Why you can't afford not to hire a wedding planner!

  Laurie Davies - Owner of Five Star Weddings & Events

www.fivestarwedding.com

Hiring a wedding planner has gone from being a Luxury to a Necessity! Not only are the brides recognizing the importance of a planner, but now a majority of your wedding venues are requiring the bride to provide a license and insured wedding planner that offers a minimum of Two Months Full Service Coordination.

So what does a planner do? As a planner there are many facets to our job, some of the roles we take on require us to become Mediators, Negotiators, Financial Advisers, Coordinators, Creative Designers, Etiquette Experts as well as a friend.

Mediator - Planning a wedding can be a very emotional experience, especially when it comes to the couple trying to please everyone involved including their families and friends. This is when the planner steps in and takes on the role of the unbiased third party, allowing everyone's opinions to be heard while maintaining the couple's vision.

Financial Adviser - Everyone has a budget when it comes to their wedding, as a planner we become the couples Financial Adviser, educating them on the costs of planning a wedding as well as keeping them within their means.  

Negotiator - There are many times when couples want to customize a vendors package or book a block of rooms for their guests; this is when the planner steps in as the negotiator, working with the vendor to accommodate the needs and budget of the client.

Coordinator - As a planner its not only our job to refer couples to professional and talented vendors it also our job to work with all of them throughout the planning as well as coordinating their set up and timing on your wedding day.

Creative Designer - Making each couple's wedding "A One of a Kind" takes creative talent. We use our expertise and experience to create unique ideas that reflect each couple's personality. This includes coming up with personalized favors, décor and working with specialty items such as linen, lighting, tenting, entertainment and much more.

Etiquette Expert - Which wording should be on the invitations? Whom to invite? What color dress should the mothers wear? These are just a few of the questions that arise during the planning of a wedding . It's the planner's job to give sound etiquette advice to avoid any embarrassing situations.

So as you can see there are many different roles a planner takes on. Keep in mind that their services and pricing will differ depending on the package you select as well as where you are getting married. Before signing the contract with your planner make sure you check their references; who better to refer you than another bride.

Below are letters from couples that hired a planner for their wedding, take it from them it was the best decision they made before saying "I Do".  

"Thank you for making our wedding everything we dreamed of. Having you by our side throughout the planning process was invaluable. Your knowledge, skill and personality were a blessing. You were a problem solver, you understood and worked within our budget, your referrals for the florist and linens as well as the rest of the vendors couldn't have been better. We couldn't have done this without you. I really cannot say thank you enough. You exhibited care and concern that went above and beyond. It's was truly a pleasure working with you. We will forever be appreciative for your assistance. Love Carlos & Devin"

"Thank you so much for making our wedding day unforgettable. Everything ran so smoothly and the reception was absolutely beautiful! My parents received so many calls the following week from everyone saying how unique and gorgeous the wedding was; everyone is still talking about it. We appreciate your attention to detail and your ability to make everyone comfortable. Love Brian & Alexa"

Now, ask yourself is this the kind of experience I want for my wedding? If so you know what to do!