Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Wedding and Event Planners

Planning an event can be a daunting task, especially if you have never planned one before. A lot of thought, time and research goes into each decision and it can be overwhelming, especially for such an important event. Even though times are tough for a lot of people financially right now, it may be more important now, than ever, to consider a planner. Not just for piece of mind, but also for budget help. A good planner can do amazing things with a small budget.

Wedding and event planners offer an array of services that even the tightest of budgets can accommodate if you plan accordingly. Each planner is different, but most offer, a complete coordination package where they will plan your entire event and be there the day of, a mid-level package where they come in closer to the event date to help tie up loose ends and execute everything the day of the event, and a day of package where they implement everything you planned for your special day. A number of them also offer a la carte packages, so if you need help on smaller, more specific tasks, more often than not, they can help.

If complete coordination isn't in your budget, consider a day of package. After over a year of planning and making sure each detail is perfect, you don't want to have to worry about anything on your special day, and you shouldn't have to. If there is a snafu the day of your wedding, without a planner, you and your fiance will be the ones fielding the questions and trying to right whatever went wrong.

Consider the following:
-What happens if there is a problem with your timeline and something is off? You don't want the head waiter or photographer coming up to you because dinner has to be pushed back. Let your planner do the worrying. Because 9 times out of 10, if there is a problem, and you have a planner, it will be taken care of long before you even know it existed. Your planner will be your liaison between you and your team of professionals.
-Even if not hired to help plan your entire event, some planners offer vendor assistance and consultations. They can help you find the right professionals for you! This will save you time and aggravation as they do the calling and research, so you don't have to.
-Planners are a wealth of knowledge and are great to bounce idea’s off of. They will give you impartial, honest feedback, which is invaluable when trying to plan a wedding - especially if your friends and family are just telling you what they think you want to hear.
-Thanks to your planner, the rest of the professionals you hired will all know what to do when, and be on the same page. A good planner will be their leader and have a solid timeline for all of them to follow. This makes the event that much more fun because each professional can concentrate on what they are good at, and that in turn, keeps your special day running smoothly.

Hiring a planner can stretch the budget a bit, but it will be worth it for the piece of mind you will get from knowing you and you're event are in good hands. And instead of worrying on your special day, you will get to enjoy every second of it!

-Becky