The release of films like ‘The Wedding Planner’ and ‘Confetti’ brought wedding planners to our attention in the noughties. The idea of a bridal fairy godmother coming to your aid and creating your dream wedding is highly appealing, so it’s no wonder that hiring one is more common now. But is it really necessary to […]
The release of films like ‘The Wedding Planner’ and ‘Confetti’ brought wedding planners to our attention in the noughties. The idea of a bridal fairy godmother coming to your aid and creating your dream wedding is highly appealing, so it’s no wonder that hiring one is more common now. But is it really necessary to hire someone to plan your wedding for you?
With an average of 15 suppliers to source, negotiate and book, it’s definitely worth considering for some brides. Regardless of how much time you have, a considerable amount of time and organisation goes into planning a wedding. For some couples, hiring a professional planner is a great way to ensure that everyone can enjoy the day with no concerns for organisational details. Here are some of the benefits of hiring a wedding planner.
Access to the best
Similar to the benefit of seeking out the services of a broker in order to find the best mortgage or insurance deal for you, hiring a wedding planner can come with discounts and products you wouldn’t have access to yourself. Every supplier your wedding planner suggests will also have been vetted ensuring they’re professional and of high quality, which means you’re more likely to find the perfect venue, wedding flowers and musicians for your big day.
A Helping Hand
There are lots of administrative tasks involved in organising a wedding which can detract from the exciting aspects of preparing for your wedding. Wedding planners can lead on – or assist – with the following tasks, leaving you and your family with more time to soak up and enjoy the build-up to tying the knot:
- Producing your budget and ensuring you stick to it
- Securing preferred venues
- Securing preferred suppliers
- Securing preferred entertainment
- Sending invitations
- Recording and following up regarding RSVPs
- Arranging payments to suppliers
- Collecting orders (flowers, cake, dresses, suits)
- Organising wedding rehearsal
- Table plans
- Ensuring the smooth running of the wedding schedule
- Greeting suppliers and guests on the day
Full-time team member
If you have other commitments such as work or childcare to manage while arranging your wedding, answering calls and emails from suppliers within normal business hours may be difficult. With a wedding planner on hand, you can relax in the knowledge that they’re keeping on top of wedding communications for you.
Local knowledge
There may be caterers, local musicians, florists, cars and drivers closeby that you didn’t know existed. Your wedding planner is likely to have worked with a number of suppliers in the area, so they know which are reliable and will have built strong relationships with them. They’ll also be able to recommend – based on your preferences – the best venues and suppliers for you and your fiancé without you needing to do the initial research.
Expert knowledge
As well as the logistics and organising, there’s a creative side to becoming a full-fledged wedding planner. Having chosen to base their career around wedding planning, professional planners are passionate about weddings. They’ll have an eye for detail, good taste and experience working according to client briefs. They can use their professional knowledge and expertise to advise on your wedding concept, from themes, song choice, entertainment and menus to invitations and table decorations.
Coordination on the day
It’s really helpful for everyone to have a primary point of contact, should any queries or issues arise. Your wedding planner will be the liaison between all stakeholders on the day of the wedding. They’re responsible for ensuring each person in the wedding party (bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers etc.) are fulfilling their responsibilities and that guests are comfortable. This ensures that each individual can focus on their allocated responsibilities, without worrying about anyone else’s. Most importantly, this leaves them with the time and headspace to enjoy the celebration.
How much will it cost me in the UK?
Most UK wedding planners charge between 10 – 15% of your total budget spend to fully plan your wedding. Prices vary depending on the individual company and the type of service you opt for.
How does it work?
Most wedding planners will take up the reins around three months prior to the wedding but this can be at whatever point you wish. Usually both ‘Full Wedding Planning’ and ‘Partial Wedding Planning’ include the wedding planner attending the wedding day itself and some companies offer ‘Wedding Day Management’ as a stand alone service. However again, the choice of services available varies between individual wedding planners.
With the management of your wedding covered, finding your dream wedding dress is where we come in. At Andrea Hawkes, we strive to give each of our brides a personal, thoughtful and attentive service, making the process of finding their perfect wedding dress as calming and enjoyable as possible.
Explore our wedding dress collections to see our signature minimalistic bridal style, or book an appointment with Andrea and her team to kick-start your journey towards finding your dream dress.