| The Ultimate Wedding Planning Kit: From America’s Top Wedding Experts, Elizabeth & Alex Lluch The Ultimate Wedding Planning Kit is the most useful and comprehensive wedding planning tool ever created! This attractive and functional kit contains nine great products to help the engaged couple plan the most important day of their lives! The beautifully designed carrying case conveniently holds an array of items…. More >>  |
Decision making and the groom (Yes it’s his day too!) Back in the mid 2000′s, 04 or 05, I had the honor of planning wedding with a politician from DC and his fiancé. He was a great guy and they we very much in love however, he made it clear from the get go that is involvement in the planning process was to be no more than sitting and reading sports magazines during our planning sessions. More >> |
| Why It Pays To Hire A Wedding Consultant
Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Comments (0) Weddings can be hell to deal with, especially if you’re working with limited funds, the details alone can be overwhelming. That’s why it is always best to hire a professional wedding consultant or planner whenever possible. Wedding consultants do most of the legwork. They know what it takes to stay on-budget, they surround themselves with professional vendors and lets face it, they know what the heck they’re doing. Sadly, for most couples it’s the budget that dictates thees kinds of decisions and many see a wedding coordinator as a luxury, not a necessity and that can be a critical mistake . One of the best reasons for hiring a wedding planner is that he or she has the ability to navigate the market and point you to the vendors that fit your style and budget without having to go thru the research and interview process. They will then walk you through the planning process with little effort or stress and in a fraction of the time when compared to planning your wedding alone. Time is money and when time is built into the equation it makes the fees charged by the wedding planner more affordable and for many just that point alone justifies hiring a professional wedding consultation. The job of planning a wedding from start to finish is what a wedding consultant is all about. In theory, yes, the couple can take over this role. However, it’s not the smartest move out there. You could be setting yourself up for an extremely painful fall. For a lot of people, they bring in a wedding consultant just on the actual wedding day itself as a way to save money. Although this trick is a great cost cutter however, it’s not really the best idea. If you need one, I would do everything in my power to utilize there complete services. The challenge is to search for those that provide service on the big day as part of an affordable package. Remember, you need to find reception halls, churches, hotels and other venues. You likewise need to look into caterers, photographers, cakes, bridal attire, Dj’s, florists and the list goes on and on and a good wedding consultant can handle all this with no problem. One thing for sure is, if you decide to go it alone and coordinate the wedding yourself, it promises to be an exciting adventure and for those who opt against getting one, make sure all vendors you hire for that day are experienced wedding pros who can easily follow wedding adaptation routines without you having to direct them personally on D-day. Think about it. You can’t be saying “I do” and holding the hand of the vendors every second of your big day at the same time, right? People thinking about planning their own wedding solo should immediately start participating in local wedding forums . It is a great place to start and it will help you decide whether you have what it takes to pull off a great wedding successfully. Planning a wedding without outside help calls for some patience and communication. You need these two in making decisions and choices. Be sure to use a good planner to make the job easier they can even ve fond free on the net. There are nothing but upsides to hiring professional wedding consultants or planners. People began to appreciate the value of wedding planners after the Jennifer Lopez movie “The Wedding Planner” came out. After the film’s release, many people who were on the fence about hiring wedding planners became believers even though it was just a movie. Hiring wedding planners is basically a matter of personal preference as well as choice. If you are one of those couples who can handle planning your wedding single handedly with little trouble, super. However, if you find that the planning activities are getting to you and it’s just week one of preparations, you’re probably better off stopping right then and hiring a wedding planner’s services and leaving it up to them to deal with the issues. Here’s the rundown and the things you should remember. Wedding planners know all about making wedding plans, that’s there job. The following are some of the many advantages of hiring a wedding consultant: 1. More savings – Most people say they don’t hire wedding planners because it’ll just be an unnecessary added expense. Actually, hiring one can be a money saver. Most wedding consultants have established contacts within the wedding businesses of venues, apparel, etc. The connections they have are more likely to get you in on discounts than if you did everything yourself. 2. You still call the shots – Couples still have the last word, not the wedding planners. A wedding planner will simply guide, offer suggestions and generally assist couples in decision making activities. The couple still has full control over wedding styles. 3. It’s a time saver – There’s a lot to do when planning weddings. The task is made even scarier if the people planning it are the participants themselves (read: groom and bride). The jitters and hectic nature of it all can make keeping an open mind impossible. To top it off, wedding planning isn’t completed overnight. It usually takes some 200 to 400 hours of brainstorming and planning. Hiring a wedding consultant eases your workload and frees up more time for other stuff. 4. Orderly planning – Weddings are usually more organized when there are wedding planners behind it. Most planners are very meticulous, scrutinizing every tiny wedding detail. This is their job after all so it’s no surprise that they know how things are done. Since wedding planners have timelines prepared that they stick with, delays and last-minute modifications are avoided, or at least minimized. Sometimes they even finish everything ahead of schedule. 5. Confidence booster – Wedding planners boost the confidence of the bride and groom, which is always a good thing. Wedding couples are often on edge, especially when they can’t find something needed for the wedding. This is where having a wedding planner helps. Since the wedding planner has everything covered, the groom and bride can rest easy knowing that their wedding is in able hands. Who could be more familiar with wedding ins and outs than a wedding planner? More tips to consider when you wish to hire a wedding consultant are coming your way below. • Pencil in appointments with two or more wedding consultants. Initial consults are usually offered for free. From here compare the pros and cons of each wedding consultant you visited and pick the one that best suits your needs. • Inquire about payments. Consultants can have hourly rates, or charge a flat fee or ask for a share of the wedding budget. Payment could also come from organizations that wedding consultants work for – restaurants, DJ services or hotels. • Request to see the professional organization membership certificate, tax identification number, business license or other documents that could confirm that the consultant is legit. This is how you avoid getting stuck with a faker. • Ask the wedding consultant for pictures of other weddings he or she has assisted or coordinated. You need proof that they are indeed the real deal. • Inquire into the consultant’s experience, previous work, special talents and educational background. • Always ink written contracts that state the payment amount for services required, specific arrangements if the wedding falls through, and the date. • Obtain referrals from newly married relatives and friends, or look into other wedding service outfits. Get in touch with professional bridal consultants or wedding associations and ask if they could refer you to local wedding companies. • Inform the consultant about your preferred wedding style and the budget you have. He or she will let you know what portion of the dream wedding she can realize on that particular budget. • Furnish the consultant with a list containing needed services so they can provide you with an estimate. • Look at reference letters. Consultants will of course, just show the positives. However, beware of those who can’t show you even one letter. • Pose questions like: who does the consultant require to attend the rehearsals? How does he or she deal with kids in weddings? True professionals can answer such queries without breaking a sweat. • Choose wedding consultants you get along with. The relationship should be based on trust and respect. It makes sense to hire a wedding consultant, especially when you can afford it. This way, you won’t be the one hounded by various florists, caterers and bands you visited. Wedding vendors can also bombard you with a ton of technical questions that you’re clueless about. A wedding planner can help you field such tough interrogation. A wedding planner or consultant can serve as your go-between, shielding you from the needless headache. Do everybody in your wedding party a favor and contact a wedding consultant pronto. You’d be surprised just how doable your dream nuptials are with a wedding planner by your side. Wedding consultants can put a smile on the worried and stressed out faces of the bride and groom so go get one today. If you need a list of some of the areas finest wedding coordinators click here. Until Next Time, |
