Hiring a Wedding Planner

I will start this post off with a disclaimer: I am biased towards hiring some version of a wedding planner, simply because I am one! But, I will try to hit on key points to prove how valuable a planner is in your wedding planning process.

Regardless of when in your wedding planning you are, hiring a wedding planner can simply be one of the best investments made in your budget. Even if you want to plan your big wedding singlehandedly, please do entertain the idea of hiring a Day Of Coordinator, merely so you can actually be a bride on your wedding day (and your mother can actually be a mother on the wedding day etc). On one of the most incredible days of your entire life, I doubt you want to be getting phone calls while you are trying to get ready from the officiant saying "I am stuck in traffic, I am not sure when I will be there" ... why add to your stress when you don't have to.

Take your time when looking for a wedding planner/coordinator. Read wedding blogs, check out wedding directories, get friend referrals, read wedding magazines ~ wedding planners are listed everywhere. Check out their websites, read their blogs, follow them on Twitter. By doing so, you'll get a very good sense of who they are and whether or not they are someone you'd like to work with. Arrange consultations with a select few and bring as much information to the meeting regarding the wedding as possible. Be open to what the planner has to say and keep in mind (this applies to all vendors) that the wedding planner is interviewing you just as much as you are interviewing them. Your relationship with your wedding planner should be a positive experience ~ you want to mesh well with them and look forward to communicating with them. You want a planner that will listen and understand your every desire and then find a way to make it happen.

Most planners are willing to negotiate (within reason) on pricing/services. The number one thing I hear all the time is that services are too pricey and clients can't understand why a wedding planner is so expensive. Trust me, regardless of what your planner charges you, the value of your planner is basically priceless. They are your insurance policy that your wedding will be the best that it can be.


{me in action on a wedding day, shot by Sarah DiCicco}

This post was originally published on June 11th, 2009

Fabulous Friday: Fall Like Weather

While on the one hand, its lovely that the humidity has decided to take a mini break {my hair is thankful}, the rain and lower temps definitely made me feel like fall is closer than ever this week. And don't get me started on the fact that September 1st is less than a week away, honestly, I feel like I will close my eyes for 10 seconds and 2010 will have happened, in entirety.

To be honest, I didn't spend too much time online this week reading, but there was a fabulous post written about wedding planners versus wedding designers ... It can be easy to confuse both so read here to get the low-down on the differences.

What fabulous things have you stumbled upon this week?

Another Friday, another week down. Can you believe that its almost September? I would love to find the brakes on this year since its whipping by so quickly!

Lots of goodies around the web this week ...

My good friends, Aleah & Nick {The Good Life Events} wrote up a fabulous post about your wedding not being a competition. Truer words have not been spoken.

Your married, now what? There used to be "rules" that all married women adhered by, times have changed!

Another fabulous and to the point perspective on hiring a wedding planner for your very big day!

Ok, I really wrestled with linking to this post, but its a good one, I promise. Very insightful.

And lastly, an honest opinion of what separates a professional wedding planner from a I was a bride and I know about weddings wedding planner.

Happy Weekending!

Fabulous Friday the 13th!

Its Friday the 13th! Let's hope that today is full of awesome inspiration and beauty, not horror film images!

Lots of articles this week around the web about hiring a wedding planner. Not to toot my own industry profession, but these are very insightful! Read on for knowledge:

Aisledash talks about affording a wedding planner ... before you contact one for a consultation, make sure your overall wedding budget includes a planner's fee.

I've talked a ton about why couples should consider hiring a planner even if your venue claims to have a coordinator: here is the lo-down on hiring a coordinator from the venue's perspective!

And yes, there is a planner that fits every couple's style, taste, budget, read here for more insights!

Happy Planning!

I Hired "A Life Coach"

OK I have a confession to make. I hired a life coach. She's not entirely a life coach, she's actually more of a nutritionist / therapist / going to be spending a ton of time with me over the next 6 months person.

Now, what did I do this and why am I telling you {the world}?

