Duties of a Wedding Planner
If you are here because you are questioning yourself and trying to find answers to your burning question, “What does a wedding planner do?” and do you need them?
So you have a fantastic wedding to plan and a hundred and one things to organize and prepare for the big day, but you are still unsure whether or not you need a wedding planner.
What you can expect from a wedding planner depends on your frame of mind and the services that your chosen wedding planner can offer you.
A wedding planner or to-do list will get you through your big day.
A wedding planner is a professional who assists couples in planning and organizing their wedding day.
A simple breakdown of services offered by wedding planners:
- Day-of-wedding coordination involves overseeing pre-wedding activities and managing wedding-day logistics.
- Full-service wedding planning covers all aspects, from the initial brainstorming session to your departure for the honeymoon.
- Planners offer various service levels to suit different budgets.
But there is much more to this; most services can be customized.
Along with helping to choose and book venues, vendors, and suppliers such as caterers, florists, photographers, and musicians, wedding planners have a lot to do, especially with all the logistics leading up to the big day.
Additionally, wedding planners may offer creative input, design ideas, and help with any troubleshooting that may arise during the planning process.
Ultimately, they aim to help couples bring their dream wedding to life while alleviating stress and ensuring a memorable and seamless event.
We will now dive deeper into a professional wedding planner’s different roles and responsibilities to the couple.
So, what does a wedding planner do?
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We wanted to focus on a few different things regarding what wedding planners do.
We will be touching on the following today:
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What is a wedding planner?
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The role of a wedding planner
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What services does a wedding planner provide?
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We will take a look at what wedding planners do
Whatever your reason for landing on this page today, we hope to answer your burning questions.
Most couples believe having a wedding planner on-site and during the wedding planning process is essential!
It is sometimes hard to imagine what one would do without the help of a wedding planner.
Although every experience is different, we will try to let you know what you can expect from a wedding planner.
We want to answer the burning question of precisely what a wedding planner does.
A wedding planner is responsible for many things, from taking care of all the little details to ensuring the day goes smoothly.
Here is a quick outline of exactly what a wedding planner does:
- Budget management
- Venue selection
- Appointment booking
- Venue coordination
- Vendor selection
- Attend site tours
- Food tastings
- Contract
- Schedule meetings
- Serves at spokesperson
- Provides vendor referrals and negotiates contracts
- Managing the timeline on the big day
- Handles wedding day logistics
Wedding planners often start by meeting with the couple to understand their vision and budget, then work to make that vision a reality within the specified financial constraints.
In essence, a wedding planner acts as a guide, advisor, and coordinator throughout the wedding planning process, reducing stress for the couple and helping them enjoy their special day to the fullest.
What is the Role Of A Wedding Planner?
In simple terms, wedding planners typically help couples successfully plan their big day, and they coordinate the day to ensure it goes off without a hitch.
It’s been 1 year since my last wedding (I am now a full-time mom), but I was responsible for ensuring that my couple had the perfect day.
This meant documenting and planning every aspect of their big day and having a plan B in case something had to happen.
Wedding planners are responsible for establishing a detailed wedding timeline.
They work with the couples to create a wedding budget and ensure they stick to and stay within it.
Duties of Wedding Planners
A wedding planner will get as involved in your wedding as you want them to be.
Most couples enjoy the wedding planning process but might need help with budgeting, vendor recommendations, and running the wedding day.
- Knowing all the details of your big day—not just the wedding day itself, but also the rehearsal dinner, bridesmaid teas, day-after brunches, and other related events.
- Review the overall wedding budget.
- Understand the style, colours, vibe, and taste of what the couple wishes
- Keeping you in the loop of the wedding planning
The services may combine duties, your wedding needs, and your budget!
The Job of a Wedding Coordinator – Do you need one?
What does a wedding coordinator do?
Get the job description when searching for your perfect wedding coordinator or planner.
A wedding is considered one of the most important days for many couples wishing to get married.
The job of a wedding coordinator or a wedding planner is to ensure this day goes on without a hitch or stress to the couple and their family.
With most wedding planners’ education and experience, they can pull off the perfect day and almost guarantee that nothing goes wrong.
From negotiating the perfect wedding vendor fees to ordering and coordinating timelines, decorations, and photographers, a wedding planner is the go-to person for the day.
What Question Do I Ask My Wedding Planner?
Hiring a wedding planner doesn’t have to be too difficult. But you do need to hire and find the best wedding planner to plan your big day.
What are some of the questions you might want to ask your wedding planner?
- Do you do day-of coordination?
- Do you have any extra fees or hidden wedding costs?
- Do you have favourite vendors with whom you prefer to work? Will you go outside of that list?
- How do our weddings differ?
- How are your weddings the same?
- What is the biggest wedding you’ve planned?
- What types of venues have you planned weddings in?
- How long have you been in business?
- How do you approach design?
- Do you have a portfolio?
- Do you have references?
Here is a list of other things you can expect your wedding planner to do:
Wedding Schedules and checklists
Don’t forget about the day of the wedding coordinator checklist!
You can’t plan a wedding without knowing precisely what needs to be done, and this is when a wedding planner helps determine your needs.
Having planned multiple weddings, they can sit down with you and create a custom checklist and schedule specific to your big day to ensure everything works seamlessly.
They then ensure the schedule is closely followed and everyone knows where to be on the big day, including your other wedding vendors.
Are you not exactly sure what a wedding planner does?
Their Best Recommendations
Whether it’s for the flower arrangements, caterer or the venue, they can give you some excellent recommendations that, better yet, fit into your wedding budget.
They are there to help you stick to your goals and help you every step of the way.
