You just said YES to your boyfriend who is now your Fiancee. The word fiancee sounds crazy fancy! It’s almost as if you want to say it ALL the time as well as looking down at that sparkling diamond on your left hand (especially while driving) if you’re anything like I was when I was engaged. Enjoy this, enjoy these moments because they are so special! Not long after, you’d typically talk about a wedding date and then book your venue!! Now it’s time to decide on a wedding planner or to DIY planning!
This blog post is all about hiring a professional to take on the large tasks in order to make your job easier. I come from a third generation of women working in the industry. Even I wasn’t adequately prepared for what was going to come the day of, without a professional coordinator. I was able to meet with Taylor Bible last week and had such a refreshing chat with her while seeing behind the scenes the hard work planners truly do. Taylor is a known planner, stylist & coordinator located in Waco & Fredericksburg Texas. She has many weddings under her belt and has wonderful insight that’s meshed within this post as well! You should check her insta while you’re at it!
Time to grab a cup of coffee and read these 10 helpful tips of why to hire a planner, and if you’re someone who would rather save on budget and do the planning yourself with the help of your wedding party or family, this can also be a good read for you. The motive behind these two topics is so great and I want to give you some insight from photographers view, as to why hiring a planner/stylist is very important for your vision, your day and your sanity. You’re welcome 😉
#1 Do you have time to plan yourself?
As Wedding planning is fun for some brides, it isn’t a simple task and takes a lot of time as well as energy. This time and energy is hard to make up after an 8-5 job or any type of job for that matter. It can be done with a lot of dedication which is super rewarding. If you’re a bride that wants to plan all of your details, that’s great because there are still options as to giving it over to a planner/coordinator, the month of your wedding.
But how much more enjoyable could your planning season be if you had someone else to take on this heavy task so that you can enjoy your engaged season rather than stressing about everything that needs to be done?
#2 “I already know what I want, why do I need to hire someone to tell me different?”
You might say you’re particular and know exactly what you want for planning your own wedding. Trust me I know. I’m a wedding photographer and knew exactly what I wanted but I still had scattered thoughts.
What a wedding Stylist can do is simplify your thoughts and make a game plan for your day. They know the in’s and out’s because this is their profession. Where as for most of you, this is your first wedding. Having your thoughts put together with their knowledge is key!
Do your research. You want to find someone that YOUR personality meshes well with. You’ll be spending a lot of time and energy with this person, you want to like them and enjoy working with them. Look up their work… do you like it? Ask how many weddings they have done.
Try to ask as many questions as you can as well as letting them know the overall vision your wanting for your day. If you’re unsure on your vision, they will get ideas of what you like and bring them to reality.
#3 What is your budget
Wedding planners or in other words, wedding savers cost money. I know for some couples it’s just not in the budget which is understandable. Some couples choose to not book a planer due to the cost involved. It’s truly a bummer that budget plays such a large roll in such a big decision that all couples should invest in.
A way to do this within budget is to look at your budget prior to spending a lot of money and try to make it a priority to hire someone. Also, keep in mind to do this as soon as you have a date in mind because they can actually help you with your budget!!! They can refer you to vendors that are within the style you like and your price range or advise against impulse buys that you might have and don’t really need in the long run. They will help you to prioritize what’s most important to you as a couple. That of itself is worth so much to invest in.
Look at the bigger picture, what is your stress level worth to you, if worse case scenario were to happen? Your wedding planner will do everything they can to save whatever issue is going on instead of you stressing about it. Rather than looking at it as a price tag, look at it as what is your sanity worth to you throughout your planning process and on the wedding day. This is a day to throws around unnecessary stress but it will come and every couple deals with it differently.
The best thing I can advise is that you should enjoy your day and the greatest way to do that, is with a planner from start to finish. If budget is still an issue think about hiring then for just the month of your wedding.
#4 My family member has already volunteered to plan!