Simply because I want to. I am so excited at the possibility of fundamentally becoming healthier in mind and body that I've been telling lots of people {including my dermatologist} about my journey to becoming a better version of myself. Not that I think anything is wrong with my past / current self, but everyone needs a system upgrade, right? {i.e. the recent launch of the Iphone 4} Owning and running your own business is stressful even when you love what you do. Trying to run a household and a business + attempt a social life can cause stress. Stress = No Good. Essentially, my nutritionist / life coach is going to be bringing order to my diet, my routine and my life so that I am an even more fabulous wife, daughter, frenchie mama, business owner, friend and wedding planner. See, a win win for everyone!

As I begin this journey, I will share my insights with you all ~ especially the ones that relate to wedding planning. Your first lesson: breath. Sometimes stopping to let some oxygen deep down into your lungs can relax you and de-stress you. Go ahead and try it!

Hiring a Wedding Planner {Part 7}

You met, you talked, you thought and now ... the post wedding planner consultation de-brief must occur. Keep in mind that your consultation was a two-way interview. While you were sizing up this potential wedding coordinator, they were sizing up you, the potential client.

Unless the coordinator gave you a price during the consultation ~ you should expect a proposal from them within a reasonable time frame. The proposal should outline the services that you discussed during the meeting as well as what the wedding planner is going to offer you as a client. It should also include a clear price and any other terms that the wedding planner would like for you to be aware of {i.e. if the proposal has a deadline for committing etc}. Essentially, this proposal should be transparent in the services being offered for your wedding. If you need clarity, just ask.

You'll also need to process your overall feeling about this person. Did you like them? Do you think you clicked? Do you get the impression that you'll work well together? Did they get your vision? Do you get their vision? Is this someone you want to work with closely and intimately for the next x amount of months? Are you confident that this person is going to exceed your expectations?

While yes price is always a factor ~ you can't live with just price. You will be working closely with this person for the duration of your wedding planning process ~ are you 100% cool with them?

Up Next ~ proposal received, what to think?

Catch up on Parts I, II, III, IV, V and VI

Hiring a Wedding Planner {Part 6}

Now that you've gotten a consultation on the calendar ~ what to expect once you're finally at the meeting? Firstly, aim to be on time OR call / email the wedding planner if you are running late. Keep in mind that while this is a client service industry, everyone has a schedule and would like to stay on track.

Once you've gotten to the meeting, don't judge a book by its cover. I know that our society has taught us to write off people immediately if you don't like how they look / act / talk etc but seriously, don't be so judgemental! You aren't hiring this person because of the way they dress, talk, act, you are hiring them because they are damn good at what they do. So, please, keep an open mind.

During the course of the meeting, be prepared to answer the questions the wedding planner asks you. They are looking to get a sense of not only what your wedding vision is, but who you are a couple as well as trying to assess if they want to work with you {disclaimer: not every planner is the right planner for every couple}. This is a two way interview, so aim to present yourself in a positive light.

When the planner is telling you about their services and how they help in the wedding planning process ~ jump in with questions if you need clarity ~ we want you to fully understand what we offer and how we operate so that there are no surprises throughout this process.

What you don't want to keep doing is wondering what the cost is. Cost comes through understanding the value of the service that this person provides. {Make that your mantra!}

At the end of your meeting ~ ask what the next steps are ~ will the wedding planner send you a proposal? Do they give you a copy of references and a contract and any other items you should read? Basically, get an understanding of what happens next in the process.

Next week: Consultation de-brief

Catch up on Parts I, II, III, IV and V

Hiring a Wedding Planner {Part 4}

You've sent the inquiry and now you get to ... wait. This being a client service related industry - expect to hear back from a wedding planning firm within 24 hours. If you send an inquiry at 11:55pm on a Friday evening, chances are, you'll get a response on Monday morning.

The response email should provide three things: whether they are are available on your wedding date, here are the services they offer, and an offer to meet for a consultation.

If you don't like the tone of their email, the services they provide or decide they just aren't your cup of tea: SEND A RESPONSE ANYWAYS even if its to say no thank you. Deleting and moving on in your life doesn't mean the planner moves on with her life. We will keep emailing you to set up a consultation. Its called persistence and every business owner has it. So, if you don't want to work with them or meet with them, just let them know or be inundated with follow up emails. Besides: its just common courtesy to respond and say no thank you.

