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The professional wedding planner can be your greatest asset during your wedding planning months. Planning a wedding can consume you, turning into a full time job! With today’s couples having careers and commitments, their busy lifestyles now have another added assignment – planning the wedding.
Hiring a wedding planner can prove to be time efficient.
Your planner has already researched wedding service providers within many budget ranges and can assist you with choosing the right service provider for your event. Your planner will be with you on your big day making sure every detail is how you planned and allowing parents, family and friends to enjoy every moment…no stress for anyone! Think of your planner as your insurance policy…making sure every wheel turns as it should.
Planners can assist you with everything from your engagement announcement and rehearsal dinner to your honeymoon arrangements with a variety of service plan options. The following two services are the most common services offered by most professional wedding planners ~
1. Full Service
Usually the most costly and time consuming with approximately 60 – 100 hours of work for the planner. If you want assistance from beginning to end and every detail in-between this would be the service for you. Of course, the planner is with you on your wedding day from start to finish. Hire the planner as soon as you have chosen your wedding date.
2. Day-of Coordination
For the bride who has done all of the work and has hired all of the wedding service providers. Now she wants someone to make sure her months of planning unfold exactly how she planned it. This service can range anywhere from 25 – 40 hours of work for the planner and will be much less costly than the full service option. After meetings with the bride and groom and contacting all the wedding service providers, the wedding planner will know every detail – probably even more than the bride. On your wedding day, your planner will be there to ensure everything runs just as you desire.
Some wedding planners offer additional services such as ~
• Ceremony Only – for the couple needing someone to coordinate the rehearsal and direct at the church ceremony.
• Location Services – assistance with finding ceremony and/or reception locations.
• Invitation and Calligraphy – help with proper wording, placing your order, and calligraphy services.
• Vendor Services – finding wedding service providers within your style and budget.
Wedding planners set their own fees.
Some will structure their fees based on a percentage (10% - 15%) of the total wedding budget while others use a flat rate. The flat rate is based on the information (location, formality, size, details, etc) the bride gives the planner. The planner then calculates what the appropriate rate would be for the wedding.
Don’t think of a wedding planner as a luxury that only wealthy brides can afford. The highly organized professional planner will prove to be invaluable to you.
As with all of your wedding service providers, be sure to get references. Call former brides and ask if they were satisfied with the service provided. Also, check bridal associations for the consultant’s accreditations.
Article submitted by Holly Stasiak. Holly is a professional wedding planner. You can contact her at holly@apassionforweddings and view her website at www.apassionforweddings.com
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