Ideally, the recommendations are those from a team of vendors they have previously worked with.
This team of vendors will work on your wedding and ensure all is well planned according to your arrangements.
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Vendor Liaisons
They act as a liaison between the couple and the parties involved in the wedding planning process to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Having someone who knows the wedding terminology and how to communicate in the best way possible to the people helping make your big day a reality is an invaluable service.
Sometimes, it can take several emails, texts and phone calls to set up meetings or check on progress, but they will be able to keep you up-to-date with how everyone is getting on and take the stress out of making a million phone calls.
RSVP’s
Do you know when you should be sending out your wedding invitations?
Even tracking who is coming and how many tables must be arranged can be difficult.
Even a simple task of keeping track of how many meals to be served can be tedious and exhausting, and passing that over to your wedding planner means it’s just another thing off your mind.
This means you can get on with your day-to-day without worrying too much about your guest count.
Reminders
Remember that schedule and checklist made at the beginning of your wedding planning adventure?
Well, your planner will help keep it on track and remind you of anything that needs to be confirmed or arranged before it’s too late.
It will also help in reducing your Post-it note budget.
Read:
- 10 Wedding Expenses You Did Not Plan When Preparing Your Budget
- 10 of the Best Destination Weddings in The Caribbean
Wedding Day Coordination
With everything organized, the only thing left to do is walk down the aisle, but don’t worry—your wedding planner will ensure everything goes smoothly.
You can relax and enjoy this day knowing that your planner has the place settings in place, the caterer ready to go and will be right there to find the best man when it’s time for his speech.
If you need your coordinator to monitor a specific guest, you can bet they can do so!
Whatever additional you require, ensure it is communicated with your planner beforehand.
To help you better understand the role of wedding coordinator, we have a sample list of what they do below.
Day of wedding coordinator duties:
Here is a sample of what you can expect your wedding planner to do on your wedding day:
- Meet vendors and deliveries, as well as handle any no-shows.
- Solving other last-minute crises that may happen.
- Running the wedding rehearsal.
- Ensuring that the ceremony and reception are set up to satisfaction.
- Making sure that the wedding party is on time and well-coordinated.
- Coordinating the reception timeline.
And much more.
My wedding planning list is over 15 pages long, depending on the type of wedding I am planning.
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What Is The Difference Between A Wedding Coordinator And A Planner?
A “wedding coordinator” and a “wedding planner” are crucial in ensuring a couple’s big day goes smoothly, but they have distinct responsibilities.
A wedding planner is typically involved in the entire wedding planning process, from start to finish.
They help with budget management, vendor selection, venue scouting, and overall design and coordination of the event.
Wedding planners work closely with the couple to bring their vision to life and handle all the logistical aspects of the wedding.
On the other hand, a wedding coordinator, also known as a day-of coordinator, steps in closer to the wedding day to manage the execution of all the plans that have been put in place.
They ensure that everything runs smoothly on the wedding day, coordinating with vendors, overseeing the timeline, and handling any last-minute issues that may arise.
While a wedding planner focuses on the big picture and long-term planning, a wedding coordinator focuses on the finer details and execution on the wedding day.
Both roles are essential for a successful wedding, with the planner guiding the process and the coordinator ensuring flawless implementation.
Some planners offer both services, so take advantage of them.
How Much Does A Wedding Planner Cost?
Remember, a wedding planner is there to elevate your stress. And as we all know, wedding planning can be highly stressful.
There are different pricing services that a wedding planner can offer you.
I highly recommend allocating at least 15% of your wedding budget to hiring a wedding planner.
Wedding planners all charge different pricing.
Wondering how much a wedding planner will cost you? Here are a few ways wedding planners go about charging for their services:
- Flat-fee rates for wedding planning
- Hourly rares options
- Full-service wedding rates
- A la Carte Services
So, should you hire a wedding planner?
This is my honest opinion from a past bride and wedding planner.
Hiring a wedding planner can be a valuable investment for many couples as they navigate the complexities of planning their special day.
Wedding planners offer a range of services, from helping to create a cohesive theme and design to managing vendor contracts and timelines, as we previously discussed.
They bring expertise, industry connections, and experience that can save time and reduce stress for the couple.
If you are someone who has a lot of stress, has anxiety, and is looking to save money and time, hire a professional wedding planner.
Ultimately, hiring a wedding planner depends on your budget, available time, and how much help you’d like in planning your wedding.
If you have a busy schedule or lack experience in event planning, a wedding planner can be a lifesaver.
On the other hand, if you enjoy the planning process and have the time to dedicate to it, you may choose to forgo hiring a wedding planner and take on the challenge yourself.
It’s crucial to weigh the pros and cons and decide what works best for you and your partner as you embark on this exciting journey towards your big day.
How to choose a wedding planner?
We now want to look into how to choose a wedding planner and when to hire one.
When selecting a wedding planner, consider their experience, reputation, and style.
Please look for planners with a proven track record of successfully executing weddings similar to your vision.
Reading reviews, asking for referrals, and reviewing their portfolio can help you gauge their expertise and creativity.
As for the timing of hiring a wedding planner, securing their services early in the planning process is generally recommended.
Wedding planners can help you with various aspects of wedding planning, from budget management to vendor selection, so having them on board from the beginning can streamline the process and reduce stress.
Ideally, you should hire a wedding planner as soon as you have a rough idea of your wedding date and budget to ensure they can help you bring your dream wedding to life as quickly as possible.
What do wedding planners do? Have we thoroughly answered your questions?
Now that we have answered a few basic questions about what to expect from your wedding planner, will you hire one?
Tell us in the comments below.
We would love to hear from you.
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