| Each and every year around 2.5 million weddings | | | | you have been through the interview process, |
| take place nationwide. This means that the | | | | you are not obligated to continue with that |
| number of weddings that will take place in your | | | | particular wedding planner until you sign the |
| immediate area is astounding. Your wedding plans | | | | contract. |
| are going to be affected by number of factors, | | | | So, how can you find a wedding planner, and not |
| because many more weddings will happen at or | | | | just any wedding planner, but a good wedding |
| around the same time as your wedding. | | | | planner? |
| If you want even the tiniest little detail to be | | | | Nowadays, it's probably the easiest to find a |
| taken care of at your wedding, it's recommended | | | | wedding planner on the Internet. But, it's best if |
| that you hire a wedding planner. Hiring a wedding | | | | you know anyone who had had a wedding planner |
| planner can save you a lot of time and money. | | | | for their wedding. Referrals are always the best. |
| The wedding planner will help you coordinate your | | | | But, even if you have to seek help from the |
| wedding and the most important of all the | | | | Internet or the yellow pages, when looking for a |
| wedding planner will save you from frustration. | | | | wedding planner, be sure to ask for his or her |
| So, what is a wedding planner anyway, and what | | | | credentials. Ask for references from each of your |
| does the wedding planner do? | | | | potential wedding planners and research their past |
| A wedding planner (sometimes called a wedding | | | | work. Also, ask to see a few other weddings |
| consultant, wedding coordinator or a wedding | | | | your potential wedding planner has prepared. This |
| producer) is hired to help the bride and groom | | | | will help you make a decision very easily whether |
| coordinate a wide variety of tasks associated | | | | you like the style of that particular wedding |
| with their wedding. Planning your wedding can get | | | | planner or you need to seek another one. Keep a |
| vary frustrating at times, which on the other hand | | | | lookout for the wedding planner you'd like, and |
| will make you forget about the fun that you need | | | | don't hesitate to ask family and friends for |
| to have at your wedding. So, it is a good idea to | | | | suggestions. |
| spend a little bit more on a wedding planner to | | | | Some of the advantages of hiring a wedding |
| make sure your wedding day goes smooth. | | | | planner are, of course saving you from |
| A wedding planner can help plan many aspects of | | | | frustration; money savings, since most wedding |
| your wedding, including DJs, floral arrangements, | | | | planners have connections in the industry; solving |
| cake, seating arrangements, invitations, | | | | your wedding problems; low stress since your |
| photography, and so on. In some cases, a | | | | wedding planner is there to pick up the slack |
| wedding planner might be able to use his or her | | | | should a problem arises. |
| industry connections with vendors to get you a | | | | But, there could also be some disadvantages, such |
| good deal on many things. | | | | as: overconfident (ego) wedding planner may try |
| The wedding planner will conduct an interview with | | | | to convince you into having a wedding of "his or |
| the bride-to-be and the groom-to-be, and then | | | | her dreams" and not the wedding of your |
| coordinate the details of the wedding that have | | | | dreams. If you're a person who likes to be known |
| been agreed upon. A good wedding planner will be | | | | or to show off, hiring a wedding planner may not |
| able to assist in organizing, budgeting and | | | | be a good idea as they will be in charge of your |
| purchasing services for your wedding. A good | | | | wedding. Another disadvantage could be that you |
| wedding planner after the interview will put a | | | | may accidentaly hire a scam artist who may not |
| contract together that you and him or her need | | | | have done any weddings while broadcasting his or |
| to sign. Without a contract there's a lot of room | | | | her enormous experience. That's why it is vital to |
| for misunderstanding and confusion of what was | | | | do a thorough research on the wedding planners |
| agreed between you and your wedding planner. | | | | of your interest. |
| In the contract or often referred to as a letter of | | | | So, how much does a wedding planner cost? |
| agreement, the wedding planner will include the | | | | If you hire a wedding planner expect their fee to |
| services that the he or she is expected to | | | | be anywhere between 5% and up to 20% of |
| perform, the cost of these services and the | | | | your total wedding budget. At the end of the day |
| payment terms. | | | | it will be your decision whether you want to |
| When you receive the contract, if there's anything | | | | concentrate on the fun that you will have at your |
| you do not agree with or anything not to your | | | | wedding while your wedding planner takes care of |
| desire, discuss it with your wedding planner before | | | | the details, or you want to be in charge of the |
| signing it. When you sign the contract, you and | | | | details that will make hiring a wedding planner a |
| your soon to-be wedding planner have to agree | | | | waste of money. |
| on all of the items listed to avoid any possible | | | | Have fun interviewing those wedding planners. |
| misunderstanding. But remember: even though | | | | |