It has been over a month since I have been on the blog. My creative juices were dying with the end of winter, rain had gotten me down, and I felt like I didn't have much to say. But sometimes life is like that. We have to stop and think about what we really want to say before we say it.
These past few weeks I have been to four bridal shows meeting engaged couples, talking about their big days, looking at pretty rings, and doing some heavy lifting. In that time I have talked to brides and grooms who are looking for their perfect vendors for their perfect days. Many of them were feeling overwhelmed by the process and didn't know where to start, and while my past blog posts about creating a budget, finding your wedding style can help, a wedding planner does just that, takes the stress out of a wedding.
This list should help you when considering hiring a wedding planner or day of coordinator. These things are simply things you may have not thought of because this is your first rodeo (so to speak).
1. A planner or day of coordinator can literally take the stress out of wedding planning.
The difference between you and us, is we do this for a living. We know the ins and outs of the industry in your area. We know what you should spend on and where you can save, where to find reliable industry professionals who have been vetted and will not just "get the job done" but will do the job with integrity. We know how to stay calm when things go awry *note I never say wrong because wedding days are exactly as they should be*
2. You need someone who knows the answers.
While you are getting married, you should be focused on enjoying the day. Aunt Susan will ask where the flowers go, your caterer will need to know where something is, the photographer will need the bridesmaids to get off their phones, cousin Sally won't like sitting next to Uncle Randy. So many people ask questions on the day of a wedding that you do not care about and do not want to answer. Let a planner or day of coordinator do that work for you.
3. Emergencies happen.
A glass falls and a guest cuts themselves. The bridesmaids can't walk because their shoe broke. A child falls and hurts themselves. A fight breaks out among your guests. Uncle Randy needs an Uber. The bathroom floods. A hurricane moves in unexpectedly. A homeless man walks in among your guests. These are all real situations that I have dealt with as a wedding planner. Some were smaller incidents that were handled without the bride and groom even noticing while others may have caused the party to change its course. At the end of the day, the bride and groom were thankful someone was there to handle the emergencies as they arose, so they could focus on one of the most important days of their lives.
This list may not be long, but it hopefully can show you why hiring a full, partial, or month/day of planner can be the most important investment in an enjoyable, stress free event that doesn't make you wish you had just gone to Jamaica.
