Hiring a Wedding Planner - Pros and Cons

So you are now engaged and the first thought that runs through your mind is... "WOW where should I start with planning my wedding?!" Yes it is a daunting question and does require a ton of detail, research, and patience! You will probably think of hiring a wedding consultant, or full wedding coordinator. Depending on your income level you may not think it’s in the budget to do so. But a key fact here is that wedding planners are professionals of the wedding industry and have an inside key to good prices and reliable professionals without you having to go through the screening process.



But before you make your decision to hire a wedding planner or not, consider the following points:


How much time and patience do you have?

• Is your wedding going to be a large affair or an intimate gathering? Large weddings can range from hundreds to thousands of guests and also require in the excess of 300 hours planning! Depending on your life style, your career, and the support you have from family and friends you may not have the required time to find, contact, negotiate, and finalize all of your wedding plans. A wedding planner can save you the added stress when it comes to organizing your wedding, and you may even want to consider day-of coordination if your budget is a little tighter. Remember this is your big day; you want to be stress free and see it run smoothly so ration your time accordingly and call for help from a professional if you start to feel overwhelmed.

Let’s talk about money!

• Hiring a wedding planner can serious help reduce your expenses when it comes to finding and negotiating with the venue, DJ, photographer etc. Wedding planners tend to charge in a variation of three different forms: Most charge a percentage of total budget ranging from 10-20%, others charge a flat fee or by the hour. Flat Fees can range from $1,000-$5,000 depending on the size and scope of your wedding. Hourly rates range from and easy $50.00 - $150.00 per hour depending on the involvement and expertise of your coordinator. If a wedding planner is in your budget make sure you acquire a written contract and pricing list for the services you are receiving to ensure you fully understand how you will be charged.

Are you crafty or a Do-It-Yourself'er?

• If you like to browse through fabric stores and create your own clothes? Love to visit the local craft store and scrap book, knit, or make jewellery? Have you taken some do-it-yourself cake baking or floral arranging classes? Enjoy getting your hand dirty in any crafty activity? Well then your wedding is probably your dream come true when it comes to the ultimate crafty task! If you are this independent person, planning the details of the wedding might be something you want to venture through on your own. There are many workbooks for wedding preparations available to purchase to help guide you along the path to your ultimate do-it-yourself wedding. These books are great but remember on your day of, with the spot light on you, who will ensure things will be running smoothly? You might be the perfect candidate for day-of coordination. So keep this in the back of your mind, just in case!

Are you the Haggling type?

• When faced with the daunting task of finding your essential wedding services, there will be a lot of negotiating, bartering and haggling! So keep that in mind. If you are loud and love the challenge to get the best deal then this will be a breeze for you, however those who aren’t as savvy with the process of negotiation may consider hiring a helping hand. Your wedding planner is there to advise you on the right decisions and they do know best. There are a lot of scammers out there who are out there for your money, so be careful, know what you are getting yourself into, and seek professional advice.

Do you like planning?

• Ultimately if you are considering to a DIY wedding you have to like to plan, organize, negotiate, work well under stress, and be able to seriously multitask! This is not an easy job to take on, hence the reason why there is a wedding planning industry out there. You have to think in the 360 degree of things. You will have to find, make and send invitations, keep track of your RRSP's, create a guest list, seating chart, negotiate venues, open bar options, food options, keep in mind any allergies of guests, arrange for an officiate, place for the ceremony, favours, decor, flowers, dresses, tuxes, rings, transportation and SO much more! So consider your own ability to stay on task, meet deadlines, and remain calm under pressure!

A wedding planner can allow of an easy transition from the initial planning steps to the final wedding day product. They are the professionals here just like any other industry, they have the expertise and knowledge of planning weddings. So consider all of the details while making this decision, and remember it’s never too late, whether it is 1 year, 1 month, or 1 week prior to your wedding to call for help!


~ Jennifer

For the Budget Conscious Bride...

There will be many weddings this summer of 2010, as the peak wedding season approaches us with speed. And with weddings comes expenses, very LARGE expense! The average cost of a wedding today is about $32,000. This is a large price tag for the average couple, probably the largest a newlywed couple will face other than the purchase of their first home. Some may be lucky enough to have generous parents, or relatives who will help them through this giant feat, but many will be paying this bill themselves, with a combination of money saved and some form of credit.

With these economic times shining such a dim light, brides to be are shopping around, trying to find the best deal, while also trying to stretch their budget and make their wedding day the most spectacular day possible. So with that I am here to offer some helpful hints and thrifty tips on how to save a few dollars on your wedding this year!

Tip Number One:

Do your research! It is extremely important to shop around, especially if you are new to the art of wedding planning. The best way to get the most reliable and accurate feedback is to ask around. Ask your friends and family members who have been married in the past few years. This should be your first point of contact, because it is these people who will give you an honest and truthful answer. Another suggestion is that brides sign up to attend various bridal shows. These shows are great, and have some great exhibitors. There is alot of competition out there and you will need to learn how to decipher through all of the potential choices. So become familiar with this industry, and your choices will be that much easier.

Tip Number Two:

Do you really need a summer wedding? June, July and August are the most popular months to tie the knot, and the industry is well aware of this. You can look at spending up to 50% more on the venue, photographer, DJ etc. for having a wedding in this prime wedding season. So think twice, about the necessity of a summer wedding, you might want to opt for a spring, or fall wedding, when the business has slowed. The other thing to think about is the day of the week. Traditionally Saturday is the popular day to choose but this again is a prime day of the week, and comes with a premium. Consider these things while you are in the planning process of your wedding.

Tip Number Three:

Hire a Professional. Planning a wedding is a overwhelming task, with many details both small and large and you must make sure that you do not miss anything. From a professional standpoint it is a smart investment to hire help in the planning process. Hiring a wedding planner may seem to be something that is not in your budget, especially for the budget conscious bride of these times, however one of the key task of a wedding planner is to find you the best deals. The wedding industry is the wedding planner’s home turf, they have worked with many industry professionals and have established strong relationships. They therefore have the power to get the best deals and save YOU alot of money!

Check back for more money saving tips!

~Jennifer

Elite Events Management