There are so many decisions to make when planning a wedding. From the venue to the wedding caterer, every little detail seems to be more important than the next. A wedding planner is someone who has been down the organizing road many times. So they know all the ins and outs of how to take care of all the little hiccup. But they don’t work for free, so it is an additional expense that you may or may not need. If you are questioning, “Do I need a wedding planner?,” ask yourself these questions to find the answer.
How Much is Your Budget?
The most important part of wedding planning, even before you hire a wedding planner, is to set a budget in stone. If you don’t put down real and concrete numbers, it is easy for spending to get out of control. Once you set your budget and break it down by what you have to have and what you need; you can better see if a wedding planner is within your budget.
How Much Time do you Want to Allocate to Your Wedding Planning?
For some couples, planning a wedding is what they have dreamed of their entire lives. For others, organizing their big day is nothing short of a nightmare. If you both have full-time jobs and consider yourselves to be very busy, a wedding planner might be an asset. A wedding planner does all the work behind the scenes, and they bring the choices to you. That means you won’t be running all over town looking for a wedding cake designer. Or, spending afternoon after afternoon calling around to get information, or to make appointments. If you want to spend minimal time planning your big day, then the answer to “Do I need a wedding planner?” might be yes.
How Picky are you?
If you don’t have a clue about how to throw a party, or even where to begin to sort out the details, then working with a wedding planner will be a breeze. But if you are someone who considers themselves to be somewhat controlling, you might spend more time arguing than getting anything done. For brides and grooms who know what they want, a wedding planner is someone who might get in the way.
Are you are Having a Destination Wedding?
If you are having a destination wedding, then it can be hard to navigate things from far away. A destination wedding might seem like a perfect way to skip the hassle and formality of traditional weddings. But planning them does not come without some significant communication issues. A wedding planner can be your eyes and ears on the ground to see things that you can’t Let’s face it, when you look at things on the internet, photographers are paid to make things appear perfect. But sometimes when you see them in real life, they look nothing like what was represented in advertising.
Did you try to Plan but Find Yourself Caught up in the Small Details?
Once the date has been set and guests are RSVPing, there is no time to procrastinate. If you are halfway in and only a quarter way planned, then a planner might be a way to save your big day. They can save you from being overwhelmed, and making rash decisions that you won’t be happy with. Remember, it is never too late to hire someone to help. So even if you thought you could handle it, only to find out you couldn’t, a wedding planner can come in in the first quarter or ninth hour to help
If you do Plan to Hire a Wedding Planner
After going through the list, if you have weighed the pros and cons and come to the conclusion that you would like to hire a wedding planner, then comes another hurdle, how do you choose a wedding planner? The best advice I can provide is to find someone who is well established in the area, comes highly recommended, and matches your personality style. If you want someone with a strong hand to push you to make decisions, you aren’t going to like someone who is passive and just gives you too many options. And in the same respect, if you aren’t someone who wants to be rushed, choose a wedding planner who will present options and then give you time to make your own decisions.
I have been in the wedding catering business for a long time. And there are some people who need a little outside help, and others who can plan their wedding like they were born for it. There is no shame in asking for help, just make sure that you find someone you want to work with. After all, part of the fun of having a wedding is planning to make it your own. At Catering by the Deft Chef, we understand it is your big day. And we seek to make sure that the food we serve is all that you have always wished for. Contact us today to save your special day, whether you have a wedding planner on board, or not!