5 Mistakes Couples Make When Choosing a Wedding Planner and How to Avoid Them
Wedding planning requires a great deal of work, and many hard decisions will need to be made between you and your bride or groom-to-be. But, one of the biggest decisions which can make a world of difference for your big day is who you hire as a wedding planner.
Selecting a planner can seem like a daunting task with so many options to choose from. Start by checking out Five Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Planner and Coordinator, and also be sure to avoid these top five mistakes as you make your choice.
Don’t forget to download the SBWS Wedding Planning Checklist for free as well to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Mistake #1: Waiting Too Long to Hire Someone
Hiring your wedding planner should be one of the first things you do as you start designing your special day following your engagement. Planning a wedding involves many different moving parts and can quickly become overwhelming. A wedding planner takes much of the burden off your shoulders so that you and your bride or groom-to-be can just sit back and enjoy the journey.
Delaying in hiring someone, or deciding too late into the process that you do in fact need the help of a professional planner, is a common mistake couples make. Waiting too long can result in hiring a planner who doesn’t have enough experience or isn’t suited for you and your unique wants and needs.
Mistake #2: Hiring a Friend or Family Member
Hiring a close friend or family member to plan your wedding may seem convenient and like an easy way to save money. BUT, it can very quickly go wrong. If they’re not a professional planner, or are new to the industry, they may not have the experience and expertise that you need—not to mention they may not be insured. In addition, communication can be awkward. It may feel weird to treat them like a vendor and to really get what you need out of them because it feels like they’re doing you a favor and you don’t want to soil the relationship. You could end up still taking on a majority of the responsibilities or even doing damage control.
Instead, you can use your parents, bridal party, and other family and friends as a sounding board for your wedding ideas and get them involved in other ways.
Mistake #3: Choosing Based on Pricing
We know sticking to your budget is important, but your wedding planner is an area where you don’t want to skimp. Don’t hire someone just because they are the cheapest option around (they are likely cheapest for a reason). They may be less knowledgeable, not attentive, or they may not follow your vision for the day.
Finding the right person should instead come down to both experience and personal fit. Your wedding planner should mesh well with your personalities and should be someone you fully trust—they will be organizing one of the most special days of your life after all.
Mistake #4: Choosing Based on Availability
Similar to pricing, you shouldn’t hire a wedding planner simply because they happen to be available on your chosen day. Weddings are so much more than just the day of. A wedding planner will need to be involved in almost every aspect of planning and connecting the dots leading up to the big day.
You want to make sure they are not only going to give you their full attention on your wedding day, but will also be available to speak with you frequently to keep you on track every step of the way. When you hire someone, ensure that their communication style and level of timeliness matches yours.
Mistake #5: Not Doing Enough Research or Initial Preparation
As a final note, you should make sure to fully do your research and meet with multiple planners before selecting one to work with. Have a budget in mind and see how well you mesh with person during your initial meeting. This is also a great way to check for things like timeliness and communication. Did they get back to you quickly after you requested a meeting? Did they show up on time? Did they answer any additional questions you had in a timely manner following the call or in-person chat?
Also, don’t forget to show up to those first meetings with your selected planner prepped and ready to go. Have everything from your desired price range, color scheme ideas, estimated guest count, and your overall vision in mind so you can hit the ground running.
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