Often times there are misconceptions about the job of a wedding planner and what it entails. Of course some might love to say that all wedding planners do is show up, look pretty and carry around a clipboard. But that is NEVER the case. The goal of a planner is to try their best to execute the wedding as smoothly as possible. They know what is at stake and that there is no do over. They don’t get to say cut when something goes wrong and edit out the mistakes. If you are considering hiring a planner please continue reading as we share some frequently asked questions from couples about wedding planning.
Professional vs. Hobby?
Ahh.. the most common question of all. Why do I need a professional wedding planner? First off, wedding planning is a full time job, if it wasn’t all planners would be out of work. It is common for bride-to-bes to assign tasks to their bridal party or family members but keep in mind they probably want to enjoy the wedding rather than be working at it. We could go on with multiple points about why this may not be the best idea but let’s limit it to the 3 below.
- • They are not insured and don’t owe you anything – This is a major one! 100% of the time those assigned to help are doing it for free. This means that they don’t owe you anything. Because of this they are most likely not insured. So if an accident happens they aren’t liable, not to mention how awkward it would be for you to blame them.
- • They don’t know industry standards and laws – There are certain laws and permits required if you want to host a wedding in the different Canadian cities. Because wedding planners do this on a day to day basis you are rest assured that they are kept up to date with the ever changing rules. For someone who is assigned this task because they are somehow related to the bride they may not have the experience and knowledge to execute the wedding.
- • They don’t have the inside scoop – What makes professional planners credible is that they’ve worked with vendors in the industry and know the good vs. the bad. They have built quality relationships with reliable vendors and can get you prices that aren’t offered to the general public based on these connections. Because they know the cost of items they are able to provide suggestions on where to allocate your budget accordingly.
Wedding planners are not a luxury service for the rich and famous. In fact they are accessible, affordable and probably the most valuable investment you’ll make for your wedding day.
The venue provides a wedding coordinator, why do I need a wedding planner?
A lot of the time couples say that their venue package includes a venue coordinator and that they don’t need a planner. The venue coordinator does exactly what their title states – coordinate the events at the venue. Their main focus is that dinner is served and the wedding happening at the venue runs smoothly. They will answer your questions about the venue and assist with any tasks related to the venue but not the other items related to planning the wedding. What happens if your cake doesn’t show up? Who will set up the receiving table exactly the way your pictured it? These are tasks that are not the responsibility of a venue coordinator.
How will a wedding planner benefit me?
Speaking specifically about the day of coordination, wouldn’t it be great to know that there is someone overseeing all the logistics. Wedding planners coordinate with all your vendors, making sure items are set up as planned, place cards are at each correct seat, cake knife and fork at the cake table, your Aunt Grace gets the red wine out of her dress (with their on site emergency kit) etc. You’ve put so much time, effort and not to mention money into planning your perfect day so why jeopardize it.
Happy planning!
