We’re Kicking off a new initiative at Jaime Lee Event Planning … Because You Asked.
Everyday I get emails from clients, friends, family, etc. just asking for a little guidance or advice on wedding issues. Mostly I get the same repeat questions over and over again, so now I’ll be sharing the questions and answers I think that readers might find useful in the future.
This week our question comes from Natasha in Durham, N.C. Natasha asks:
Dear Jaime,
I know that you are a wedding planner and wanted to know what your thoughts were on getting one. I had not really thought about getting one, but because of the “tensions” in my family and my mom not exactly assuming the role of a wedding planner, I thought it might avoid arguments between my mom and me and help alleviate a stressful situation as is. My questions are:
-Do you know about how much a wedding planner would cost?
-How do you go about getting one? Would I have to interview them?
-What exactly do you do or help the bride do?
I know these are kinda vague questions, but I have just begun the process of planning.
- Natasha
Dear Natasha,
In my opinion, planning a wedding, or any event, is about leaving as little as possible to chance and working with a professional is the best way to achieve this goal. If you have the right wedding planner, he or she will save you time, money and, most importantly in your case, stress. That said, just like in any field, there are a lot of people out there who aren’t very good at their jobs.
When interviewing candidates, make sure to be very clear about your priorities and your expectations of them. We (wedding planners) are not professional family counselors, but as a planner I try to absorb as much of the stress as I can for my brides.
As far as how much they cost, it’s kind of a like asking how much a car costs or how much a house costs - everyone is different. I charge anywhere from $3-$10k depending on many different elements of the wedding. When putting together a proposal for a clients, I ask lots of questions, like:
- How many guests are you expecting? (How many people will I need to staff for the event?)
- Where is the location of the ceremony and the wedding (Is it a local or destination wedding? Will we be responsible for transporting guests long distances?)
- How many events will be managed (Engagement party? Rehearsal dinner? Post wedding brunch? Or wedding only?)
- Do you need any professional printing done (not all planners do, but I design menu cards, place cards, bride and groom signs, etc.)
You get the general idea … I always customize my packages and fees so my brides don’t end up for paying for anything they don’t need, and they also don’t end up spending a ton of money on extras the last week.
If you don’t want to hire a full time planner, consider hiring a weekend-only planner. It’s your day and you should enjoy it. Let a professional handle all the details for you. Even if you can’t afford to have a full-time wedding planner, hiring one for the weekend-only is a lifesaver. And remember, even if, for example, your hotel has a wedding coordinator on staff, remember that his or her first priority is the hotel, not you. Hiring an independent coordinator ensures that someone will be looking out for your interests 100%.
Good Luck!
Jaime Lee
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And now Jaime Lee Event Planning presents…
The DIY Wedding Planning Workshop!
A wedding is complex. It’s complicated. It’s expensive. And, of course, it’s only the most important day of your life.
At the DIY Wedding Planning Workshop you’ll learn all you need to know and get all the tools you’ll need to plan your own perfect wedding. From budgets to lists to vendors and venues, you’ll learn how to plan and execute just like a Professional Wedding Planner. And no matter if your wedding is just around the corner or not until 2012, I will answer all your questions about the planning process and be there to help with decisions, disasters and duties.
Click here for more information!
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My buddy visits your blog all the time and passed it along to me. The writing style is extraordinary and the content is pertinent. Many thanks for the insight you provide the readers!