| Ordinarily, couples on tight budget don't normally hire | | | | wedding - just to ensure that the festivities go off |
| a wedding planner. However, when all is said and | | | | without a hitch. These type of wedding consultants |
| done, it may actually end up saving money as well as | | | | usually bill by the hour, but some will do this work on |
| a number of headaches. In situations where the bride | | | | a flat fee based on a set number of hours. |
| and groom to be never seem to have enough time | | | | 3. A full service planner who works with you from |
| on their hands due to work or other considerations, | | | | start to finish |
| hiring a wedding planner may very well make sense. | | | | This type of wedding planner will become an integral |
| It could make sense for those who are simply | | | | part of your wedding. They will get you know you |
| overwhelmed by the entire process of finding | | | | very well. They will know your tastes and needs and |
| vendors, interviewing them and then negotiating the | | | | will work with you to create a budget and time line. |
| best deal. In these type of situations, it very | | | | As they get to know you, they will make |
| definitely can be worthwhile to bite the bullet and hire | | | | recommendations on everything from the food and |
| a planner. One of the keys to hiring a planner is to | | | | beverage at your reception to the overall theme of |
| make the decision early on because you'll end up | | | | your wedding, including flowers and decorations. They |
| getting more value for your dollar. While hiring a | | | | will even help you plan out and execute a plan for |
| wedding planner may seem like an extravagance you | | | | your reception. The great thing about these type of |
| can live without, they can be worth their weight in | | | | wedding consultants is that they have plenty of |
| gold - not only in keeping your lives sane leading up | | | | connections with a large number of vendors. With |
| to the wedding, but in saving you plenty with their | | | | their vast knowledge, they'll easily be able to find |
| negotiating skills. | | | | vendors that will fit within your budget. |
| Most wedding planners refer to themselves as just | | | | The bottom line with a wedding planner is that they |
| that - a wedding planner. However, some also refer | | | | are on board to save you money with your vendors. |
| to themselves as wedding consultants or wedding | | | | While most do a very good job at this, there are |
| coordinators. Regardless of what they call | | | | those who steer you in a direction that includes a |
| themselves, most provide a full range of services. | | | | certain group of vendors that have paid the planner |
| You can count on them for everything from a basic | | | | to get on their list of "approved" or "recommended" |
| consultation to handling every detail of both your | | | | vendors. Some will even give a bonus to planners |
| wedding and reception. What you get out of a | | | | who send prospective couples their way. Even if |
| planner will depend on what kind of wedding planner | | | | your planner provides their referrals as a "free |
| you hire. In general, you'll find three different types | | | | service" to you, you can be assured that the |
| of planners: | | | | commission that is being paid by the vendor to your |
| 1. One that provides a one time only initial | | | | wedding consultant will be passed on to you via the |
| consultation | | | | vendor's bill. |
| This type of consultant will help you get your budget | | | | As with most industries, there are unscrupulous |
| and time line set up. They'll also provide tips for | | | | people in the wedding planner business. In order to |
| dealing with all of your vendors, along with | | | | avoid these undesirable folks, be sure to look for a |
| recommendations for certain vendors they've had | | | | planner who is a member of the Association of Bridal |
| success with in the past. This type of wedding | | | | Consultants. Those who belong to this association are |
| planner normally charge a flat one time fee - or | | | | required to follow a code of ethics which includes |
| perhaps an hourly fee. This is good because you'll | | | | disclosing any referral fees before their clients sign a |
| know up front what they are going to cost. | | | | contract with them. Most of the wedding consultants |
| 2. One that provides you with partial planning services | | | | who are members of the ABC don't take referral |
| This type of planner is normally brought in 2-3 weeks | | | | fees from vendors anyway, so you this won't be a |
| prior to your wedding to help with the myriad of | | | | concern when dealing with an ABC affiliated |
| details that need to be attended to and finalized. | | | | consultant. |
| Some will only be on hand for the rehearsal and | | | | |