Being engaged is an exciting time however planning a wedding is a monumental task and finding the perfect wedding planner can make all the difference.
A wedding planner is not just a professional event manager they become your partner every step of the way of the wedding planning journey pathway.
This blog info will hopefully walk you through the essential steps in choosing the ideal wedding planner who aligns with your vision, style, budget and importantly has a rapport with you and your partner.
For most couples the lead up to the big day is filled with anticipation and joy.
This is the commencement stage of the wedding planning labyrinth and no matter whether you’ve been dreaming and planning of your wedding day since you were a child or even if you have no clue where to start just remember that all of us can do with a little helping hand along the way so consider engaging with a wedding planner which will eliminate stress plus provide you and your partner with professional advice on budget, styling, suppliers, venues and critically logistic direction throughout the wedding planning journey and on the day.
Remember your wedding day is a celebration and the wedding planning itself should be an enjoyable component of the whole process but often this is not the case as wedding planning is project managment with many moving and static parts all of which require careful consideration and attention to detail, every step of the way.
With that being said, for many on the wedding planning journey it’s difficult to know where to start… and unless you or your partner have event management experience the process can seem more than a little overwhelming and daunting.
Sadly, most couples tend to put a considerable amount of pressure on themselves which is not the way to start this very special journey as you both want your wedding to be the most wonderful experience and one that can be treasured, always.
Every couple wants to wow guests with a fabulous venue and floral arrangements to die for plus many other bells and whistles … however, juggling personal and professional life commitments plus wedding planning within a budget framework can be just a bit too much and that is where a wedding planning service can be a game changer.
Event professionals i.e., wedding planners have seen and curated many types and styles of weddings.
They know exactly where and how to budget, source and contract with suppliers and venues plus when to schedule all wedding elements and mechanisms including stationery for timely delivery and can also assist in the style and design of your vision for the day, in an economical way.
An effective wedding planner can literally save the day and your sanity too as they partner with you and your significant other on the wedding planning journey and the big day particularly if there are many moving parts to coordinate on the wedding day, which there normally are.
It is not advisable to charge parents, siblings or wedding party members with the coordination of the wedding as they are important contributors to this day in their own special way ie: as family and friends who will support you and share in your joy on the day.
Yes, an on the day coordination across the whole of day is essential so you and partner can simply enjoy your special day with family and friends.
A wedding planner’s role extends beyond merely organising logistics; they bring creativity, expertise, and industry suppliers literally to the table…. on the day.
With a wedding planning service on board you can navigate the intricate processes of wedding planning with confidence leaving you more time to savour the joyous moments leading up to your big day and be present for all of the wedding day experiences too without having to stress over every detail… this is the reality of the engagement of an appropriate wedding planner that is just right for you, your partner and your day.
Our Top 5 recommended Wedding Planner Skills & Attributes:
1/Creativity, Adaptability and Empathy
Creativity along with patience are critical qualities that a wedding planner should possess.
Each is important individually for sure however without one and the other the wedding planning journey can be a testing experience – even for the most chilled.
Whatever your dream day vision your wedding planner needs to be able to understand your vision in order to curate the perfect day – your way – without fuss and deliver logistics, creativity, style and service.
They also must be highly flexible and innovative in providing alternatives should your first and even a second preference of venue and or supplier/s fall over for any reason. Its happens.
Even if you and your partner have no idea how your wedding should look and only your favourite colour as starting point an experienced wedding planner will be able to walk you through a portfolio of weddings and also offer mood boards tailored to your style resulting in wedding inspiration from the get go of planning so that you do not need to duplicate briefings to multiple venues and suppliers which can be time consuming and add additional costs if you do not have a clear direction to brief and secure critical suppliers and venues for your day.
A great wedding planner is adaptable and empathetic to your needs throughout the planning journey and on the day to the end.
2/Finance, Budget and Insurance Knowledge
A good wedding planner must be able to effectively offer sound wedding financial advice to their clients and have a solid background in financial wedding management across multiple venues and suppliers as well as creative project management supported by easily tracked financial expenditure.
Their ability to allocate and manage your budget effectively will enable you both to have the wedding of your dreams without going beyond your budget, meaning they will keep track of expenditure across all elements leading up to and for the day ……they know how not to blow the entire budget on the entertainment resulting in not being able to afford a wedding cake, guest favours, seating signage and all the other key and support elements.
Wedding insurance against loss, damage or liability is always highly recommended by an expereineced planner to his or her clients.
