Planning a Wedding – Keep these 5 tips in mind

January 15, 2021

It’s not easy to plan a wedding and there are dozens of things to consider. For example, what color scheme you want to have, what you want your wedding invitations to say, who should sit where, and much more. Because of this, it’s important to hire a wedding planner to help take on some if not all of the burden.

Before hiring a luxury wedding planner, however, you may want to keep the following tips in mind first.

1. What Type of Experience Do They Have?

This is a big one. You want to make sure your wedding planner is experienced and has several years of wedding planning under their belt. After all, it’s common for people in the wedding industry to come and go. A wedding planner who has been in the business for several years shows you just how committed they are to their craft. Keep in mind that just because someone planned their own wedding, doesn’t mean they’re a professional wedding planner.

A luxury wedding planner should know everything there is to know about planning a wedding. This includes having knowledge about food and beverage preparation, service standards, transportation options, accommodations, photography, videography, Live Entertainment, DJ’s and more. They should also be logistical experts to help you create a seamless experience for you and your guests.  An understanding of electrical needs, traffic patterns, and Fire Code to ensure you design a safe event is also important.

The list goes on and on and therefore asking how long a wedding planner has been in business, what kind of education they have, and what past job experience qualifies them to be a planner is vital. Ask for references and talk to their references about their experience with that planner before hiring them.

2. Are they licensed and insured?

If your potential luxury wedding planner has an office that you can meet them at, it shows that they are financially invested in their business, and ensuring a professional planning experience for you.

All planners must be licensed and insured. Some venues require proof of liability and workers’ compensation insurance from wedding planners- if they don’t have that – you as the client will need to insure them to work at that venue- adding to your wedding budget expenses.

3. Are They Listening to Your Needs?

From our perspective, the job of a wedding planner is to create an event that is uniquely you! You don’t want them choosing design items that suit their style and taste- you want it to reflect yours— it is your wedding after all.

When speaking to your wedding planner, do they ask you questions? Do they listen to your answers and provide suggestions or solutions that address your wishes, or concerns? You want someone that is interested in making your wedding about the things that are most important to you- the client. Be sure to follow up with their references and ask if they thought the planner did a good job of bringing their vision to life.

4. Understand the Services They Have to Offer

As you are shopping around for a wedding planner in Charleston SC, understand that what one company calls Partial Planning may be defined differently than what a different planner might call Partial Planning.

Read the information they give you and ask questions so that you fully understand the services you are paying for and most importantly, how the services might be different from planner to planner – even if the package you are considering has the same name.

5. Do You Have a Connection with Them?

It may sound crazy, but your wedding planner is likely the person you will be speaking with the most from the time of your engagement to your wedding day. The right planner is someone you are comfortable with and can speak candidly with about challenges you are facing with family, friends, and your soon-to-be spouse.

Your wedding planner should be someone who is a good listener but who also has your best interests in mind, even when it may not be what you were hoping for. Ultimately it is our job to help you make your wedding day come to life. However, you also want someone who will be honest and give you the best advice even if that advice isn’t what you wanted to hear.

There’s a lot to consider when choosing a luxury wedding planner, so be sure to take your time when doing so. If you want more information or simply want to talk to us more about planning a wedding, reach out to us here.