On the flip side: if the email response was everything you wanted and more: BOOK A CONSULTATION WITH THEM! Let them know your availability {and yes, evenings are fine, weekends can be tricky especially if its 'in-season' for your area}.

Next week: preparing for the consultation & what to expect

Check out Parts I, II and III here

Fabulous Friday: Good Morsel's of Wedding Information

After a short yet long week, we've made it to the weekend! I wanted to take a moment since its summer, its sunny and hot and remind everyone that you should wear sunscreen always and to get a yearly skin check by the dermatologist. I know, I sound like some weird radio PSA, but having had melanoma and general tragedy related to melanoma in my life, I am a champion for advocating getting your skin checked out. I went yesterday to make sure all the moles were in tip top shape and I really hope you do the same. Its easy, painless and takes about 5 minutes!

{Ok, stepping down from soapbox}

There are some great reads this week that you should check out:

Found a vendor you love and want to work with? Read this to ensure you get a contract signed right away!

As if you needed more reasons to hire a wedding planner!

When pulling together your wedding day timeline - here are some great reasons as to why you should do photo's before the ceremony.

The Illegal Wedding Fair is here this weekend, stop by and check it out!

And lastly, if you've ever seen The Lion King {on Broadway or in the movie} we all can recognize the opening 'african' scream ... Tsidii, the voice, is performing on June 22nd at City Winery - it should be a fabulous evening! 155 Varick St Soho at 7 30pm.

Happy Weekend-ing!

Hiring a Wedding Planner {Part 1}

As a wedding planner and a wedding blogger, my main goal is to educate engaged couples about wedding planning. To educate them on all the in's and out's of weddings and all the nuances of planning them. It's also a slightly selfish goal, because an educated bride and groom makes the wedding planning process go more smoothly!

For the next few weeks {on Wednesdays}, the posts are going to be focused on hiring a wedding planner: the nitty gritty of the how / why / when / what to expect / how to act ... the everything. We're going in depth on this topic and I hope that we'll all be a little bit more educated at the end of it.

So, first things first. What is a wedding planner and why do you think you need one?

A wedding planner {aka wedding coordinator} is a person who plans / coordinates your wedding. They pull together the logisitcs for your wedding day to ensure that no small detail is left out. As I call it: a wedding planner is your human equivalent to an insurance policy for the wedding - we make sure you've gotten all your ducks lined up and we make sure your ducks have no issues. A wedding planner is different to a wedding designer, so please make sure of which kind you'd like {naturally a planner can also be a designer and a designer can also be a planner} but for arguement's sake, we will keep them separate. A wedding designer is just that: they design the wedding. They are the visual creators of the wedding day - designing all the decor.

Why do you think you need a wedding planner? This is a question that oft goes overlooked because its 'trendy' to have a planner so everyone wants / needs to have one. If you are busy, indecisive, don't know where to start, don't know what you want to spend on each vendor, not creative, or want a helping hand in general, HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER! Your wedding planner will give you a path to follow throughout this process, negotiate contracts, educate you on every aspect of a wedding {pricing, advice, ideas, etiquette} and will give you the honest truth on what works and what doesn't work. In essence: your wedding planner is a one stop shop on how to get your wedding planned without the hassles. Who wouldn't want a professional team mate?

So before you start looking for a wedding planner, spend a moment writing why exactly you need one. Those needs are very important and will need to be communicated in your consultation.

Next week: Part 2: Researching a Wedding Planner

Do You Pay For What You Get In Wedding Planning?

At Eventology last week, there was lots of discussion surrounding getting paid what you are worth and how the price cutters who charge sub $1,000 for their services {yes, full planning included} are de-valueing the wedding industry as a whole. Saundra Hadley, a planner and marketing / sales guru wrote two posts earlier this week regarding pricing {see here & here} and its sparked a big debate in the social media world {just check out her comments}. This got me thinking - all the professionals have been talking about their value and their services but what does the bride truly value? What are you, as the bride, willing to spend more on? Are you paying for quality or are you looking for a deal? Where does value / quality experience come into play when you see a wedding planner who charges you $1,000 vs. another wedding planner who charges you $10,000? Forget the "gucci taste on a target budget" mentality for a second. Everyone loves a deal, loves to save money but when it comes to your wedding, what do you value more? Someone who is professional, experienced and charges accordingly for what they offer or someone who gives you a great deal on the package but then minimally plans your wedding.

