| The cost of today's average wedding has gotten | | | | options. The problem with the percentage charge |
| so high, you might think that the application of the | | | | is that it creates an incredible conflict of interest |
| word "budget" doesn't apply. | | | | for the planner. In essence, the more your |
| Of course you'd be wrong. | | | | wedding costs you, the more the planner gets |
| Whether you're spending $3,000 (far below | | | | paid. That's the opposite of how it should work, in |
| average, even in the least expensive areas of the | | | | my opinion! Most planners are ethical, and they live |
| U.S., but I know several people who've done it | | | | and die by recommendations, so they're unlikely |
| quite successfully) or you're spending $30,000 | | | | to triple your expenses just to increase their cut, |
| (only a bit about the average cost of a wedding | | | | but at some level of consciousness, it's just not |
| today, so average means plenty of people spend | | | | encouraging them to watch every penny in the |
| more), you still need a budget. | | | | way that I, personally, would like. If you're |
| A budget isn't necessarily an attempt to spend | | | | working with a planner who charges a percentage |
| less. It's a plan for where you'll spend the money | | | | (15% is typical), talk about paying them a |
| you do spend, regardless of the amount. | | | | percentage of your budgeted wedding costs |
| I hope you're among the lucky few who can | | | | (rather than actual costs), plus a percentage of |
| afford to spare no expense when planning the | | | | any amount they can come in under budget. |
| wedding of your dreams. On the other hand, I | | | | Essentially offer them a bonus for coming in |
| know some fairly wealthy people, and I don't | | | | under budget. This will somewhat offset the |
| know anyone who didn't angst to a certain extent | | | | innate conflict of interest in the percentage-based |
| over the cost of their wedding. | | | | payment structure. |
| Most people simply can't afford or just would | | | | An hourly fee at least solves the problem that |
| rather not to empty their savings and run up their | | | | the percentage fee causes, but it causes an |
| credit for their wedding. Wedding's have this | | | | analogous problem with time. When a wedding |
| somewhat scary habit of being rapidly followed by | | | | planner (or any vendor) charges you by the hour, |
| even MORE expensive things to spend your | | | | they lose their incentive to move fast, and you |
| hard-earned money on, more permanent things, | | | | have very little control over this. Since you're not |
| like buying a house and having a baby (or 2). | | | | doing the work, it's tough for you to say exactly |
| Trickier still is the fact that many brides (the | | | | how long it should take. If you're working with a |
| traditional planners of weddings) are marrying a bit | | | | wedding planner who charges by the hour, set a |
| later in life, when they're well ensconced in a | | | | maximum number (or range) of hours you'll pay |
| career and don't have their weekdays free for | | | | for, while making sure that the planner agrees |
| interviewing wedding vendors and sampling cake. | | | | that the maximum you set is an adequate |
| Do Wedding Planners Cost or Save? | | | | amount of time to plan your entire wedding. |
| Of course professional wedding planners have to | | | | Planners who charge a flat fee for each specific |
| be paid, so in that way they obviously cost you. | | | | service they provide give you great flexibility. You |
| However an argument can be made (and is | | | | don't have to hire them to plan every part of |
| made, both by wedding planners themselves and | | | | your wedding. If you want them to handle the |
| by brides who've been happy with their | | | | venue and catering, while you hire your cousin's |
| professional planners) that having a professional | | | | band and have your mom make your dress, you |
| wedding planner can save you money in other | | | | have lots of flexibility in paying for just the |
| areas. An experienced wedding planner is involved | | | | services you need, but no others. Also, by |
| in several weddings each year. This means that | | | | charging a flat fee per service, the planner |
| they'll have ongoing relationships with certain | | | | maintains all normal (and desirable) goals to get |
| wedding vendors, and it behooves those vendors | | | | the work done quickly and inexpensively. They |
| to cut the wedding planner a break on prices, so | | | | don't get paid more for failing at one of those |
| that she'll continue to use their services at all of | | | | goals, as they do with the other payment |
| the weddings she's involved with. | | | | methods. |
| **************************** Aside | | | | Unfortunately, planners dislike this payment |
| ****************************** | | | | structure because they fear that there will be |
| Not that it affects your budget, but it also | | | | something unusually difficult about your wedding, |
| behooves wedding vendors to keep wedding | | | | and they'll have to eat the cost of dealing with it. |
| planners happy with the service the vendor | | | | Particularly wedding planners who are new to the |
| provides. As an individual, you're not likely to see | | | | field feel uncomfortable trying to predict ahead of |
| these vendors again after you finish your wedding | | | | time how much time and effort it will take to |
