Planning a wedding is one of the most joyful occasions a couple will encounter in their relationship. However, it can also be one of the most stressful. Just why is it so stressful, you ask? The short answer: all the moving parts required to make your day a success. The long answer: see below.
A wedding is a time for celebration, laughter, and togetherness. However, busy schedules and organizing people is no small feat. One example, Stacy wants to have a rustic chic wedding with 150 guests, a wedding party of 8 people, and to include their dogs in the ceremony. So far so good. Then two months into her planning, she realizes that her maid of honor is not answering her calls, the bridesmaids can't agree on dresses, the venue only holds 140 people, and all the family members who agreed to help her are suddenly occupied.
This scenario is all too familiar. For professional wedding planners, this is just a Tuesday morning. They have seen pretty much everything. They understand that people sometimes overpromise and underdeliver. They also recognize that your family and friends have a lot going on in their own lives. Maybe your maid of honor has a toddler and newborn, and missed your call because she was at the pediatrician's office. At the same time, they recognize that the bride is excited about her wedding and wants all the details to be perfect.
Besides organizing people, another reason vendors are crucial is the nature of planning itself. Weddings require many services and vendors. Wedding planners have pre-existing relationships with vendors, and this facilitates easier conversations. Imagine trying to meet and coordinate with different types of vendors. You have to interview 3 officiants, 4 venues, 2 caterers, 3 djs, and more and then decide which are reliable and will follow your vision. When you see it on paper, you realize just how complicated this simple wedding really is. But for the seasoned planner, this is nothing out of the ordinary. The planner is in constant communication with all these vendors and knows which are reliable and which will not follow through.
Planners have been in your shoes countless times. They know the recipe for a successful event and how to coordinate busy people. Planners combine expertise and networking to bring your vision to life and help you retain your sanity. So if you are still on the fence about whether a wedding planner is right for you, remember that a wedding planner can save you time, money, and peace of mind.