Yes. The answer is always yes. It’s not just a luxury for those who have money, it is a necessity for a smooth execution of your biggest day!
Let me pose this question: If you had an unlimited budget for your wedding, would you hire a professional planner?
Everyone would answer “yes”! Why? Because it benefits you. Consider a professional planner an investment. They are hired to have YOUR best interest at heart and make YOUR dream and vision come together. What bride doesn’t want that?! I never want my brides to settle or feel like they are less than a queen during the process, so keep that in mind reading my responses to the following bride’s reasoning.
The venue provides one. Typically in these cases, the planner is either making commission or paid by the venue itself. Either way, they are guaranteed your business once you book the venue, so what have they done to earn your trust and to prove their loyalty to making your day top priority? Whether your day goes good or bad, the company as a whole has your money. Venue coordinators are restricted when it comes to attending vendor appointments such as DJ, florist, cake, etc. and may only focus on venue-related tasks.
My (friend) is handling the details. Is your friend licensed? Has your friend planned weddings previously? Has your friend ran a rehearsal or ceremony? Does your friend have software for seating charts and timelines? Can your friend match proper linen lengths according to table? …..Do you get my drift?….. I nearly purge when I hear this knowing that they may not be in the best hands. Not only does inexperience play a role, but the fact that someone you consider close is now stuck handling the stress and details of your day all while missing the best parts of it. They WILL miss the best parts of it if they are doing their job correctly. Usually when family and friends are soaking in the moment, I am 2 steps ahead of the timeline ensuring the vendors and staff are right along with me.
I am simple and not picky. Do not confuse your simple taste with simplicity of an event. Every wedding is difficult to plan whether you are a diva or laid back. The importance is not minimized just because you are not partial to a lot of details. For every laid back bride, there is someone who has to jump in and make the decisions. Time is of the essence, and people need answers in order to move onto the next thing. A planner can jump in and offer suggestions and make decisions based on experience. Instead of you feeling annoyed that you have to make a decision, let someone pull the trigger for you.
In short, planners are people. People need coffee to live. Coffee costs money. Hire a planner, save a life-
Elle B. 