How a wedding planner can help you!
Planning a wedding may well span over 2 years, with the day itself being one of the most momentous of your life, so choosing who you get into bed with for this amount of time is no small matter. Your wedding planner (or team) holds the key to your dream wedding day, to your mental health for this period and to your hard-earned money you have been squirrelling away to make this an unforgettable day.
You want the best wedding day, so you will need the best planner for you!
At La Lista we know wedding planners - we are planners ourselves and understand what goes into planning a wedding but also we know what you should get from this relationship. It is a project management role, a creative director responsibility, an interpreter (both with the language but also the wedding world), a spokesperson, a listener, mentor and sometimes a mediator.
Skills
Experience
Calming voice
Professional
In control
Expert
Supportive
* And don’t forget be that social media stalker, ask the questions, read the reviews - your future self will thank you!
All planners have different criteria which make up their contract - absolutely take time reading this and work out whether it ticks all your boxes.
Your planner should have an impressive little black book (not the sexy kind!), packed full of suppliers and venues. People that they know and trust to provide top standard services, potential discounts and added extras. This is all about relationships.
Always check what is included within your contract - communicating with suppliers, making the bookings, sorting the contracts, making payments are all key responsibilities which a planner might undertake.
LL Tip: Don't always expect your wedding planner to negotiate supplier costs for you. Whilst everyone wants the best deal, negotiating down too far can damage relationships and the service you will receive.
Planner: Giulia Alessandri
A magical part of your relationship. Your planner should take pride in initiating you both into the wedding world; guiding you through decision-making and getting to bottom of what you really want. Let's be honest, you might not even know, so a planner should provide options and support.
Photo: Colin Ross, Planner: Wiskow & White | Planner: Wiskow & White | Photo: Kreativ Weddings, Planner: Ale Linoci | Photo: Chole Ely, Planner: Rebecca Marie
Wedding communications come in many forms: communication between you and your guests, communication between you and your suppliers/venue, communication between each other. All with the planner at the central point.
A planner should be confidently equipped to guide you through your guest comms plan - basically what you need to say and when. From building websites, selecting stationery and proof reading all information sent.
Clarity of information between you and your planner is a crucial part of this plan, so that both parties know and agree to all wedding details.
LL Tip: Supplier and venue communication is particularly vital from your planner when it is a destination wedding. You are likely not based in Italy and potentially don't speak Italian, so here your planner should lead the way.
Your planner should capably be able to set a budget which you agree on, based on their knowledge of what things generally cost. Clearly this is dependent on the scale of quality you choose.
Advice should be given on how budgets work, how best to allocate money and in what order. This will ensure you have enough money at the end and not just a big fright when opening up invoices! Speaking of those pesky invoices - sadly, they will need to be paid (sigh!) and a planner should be involved in this.
Photo: 2 brides
A styling role looks very different for each individual planner. It can range from a full conceptual design - which is not simply the aesthetics, but includes taste and sound. Some planners purely offer a standard design element, which might solely involve styling flowers on a table.
LL Tip: Check your contract and be sure to discuss how you envision their help here.
An attribute at the top of a planner's skill set - listening. Someone who is going to hear what you are saying and feedback the pros and cons. To be genuinely excited for you both and celebrate this moment with you.
LL Tip: Additional work undoubtedly will crop up along the way (probably most likely as the big day nears) - make sure you know whether these 'extras' are included in the planner's flat fee or charged on top. It is absolutely paramount you know how much extras might cost up-front especially for destination weddings, as you won't be in the country to sort these out yourself.
At the foundation of this partnership comes trust. If your gut is saying don’t book this planner then listen! If they are seemingly very cheap there is probably a reason for this….read the contract and see what their additional fees are!
And remember: no planner is better than the wrong planner!
Haven’t made that big step yet and booked your wedding planner? Fear not, we have some incredible and trusted players here.
If you’re desperate to hear what other couples are thinking for their wedding planners then come over and say ciao in our private couples Facebook group.
Written by Emily Jennings, marketing person and wedding day-dreamer; lover of a boho vibe and a wedding night filled with a thousand lights.
Categories
PLANNING | REAL WEDDING | BUSINESS | SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT | INSPIRATION |WANDERLUST
