less stress
Besides saving you countless hours of worry and stress, WEDDING PLANNERS can offer a number of other valuable advantages as well.

As any couple knows, creating the wedding of your dreams is one of the most exciting times in your life. It can be, however, one of the most hectic and tedious periods in your life as well. There are countless decisions to make, and they're all the more daunting for brides and grooms who are inexperienced with putting together such a big event. Sometimes one of the best steps a couple can take is to hire a wedding planner.

Because more and more couples have full-time careers and limited time to devote to planning details, they are turning to the help of a professional wedding planner. Once only considered practical for couples with unlimited budgets wedding planners have become indispensable today to many brides and grooms, who find their services well worth the expense.

You might consider hiring a planner soon after you get engaged if you have a demanding job that leaves little time for much else, if you're getting married in a city other than the one you live in, or if you simply feel overwhelmed by the details involved.

A wedding consultant guides you through the planning process and the wedding day itself, assisting in whatever capacity you need. He or she can help you refine your ideas, connect you to the appropriate vendors, advise you on proper etiquette, and suggest ways to use your budget wisely.

The most important thing a planner can do for a couple is to ease their minds and allow them to enjoy the day. Besides keeping your schedule on track, a planner will also create a wedding-day timeline and make sure that it gets carried out -- down to the smallest detail.

Your Wedding's Details

You can expect your planner first to find out what kind of wedding you envision, whether it's a formal evening affair, for example, or an outdoor garden luncheon. You'll discuss with her the number of guests you'd like to invite, the color scheme or theme, which aspects are most important to you (such as the food, the music, the flowers), and your budget. A good planner should also be up front about whether your budget is in line with your vision. You want someone who will be honest about what you can afford and who can find less-expensive alternatives you'll be happy with.

Based on this information, she can begin brainstorming with you on everything from invitation decoration to venue locations. Keep in mind, though, that while a planner is there to help lead the way and lend her expertise, it doesn't mean you have to surrender control of your wedding. The area in which planners provide the most help is, naturally, planning -- outlining what needs to be done and when.

Having a professional look after you can also be invaluable when it comes to finding the people necessary to make your wedding a success, such as musicians, caterers, photographers, and florists. Experienced planners have spent years cultivating relationships with vendors and know which ones are best for you. Often, they can even secure you discounts. Your planner will act as a liaison between you and the vendors, setting up appointments and guiding you through the contracts. A good planner will also find the right combination of professionals, one that can function as a team designed to pull your wedding together smoothly.

The Wedding Day

Perhaps the most important role a planner can play is in orchestrating the wedding day itself. (Some couples hire planners to help only on that day.) Besides coordinating the vendors, she might do everything from gathering your wedding party for pictures to making sure all the seating cards are in place to calming nerves.

Couples often worry about potential wedding day disasters (i.e., the cake falling over, the photographer not showing up). A wedding planner comes fully prepared to discreetly handle any situation. In many cases, the bride and groom never even know a problem occurred.

To make sure your planner will meet your expectations, be careful about whom you hire. It's wise to interview several planners in person to see if there's a good rapport.

Find out how long the planner has been in the business, how she got started, and why it will help you gauge her level of enthusiasm for the job. Ask how many events she does each month -- you'll want to be sure she has enough time for you. Ask what kinds of weddings she has planned and where they were held. Look at her portfolio, focusing on how much attention was paid to detail, rather than whether the style matches yours. Finally, ask for references.

Most wedding planners offer an enormous amount of knowledge and direction. Their services cover every aspect of the engagement from rehearsals, wedding ceremonies and receptions to honeymoons and thank you notes. A consultant will not only save you stress during the planning process, they’ll also serve as your creative partner -- not just overseeing logistical matters -- but also providing a wealth of ideas, insights, opinions, and more!