Planning a wedding can be an exciting journey, but as you start thinking about all the details, decisions, and research involved, it can quickly become overwhelming. With a full-time job or other commitments, finding time and energy to plan can be challenging, even with a helpful family member. But what happens when a family member’s opinions become too much or the wedding weekend arrives and they want to enjoy the fun? This is where a wedding planner can step in and alleviate the stress, guide you through the decision-making process, and ensure that you and your loved ones can fully enjoy the day.
Wedding planners are industry experts who can offer invaluable resources to create a personalized, beautiful, and seamless event 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 what most consider the “fun” parts of the planning process (menu tasting, design, etc.) while they handle the logistics and back and forth details with the vendors involved.
Many planning companies, like Divine Inspirations Weddings, offer a variety of packages ranging from Wedding Management to Enhanced Full Planning. These packages may vary between planning companies, however, at the core of what all these packages include is ensuring the 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:
-Starts helping you with the planning process around six months prior to the wedding. Starting with a kick off call at the one year mark.
-Assists in communicating final details and logistics with vendors you selected
-Creates a comprehensive wedding weekend timeline to share with vendors as well as you and your wedding party
-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 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 weekend timeline to share with vendors as well as you and your wedding party
-Is onsite on the wedding day directing vendors and ensuring the timeline is being followed and the day runs smoothly
While planning packages offer many essential services, there are countless other tasks that your planner can do to ensure a stress-free and enjoyable experience for you and your loved ones. Some of these unknown services are
1.Sews back the groomsmen’s broken bowtie or broken bridesmaids dress
2.Makes an extra boutonniere when one breaks
3.Fashions a bustle out of safety pins and thread underneath your dress when yours breaks
4.Wipes down your ceremony chairs after unexpected rain shower
5.Helps you pee
6.Makes sure you get appetizers, dinner, and your favorite beverage in hand all night
7.Makes sure there is a plate and forks by your cake before you cut it so that your ceremonial slice has a place to go
8.Calls 911 discreetly when one of your guests has a medical emergency
9.Makes sure you have your room key/phone/wallets at the end of the night before you leave
10.Stops drunk guests or unplanned guests from getting on the mic to give a toast or speech
To name a few;)
Ultimately, a wedding planner is an essential investment that brings expertise, experience, and peace of mind to your special day. Trust your planner and know that they have your best interests at heart
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Thank you for shedding light on the invaluable role of wedding planners and the enchanting features of this venue. Your insights not only highlight the beauty and versatility of the space but also reassure us of the seamless and personalized experience a planner can provide. It’s comforting to know that every detail, big or small, will be handled with care, allowing couples to truly enjoy their day to the fullest. I’m inspired by the possibilities and grateful for the expert guidance offered here.