Why Should I Hire A Wedding Planner - (Hint, They Save You A Lot!)
Believe it or not, I hear this question a lot from couples and their families. Often, it’s followed by “I won’t need one, as I have my mum/sister/maid of honour/great aunt/family greyhound” (delete as appropriate), and even more often it’s followed by “Aren’t they really expensive?” So for this blog, I thought I’d get straight to the point and give you the main reasons why hiring a wedding planner will be the best wedding decision you make. (And I’m not just saying that either – one of my jobs is to make sure you’re making the best choices for your wedding, for yourselves and for your budget. I wouldn’t say it if it weren’t true!)
Saving You Time
And we’re talking A LOT here. They say that on average, weddings nowadays take 250 hours to plan – think what else you could be doing with those 11 solid 24 hour days! Now, this time obviously doesn’t happen as one massive chunk in your diary, but it still needs to be slotted into it. Whether it’s due to full-on careers, family commitments, a thriving social calendar, or all three, finding this extra time can prove challenging, and can be a source of great stress. Hiring a wedding planner will give you this time back, and crucially do so without you relinquishing control over your big day. A good wedding planner will be able to reduce the time you spend on tiresome and admin heavy tasks, freeing you up to get on with enjoying the fun parts of planning your wedding - after all, who doesn't want to attend the odd cake tasting or two?
Saving You Money
I know – shocker, right? This probably seems at odds with what you’d imagine a wedding planner would do for your wedding. You’re obviously paying out extra for a wedding planner’s services, so how could this save you money? Well, a good wedding planner is worth their weight in gold, as they bring a wealth of experience in the wedding industry that means they can actually help maximise your budget. Your wedding planner will work tirelessly to stick within your budget and help focus on ensuring you get value for money, without sacrificing in the areas important to you. Part of how they do this is by expertly matching your requirements to the best and most reputable suppliers in the market. A good wedding planner will have cultivated these relationships and will be in a better position to negotiate the best possible price for their services.
This is especially true when you are getting married in a dry hire or blank canvas space or having a marquee or tipi wedding. Having to create your wedding from scratch without the venue coordinator, catering, or bar services which you would have as a minimum in a more traditional venue can be tough. The amount of research, organising, logistical planning and coordinating of so many additional suppliers can be overwhelming - in effect, you're taking on the role of a project manager over and above the wedding planning itself! With a marquee wedding, this can be even more so as you are physically having to build your wedding venue from the ground up. Instead of being a drain on your budget, having a professional wedding planner to manage this for you is actually a prudent move: they will have a greater level of experience, knowledge and capability in dealing with many of the aspects to be considered with this style of wedding.
Saving You Stress
Sure, weddings are time-consuming and expensive to plan, but they’re also stressful. It can feel like there are too many things to keep on top of: various suppliers, payment schedules, RSVPs, jugging family dynamics, trying to please everyone as well as staying focused on the big picture (you're marrying the person of your dreams, remember?). If you feel overwhelmed, you’re not alone – it’s totally normal and understandable, and that’s why we’re here. A professional wedding planner will be able to manage all these elements without you feeling any of the burden. This lets you concentrate on the important part of wedding planning – having fun, designing your perfect day and counting down the days until you say ‘I do’.
Saving You From Family Drama
One of the main perks my couples have said in feedback is the upside of simply having someone involved in the planning who can advocate for them objectively, without the pressure sometimes placed upon couples by well-meaning friends and family. As a planner, a huge part of my role is being there to lend an ear to listen, as well as offer practical experience in areas my couples may not have even thought of – and as someone more detached from family dynamics, an impartial view is sometimes super helpful!
So… are there any reasons I shouldn’t hire a wedding planner?
Wedding planners are for most people, but it’s worth noting that they’re not necessarily for everyone. If you’re the type of person who struggles to relinquish control, it may be difficult to find a wedding planner you’re 100% happy working with! My job is to minimise the administration for you, which for example includes funnelling down the options based on your vision combined with my knowledge and experience. If you find it hard to let go and consistently second guess what your planner recommends, it can become a much more stressful experience for both parties. Take time to consider if and why you might need a wedding planner and then do your research to get the right fit for you and them. It’ll be worth it in the end - I promise!
