So, you are getting married? Congratulations! You and your spouse-to-be are in for what some people call ‘pleasant worries’ – arranging the festivities. Mentally, you may already come up with a little to-do list: buy clothes and rings, send invites, pick out the photographer, the florist, the venue, the menu… This is not all, of course. However there is still plenty of time…

Save the list – further on you will need it – but stop and consider something: each item is the tip of an iceberg. As soon as it gets going, the targets will be broken down to thousand mind-blowing trifles, details piling on. If you do not relish being totally wiped out by the big day, accept our advice: find wedding planner.

Surely, most nuptials are not like the pompous royal events – with dignitaries and foreign guests – involving sweeping preparations and calling for strict security measures. Even so, there are more benefits of hiring a wedding planner than not.

We will give you just two simple reasons:

• Such assistants are much more experienced, mapping out events – unless you are in the business, but then reading this article would hardly be necessary;
• They have more connections and useful phone numbers at hand than ordinary people do – these helpers even search the Internet day in day out.

Is it worth engaging someone?

Once the future bride and groom get geared, there about zillion questions arise. A ball gown or a mermaid dress, a sheath or empire waist? Is it in trend or worn before and outdated already? Selecting outfits alone can be a head-spinning affair. Rows of bespoke creations pass before the eyes, you try many of them on, not knowing in the end whether you are coming or going – unless, of course, a stylist is hired to assist.

There will be more decisions like that to make. Rather than doing it on your own, put someone on to it. Here are several tips for hiring a wedding planner:

• Pen down your thoughts on a pad.
• Put it away for a while and return later to add new items.
• When the check-list looks more or less full, use it to interview candidates for the job.
• Start asking questions. It will help to understand whether you have the right person.
• You will also gain insight if the person is amiable and competent enough to prepare the grand celebration.

Listen to what the prospective aid says in return. It may contain valuable information. In the meanwhile, it will also show how interested and engaged he or she is. Try to feel, if you are getting along well or not. The first guts’ impression is often the correct one.

Break in your shoes! If you thought of that one, very well. If not, the special day risked turning into an ordeal. A good assistant will come up with more suggestions people otherwise learn through hindsight.

Experts, who pull off weddings on a regular basis, have a checklist, too. They will ask many questions of their own. Apart from surfing the web, try to remember, if any of your friend or friends’ friends tied the knot recently. Contact them for information and details. They may have recommendations.

If you are hiring a wedding planner on a budget, specify clearly how much money you are ready to spend on the festivities. It is always good to disclose prospective expenses, lest you be presented with surprise costs. Ask technical questions: how much experience the person in this business has gained, if he or she has certifications, licenses, references… Find out if there will be a backup – there should be someone, just in case.

Pros and cons

Before you choose wedding planner, do not forget to ask what type of service they offer: do they do wall-to-wall coordination or just the logistics and supplies. Elaborate on your ideas and conceptions and let the person give a piece of advice.

Be clear from the very beginning, in particular, if you need someone who can both take care of practical things and add a touch of style.

Try to find wedding planner on a flat rate. No matter what type of services they offer, genuine and straightforward people do not mince their words about it. Expert helpers can usually assess, how much effort is required, and their pricing policies are clear.

Sit down together, map out steps in preparation process and draw up a timeline for them. Specify what you are to do and the communication method: over the phone, online or in person, meeting in office or elsewhere? Follow up the action plan and make sure everything progresses accordingly.

Personality is important, as well as good-willed and positive attitude. No one needs people stressing about throughout the organization, no matter how efficiently it runs. Those days before the wedding entail a lot of contact-making, booking and confirming. The tedious routine of finding agreement, controlling and double-checking is not for the fainthearted.

Each couple dreams to make their ceremony memorable. However not any helper out there will be able to realize and recreate your very vision of the wedding. With a developed aesthetic taste, you can cope with certain things – like choosing the color scheme, dressing up the room, and so on. Make sure the supplier is tuned in to your wishes and provides what is necessary. Otherwise, a designer may be needed. Ask whether assistant cooperates with someone or not.

Even if yours does not have to be a thrifty bridal – it is a once-in-life event and you are ready to splash out – finding a helping hand will save a lot of time and keep from many common mistakes. Doing things on one’s own incurs unnecessary expenses. Therefore, do not put off finding out the cost of hiring a wedding planner: what is spent here will be saved elsewhere – in money and, more important, in energy.