Should you hire an event planner? That's a good question, and honestly one you should ask. Not everyone needs one. Of course, getting married is far from a new thing. Weddings have taken place for centuries, usually without complication, and often without outside help. So why is it so important for you to consider hiring an event planner to handle your upcoming nuptials? Let's discuss, shall we?
1) Weddings can take A LOT of time to plan. A planner may have the time when you don't. The average wedding can take upwards of 250 hours to plan. Keep in mind that this is an average. Some take less time, some take more. If all of your desired vendors are immediately available, and have contracts/packages that do not require negotiation, you'll be on the lower end of that spectrum. If you're having your standard church / reception hall wedding, and you have relatives (mom, aunts, cousins) making most of the contacts, you may be all set. But, if you're looking at in demand vendors, in a high volume area and time of year, and your mom and friends are busy working, and you're busy working ('cause you know we're all busy!) you probably won't have the time to do all that. Not to mention all the choices on top of the research. That pushes your planning hours up to 300 or even 400+. If you'd rather spend that time in the "soon-to-be-married" glow with your new fiance, you may want to consider professional help.
2) Planners keep tabs on all the details. The number of details that go into an event like a wedding can be mind boggling. And believe you me, the devil is DEFINITELY in these details. Time lines, checklists, who needs what by when, and of course, for how much... Keeping tabs on all of that is the forte of the professional event planner. When you hand it all over, they will keep you updated and keep the process moving forward. No need to worry about what time the caterer is expecting your florist, or what time the band needs to get in to set up their 5-piece horn section. Relax, it's all under control.
3) The planning process can be stressful, and a good planner knows tricks to keep you relatively stress-free. You will find that this process often brings out the best and worst in people. Little arguments can turn into huge ones. Guest list disagreements (his mom wants to invite her grade school friends, your venue only holds 75), budget snafus, bridal party problems... the list goes on. A good planner can act as a buffer between you and your mom, you and your crazy florist (AND can help you avoid hiring crazy florists in the first place), and even you and your fiance. They offer advice, let you vent, and many will be there with chocolate and wine if you need a shoulder to cry on. Of course the goal is to keep you from crying in the first place, but hey, this process can be emotional!
4) Weddings can be expensive, and a pro knows where and how to cut to save you the most money. Many avoid discussing this aspect of wedding planning- the cash question isn't pretty or fun. Any good event planner worth their salt has experience in budget management. It seems like planning services can be an added expense, but it may end up worth it in the end. They'll keep you from overspending on any one category, and guide you in choosing the best buys with the highest impact for your dollar: for example, custom monogrammed cocktail napkins may be a waste, but a monogram gobo for the dance floor...now that's a definite possibility. It's all about impact for the investment.
5) A planner lets you, your bridal party and family enjoy the day! The day of your wedding is going to be hectic. Like out of control hectic. Some days start super early with hair and makeup, some end crazy late after a 5+ hour reception. A lot happens. Wouldn't you rather have a good time partying it up with your new hubby, closest friends and your family? On the day of, a planner fields questions from vendors. You won't have to worry about the maitre'd asking your mom if it's OK for them to pre-set the salads in the middle of your first dance. They also troubleshoot. If anything looks off, it gets fixed. If vendors are having conflicts, they'll be mediated. If your limo breaks down, alternate transportation will be obtained. A planner's top priority that day is to keep you happy, beautiful and glowing so you can spend your time making memories and enjoying the moment!
If these reasons resonate with you, then an investment in a month-of coordinator may be worth it, at minimum. If you're looking more at the time, or investment reasons, then hiring a planner for partial planning or even full service may benefit you. Weigh the reasons against your motivations, and do what's right for you!
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