife.
3. How many hours are you normally onsite the day of the wedding? Many planners offer full service and day-of coordination. These different services lend themselves to different amounts of time onsite. Check and see if this is something they limit and what it costs for additional hours. It will offer you a little more peace of mind.
4. Do you have any wedding vendors you like working with? Planners love to hear this. Normally, you hire your planner based on their style and their ability to put together a gorgeous and well-organized event. Your wedding planner may not be willing to lay out a detailed list of preferred vendors until you have hired them, but knowing that they have vendors in mind will make you feel at ease when it comes to the overall look and flow of your event.
5. Have you encountered any issues the day of a wedding, and how did you handle it? You want to make sure this person keeps his/her cool the day of your wedding, no matter what pops up. I’ve had my fair share of wedding dilemmas, and at the end of the evening, the bride and groom had no clue what was happening behind the scenes.
6. Are you ready to start planning our wedding? Make sure that you talk about your wedding, what you picture and any details you already have ironed out. You’ll be able to see how engaged and supportive your potential planner is when you start talking about your needs and vision.
Will you be hiring a wedding planner or day-of coordinator? Let us know in the comments below!