The Secret World of Wedding Planning

by 

Helen Carter

www.helencarterweddings.co.uk

Ok, so you’ve heard the horror stories about the wedding planner that took over the preparations and left the bride wondering what on earth happened to her dream wedding. You know they’re expensive, unnecessary, and are only for brides that are rich, famous, or too lazy to plan their own wedding. So let me tell you something that may come as a surprise – it’s all a big myth!

Despite the increasing popularity and prominence of wedding planners, there is still a lot of mystery surrounding the work we do. Be honest, how many times have you come across an advert for a wedding planner and thought “what do they actually do?” or “why on earth should I pay someone to plan my wedding when I can do it myself?”

Well, why not grab a cuppa (and a biscuit if you’re not already on the pre-wedding diet!), get yourself comfortable and let me take you inside the world of wedding planning...

What Does a Wedding Planner Actually Do, and Why Would You Need One?

One of the most common misconceptions surrounding our work is that we spend our days checking out the latest bridal fashions, choosing favours or enjoying culinary masterpieces at tasting sessions. Whilst there is an element of this to the work we do, it makes up only a fraction of our day-to-day job. In fact, if you ask any planner to describe their work they’ll probably tell you that 80% of their time is taken up with administration.

In essence, a wedding planner exists to take the strain out of planning a wedding. Organising such an important occasion should be fun and exciting, but it naturally also takes up a great deal of time and can be very stressful. Juggling a career, family and social life whilst trying to prepare for the biggest day of your life is no mean feat. If you’re currently planning a wedding, chances are your evenings and weekends are taken up with researching suppliers, attending meetings, working out your budget and trying to find the perfect accessories and decorations.

This is where the benefits of a wedding planner really come to the fore. Every planner offers different services, but we all provide full wedding co-ordination, which covers everything from finding the perfect venue and suppliers to sending out invitations and monitoring the budget. Now this doesn’t mean that someone is going to take over your wedding – in fact, you’ll still be visiting venues and meeting suppliers, and will definitely still be responsible for making all the decisions. What it does mean is that you can trust an experienced professional to do all of the time-consuming research and paperwork for you, meaning you have much more spare time to actually enjoy your engagement whilst still being in overall control of the arrangements. 

Now this may sound right up your street, but naturally it doesn’t suit everyone. This is why most planners also offer more specialised services, such as venue or supplier sourcing, or wedding day management. These options are ideal if you are happy to plan your own wedding, but reach a point where you need that little bit of extra assistance.

As well as saving you time, a wedding planner can be a valuable source of advice and reassurance. Not only do we know all the finer details relating to a wedding, such as how to word invitations or who to sit where at the top table, but we also understand the pressure, anxiety and emotion that accompany this special event.  Personally, I’m always available to my clients and their families at any time to offer both practical and emotional support when needed.

Finally, hiring a wedding planner can also save you money. This may sound a bit of a contradiction, but over time we build up relationships with venues and suppliers, meaning that we can often negotiate discounts or added extras.

What to Look for When Choosing a Wedding Planner

If you’re thinking about hiring a wedding planner, the most important thing to remember is that you are trusting this person with the biggest celebration of your life. The relationship you will have is far more personal than for any other supplier, and you will probably be working closely together for many months. This means that you not only have to be 100% confident in their professional abilities, but also completely comfortable working with them. So what should you look for when choosing a wedding planner?

1.  Firstly, find out who is available in your area. Supplier directories and magazines are a good starting point, whilst the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners is an excellent source of thoroughly vetted professional planners

2.      Once you have a list of planners, visit their website and spend some time finding out exactly what they offer and how they work. Do they come across in a professional manner? If the website is poorly laid out or there are lots of spelling mistakes, this gives the impression that they haven’t put in a great deal of thought or paid much attention to detail

3.      Make a list of those that you are interested in and contact them directly. Do they seem approachable and knowledgeable? Do they take an interest in your wedding and take the time to explain their services in more detail?

4.      Arrange to meet 2-3 on your shortlist. Many planners, ourselves included, offer a complimentary consultation to discuss your wedding and explain how they can help with your preparations

5.      During the consultation are they enthusiastic about your wedding? Do they understand what you want and offer ideas on how it may be achieved? Remember that they will want to offer their professional opinion, but if they don’t seem to have taken on board what you are looking for then they might not be right for you

6.      Ask them questions about their work. For example, how long have they been in business? How many weddings have they done? Do they have a portfolio of previous weddings for you to view? Also make sure that they have public liability insurance

7.      It’s incredibly important that you get along with your planner, so do you actually like them?! They may be brilliant at their job, but if your personalities clash you could be in for a bumpy ride instead of enjoying a seamless partnership

8.      Find out how they charge for their services – are you expected to pay a fixed fee or a percentage of your budget? This is very important, as fees will vary from planner to planner. Make sure you are also aware of any additional charges, such as travel expenses, that may add to the overall cost

9.      Ask how often they will be in contact with you. I personally think this is one of the most important questions to ask, as handing over your wedding arrangements isn’t easy and you want to be sure that you’re going to be kept up-to-date with your preparations

10.  After the consultation, most planners will provide a written proposal that summarises your meeting and outlines the work to be completed. Does it cover what you discussed? Is the quotation as you expected? If not, contact the planner and ask them to explain the differences

11.  Once you have made your decision, make sure you sign a contract. Always read the terms and conditions carefully before signing, and query anything you are unsure about