Are you newly engaged and trying to find a wedding planner but don't know where to start, or what to ask? Here are some important topics to discuss with your wedding planner.
1.) Are you available on my wedding date?
While this may seem like an obvious question to ask, it is the first and most important to ask! You want to make sure your planner will be available for your rehearsal and wedding day, as well as their assistants. And if you are booking full planning and don't have a date yet, ask open dates they have in your preferred month.
2.) Will your services fit in my budget?
This will be the best time to discuss your overall wedding budget and see if having a wedding planner can fit into this budget. You may also want to take this time to discuss the amount of time you have to plan your wedding and if having a wedding planner needs to be more of a priority than other aspects that have been budgeted.
3.) What is the average total cost of the weddings you typically plan?
Asking your planner this question is important. This will give you a better picture of the types of weddings they are used to planning, and you can see if they align with the vision you have for your wedding. Not every wedding is a one size fits all, but total budgets and overall design schemes do affect your decision on compatibility with your planner.
4.) Do you handle all vendor services, contract, negotiations and payment processing?
It is very important to know how involved your planner is in finding vendors, negotiating contracts, booking vendors and paying for them. You will want to know which of these you are responsible for and if they offer professional advice regarding booking vendors. Every one has their way of planning, some are more hands on and some are more of a consultant.
5.) What services do you offer?
This gives you the best idea of each service they offer throughout planning your wedding, during your rehearsal and your wedding day. Here, y'all can discuss services that you need and don't need and their priority. They will typically send you their package information which includes what services are offered in each package, the price range and the time that is involved in planning.
6.) When do your services start?
This goes along with the services offered in their packages. Some packages could start the day you hire your wedding planner. Other packages may not start until a month before your wedding. Each planner offers different packages that they will discuss with you so you are able to choose the package that best fits your needs.
7.) Are there any additional/hidden fees I should know about?
There could be potential hidden fees for travel or fees charged for last minute fires that need put out. These should be discussed prior to booking your planner.
This helps make sure there aren't any surprises at the end of planning.
8.) What processes or apps do you use to help us stay organized and on task?
Asking your planning team what they use to keep your wedding planning organized and on task is so important. You'll want to choose a planner that uses an organizational tool. This helps to make sure you are both on the same page throughout your planning process.
We hope these tips come in useful when choosing your wedding planner. If you would like more information from a wedding planner, reach out to Better Together Planning!
BONUS TIP: If you made it this far, we have a bonus tip for you! Wedding planners keep your day on track, your expectations reasonable, your other vendors able to focus on their craft, and your mind at ease. You don't get a do over, so make the investment to ensure a wedding day where memories are being made instead of problems needing to be solved.