A wedding is one of the biggest (and arguably most important) events you will ever plan from start to finish all by yourself. You’ve probably been mock-planning it in your head for years and years, maybe even before you got engaged, or if you’re like me – before you even met the man you want to marry! But ideas and fantasies are one thing, actually planning it all is another thing altogether. There’s so much to consider and so much to do to make it all come together. You’ve got the obvious things like the ceremony, the reception venue, the food, the dress and the bridesmaids dresses, but what about all the things you hadn’t even considered? The invitations, the “Save the Date” cards, the wedding favours, the name cards for the tables, the centrepieces for the tables, the flowers, the bouquets, the presents for the mother of the bride etc, the bridesmaid’s shoes, your make-up and hair, your dad’s suit, our usher’s suits, the wedding cars, the DJ, the evening entertainment, the evening food, the present table, the thank you cards… I could go on and on. Each individual thing seems simple, but when put altogether, it can be a logistical nightmare. And on top of all the organising, there’s usually a budget to consider. What’s the going rate for wedding stationary these days? How much should you be spending on a sit down meal? What’s reasonable for wedding entertainment? The only way to find out is to ring around and make enquiries, and that can take an astronomical amount of your time.
Planning a wedding should be a fun and pleasant process, not stressful or confusing. That’s why thousands of brides in the UK are choosing to hire a wedding planner to help organise their special day. With the current financial crisis affecting the country, it’s no surprise that brides are trying to be more thrifty when they’re planning their wedding day. Wherever they can save money, they will, and quite rightly too. Small savings here and there really add up and can cut thousands out of a wedding budget if carefully planned. So why go to the expense of hiring a wedding planner?
A wedding planner is someone who knows weddings intimately. She’ll have organised enough weddings to be able to know what works best, who the best suppliers are, and where it’s possible to make savings and spend your money most wisely. She’ll also be privy to special rates and the occasional discount, so by paying a professional to help you pull off the wedding of your dreams, you could (and probably will) find yourself actually saving money rather than spending more.
Many people are under the illusion that wedding planners are costly and only for the rich and famous, but this is certainly not the case. Wedding planners are there to help you piece together all the little things so that your wedding experience is a happier and stress free one. If you hire a wedding planner, you’ll save yourself a whole lot of money and a whole lot of hassle. According to wedding planners I Do Weddings & Events, a full wedding co-ordination package can cost as little as 10% of your overall wedding budget, which is a reasonably small amount to pay for the ultimate peace of mind it could offer you. And you don’t have to employ a wedding planner for the whole of the planning process.
Many wedding planners now offer an “On the day” service where they come in on the day of your wedding to ensure the smooth running of the day, liasing with caterers, bands, DJ’s and wedding entertainers, coordinating the whole process from start of day to the finish so that you won’t have a thing to do on your wedding day but relax and enjoy. Others, such as Boho Events based in the Midlands, now offer “Boho Hour” in which clients can spend and hour (or several if necessary) talking to a professional wedding planner just to ask questions and get some hints and tips on how to keep within a budget and which pitfalls to avoid. Boho Hour costs as little as £35, which is a bargain when you think of the amount of information and guidance you can benefit from their experience.
If you think you’re happy to source your own venue, choose your own theme and caterers and evening entertainment, but you’re not sure about tying it all together as the big day approaches, many wedding planners including Wedding Design By Kim in the South East now offer a “Halfway There” service. She’ll come in at the “halfway point” and help you get all those loose ends tied off like calling your suppliers to confirm, enlisting new suppliers you hadn’t anticipated, and she’ll be there at the wedding rehearsal and on the day itself to make sure everything runs smoothly.
I have to admit, when I first heard about wedding planners, I assumed they were for the very wealthy, and they were only necessary when organising a huge wedding with a ridiculous budget. But the more I’ve looked into it, the more I am utterly convinced that no bride should be without her wedding planner. Even if you just meet with a planner for a bit of guidance, they’re a complete necessity if you’re new to the wedding scene and you’re not sure what you’re doing. I know I will be booking a session the minute I get engaged. I can barely plan a birthday party without losing my cool, let alone the biggest day of my life!
For more information on hiring a wedding planner for your special day, take a look at these lovely wedding planners and see what they can do to make your planning experience a fun, relaxing and enjoyable time. Their websites are jam packed full of ideas and you’ll find lots of information regarding what they do and how they can help you organise your day.
Wedding Design by Kim – South East England
Boho Weddings & Events – E. Midlands, Derbyshire, Yorkshire & Manchester
I Do Weddings & Events – Somerset
