Hiring a wedding planner will be one of your first and most important decisions in the process of planning a wedding. It’s worth it for many couples. Wedding planners know how to coordinate and can get you exclusive vendors. They also help manage budgets and may even save you some money.
It is important to choose a wedding planner who has the right knowledge, experience, and can deliver exactly what you want. Where do you begin? Three industry experts helped us to decide which wedding planner would be best for you and your partner.
Know Your Vision
It’s important to have a clear vision of your wedding before choosing a planner. This may happen during the planning process, with the right guidance.
The best advice she can give couples is to know themselves and what they want out of their wedding. “I was recently engaged and I am enjoying being the other side of this table. I enjoy creating the vision and the decor for the reception, but I need my planner to also be an excellent organizer, who can send emails to vendors, schedule meetings, etc. Choose a planner whose strengths are opposite to your weaknesses so that they can fill in the gaps.
Ask Your Social Network
Your network is a great place to start when looking for the right wedding planner. Ask your friends and family for recommendations and start a list. “Ask around. Who planned a wedding you loved about their planner. You’ll get first-hand information about what it was really like to work with the planner.
Scour Social Media
Social media is used to book hotels, find restaurants and plan vacations. Why not also use social media to find a wedding coordinator? We recommend checking Instagram to see if [the planner] has organized real events that match your wedding style. Follow up by doing a thorough analysis of their actual wedding experience. Read their reviews on Google or The Knot. Visit their website to see if they have a voice that fits yours.
Check out Magazines, Websites and Events
You can also find a planner that suits your needs by using other resources. Couples should look at local resources, such as bridal shows and open houses. These are two great ways for couples to learn how wedding planners interact with them. Check out magazines and websites that deal with wedding planning. Look at the credits of a wedding that you love to see. This will help you find the planner.
Ask Your Venue
You may already have selected the venue you want to use when you are looking for the right planner. Ask the coordinator or the director of sales if they know of any excellent wedding planners that are familiar with your dream venue.
Match Your Aesthetic
Consider your theme when choosing a wedding planner. Check that the planner you are considering has done weddings with the same style and feel as yours. During the initial meeting with your planner they should add to your ideas and visions in a manner that will make you feel confident they know what you want to portray at your wedding.
Talk about Budget and Fees
You’ll also need to ensure that the wedding planner you choose fits within your budget. Double-check before you commit that you are on the same page about the services you require for your wedding. How much assistance you need (day-of event management, partial or full planning), then look at the planner’s price model. If you’re looking for a package that allows you to add more services later, look for a planner who offers customizable pricing.
“What you’re investing in is the wedding planning experience that a wedding coordinator has, their ability to anticipate any problem or issue ahead of time, and a list of incredible vendors they can refer you to, to name a few.”
Identify shared values
You will be spending a great deal of time with your planner. They will be involved in an extremely personal moment in you and your partner’s lives. The planner or company you choose must be able to work with the style and vibe of your wedding.
You should spend time finding someone with whom you are comfortable and in complete sync. For us, it is similar to a first date. If we have a great call with a couple we are giddy, and we can’t wait for the next step. You and your partner both should be feeling the same when you make your decision.
Double-Check Services
It’s not enough to find a planner who matches your aesthetic. You also need to make sure that they offer the services you require. It’s important to have access to a planner via phone or email so you feel comfortable asking questions and feeling taken care of before the wedding. You would want to be sure that your planner will communicate and coordinate with your vendors in the lead-up to your wedding so that you are able to rest assured everything is on time.
You may also want to confirm that they can provide other services, such as drafting your daily schedule and reviewing contracts.
Prepare for the First Meeting
Ask them what you should bring with you to the meeting once you have done your research. The answer will depend on your current planning stage and the services that you hope they’ll provide.
When we meet a couple the first time, it is important to us to get to know them. Finding the right match is the key to a successful wedding. We spend so much of our time communicating with clients via email, text, and phone that it can feel forced if there is no chemistry. The end result will be affected. Bring yourself and a bit of information about your vision for the wedding day, as well as basic details about what has been booked.
Find an Advocate
When you make your final decision, consider whether your planner is your best advocate. When you are looking for a planner, it is important to not feel judged. When you’re looking for a wedding planner, you shouldn’t feel judged or made to feel silly in any way.
The planner may not be the best fit for you if a call or meeting causes you to feel stressed.
Trust Your Gut
Finding a wedding planner in Auckland who feels right is the most important part of your search. You can trust your gut instinct to make the right choice. Your wedding planner is a teammate. It should feel as if you have someone working with you on your vision.
