Wedding Planner, or No Wedding Planner?
Is it cheaper to hire a wedding planner, or do it yourself? And, do you hire a planner or a coordinator? (Yes, these are two different things).
When talking with a potential new client, these are some of the questions we get, or talk through - especially when a client is trying to decide between packages/services, and whether they will hire us on the front end or the back end. The disclaimer we will give is that every event is different, as is every coordinator - so, what makes sense for one event/venue/client might not make sense for another. And, what services one planner/coordinator offers is not the same as another. With that said, here are some things to think about when trying to make these decisions.
First and foremost - we stand firm that EVERYONE should have a coordinator or planner for your wedding. Not just because this is the service that we offer - but because there are SO many moving pieces the day of and you truly need someone dedicated to take care of those pieces. Not a cousin or friend who is “willing to help”, but someone who will be there during set up, cue everything, and ensure things are cleaned up (and everything in between).
If you are planning from out of town, or you have a busy job/schedule and aren’t sure you’re able to dedicate the hours needed to plan a wedding - you should definitely hire a planner/coordinator. Is this cheaper than doing it yourself? No. But, it will save you time, hassle, and headache when deadlines arise or you’re trying to find the right vendor. And that’s worth something.
If you have a larger wedding, or multiple events/venues, or a lot of moving pieces, etc. - you should definitely hire help. Whether that’s a planner or coordinator, depends on the pieces.
If you have a strict budget - you should definitely hire a planner. A planner works with you from the start (or close to the start, depending on when you hire them), so they are able to help MAXIMIZE your budget. You may be asking, “but, if I have a strict budget, why would I add an expense to that.?”. Great question - and there are so many reasons. Your planner can help you pick the right venue based on pricing, inclusions, etc. so you reduce fees and expenses elsewhere. A planner can help catch loop holes and call out red flags BEFORE they become an issue (and the budget is gone). There’s nothing worse that telling a client 60 days before the wedding that they missed something in the planning process and now need to scramble to find a vendor they didn’t have budgeted to take care of this issue. A planner can also help guide you towards vendors who suit your needs and budget, and often they can help negotiate rates and pricing. Typically, a planner will more than make up for their expense line in savings elsewhere.
If you like to plan, you’ve hired (or plan to hire) reputable vendors who have experience in your market, you are well organized and are a good decision-maker, you are probably better suited for a coordinator than a full-service planner. A coordinator can help troubleshoot day-of issues, is on site for set up / breakdown, and helps oversee the day to ensure the vision you’ve created comes to life. This allows you and your family to relax and enjoy the day, instead of stressing about napkins and flowers.
Time value - a planner or coordinator can save you time and headache. This alone is worth the money. Whether it be final confirmations, planning the day-of logistics, set up / breakdown, vendor communications, etc. - they are saving you time and stress, which is invaluable.
This is not an exhaustive list, but certainly top of the list of considerations to be made when deciding on a planner or coordinator. If you have more questions about how this works, what a planner or coordinator does, or how it might impact your budget - drop us a line, we are happy to chat.