Even though your planner will carry public liability insurance (as should all venues and suppliers) the reality is not all insurance polices are the same.
A must have for any wedding planning couple is a cancellation insurance policy.
Any event cancelled by the client outside of the agreed terms and conditions of contract requires a specific insurance policy as this is not covered by the planner, venues or suppliers.
While cancellation is an unlikely situation it has occurred during COVID (and every so often it does happen for many unforseen reasons) so every couple needs wedding insurance plus a contingency plan for their dream day celebration.
3/Vows, Speeches and Acknowledgements
Your wedding planner should be able to provide effective guidance in wedding etiquette and protocols including timeline and runsheets for the ceremony and reception spaces, speech preparation, personal vow composition for the ceremony, acknowledgement messages and a plethora of other wedding day essentials also.
4/Organisation and Service options
It goes without saying that organisational skills are highly important for a successful wedding planner.
A planner should alleviate your stress and deliver your day as you have envisaged and agreed.
Ensure you choose a wedding planner that can confidently be your eyes and ears plus leaving you able to relax in the knowledge that it will be all fine on the day from set up through to pack down, across all ceremony and reception spaces.
This is equally true no matter if you’re planning a lavish occasion or an intimate at home wedding… discovering a wedding planner who has organised events on multiple scales is important. This will give you the reassurance that your big day is in the most capable of hands.
Some couples may be concerned that their wedding planner will take over. This is a natural concern and something that an experienced wedding planner will understand and be respectful of.
Ultimately, they want to create your dream day, for you.
Therefore, an experienced planner would not take over from you and make decisions without your consent.
For this reason wedding planners offer different options of service depending on your preferences and its wise to discuss and confirm exaclty the level of service that your wedding planner will provide, from the outset of engagement.
Make sure all services are detailed in the performance service agreement so there are no misunderstandings.
Wedding Planner services may come in existing packages or the planner can also offer bespoke options designed just for you and your day.
For example, you may just want a wedding planner to help with the design of your special day including venue décors….or simply lend a helping hand with coordination on-the-day.
Going beyond this, you might be after a full wedding planning service which literally commences at the beginning of the wedding planning journey and may continue through to when the thank you cards are delivered……. its entirely up to your requirements and budget.
A full planner service would organise the budget allocation, plan a timeline, source suppliers and even a venue for you, vet contracts and cost structures, coordinate save the dates and invitation delivery timelines and provide on the day coordination services along with so much more vital intel that only an experienced planner can provide.
However, even with full planning services you and your partner are always in control.
Finding a wedding planner who can provide comprehensive services plus flexible options is extremely important.
You will get the most out of the experience if you’ve found the right wedding planner and the perfect service option to suit your day.
Remember, not all planners are the same, or offer the same services at the same cost structure.
5/Empathy and Communication (Keep it Simple) – KISS
A wedding planner must be versatile on many levels and have superior communication skills.
One invaluable characteristic of a good wedding planner is the ability to communicate with everyone, from all walks of life.
Long gone are the days when only the bride (and maybe her mother) would sit down with the planner to attend to the details of “the wedding”.
As this is no longer the case (with planning now a collaborative approach), at LUXE -Unforgettable Events there is never a one size fits all approach to wedding planning but rather a bespoke experience defined by the couple themselves and their vison for their day.
The ability to perceive and identify then interpret what is actually needed enables the wedding planner to realise what is specifically required and make appropriate recommendations accordingly along the way – there is never a “set and forget” approach with an experienced planner.
Building rapport with your chosen wedding planner is helpful in more ways than one.
The better your planner knows you both, the more likely they are able to provide constructive advice and as they get to know you both (as individuals and a couple rather than just clients) your desired outcome is reasonably assured.
The same is also true for close family members and friends in the wedding party.
After all is said and done, your wedding day should be about the two of you and your love story which celebrates the moments from “hello” and then the joining of two, to drive your lives in a whole new direction.
It is all about the culmination of the journey for the two people wishing to achieve shared dreams together and how this day best represents your story.
To achieve a stress free wedding celebration you should only engage a wedding planner who is inventive and resourceful enough to present all the essential and support elements in one well-organised framework.
This includes adhering to your budget, style and size of celebration whilst having a comprehensive understanding of exactly what your wedding means to you both, your families and guests.
Cheers to happy wedding planning with your planner of choice and to the future you both deserve, together.
Kerrie@luxeunforgettableevents
Image credits @Alex Marks Photography