| (at least not for a good long while, preferably not | | | | provide the services you require. If you propose |
| ever). A wedding planner, on the other hand, will | | | | the use of this payment structure to a wedding |
| see these vendors again and again; she's a repeat | | | | planner who normally charges differently, make it |
| customer for them. | | | | clear that you're aware of this concern and find it |
| Vendors will, of course, value a repeat customer | | | | reasonable. Discuss the fact that you're willing to |
| more than a one-time customer. They will convey | | | | accept add-on charges (probably by the hour) if |
| this value with financial breaks and extra-good | | | | an unusual situation, beyond the planner's control, |
| service. If push comes to shove, they may | | | | occurs. As with all types of wedding planners, be |
| convey it by giving a wedding planner something | | | | sure to ask to speak to references, and talk to |
| (such as service on a popular date or that includes | | | | these brides-who-have-gone-before-you about |
| a hand-to-find item) that they have to take away | | | | exactly what the wedding planner did and didn't do |
| from an individual bride. I know a bride who was | | | | for each service she provided. |
| promised a wedding venue for a specific date and | | | | Keep in mind that just because a particular |
| then a week later the venue canceled on her, | | | | wedding planner usually charges clients a certain |
| because they had a "repeat customer" who | | | | way, doesn't mean they can't get paid by another |
| wanted that date and was willing to pay extra. My | | | | method. Most wedding planners are freelance |
| friend was not given the opportunity to pay extra | | | | agents, who can define their own rules for how |
| or to outbid the repeat customer. She just lost | | | | they get paid. Perhaps they've always charged |
| the date. | | | | percentages in the past, but that doesn't mean |
| **************************** Aside | | | | they couldn't agree to get paid a flat fee for |
| ****************************** | | | | specific services for your wedding, if that's the |
| If you find a wedding planner with a great | | | | only way you're willing to pay. Of course you |
| reputation (with both brides and local vendors), | | | | must be aware that this also means that they |
| you may get the best of everything: A wedding | | | | can walk away and not take you as a client, if |
| planner who can easily get you top-notch vendors | | | | they really don't want to accept the payment |
| and negotiate powerful bargains. | | | | structure you're interested in. |
| Even with a terrific wedding planner in your | | | | Negotiate with a wedding planner just as you |
| employ, you should still do your own research and | | | | would with any other vendor. Remember that |
| talk to your planner with a strict budget in mind. If | | | | you're hiring them. They are your hired help. If |
| the planner can't control costs adequately, it's | | | | you don't like their terms, you can find a different |
| always your responsibility to offer cost-saving | | | | wedding planner to contract with. You're the one |
| ideas of your own. If your wedding planner | | | | holding all the cards. Play them. |
| doesn't stick to your budget, then she's the one | | | | --Debbie MacGuffie is a professional technical and |
| who did a poor job, but it's still you who are out | | | | non-fiction writer and the co-author of an amazing |
| the money. The extra cost doesn't come out of | | | | new ebook that will teach you how to use simple |
| the planner's pocket! | | | | steps to keep your wedding vendors from |
| Still, no wedding planner is likely to save you more | | | | wasting thousands of dollars from your wedding |
| than she charges you. Hiring a wedding planner will | | | | budget. |
| result in higher financial wedding costs for you. | | | | -=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- |
| The area in which an excellent planner will certainly | | | | Do you know how to keep your wedding vendors |
| save you, however, is in time. You'll need to | | | | from creating a wedding that they love, but you |
| invest far fewer hours toward organizing and | | | | hate? |
| ensuring the details of your wedding if you hire a | | | | "Don't Let Them Ruin Your Wedding" reveals the |
| wedding planner than if you don't. | | | | simple secrets for making sure that you and your |
| The question for you to answer is whether you | | | | vendors create the wedding of YOUR dreams. |
| have more time or more money to invest in your | | | | Click Here> |
| wedding. Only you can answer that. | | | | -=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- |
| What's The Cost | | | | ** Attn Ezine editors / Site owners ** |
| Wedding planners can charge you in any of three | | | | Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in |
| ways: | | | | your ezine or on your site so long as you leave all |
| - A percentage of the total cost of your wedding | | | | links in place, do not modify the content and |
| - An hourly charge | | | | include our resource box as listed above. |
| - A flat fee per specific services | | | | If you do use the material please send us a note |
| Although it's the least common, I recommend | | | | so we can take a look. Thanks. |
| looking for vendors who use the last of those | | | | |