A wedding planner is often thought of as a luxury for those with an unlimited budget and dreams of a royal wedding. While huge weddings with sky-high budgets almost always have planners behind the scenes, smaller and more budget-friendly weddings still require a lot of planning and attention to detail. This is why a wedding planner is an appropriate addition to any wedding, whether you have a big or small affair, unlimited or limited funds. A wedding planner will ensure that your day goes off without a hitch.
Wedding planners often offer two coordination packages. The first is usually on the day coordination where the couple plans and confirms everything themselves and the coordinator jumps in anywhere from two to one month before the wedding. In this package the coordinator ties up any loose ends, creates a timeline, a final programme and a floorplan for the day and is there on the day to ensure everything runs smoothly. The second and most sought-after package is the full coordination service. The full coordination service means gaining a new bestie who will be there every step of the way to plan your wedding from start to finish. Your planner will create a concept for every aspect of your wedding from florals to entertainment as well as obtain quotes from trusted service providers who they work closely with to ensure the success of your special day. Your planner will work closely with you to ensure that your vision comes to life while also exceeding your expectations.
If you are still unsure whether you should enlist the help of a wedding planner, here are a few reasons why you should:
1. Less Stress
The first and best reason to hire a wedding planner is having less stress, not only on the day but leading up to the day. You will have the peace of mind that someone else is there to ensure that you have the best day possible. A wedding where you have no planner is similar to hosting your own party, you’re always having to sort out everyone else and having a lot less fun than you expected when you planned the party. On the other hand, a wedding has many “moving parts” compared to a simple party, which means that there are many opportunities for something to go wrong. Luckily, your planner will be there to solve problems that arise both during the planning process, on the day and even the day after. The wedding planners job is to keep you motivated during the planning process, guide you in the right direction when making decisions and to keep everyone involved happy, all while making your happiness their main goal. Simply put, they stress for you.
2. Better Budgeting
Surprisingly wedding planners are amazing at sticking to a budget, while couples often stray far from their original budget when left to their own devices. A coordinator will draw up an initial budget so you know what to expect and will update your budget based on which service providers you choose, to give you a realistic idea of what you can expect to spend. This gives the couple realistic expectations for the day and as such, the job of the planner is to manage your expectations based on your budget. The wedding planner will stick to your agreed upon budget and ensure that you do not make emotional decisions when it comes to your wedding budget.
3. Industry Connections
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that after years of being in the wedding industry, planners have a plethora of trusted service providers on hand. Wedding planners are usually excellent at making connections and maintaining relationships with other service providers in the industry. This means that they know who the most reliable suppliers are, who to avoid and can even wrangle a great discount for you. These connections can really be a lifesaver when a service provider fails to show up or when the couple needs something to be arranged at the last minute.
4. All the Details
Weddings are all about the little details, especially considering that there is usually three parts to a wedding day – the ceremony, the pre-drinks, and the reception. These make up three different events within the larger event of the wedding and then, of course, there is the rehearsal prior to the wedding day. To make things even more complex the ceremony, pre-drinks and reception are often held at different areas of the venue and sometimes even at different venues altogether. This is why having a wedding planner ensures that no matter where you choose to have these events, each one will feel special and nothing will be forgotten. A great wedding planner will have a cake knife on hand when you forget to bring it, a first aid kit for when a guest falls unexpectedly, umbrellas for a rainy day and so many other contingency plans you never thought about.
5. Personalisation
Your wedding should reflect the best parts of you and your partner. It should celebrate your relationship in each detail of the day from the vows and the music the DJ plays to the delicious food and wedding favours each guest gets to experience. A wedding planner can make this happen and will be thinking of you in every detail they organise to personalise the wedding to your taste and not necessarily create a one-size-fits-all wedding. Like the perfect suit, your wedding should be tailored to you and your partner and include the things you enjoy rather than sticking to the status quo.
To summarize, a wedding planner is basically the professional secretary, accountant, networker, organiser, and bestie you never knew you needed. A wedding coordinator plans ahead and thinks of the health and safety of everyone at the event so that you don’t have to and works behind the scenes to make your dreams a reality. Why leave the best day of your life up to chance when you can enlist the services of a wedding planner to ensure its success?
Looking for a wedding planner? Contact Unveil Elegance Weddings & Events for the best wedding planning services.
We offer wedding planning packages in and around Cape Town and the rest of South Africa. Thinking about a destination wedding? We have a variety of options available. Contact us now for your free consultation.