You might have a family member who has done planning in the past or has experience with large events. If it’s a case where they are a professional and work in this field or have much knowledge on large event planning, then odds are, you should be good to go! I would say, even though this could be saving you money on a possible family discount, to be cautioned because more issues come up from hiring a family members/close friend to be in charge of your planning as well as your whole day then if someone who is an outsider has this role.
If this is a close family member, odd’s are they will be more invested within your day as a guest wanting to celebrate you and chat with other family members or friends they see at your wedding.
Over all, during the planning process Aunt Jane or your great cousin or whoever may volunteer and as nice and thoughtful that is, if this is there first time doing it… how helpful will that actually be? A professional planner can take on responsibilities that are stressful instead of the bride or her family.
#5 RELAX
Wedding planner Taylor Bible states “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard stories from brides that their family member, friend, etc all had a terrible experience on their wedding day because they were SO stressed out.” Since the professionals do weddings ALL THE TIME they are fully aware of what works, what doesn’t work and are full of helpful information.
Taylor also states “We’re like an encyclopedia for weddings” Which from a photographers stand point might I add, she is on point with her statements! Hiring a professional will take off all that stress so you can actually sit back and enjoy the day. You’re paying all this money for your beautiful day, why not enjoy it and let the professional deal with the logistics?
#6 Timelines
I literally cannot stress enough how important it is to have an actual well thought-out timeline. You should receive a timeline from your photographer that goes over the times the images will be taken place but the planner goes even beyond that.
They have a timeline that covers everything! From hair and makeup schedule starting in the morning, to the first look or when all your vendors should be arriving and doing their jobs to even who’s putting the cards and gifts away as well as setting up/breaking down.
Now while you’re busy getting your hair done, mom doesn’t have to stress about making sure your day runs smooth and nothing is missed because your coordinator is behind the scenes getting all the things checked of the list, as well as staying on top of any issues that come up. This 100% will make your day run so smoothly when everyone is on the same page.
#7 Rehearsal Dinner
As you are thinking about your rehearsal dinner, talk with the planner you’re thinking about hiring to see what their fees are for the rehearsal or what’s included in their services! This is a great thing to add on if possible, why?
Because you are the bride and should be rehearsing like everyone else rather than directing yourself. Having someone direct your rehearsal will go a long way and over all save you on stress the night before your wedding.
#8 Why does it matter so much on my stand point, being a photographer?
I want to be transparent and real with my readers in order to think about hiring a planner/coordinator differently. In my experience, I thought I was someone who knew what I was doing because I work in the industry and come from a third generation of women working in the industry.
As I felt I had planning and styling down, I highly lacked in coordinating with being a bride on her wedding day as any bride probably would. I thought I could stay on top of it the day of and give part of the job to my family/friends. Boy was I wrong.
Not saying our families didn’t help us because we would have been lost without all the amazing help and support. But, I myself lacked and needed that one person, that one person who was keeping up with my timeline and all the behind the scenes moments that go into the wedding day. There I was stuck in a back room getting my hair and makeup done to wonder if my vendors where arriving, asking family members to go see what’s going.
All of the time and effort I spent in our timeline wasn’t going as planned by vendors who I thought were on top of it. We missed things we won’t get back, we had mishaps happen with little details, all the way up to right before I walked down the aisle. I or my family didn’t want to stress about it but yet it creeped in. I hear stories of these type of things from other couples as well.
Looking back at our wedding though, I will still smile thinking about it! We are beyond blessed and Mike and I absolutely loved our day, the BEST day of our lives! I just can’t stress enough that if I would have invested in a planner from the getgo, or even the month of, honestly I believe that the stress could have been prevented.
So there you have the 8 tips on why planners. My hope on this blog post is for education you on why planners, stylists and coordinators are called professionals for a reason. Depending on who you hire they do you so much good and I hope that through this blog post you can have a better glimpse of all the hard work they do as well as the stress they can save you on!
If you are someone who is engaged and having struggles or would like to request a blog topic, please leave it in the comments or contact me. Let me know how I can better serve you!
[…] « To Hire a Wedding Planner or to DIY planning? […]