Found the special one? Check. The proposal? Check. Now it’s time to start the wedding planning. You may be thinking, “Where do I start?” as the stress begins to sink in.
Step One: Find a Wedding Planner
Finding the right wedding planner is almost as important as finding the right person to spend the rest of your life with. Ok, not quite. But your wedding planner can make or break your wedding experience and that is a big deal.
Not all wedding planners are created equal. The planning process can be overwhelming but our team works together to shoulder the stress so you can sit back, communicate your wants and enjoy the ever-so-magical journey. A wedding coordinator should never cause you stress or frustration. Rather, they should make the process as easy and fun as possible.
Here are 9 Questions to Ask Yourself When Meeting with Wedding Planners
1. How Experienced Are They?
If you’re paying for a wedding planner, you shouldn’t have to make phone calls to vendors and venues. That is the planner’s job. An experienced wedding planner takes charge and accounts for every single detail. Find out how long a potential wedding planner has been in business and whether or not they have worked on weddings like yours, whether it be large or small, an in-person, virtual, or hybrid event, etc.
With over 10 years of experience in the wedding planning industry, we have connections with the best vendors and venues in the business, making us a one-stop shop for wedding planning. Make sure that the planner you use has forged valuable connections that they can leverage on your behalf.
2. How Busy Are They?
Does your wedding planner take on so many clients that they take days to get back to you? Avoid planners that have gotten so big that they have lost their personal touch. Some firms (including ours) actually limit the number of clients they accept each month. This helps ensure that they will never get so big that they can’t make every customer feel like their only customer. Ask potential planners about their strategies for staying focused on each customer’s unique needs.
3. Are They Organized?
You will get a pretty good idea of how organized a planner is in your very first meeting with them. Are they organized in thought? Does their office look well put together and neat? Do they seem calm and collected or disheveled and scatter-brained? A first impression can tell you a lot, so trust your gut! Ask to see their charts and wedding plans from previous weddings. They should be efficient at:
- Tracking the payment schedule for vendors
- Keeping detailed notes on each vendor’s contracted services
- Creating a timeline for the big day
- Keeping a checklist of what has been done and what needs to be done
They should have an organized system that helps the planning and event flow perfectly.
4. Are They Good at Communicating?
This is one of the most important questions to ask yourself. What method do they use to communicate (phone, text, email, etc.)? And do they communicate their plan of action well or simply steamroll ahead with what they think is best? A wedding coordinator should keep you in the loop and communicate what is going on throughout the wedding planning process. You and your partner are the key decision-makers, and it should be all about you and your wants. Effective communication is non-negotiable.
5. How Responsive Are They?
Do they take days or even weeks to get back to you? That is a big no-no. You’re paying for a service, and it is unacceptable to be left in the dark for days. Not hearing from your planner can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety. That is the last thing you need while planning your wedding. Ask them up-front how quickly they plan to respond to your requests; that way, you can hold them accountable later on. Your wedding planner should typically reply to you within 24 hours.
6. How Budget Savvy Are They?
Are they only capable of throwing large-scale, extravagant and expensive weddings? Do they honor your budget and stick with it? If you have a tight budget with no wiggle room, then this is an extremely important topic to bring up. If you choose services that are out of your budget then it is their job to inform you of realistic costs. If something you want does not fit your budget, your planner should be honest and upfront while helping you choose a different option. Imagine thinking they are sticking to your budget and then being stuck with a hefty bill after your wedding. If budget is a top priority for you then it should be a top priority for your wedding planner as well.
7. Are They Good Problem Solvers?
Things do not always go as planned. Will your wedding planner buckle under pressure? Or do they take the reins and impressively solve every problem that arises? Ask them how they’ve solved problems that have been raised for other couples. They should be well-equipped to handle unforeseen circumstances that may arise and keep the wedding on track without losing their composure.
8. Are They Detail-Oriented?
This seems like a given for a wedding planner, but you’d be surprised. There is so much that goes into wedding planning. Attention to detail should be one of their primary traits. Being detail-oriented is required to incorporate all the details of who, what, when, where and how. They should be thinking of the little things so that you don’t have to.
9. Are They a Pro Negotiator?
One of the biggest reasons couples decide to hire a wedding planner is to negotiate contracts on their behalf. A professional planner most likely has relationships with certain vendors and can get the best deal possible for products and services.
An experienced wedding planner will have an efficient plan in place that is organized and thorough. At Andrew Roby Events, we are highly experienced, organized, responsive, detail-oriented, and we limit the number of clients we take on so we can focus on you. It is extremely important to us that your wedding planning experience is seamless and fun and that your big day is as magical as you’ve always imagined. Ready to hire a wedding or micro wedding planner? Give us a call.