Wedding Pro Tips | Why You Should Hire a Wedding Planner

You’re engaged! Now it’s time to plan the wedding, BUT you have no idea where to start! You’ve been watching WE’s My Fair Wedding with David Tutera for quite some time now and you’ve probably thought to yourself “Why should I hire a wedding planner?” Well, we’ve got the answer for you.

Welcome to our new blog series: Wedding-Pro Tips! We’re pleased to announce that this series will take a look or some helpful topics our clients face in the process of preparing for their own wedding. We’ll be taking the initiative to ask the right questions and give an inside look at the industry featuring wedding professionals from all specialties to better assist our clients in their own planning process. We hope you enjoy!

Earlier this year we had the privilege of working a stylized wedding shoot at HÁBITAT in Baltimore, Maryland with Annapolis based organizer/wedding planner, Love Clark of Love Clark Events …and yes! That is her real name! We were so impressed with her unique skills and the team she put together, that we thought it would be a great opportunity to get an inside take on the value of hiring a good wedding planner and how they can enhance your event.

So for all those wondering if you need a wedding planner, here are some Q&As with Love Clark that might help you make a decision.

What do wedding planners offer?

There is a mystique surrounding “what a wedding planner does” and the responsibilities of a wedding planner, even some industry people are confused with what the role entails. I won’t go into depth just yet because initially, it deserves a break down of what a wedding planner should offer their clients. Firstly, a peace of mind! Hiring a wedding planner should bring you comfort just as much as your friend is there to comfort you. Your planner will source the best vendors for your occasion, from florist to venues, and be there to ensure everything still goes as planned when life happens. Secondly, you want to find a planner that gets you! Who you are, the things you love in life, and your overall personality. I normally get to know all about my clients and what their vision is behind the event they’re planning. We scope every picture they send and turn their vision into their own for the big day ahead. They’re so many details that go into planning, from the foods you love to florals, ultimately, executing your vision is always the goal in the end. Lastly, Management is so very important. Wedding planners can offer taking over management tasks with Budgeting, Timelines, Music, Invitations and so much more. Those small details that no bride wants to forget and get missed, your planner will have those details covered months before the wedding begins.

Why do I need a wedding planner?

When it comes to wedding planning we believe every bride may need some help at some point. Planning a wedding requires a lot more than just finding flowers and a pretty venue. Most couples have full-time jobs, aren’t thrilled with the idea of taking on all the preparation work, or have no idea where to begin in the planning process. All Couples are different! Although, some are able set-up appointments during normal business hours, oversee deadlines, finalize their design, and coordinate the wedding day, in contrast, for others this maybe quite stress-full. This is where a good planner could help. Whether you’re planning a small wedding or a big one, your planner takes care of everything on your to-do list and covers all of the logistics for your big day. So, when should you consider it is time for a wedding planner?

If you’re busy as a parent and work a full-time job.
You don’t want to wait to say “I DO”
You’ve never managed a budget for a wedding and aren’t sure what this entails
You’re unsure about vendor contracts
Your Pinterest board has a million pictures and you’re unsure how to pull all the details together
Wedding planning has became stressful on your relationship
You have never planned a wedding before
You don’t find enjoyment in the planning process

What is the difference between wedding design and wedding coordination?

There is a difference in a wedding designer and a wedding coordinator. A Wedding Designer oversees the overall aesthetic for the wedding. They will set the tone for the event based on all the details you’ve both discussed. They are the architects of the design world, meaning, they will design the decor, table settings, floral designs that brings the complete design and decor to life. Some of their duties are,

Creating the visual for the wedding or event
Setting the overall budget for the decorations and handles negotiations
Sourcing the flowers, lighting, props and completes overall design
Creating and advising on the perfect physical elements for your event
Producing creative designs and looking for visual cues to ensure details are in place

A Wedding Planner/Coordinator can be both a designer and a planner but your coordinator is the instrument that glues everything together. They handle all logistic, overseeing and executing the details for the big day. Some of your wedding coordinator duties are:

Ensuring the itinerary of the wedding day, such as mastering the ceremony and reception timelines to align properly
Negotiating and managing contracts
Communicating with all vendors
Developing a budgeting plan for all things wedding
Creating a timeline for ensure everyone is in place at the right time
Managing travel arrangements for couple and/or guests
Attending vendor meetings
Creating a floor plan that maximize the space

We get the question asking what the difference from the a venue coordinator and a day-of planner. Your venue may or may not have someone on hand, however a venue coordinator is responsible for everything for the venue. If the venue provides essentials such as chairs or catering, they’re there to ensure that their staff present things accordingly. They are not entirely focused on your needs, but rather everything venue and vendors. They oversee all details and make sure that any problem that arises is taken care of, so that you can focus on smiling for on your special day and not the glassware that fell before you’ve ever noticed.

How do you assess the success of each of your events?

Each event is different however, we always ensure logistics are in line for each and every event. Narrowing down what’s most important to our clients and setting the rest of the details from there on. I always say, “if you plan correctly, you can always manage all of the unforeseen problems that may rise in the future.”

Can you tell us about a time when you had to deal with an unexpected situation?

Unexpected situations happen more often than some may think! One example is when we had to jump in to manage a wedding that the bride and groom had planned all themselves. Prior to hiring my team of planners, most of their communication was with the venue management. The management team had completely lost the floor layout and had no idea which rental company the couple had hired. The day before the wedding we produced an entire new layout and reached out to the rental company that was supplying chairs, linens and table setting items. They were sent a newly-revised timeline for the day to begin set-up. However, their team arrived two hours behind schedule! Our wedding guests were arriving as the rental company were still in the process of preparing. We ensured guest were entertained as they arrived in a foyer area (that actually wasn’t part of the wedding space), starting with water and soft-tone music. We managed to help with set-up, greet of the guests, and frequently checked with the bride and groom and the wedding parties to ensure they were ready for the ceremony. Their entire wedding was redesigned 48 hour prior to the wedding! The best part is that the bride and groom has absolutely no idea. After the fact, they made us aware that their guests experienced phenomenal service and how thankful they were to have us their planner. One of the best parts of a planner’s job is solving problems, no matter how big or small, the experience should ideally always remain the same.

Wedding Pro Tips | Why You Should Hire a Wedding Planner

Featuring: Love Clark Events

We’d also like to send out a big thanks to these fantastic vendors:

Planner & Stylist: Love Clark Events @LoveClarkEvents

Florist: Jennifer @westvirijeni

Photography: @LoveCharmPhoto

Hair & Makeup: Amanda Merrell @amandamerrellbeauty Heather Flowers @brushedbeautyllc_

Cake Designer: Lauren Santiag @Sweet.Flours

Stationery + Sign – Lauren Santiag @Sweet.Script

Rental Vendors:@Honeywoodrentals

Table Decor: @Prettylittleweddingco

Models:

Victoria Waller

Brides Gown- @TLCBridal

Bridesmaids Gowns- @CoutureBridalMd

Donut wall- @Crownkidspartyrentals

Cover Image provided by Skyler Vangorkum

To learn more about our wedding photography, engagement or portrait sessions visit our Information page. To book your wedding with us, send us a message or call us at 301-848-0020. Can’t wait to chat with you!