Ask the Planner: Hire the Real Deal

Q:  One of my bridesmaid’s sisters offered to coordinate my wedding day for $500. She’s hosted a lot of parties so it seems she knows what she is doing. Is it really worth it to pay more for an actual wedding planner?!

A: At first glance, it might seem like a good place to save money, but entrusting the biggest day of your life to an inexperienced and uneducated "coordinator" could become a costly mistake. Putting on parties and planning and executing weddings are two completely different things. A trained or certified wedding planner has the knowledge and experience navigating challenging situations that could arise on your wedding day, or even along the planning process.

First of all, they know vendors. By this, we mean they should know a lot of vendors of various styles and budget ranges in every category and can make solid recommendations. Experienced planners already have relationships with many vendors who know and trust them (the planner) to do their job, making for a great team effort on your wedding day. And a planner worth his/her salt should know vendor contracts. A big perk of hiring a CWP is their understanding of what should be included in vendors' services and contracts, as well as what extras it might be good to ask for before signing on the dotted line.

Our wedding planning team with happy clients

Equally important, a CWP can help manage your budget. They have a pretty solid idea of how much wedding-related expenses run and where it's okay to trim and where it's not.

A reality of wedding planning is that it can often be emotionally charged. A formally trained wedding planner is prepared to help brides cope with family stress by taking on the role of advisor, friend and confidant.

This family hired StarDust to plan weddings for all four of their daughters - talk about trust!

In real estate, the golden rule is location, location, location…well, in weddings, it’s timing, timing, timing! A seasoned planner will know how to map out a great timeline that will prevent your reception from being boring!

Finally, logistically, the planner acts behind the scenes on the wedding weekend ensuring all of the details of your plan come to be. They help get things and people where they are supposed to be and when they are supposed to be there, all in partnership with your vendor team. The execution of a great wedding is like a beautifully choreographed dance, and it takes know-how and experience to pull it off with excellence.

Our talented team of certified wedding planners.

In the grand scheme of your wedding vision, the fee for an experienced wedding planner is well worth every penny to know you’ve hired a professional that you trust and who will be your advocate, ensuring you truly have the wedding of your dreams. StarDust’s wedding planners are all formally educated and certified through the AACWP and have numerous weddings under their utility belts! Contact us to schedule a complimentary consultation and learn how much fun planning your wedding can be with a professional by your side!

 

photo credits: Graham Hobart, Joseph Mark, The Mamones