At this point in your wedding planning journey, you’ve started having healthy conversations with your fiance and family, attempting to get everyone on the same page. Good job! But before we move any further, I have to tell you about my favorite vendor of them all… your Wedding Planner!

If you have minimal knowledge of the vendors in your area or little to no expertise in weddings (being a bridesmaid doesn’t count), then you’ll want to learn all the benefits of hiring a licensed Wedding Planner!

Their job could be to manage your budget, style preferences, and family traditions, help you make smart decisions, communicate with every vendor, create your timelines, as well as manage, direct, and design the entire wedding day so your wedding dreams come to life!

I believe they are worth booking as your first vendor. Keep reading to learn the value they bring to this season of your life!

Pro Tip

Wedding planning is a full-time job that you will add to your already full list of regular life activities.

Licensed Planner vs. Your Mom’s Friend

I hear this all the time, “My mom’s friend is great at bossing people around, so we are going to save some money and let her run the show.”

For small-budget weddings with a very casual vibe, this may be a good option for you. But for all other weddings, there is a key piece to the puzzle that you absolutely cannot go without… expertise.

A licensed Wedding Planner is someone who took the extra step to get educated in all things wedding AND devotes their profession to taking care of brides like you. They bring so much more value to the table that you’ll want to consider having them through every step of the process.

A Wedding Planner’s Value

Knowledge & Expertise

With a couple hundred weddings already under their belt — they’ve seen it all! Unique family dynamics are the norm and problem-solving is their everyday activity.

They continuously work alongside the top vendors in your area, so it’s easy for them to recommend a florist within your budget and dream aesthetics, as well as a venue that fits your guest list and has the best backdrops for portraits.

As you make big budget decisions, licensed Wedding Planners are also great mediators with your fiance and family. For instance, you may have your heart set on an outdoor ceremony in a garden, but your mother always dreamed of you getting married in a church. Your planner can help with harder conversations by providing all the variables needed to move past conflict and into a healthy place of compromise. Who knows — they may even find a venue where both dreams can be met!

PRO TIP

A licensed Wedding Planner can SAVE you money as they can help you manage your overall wedding budget.

Managing the Budget

Before the wedding day, a licensed Wedding Planner takes a ton of responsibility off your plate from scheduling appointments, communicating with vendors, and working through your checklist in a timely manner. But my favorite thing they help manage is the BUDGET. Most brides have a common misconception that a wedding planner will skyrocket their budget. But in actuality, they help you stay under budget so you can rest easy knowing exactly how much you’ll spend!

Directing the Rehearsal

This is one aspect of the wedding weekend that is super important to have someone in charge that knows what they are doing. I’ve been to rehearsals that lasted 2+ hours because so many things were not talked about in advance and the rehearsal was a long-drawn-out communication twister.

Having a Licensed Wedding Planner at your rehearsal, you can expect to have had all of the major decisions talked about prior so that the event is seamless and beneficial for all parties.

To learn more about what goes into the rehearsal, skip ahead here: Rehearsal & Rehearsal Dinner.

Directing the Wedding Day

On the wedding day, a licensed Wedding Planner wants you and your family to relax and be present during every special moment! They are the point person for all questions and navigate problems quickly as they arise. They direct the wedding party and family through the processional and recessional, as well as vendors and guests throughout the events of the wedding day. They can also direct the setup and takedown of any decor and make sure that your candles are lit at the proper time!

And even when they aren’t managing the big things — you can find them putting on boutonnieres, holding the bride’s train, or lighting sparklers for the final exit. They are constantly moving to make sure every detail is perfect for you!

Creative Design

A licensed Wedding Planner is also somewhat of an interior designer — they can design the decor at your rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception spaces! They can elevate your photography portfolio with beautiful, high-end aesthetics that bring your dreams to life! As a photographer, now do you see why they are my favorite vendor? =)

Your Most Important Vendor

Overall, there is nobody else who will put in the work that a licensed Wedding Planner can do for you. They have learned the art of multitasking — logistics, finances, problem-solving, wedding formalities, managing people and relationships, and knowing how to give you a helping hand. In my opinion, they are your most important vendor, so don’t hesitate to book them first!

Short Story

A couple of years ago, I was the second shooter at a wedding in Memphis. The bartender was unable to make the event last minute, so I reached out to a licensed wedding planner — Krisy from Southern Sparkle, who was working her own wedding in Jackson that day. Remarkably, within a mere 10 minutes, she efficiently arranged for a bartender to ensure everything was in place for the reception. This experience underscored the invaluable benefits of having well-established connections in the wedding industry.

What is a Month-of Coordinator?

One size doesn’t fit all — if you don’t think you need a full-time wedding planner to execute every aspect of your wedding, there are also part-time planners and month-of coordinators who put just as much passion into making your dream day perfect. With less responsibility, they will most likely manage the vendors and your guests on the day of your wedding.

***Make sure you have what their role is in WRITING before the big day so that you have someone else present to fill in the gaps of their responsibilities. For instance, they may not be present at the ceremony, so make sure there is someone to put on boutonnieres and corsages!

Questions To Ask Your Wedding Planner

It’s so important to thoroughly vet your wedding planner in the beginning stages of the hiring process. You’ll want to mesh well with this person (or group), so make sure your personalities and design styles are similar as you ask the hard questions upfront.

Here are some good talking points for your consultation:

How would you describe your personality?
How did you get into Wedding Planning? What’s your personal story?
Can you show me images/videos of your work?
How will you direct my friends and family at the wedding & rehearsal?
What services do you offer and what is included with each?
Based on our wedding dreams, which package do you think is best for us?
How many meetings will we have and how will we be involved?
Do you handle professional services, contracts, and payment processing?
How do payments work? Will there be additional expenses on top of your base fee (travel, parking, food)?
Can you walk us through the process of selecting other vendors and how we would be involved?
How many people on your staff will be at the wedding?
Will you create a timeline that tells everyone involved what to do and when to do it?
What happens if you're sick or otherwise unable to be there on the day of our wedding?
Have you planned any other weddings at our venue?
What are some ideas that you have for pulling off our vision?
Do you carry personal liability and professional indemnity insurance?
What about cleanup? Do you provide this or do we need to hire a third-party?
Are there any additional fees that may take place that are not included?
Is there anything else you think we should know?

Final Thoughts

Whether you opt for a licensed Wedding Planner or choose the solo route, I trust you've gathered valuable insights into the intricate workings of your wedding day. Navigating this journey demands thoughtful consideration, and aligning with vendors who genuinely care about your vision will undoubtedly elevate your experience.

Our next focus revolves around best practices to get organized before diving headfirst into the official wedding planning. Let's streamline the process and set the stage for a well-organized and memorable celebration!