As a bride, what do YOU value? What are you willing to spend YOUR money on?

Weekly Review: Eventology & New Website Launch!

I spent the earlier part of this week out in Indianapolis at Eventology, an educational and fun conference for wedding professionals. I think it is extremely important that as a wedding planner, I take the time to grow my expertise and learn from the creme de la creme in this industry. To say the very least, I was blown away by the intelligence of everyone I met.

We were fortunate enough to have some fabulous speakers: Linnyette Hall, Ali Phillips, Harmony Walton, Saundra Hadley, NaShara Mitchell, Sasha Souza, Terrica Skaggs and Lara Casey. The take aways I got from each were simply invaluable.

The hilarious crew from Epic Motion filmed the entire conference and created two recaps which can be found here and here. Let's just say that karaoke can get dangerous! The talented JenLynne from Jen Lynne Photography was the official photographer and she got some great shots as well.

And, after months of decisions - my new website has launched! Please check it out and let me know what you think!

Have a wonderful weekend - we've got a beautiful wedding tomorrow!

Poll: What does Today's Bride Want?

Most of the advice that I offer up on this blog comes not only from my professional experience of wedding planning, but also from my experience as a bride. I aim to share insight that is practical, realistic and most importantly ~ applicable to all. Having been a bride I can relate to the stress, drama, excitement and pure elation that each of you feel.

I would like to take a moment to hear from YOU, on what you think Today's Bride wants. Is it calm during a sea of tulle? Is it assurance knowing that the awesome vendors you've picked will create and execute all your wedding day desires? Is it knowing that your day of coordinator is the best money you spent? Or is it the feeling that no matter what happens on your wedding day, you get to marry your best friend and that's the only important aspect?

Share your thoughts / wants / needs ... the advice I write is meant to be helpful to you, so I want to make sure that it is!

Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner: In their Own Words

I stumbled upon this article this morning {thank you Twitter!} and thought that the insights included in it were invaluable. The wedding planners interviewed shed light on some very pertinent details regarding how functional a wedding planner can be in ensuring that your day runs as smoothly as possible.

Check it out here via MyDeejay!

Wedding Coordinators: The Differences

I recently had a discussion with my husband {of all people!} regarding the differences between wedding coordinators and thought it was an interesting dialogue to share! We mainly discussed the differences between hiring your own wedding coordinator / planner and working with the in-house coordinator that is so oft provided by a venue.

Firstly, a small disclaimer: Obviously, I am an independent wedding planner BUT I fully support a client's choice to use an in-house planner versus an independent. Its the clients preference and needs that should dictate this decision, above and beyond any additional costs that would be incurred.

So, what are the differences in terms of 'work'? An in-house wedding coordinator will provide all the logistics related to the venue, if the venue has a preferred vendor list, they can help you navigate that list to choose the correct vendor for your needs. They will help guide you through the menu process and let you know how set up and break down must occur. They should liaise with your vendors in regards to logistics and on the day of, be there to provide on-site management. An independent wedding coordinator will research and suggest vendors and venues appropriate for your needs and budget, they will help you navigate all related logistics: creating a timeline, finalizing details with vendors, providing tidbits & advice {i.e. etiquette} when needed, and on the day of, managing your vendors and venue as well as ensuring that you arrive on time, you are relaxed and you have everything you need. {this is a very abbreviated list of what either wedding coordinator can/will provide}

The differences really come down to this: your independent wedding coordinator is YOURS. They were hired by you, for you and they are your advocate / team player. The in-house wedding coordinator has the venue's best interest first, your's second. While they know the in's and out's of your venue, they probably haven't spent as much time with you to know your in's and out's.

Choosing which option is ultimately your decision, as only you know what works best for you. Do you want to trust your day to the venue's pick for a wedding coordinator, or do you want to pick?

Fantastic Tips from Cocktails & Details

Thought this was a very helpful post written by Fabuluxe Today! Its the 20 Things to Never Do When Planning Your Wedding List!

