We uncover whether wedding planners are a lavish luxury reserved for the wealthy or are they in fact an essential ingredient in the planning process. Some might consider them just another wedding ‘must have’, but do planners really bring anything to the party? 

Engagement 

Shall we start at the beginning?

You are engaged and riding on a wave of excitement. Your thoughts are filled with ideas, pinning ‘inspo’ images and searching for your dream wedding venue and your chic dress. Yet navigating endless emails, venue visits, managing guest lists (and Auntie Bella is a whole separate issue), the lengthy to-do list and mounting stress levels, can quickly become a time-consuming and stressful nightmare. These feelings can result in couples questioning their initial thoughts on the value of wedding planners.

To answer the question of whether they are a necessity, we should find out what the role of a wedding planner is. Essentially, those offering a full wedding planning service oversee every element of your wedding. Perhaps a more fitting job title would be a wedding manager. Wedding planners source venues and vendors, plan, prep, and manage your wedding plus a wealth of skills that we will discover.

Is it possible to plan a wedding without a planner? Truthfully yes, however, for the majority of us planning a wedding is a one-off experience.  Meaning, that most of us begin the process by having no idea of what we are doing, or even how to begin planning a wedding. Planners bring the benefit of their experience in planning multiple weddings. They may specialise in a particular type of wedding, like Auburn Amore specialises in planning multicultural and fusion weddings.

Modern couples often find themselves juggling demanding careers and social lives. Therefore, finding the 300+ hours plus required to plan a ‘standard’ wedding can be totally overwhelming. A wedding planner not only has industry knowledge but also acts as a time-saving genie. They streamline the planning process and allow you to enjoy the joy of your engagement without drowning in boring logistical details.

Vendors 

Choosing the right vendors can either make or break your wedding day! Wading through the options of photographers, caterers and musicians can be time-consuming and stressful. For DIYers, using planning sites are convenient way of quickly finding vendors. However, some couples feel even more overwhelmed when presented with endless vendor options. Wedding planners have insider knowledge to connect couples with the best suppliers in the industry. Not only that, they collaborate with wedding suppliers who understand your vision and they manage and execute the event flawlessly. With eyes on your overall wedding budget, they also wedding investment, they are suited to find vendors who align with your budget.

Stress management.

Planning your own wedding involves dealing with details, from vendor negotiations to timeline coordination, and attempting to manage it all alone can lead to sleepless nights and anxiety. Hiring a wedding planner is your opportunity to offload your stress load onto a professional. Rest assured brides-to-be looking chilled and relaxed gliding in the last six weeks before their wedding have booked a wedding planner.

What does a wedding planner cost?

Is hiring a wedding planner as pricey as it seems? Truth is, there’s likely a planner for every couple out there. These experts come with a range of specialities and can cost anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands. Most couples typically work with planners who charge a standard percentage fee. While it’s an added cost to the overall wedding budget, it’s balanced out by their valuable wisdom, calming effect, and wealth of expertise these planners bring to the table. Whether a couple considers a wedding planner or on-the-day coordinator (this terminology is misleading as they typically work with couples for 4 to 8 weeks) a necessity may depend on the value they place on managing their well-being. 

The vision and vibe 

One of the primary roles of a wedding planner is to collaborate with you to understand your ideas. These professionals will transform your ideas into a stunning vision for your wedding day. They create the designs for your wedding and passionately plan every micro-step required to generate that vision. Design and production are not only about creating epic visuals but a great wedding planner will also incorporate the mood the couple wishes to convey, such as a relaxed outdoor wedding or a luxury black-tie event. With the rise in multi-day weddings or wedding weekends, as they are sometimes called with rehearsal dinners and post-wedding brunch taking place on either side of the wedding, that’s a lot of designs to mesh together, not to mention a stack of work! From dawn till dusk on your wedding day, your planner will flawlessly coordinate every detail, merging hours of preparation into a stunning curated vision.

In conclusion, while some may perceive wedding planners as a luxury, they prove to be a valuable necessity for many couples navigating the intricate process of wedding planning. With their wealth of experience, vendor connections, and stress management skills, wedding planners not only streamline the process but also transform couples’ visions into stunning realities. In a world where time is a precious commodity, investing in a wedding planner can ensure a seamless and enjoyable journey from engagement to the magical wedding day.

Are you still, questioning the value of a wedding planner?