Photos by: Dreamlife, Joy & Everette, Hazel Eyes Photography, Corey Lynn Tucker Photography, Photography by Alfonso, DNA Photography, and Kimberly Coccagnia
Planning a wedding can be such a fun and exciting experience!. However, once you start thinking about all the details, decisions you have to make, and research to be done, it can quickly become an overwhelming experience. This is likely your first time planning a wedding, or an event of this size! On top of that, you probably have a full-time job or other commitments where you need to spend your time. Sure, you may have a family member that is really good at organizing things and has more free time to help, but what happens when their opinions become overwhelming, or the wedding weekend arrives, and they want to enjoy the fun? That’s one of the many scenarios where a wedding planner can step in to help!
As wedding planners, we help you through the research and decision-making process, keep you on track, and ensure you and your family and friends can enjoy the moment. Wedding planners are experts in the event industry and can be an invaluable resource in what it takes to coordinate an event that is not only personalized to you but beautiful and logistically sound, all while respecting your budget. A planner allows you, and anyone else involved in the planning process, the chance to focus on the overall details and the “fun” parts of the planning process (menu tasting, design, etc.) while they handle the logistics and back & forth details with the vendors involved.
Many planning companies, like ours, offer a variety of packages ranging from event management (also known as day-of coordination) to full-service planning. These packages may vary between planning companies, but at the core all of these packages ensure your wedding day runs smoothly. Sounds simple, right? The reality is your planner will spend anywhere from 30-40 hours on an event management package and 150+ hours for a full-service package -and around an average of 12 hours straight on your wedding day alone!
Let’s briefly break down the high-level difference between an event management package and a full-service package, and what a planner might be responsible for in each of these offerings:
Event Management:
Typically steps into the planning process around 2-3 months prior to the wedding
Assists in communicating final details and logistics with vendors you’ve contracted
Creates a comprehensive wedding day timeline to share with you and your vendors
Is onsite on the wedding day directing vendors and ensuring the timeline is being followed and the day runs smoothly
Full-Service:
Is with you from the beginning, sometimes even before you have selected a date and location
Assists you in establishing a vision and realistic budget
Connects you with professional vendors to bring your vision to life and will review all contracts
Communicates all details and logistics with vendors throughout the entire planning process
Helps create a cohesive design based on your vision and budget
Is there to guide you during the planning, providing etiquette guidance on aspects such as invitations, family situations, and wedding day flow
Creates a comprehensive wedding day timeline to share with you and your vendors
Is onsite on the wedding day directing vendors and ensuring the timeline is being followed and the day runs smoothly
Planning packages offer a long list of services and details a planner will do to help make the wedding process stress-free and enjoyable for you and your family. However, in addition to that long list of service offerings, there are so many more services not listed to help make your wedding day seamless and let your friends and family have the experience of a lifetime. Some of these unknown services are:
Sew the groomsmen’s button back on his jacket
Makes an extra boutonniere when one falls apart
Sews your bridesmaid into her dress when the zipper breaks
Changes your shoes when you can't reach
Gives your partner a band aid and Advil before the ceremony
Helps your photographer/videographer to get the perfect shot (think throwing your veil in the air for a wind-blown shot, crouching behind you holding dress so it doesn’t get dirty, etc.)
Bustles your dress perfectly without being at any of your alteration appointments
Checks you into your guest room, drops off your luggage, and gives you your guest room key, so you can enjoy the after party
So, a wedding planner is so much more than someone who shows up on the wedding day and tells people what to do! It’s important to trust your planner and know they have your best interest in mind. They are experts in their field and have seen a thing or two when it comes to weddings!!
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