Wedding planning can reduce even the most accomplished couples to high-strung balls of stress. It’s a highly emotional event, one that you want to get exactly right.
Being a practical planner, you’ve started to wonder, “Should I hire an event planner?” That depends on what you’re after. Here are a few pros and cons to keep in mind.
Pro: They Know the Local Market
You may think it would be better not to hire a wedding planner because it would be fun to handle every detail yourself. It’s a bonding experience between you and your soon-to-be spouse. You’re the kind of bride that wants to control every detail to ensure you get the wedding of your dreams. But, there’s a big problem with that: unless you’re personally in the wedding business, you won’t even know what to research or who to look for.
For example, do you know what florists offer the best deals? Do you know how to find the right officiant? An event planner knows all of this and then some. They have personal relationships with vendors and know how to get a price that works for your budget while still producing the result you want. And usually, they don’t need to waste weeks sending emails into the ether. They just need to make a phone call.
Con: Cost
A major downside for many couples, though, is cost. As you can imagine, finding someone who’s capable of organizing every detail of your wedding doesn’t come cheap. Finding someone who can organize it well is even less cost-effective. Fees will vary depending on the fee structure of the planner in question. Some planners will quote you a flat rate, while others charge hourly. According to Costhelper.com, a day-of wedding planner will cost $1,500. A full-service planner can cost up to $10,000.
Pro: Stress-Free Planning
On the other hand, can you really put a price tag on the experience of a stress-free wedding day? Wedding planners do so much more than just order from a caterer, buy flowers and arrange tables. They’re masters of every aspect that makes a wedding happen. That means a wide range of feats from corralling the wedding party to getting backups in place if something falls through.
“Since many of us are full-time event planners, we are networking and researching vendors and suppliers to build our network and to stay ahead of the trends almost daily,” says Leslie Weekes, of the D.C. and New York-based Leslie-Manning Events. More than anything, though, their job is to give you the wedding of your dreams — without the stress that goes on behind the scenes.
Should I Hire an Event Planner? Yes!
If you’re asking yourself, “Should I hire an event planner?” the answer depends on what you want from your wedding day. Do you want to be involved in every detail? Or do you want to carry on your regular life and manage the wedding without any stress? Knowing what you want can help you decide whether an event planner is right for you.