There’s no doubt about it – a professional wedding planner is a person without whom many weddings would not have happened, period. They take care of the worst while keeping the bride at her best, recommend suppliers while ensuring the budget stays where it’s supposed to, and sometimes even diplomatically avert family meltdowns. But how do you hire the right one? Here are all the essential questions to ask your wedding planner, arranged in partnership with Sharon Mc Meel, winner of weddingsonline‘s 2015 Wedding Planner of the Year Award.
There’s an important thing to keep in mind – not all planners do everything, so you must choose the one that can give you the service you require. Some brides want the planner to do absolutely everything, others just want help with décor or with particular suppliers. So before you go to arrange any meetings in person, be sure to have a think about which parts of your wedding you’d like help with. Our 12-month wedding checklist will greatly help with this task. In the questionnaire below, we’ve covered all the essential points to ensure you won’t be disappointed.
Image from Charlene & Stephen’s real wedding by Emma Russell Photography
Sharon Mc Meel has a few clever tips to share. She says: “Many couples will rush to book their venue before they sit down to do a budget or talk to a wedding planner. What they may not realise is that a wedding planner can often negotiate with a venue to try get the best package for their budget. Remember, once a deposit is paid it becomes difficult for a planner to negotiate, so the sooner you bring them in, the more they can save you. Another way to boost your budget is to ask whether the planner passes the supplier discounts onto the clients. Many planners have special arrangements with suppliers they use regularly, and you should be benefiting from these.”
“When you ask a planner how they got into their career, you’ll be able to decide whether this is the right person for you or not. Remember, you’re inviting them to share a very personal and momentous experience in your life, so you should feel like you can trust them to really look after you. Likewise, a planner who doesn’t ask lots of questions about your wedding may not be an ideal choice – they should be genuinely interested in your vision, ideas and preferences.”
Click here to download your free copy of WOL’s checklist of essential questions to ask your wedding planner.
It’s very important you get along with the person who’ll be your right-hand woman (or man) for the next several months. Do you remember that movie, Bride Wars? The wedding planner, Marion St Clair played by Candice Bergen is nothing short of a dictator! If you haven’t seen it, watch it, for educational purposes of course. Sure, she made those Plaza weddings happen all the time, but it was like going to war. It’s precisely the kind of person you shouldn’t hire to plan your wedding. The most essential thing you need to ensure is that you feel heard, your ideas are always carefully considered, and you can make all the final decisions.
Image from Amy & Ross’s real wedding by DKPHOTO
Here are all the essential questions to ask your wedding planner before you book their services:
• How far in advance do I need to book your service?
• Are you available on my wedding day?
• Is there a deposit to pay?
• Is there a contract to sign?
• Do you offer a payment plan?
• Does the price include everything, or are there any extras?
• Is your fee flat, hourly, percentage-based, etc?
• Is there an extra charge for particular dates/bank holidays, mileage, etc?
• What services do you offer?
• Do you cover all areas of wedding planning, or can you help me with just one/a few things?
• Are your packages flexible, or can you make completely bespoke arrangements?
• Will you be there with us during the ceremony and/or reception?
• What time will you arrive and finish on the day?
• Will you have additional staff with you on the day?
• Do you have any special requirements?
• Do we need to arrange a meal for you?
• Are there testimonials from past couples available to view, or can I speak to them?
• How many weddings have you planned?
• What’s your training/background?
• How long have you been in business? Is this your full time or part time job?
• How did you get into wedding planning?
• Have you planned a wedding with as many guests as we’re having/a budget similar to ours?
• How many couples will you be working with at the same time?
• Have you worked at my reception venue before?
• Will you help me plan the wedding even if the venue has its own wedding planner?
• Can you recommend suppliers who’ll work with my budget?
• Are we required to hire only the suppliers you recommend, or can we choose our own?
• Do you work on commission, or pass supplier discounts onto your clients?
• Will you be available to help with any supplier issues, should they arise?
• Will you be helping with all supplier arrangements – deliveries, confirmations, payments, etc?
• We have no idea what kind of wedding/theme we want to have, can you help?
• How many hours are you available for?
• Are you available for exclusive hire, and if yes, on what terms?
• Are we limited to a specific number of meetings during the planning?
• What’s the best way to get in touch with you during the planning?
• What are the overtime charges?
• Would you be available to attend the rehearsal dinner/post-wedding brunch?
• Are you insured?
• What happens if you fall ill/can’t attend the wedding?
• What is your cancellation policy?
• Do you have an questions for me?
Main image from Sinead & Shane’s real wedding by Emma Russell Photography
