Over the course of my 25-year photographic journey, I have learned a few things about wedding planning. One of the most critical lessons I have picked up is that wedding planning decisions are never easy. For example, should you hire a professional wedding planner or do all of it on your own?
Getting engaged with the love of your life is exciting. But, after receiving congratulatory messages and gifts from friends and family, it’s time to get down to business. First, you must start thinking about what planning style works for you, how much you and your spouse-to-be are willing to spend, the location, and other related factors.
Then comes the hard part—coordinating all the vendors, stylists, and guests. Simply contemplating all these issues can quickly elevate your stress levels, which is why I want to share what I have learned about when to hire a wedding planner with you.
Let’s get started.
What Are Wedding Planners, and What Do They Do?
Wedding planners are generally tasked with organizing, negotiating, and coordinating wedding affairs on behalf of engaged couples. In addition, these professionals offer services like developing wedding timelines, managing budgets, booking ceremony and reception venues, coordinating wedding day décor, and managing guest lists.
However, every wedding planner has their areas of specialization, so it is vital that you know what you want from the onset.
We can group wedding planners into the following categories:
- Full-service planners: These professionals will work with you from start to finish. You can hire full-service planners to find vendors and venues, manage wedding invitations, and basically handle everything and everyone during the wedding day.
- Partial-service planners: These planners have fewer responsibilities compared to full-service wedding planners. For example, rather than looking for vendors on your behalf, a partial service planner becomes the point person with vendors you and your spouse have already selected. Other responsibilities include logistics, managing sitting arrangements, and handling any last-minute issues.
- Day-of wedding planners: According to the 2020 WeddingWire Newlywed Report, more engaged couples choose this option than any other type of wedding planner. Essentially, day-of planners coordinate and direct activities during the wedding rehearsal and on the big day itself. Think of them as expert “fixers” who come in on D-day to help with everything, including scheduling, people management, and troubleshooting problems.
- Specialty planners: The specialty planner focuses on specific functions, such as destination weddings, décor, color scheme, style, floor plans, and lighting. All wedding designers are specialty planners.
Why Hire a Wedding Planner?
Before you can think about whether working with a planner is worth the extra expense, or the type of professional to go for, you must first consider your situation and why you would want to follow this direction in the first place.
In this regard, let me share a few reasons why this would be a viable option.
- Time Is Not on Your Side
Planning a wedding is tricky as you must think about many issues simultaneously. For example, when hiring vendors for the big day, you might send and make hundreds of emails and telephone calls in the back-and-forth that ensues. You also have to handle numerous visits and meetings, so getting help might not be a bad idea.
Seeing that wedding planners are paid to make these arrangements on your behalf, they will devote all their time and effort to ensure that the wedding day is successful.
- Your Spouse-To-Be Has Different Ideas
Let’s face it—not all to-be-weds will share similar visions regarding their wedding day. For example, perhaps you want to go with a casual meet-up between friends, but your spouse-to-be intends to make the reception a formal engagement. Unfortunately, these types of issues are common, but there is no reason to feel like you are alone in it.
A wedding planner will help you find common ground by understanding your individual styles. Wedding planners can also prioritize everybody’s goals and preferences to create a wedding day that works for all.
- You Want Someone To Manage the Wedding Budget for You
A wedding planner will also help keep your finances in check.
When it comes to wedding planning, you can easily spend on things that were not budgeted for in the first place. So, rather than finding yourself thousands of dollars above the intended financial plan, why not let a professional make the tough decisions for you?
Making realistic budgetary decisions will help protect your financial well-being long after your honeymoon.
- You Want To Go to a Destination Wedding
You may additionally want to hire professional help if you’re looking for a destination experience for your wedding. There are two reasons why this is a viable option.
First and foremost, different destinations have different customs and marriage laws. You don’t want to jeopardize your wedding day by clashing with the locals or the authorities in a place far away from home.
Second, a specialty wedding planner has the time and experience to coordinate calls and emails with the vendors who work in these destinations. Since they possess the relevant knowledge and expertise, it is only prudent that you contact them to navigate the process for you.
- You Want a High-End Experience
As a wedding photographer, I have learned three keys to high-end weddings: client experience, appearance, and social media presence. Most people who attend such weddings want to be seen and heard, and you must be ready to provide this experience.
Even if you have the time and resources to fund a high-end event, finding a wedding planner who appeals to the more exclusive and elegant clients on your guest list is a plus. Allow them to work within their circle to find vendors who also fit the high-end profile.
- You Want Exclusive Access to Vendors
The final reason why you may want to hire a wedding planner is if you want to work with the best vendors in the industry. Therefore, a wedding planner who has collaborated with some of the best vendors in the sector should be prioritized.
It is additionally vital that you work with a professional who can help you avert some common wedding planning mistakes by working with vendors and other professionals who have been tried and tested.
When Not To Hire a Wedding Planner
Sometimes, you do not need a wedding planner when preparing for your big day.
Here are some of the reasons why:
- You have a very tight budget. If this is the case, you can always check out online DIY tips on managing a wedding on a budget.
- You have time on your side. Hiring a wedding planner should be a secondary consideration if you have plenty of work to make things work to your liking. Only go for one when the time runs out or when you get stuck.
- You are a DIY enthusiast. Sometimes, I meet couples who want to have total control over everything to do with their wedding day. If this is you, it is totally okay to DIY rather than forfeit your say on things.
Bottom Line
Hiring a wedding planner or going it alone all depends on what you want and the circumstances of your union.
As a professional wedding photographer, I recommend that you work within your budget and know what you want from the onset. This can prevent a lot of headaches along the way and help deliver your dream wedding.
