FRIDA & MATTHEW

THE WEDDING OF

PHOTOGRAPHER: SARAH JANE ZENGER

PREMIER VENDORS photographer / SARAH JANE ZENGER hair / MAGGIE FUHRIMAN makeup / MORGAN FAY florals / AGLOW “THE BLOOM” dress / PENELOPE’S ring / AAA JEWELERS videographer / KRISTEN WHITEHEAD PRODUCTIONS catering / THIRST DRINKS, FRANCOS CHURROS cake / HERITAGE WEDDING CAKES dj / DJ IGUANA ENTERTAINMENT lightning / MOONLIGHT LIGHTING UTAH

Should I Hire a

Wedding Planner?

By: Maddy Davis owner of Maddison 5th Avenue Events

Congratulations on your engagement, this is such an exciting time for you! After the engagement things can get really overwhelming, there are so many things to do, so much to talk about, and so many decisions to be made. It can be hard to know where to start, or even how to start. This is where a wedding planning steps in to help! Hiring a wedding planner is in most cases a good idea. Here are some common questions that are asked about wedding planners and all the answers you need!

What does a Wedding Planner do?

A wedding planner does all the heavy lifting in wedding planning, they are in short, the coordinator for the entire wedding, and the liaison for the bride and groom to depend on to make their big day happen and to create the wedding of their dreams. A wedding planner will keep track of budgets, payments, who is paying for what part of the wedding, and keep you within your set budget for the wedding day.

How much does a wedding planner cost?

This depends on each individual planner; each planner is different and their different price points depend on the services they are offering. Most planners will offer different service packages that include a day-of-coordination package, a full-service planning package, and more. Find the package that fits your needs and your budget, then hire the planner accordingly.

When should I hire a planner?

Ideally you should hire a planner as soon as you’re engaged, or very soon after. This will help to ensure your planner has ample time to thoroughly plan your dream day. Wedding planners do understand that sometimes you are not able to hire a planner as soon as you’d like to, or if your date is closer than an ideal planning time. No matter the timeframe you’ve given your planner, they will do their best to give you everything you want.

Who does a planner coordinate with?

A wedding planner coordinates with all the vendors helping with the wedding, such as the caterer, the photographer, the hair and makeup artists, venue, and officiant. The planner will also coordinate with the parents of the bride and groom, and their wedding party to ensure the entire day goes according to plan.

What does a consultation entail?

A consultation with a wedding planner will be about an hour-long appointment, most planners will meet you in person, but some planners like to do video visits for convenience. The planner will introduce themselves and their business to you, they will let you know what their services entail, what their prices are, what they do during the entire process, and their role in your wedding and during the day of. Remember the consultation is a time for them to sell themselves to you and for you to decide if they are a good fit. The consultation in the end is about you.

What is the difference between day-of-coordination and full-service wedding planning?

Day-of-coordination services are more for the bride and groom that want to plan their wedding by themselves with a little help from a planner and want someone to be there on the wedding day to make sure the day goes off without a hitch. Full-service planning is for the bride and groom that want help with the entire planning process. Day-of-coordination will start 6-8 weeks before the wedding day, full-service planning will start as soon as you hire your planner and go until the wedding festivities are over. All full-service wedding planning should include day-of-coordination.

What kind of questions should I ask during a consultation?

These are some sample questions to get you thinking on what you want to ask, make sure to write down your questions before your consultation, and keep notes during the consultation to refer to after the meeting is over. • What are your price points? • How much experience do you have? • What certifications do you have as a wedding planner/coordinator? • Do you have different packages for different budgets? • What is your timeline for planning? • What do your packages include? • What are the first steps after I hire you for my wedding? • What is my role once you are hired?

In conclusion…

A wedding planner is right for you if you want it to be right for you. Your wedding day is all about you! Make sure you hire a wedding planner that fits well with your vision, and one that you are comfortable with. This process should be fun and exciting, enjoy it!

Congratulations again! Love, Maddy