Chapter 7
Planning Your Wedding
Whether planning a small or large-scale wedding, there is always so much to do. Behind every successful wedding, lies a successful wedding planner. Wedding planners in human form can be a great support in helping you create your wedding day the way you want it and to the last detail. Don’t get confused with a wedding planner journal, which can be found in many high-streets and online which is simply a place to record your thoughts and plans for the big day. These are often hard-backed books which provide you with an opportunity to scribble notes, drawings and keep information such as business cards and leaflets. In time it becomes a wonderful keepsake to add to your wedding memorabilia.
Why is everything so confusing. Perhaps simply calling it a wedding journal would make it easier to differentiate between the two. So, even before you start planning your big day, I urge you to think about hiring a wedding planner.
You might think hiring a wedding planner is a cost you can do without, but a wedding planner can make sure things happen the way you want them. They don’t take over and they can help you make decisions about venues and costs. They can help do some of the donkey work and can be a confidante and friend, especially if you don’t have someone to help you. They make the day run beautifully and needn’t cost the earth. Wedding planners have so many amazing qualities and skills that in reality they could pay for themselves and can be worth their weight in gold. And they simply adore playing a part in your amazing day.
Wedding planners love weddings. Their personality stands out, and their creativity and flair shines through. They can help you manage your time effectively and ensure you are vigilant about deadlines. They are able to plan with meticulous detail, work well under pressure, and remain calm when all around is fraught. They appreciate tensions run high, are able to overcome any disagreements quickly and ensure things get back on track and seamlessly, with the least fuss. They have strong communication skills, and are able to articulate what you want to happen. They are resilient. They start early and finish late. They are able to come up with back-up plans, in fact they probably already have them in place.
If you do employ someone ‘on the day’, they won’t let you down (hopefully). They will look polished and immaculate, even at the end of a very long day. On the day they will be there to meet all your suppliers and will work with their team to ensure the venue is designed how you want it. They keep abreast of the recent trends, including colour schemes and bridal wear, they discourage you from making costly mistakes and they act as both a troubleshooter and problem solver. It’s important you get quotes for ‘on the day’. Don’t assume that having the wedding planner on the day is included in the overall cost. Ensure it is written in your contract and the cost clearly stated on the invoice.
Wedding planners understand wedding etiquette and are happy to take the time to explore and answer questions you and your family and friends may have. With a bit of imagination they can probably create something never seen before. They can’t control the weather, but they can help what you do about it. They can help with seating arrangements, and deal with any misunderstandings or sad to say, downright sabotage. Above all else they are confident in negotiating costs. A skill which is essential in these challenging times.
Doing my research for this book and planning my own wedding I was overwhelmed by all the information available to me, so it’s no wonder that couples become stressed when trying to make decisions about what they want on their big day.
Again, this reminds me of the importance of a wedding planner. It’s their job to make sure you have all the information available to you and make sure you ask all the right questions, enabling you to make the right decisions. They can break it down bit by bit and keep you calm when all the stress seems to threaten your well-being. It should be a fun, exciting time, not a time of severe stress and tension. And if things go wrong, they can help you sort out the problem. They will know of excellent videographers and photographers, cake makers and florists who are happy to step in at the last minute, that is of course if they are available, without charging you the earth. Many wedding planners will have done their homework on various wedding venues across the country so again can be of real value. Before you commit though decide on your budget for a wedding planner and make sure you are aware of the type of service they provide and above all else, the type of service you both want.