Happy Reading!

Day 11: Whose Your Insurance Policy: The Wedding Planner

Day 11: 30 Days: A Guide to Stress Free Wedding Planning

I will start this post off with a disclaimer: I am biased towards hiring some version of a wedding planner, simply because I am one! But, I will try to hit on key points to prove how valuable a planner is in your wedding planning process.

Regardless of when in your wedding planning you are, hiring a wedding planner can simply be one of the best investments made in your budget. Even if you want to plan your big wedding singlehandedly, please do entertain the idea of hiring a Day Of Coordinator, merely so you can actually be a bride on your wedding day (and your mother can actually be a mother on the wedding day etc). On one of the most incredible days of your entire life, I doubt you want to be getting phone calls while you are trying to get ready from the officiant saying "I am stuck in traffic, I am not sure when I will be there" ... why add to your stress when you don't have to.

Take your time when looking for a wedding planner/coordinator. Read wedding blogs, check out wedding directories, get friend referrals, read wedding magazines ~ wedding planners are listed everywhere. Check out their websites, read their blogs, follow them on Twitter. By doing so, you'll get a very good sense of who they are and whether or not they are someone you'd like to work with. Arrange consultations with a select few and bring as much information to the meeting regarding the wedding as possible. Be open to what the planner has to say and keep in mind (this applies to all vendors) that the wedding planner is interviewing you just as much as you are interviewing them. Your relationship with your wedding planner should be a positive experience ~ you want to mesh well with them and look forward to communicating with them. You want a planner that will listen and understand your every desire and then find a way to make it happen.

Most planners are willing to negotiate (within reason) on pricing/services. The number one thing I hear all the time is that services are too pricey and clients can't understand why a wedding planner is so expensive. Trust me, regardless of what your planner charges you, the value of your planner is basically priceless. They are your insurance policy that your wedding will be the best that it can be.


{me in action on a wedding day, shot by Sarah DiCicco}

Day Of Wedding Coordination: Misleading

For anyone whose ever had a consultation with me, they've heard this: I planned my own wedding, but I did hire a Day Of Coordinator. I wanted to be a bride that day and given the logistics of a tented reception during a hurricane, having an advocate there to act on my behalf was just invaluable. If I had to get married that day AND oversee all the logistics, I wouldn't have had as much fun as I did. Therefore, I can definitely provide a logical and personal opinion for hiring a Day Of wedding coordinator. My only issue with the "DOC" is that in fact, your planner isn't just there for the Day Of.

If your Day Of Coordinator literally showed up on the day of, it'd be chaos ... she/he wouldn't have any clue what was happening. When you hire a DOC, you're actually hiring someone for Month Of Coordination. Roughly 4 to 6 weeks prior to your wedding day, you will sit down with your wedding planner and go through all the vendor contracts and details that you've worked so diligently on. By doing this, your planner will get the full picture of how you want your wedding day to proceed. During this meeting you'll also start to construct the wedding day timeline (check out my past post on timelines). After a few weeks of editing/tweaking, the wedding timeline will be complete and your MOC will distribute it to the relevant vendors.

By hiring a Month Of Wedding Coordinator, you're ensuring that you and your soon to be will actually be guests at your wedding ~ something truly invaluable!

Join me on my mini crusade to educate the wedding world on the misnomer of the Day Of Wedding Coordinator!

End of May Wrap Up

Firstly, I can't believe its almost June. Where is 2009 going? We've got a few new york city weddings coming up that we're really excited about, a move into a new place and of course, Lulu's 2nd birthday. Its quite a few weeks ahead of us!

In honor of the fabu blogging workshop I attended yesterday, during the month of June, I'll be doing a Series called '30 Days: A Guide to Stressfree Wedding Planning '. It'll be focused on planning your wedding so that you won't stress out or get anxiety regardless of if you are getting married in 1 month or 12 months (or any time in between). For anyone whose met me, I am about as stress free a person you can come in contact with (I also have an abnormally low pulse ... my GP thinks these two things are correlated) and I strongly advocate that wedding planning doesn't have to be a nightmare for the bride, groom or the families. So, stay tuned for 30 Day of Tips.

Happy Planning!