Choose a Wedding Consultant

As you start planning your own wedding, you soon understand the amount of time it takes to plan a posh party, and how much energy. Many couples these days simply don’t have the time or the inclination to plan their own weddings and they turn to wedding professionals such as wedding planners. Then there are those people who love the thrill of doing everything themselves, and some have a few control issues with it (you know who you are!) There are those who are budget conscious, and they plan their own wedding thinking they are saving themselves a nice wad of cash they can put toward the honeymoon, or into the food and beverages of the affair. About 85% of brides view having a professional wedding planner for their wedding as a luxury.

Steps

 * 1) Do your homework; find out how many consultants are in your area and what their services are.
 * 2) After you find out the services of a wedding consultant, figure out that which you will need help.  example - do you need help with just the Day of the Ceremony or planning the entire thing.  A wedding planner will help you with the following:
 * 3) *Budget design, Selection of the venue/site, Coordination of the rehearsal, Reception coordination, Vendor management, Menu selection and catering negotiation, Floral selection, Catering and Bakery tasting, Hotel coordination (blocks of rooms for out-of-town guests),Invitations, Etiquette, advice, design, and creation, Design of map card, menu, place cards, and wedding program, Design of announcements and “Save the Date” cards, RSVP Management,Management of guests and RSVPs, Seating arrangements, Assistance in the creation of table cards and place cards, Transportation Management, arrange for transportation, Creation of transportation docket, and Concierge services.
 * 4) Figure out your wedding budget.  Can you afford the services of a consultant?  It could be a lot cheaper than you think and much less of a headache.  Many wedding consultants also offer affordable packages for any budget.
 * 5) Narrow down your search and call up to five wedding planners to determine their services and packages.  Some wedding planners are hesitant to give prices over the phone and will want to give you a presentation of their services.
 * 6) Book appointments with three wedding consultants and make a list of questions for your interviews.
 * 7) Meet with the wedding consultant at her office or in a place that is relatively quiet and comfortable for both of you.
 * 8) Do not bring children to your consultation as this is distracting to both the consultant and to you.  You cannot concentrate on the interview if you are continuously interrupted by your child, who rightly wants your attention.  It isn't fair to them and it's not fair to the wedding planner.
 * 9) Ask questions about their experience, credentials, certifications, kick-backs from other vendors, etc.
 * 10) Narrow down your quest to the top two and ask any questions that are still plaguing you via email or telephone.
 * 11) Let your wedding planner know she has won your confidence  by extending a courtesy call to her to let her know when you can come in and sign the contract.
 * 12) Let the other candidates know via email or phone call, but also try to provide them with feedback as to why their services weren't chosen.  We are all trying to upgrade our services and by letting us know why we weren't chosen helps us to improve.
 * 13) Schedule your initial meeting with your wedding consultant and be prepared to enjoy your wedding experience.

Tips

 * In the past, the bride was able to rely upon an aunt or a dear friend to help plan her wedding, but now more and more details appear and the bride cannot depend on her relatives or friends to make decisions on her behalf. If you hire a professional wedding planner, that person would have your best interest in mind. That professional would make decisions for you based on those things you told he/she in your initial consultation and according to the vision of your wedding. A wedding consultant also pulls together all of the details of your wedding day and executes them to provide you with a stress-free event.
 * Look into hiring a professionally trained wedding planner who will help you make your event more enjoyable by giving you the peace of mind, to relax, relate, and release the stress. Enjoy your wedding day and the sentiment that you were meant to celebrate with the one you love.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Get Married in Hawaii for Cheap
 * How to Know The Right Age to Get Married
 * How to Accept an Invitation for Your Ex's Wedding
 * How to Personalize Your Wedding

Sources and Citations

 * Format of a Wedding Reception - Original source of this page. Shared with permission