It is known that weddings are stressful. Months of compromising and planning to stay on budget as well as the overwhelming nature of the actual day. It’s quite taxing on everyone involved. However, this does not have to be the case. Wedding planning doesn’t have to be a source of stress or something you dread doing but rather a fun process that brings you and your partner closer together. This is where the importance of a wedding planner really comes in to play. Wedding planners are the problem solvers of the wedding world. Compared to you, the couple who’s most likely planning a wedding for the first time ever, a planner has years and years of experience and can help make the event as enjoyable and stress free as possible. And not only can wedding planners be extremely helpful to the couple, but they are a game changer for the wedding photographer as well.
Wedding planners are there throughout the wedding process to help the to-be-wed couple plan every aspect of the celebration. From finding vendors, to creating a detailed floor plan, timeline and more! Wedding planners help balance time, resources, and staying in budget. A wedding coordinator on the other hand, spends much less time with the couple throughout their wedding planning. They focus more specifically on the events of the wedding day itself. Making sure everything follows the timeline. There is also such a thing as a wedding designer who helps the couple create and execute a design concept for their wedding. Wedding designers are used for a more artistic and aesthetic goal where wedding planners and coordinators are used for an organizational and constructive intent. Imagine a human version of Pinterest!
From my knowledge, a wedding planner in South Florida changes anywhere between $2,000 to $12,000, while a day-of coordinator would likely price anywhere between $500 to $2,500. When deciding whether to get a wedding planner or a wedding coordinator, it is important to keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Wedding planners are more expensive but they juggle many more responsibilities and can help you save more money in the long run by helping you manage your budget while planning. Whichever you decide, the most important thing is that you know and have 1 person to make sure everything runs smoothly on the day of your wedding. You don’t want anyone to bother you on your special day!
What does a wedding planner do?
Having a wedding planner many times relieves the pressure of the photographer. Having someone who knows where things are, who people are, where they have to be and when lets the photographer focus on capturing all of the important shots throughout the day. As a wedding photographer, I make it a priority to capture candid moments as well as posed. Capturing the joy of your wedding day is much more difficult to do if 1.) you are too stressed to enjoy your day because you can’t find your rings and 2.) if the photographer has to take on the role of coordinator themselves.
I have had quite a few experiences of wedding parties not knowing where to go, what to do and when to do it, so who do they turn to for direction? THE BRIDE! No bride needs that stress!
How it helps the photographer?
- Get to know your wedding planner: As it is important to find a wedding photographer whose pictures and personality you like and click with, it is also very important to find a wedding planner who is compatible with you and your partner. You will be spending a lot of time together making big decisions and this person will be in charge of pretty much everything on this very important day in your life. Finding a wedding planner that you get along well with and who understands your vision makes all the difference in the world. The same applies to any other vendor you work with as well! DJ, florist, photographer, etc!
- Ask for an emergency kit: I have seen many planners act as a personal assistant to the couple on their wedding day. Being there with drinks and snacks, to fixing situations that may occur such as fixing a ripped dress! One of the most useful standby items I have seen planners carry with them is an emergency kit. This isn’t necessarily for injuries but rather it contains things like Advil, tampons, safety pins, a needle and thread, little snacks, water, and other such items that are needed more often than not. Trust me when I say this kit is a life safer for both the couple and all of their loved ones getting ready with them.
- Give them your phone to take behind the scenes pictures and videos: Your photographer will already be sending you sneak peaks shortly after your wedding, but with the help of a wedding planner (or just a good friend for that matter) by giving them your phone for the day, you can get little behind the scenes videos and pictures that you can see as soon as the wedding is over! These fun little snippets of the day are just what you will want to see the next day! You will be happy you did that!
The decision to hire a wedding planner is one that can only be made by you and your partner, nobody else. There are definite benefits in doing so (as I’ve talked about above) but I can appreciate any hesitations including the factor of pricing. As someone who is currently planning my own wedding, I can certainly understand any skepticism in regards to a planner’s value compared to their costliness. If you are still having a hard time deciding whether or not you want to have a planner for your wedding, I recommend creating a pros and cons list.
TIPS:
If you are interested in hiring a wedding planner in South Florida, here are a my FAVs to work with…
Social Kai
The House of Gather
Blue Orchid Events
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