Planning your own wedding is a stressful undertaking. Once you select a date, you start searching for a venue. Then the questions start racing: Do they have in house catering, preferred vendors, or can I select my own? Does the fee include tables, chairs, linens, etc or do I need to find a separate rental company? Even if they do provide these items, is it the look I envisioned? Is there a hotel nearby that will comfortably and safely accommodate my family and friends? How much cake do I need for 150 people? How much is this all going to cost me?

All of these questions make even the most organized person feel overwhelmed. This is where a wedding planner can step in and relieve a lot of stress, but what exactly does a wedding planner do? Today, we’re breaking down the typical services offered by a wedding planner.

First, and arguably most importantly, you should sit down and have a conversation with your potential wedding planner. You want to look for a planner that is willing to meet with you before you commit to their services to ensure that he or she understands your vision and budget and is willing to stick to both. Packages vary from planner to planner, but some will even create a custom package with all of your needs. Some of the services offered by wedding planners include:

Timeline and Checklist - This is where the planner will talk to you about everything you want incorporated into your wedding and develop a practical plan to make it all happen. The planner's expertise is invaluable because they know the best way to approach the schedule and also the proper times to send save the dates, invitations, etc. They also can develop the timeline for the wedding day so that everything flows smoothly.

Creating a Budget - The planners involvement in your budget planning and tracking is dependent upon your needs. This can range from providing you a template for you to complete with typical wedding expenses to your planner developing a comprehensive budget based on your needs and priorities and tracking your spending during the entire planning process.

Designing the Event - This is a special service available when the planner is also a designer. Your designer/planner will work with you and your theme to design the day you’ve dreamed of. This includes customized venue research and selection, identifying unique details for the couple, and creating a color palette with you.

Vendor Coordination - If you’re only seeking minimal support, your planner would assist you by insuring that all contracts are received by vendors and that they are confirmed for your event. However, if you would like more comprehensive vendor coordination, your planner can provide customized vendor referrals to match you with the very best wedding professionals for your budget, style, and personality. He or she can also be the main point of contact for all vendors, negotiate and review contracts, assist with catering negotiations and menu coordination, and manage rental orders and deliveries. Additionally, assistance with guest accommodations and transportation can be provided.

Day of Coordination - There is a lot of coordination required to get everything perfectly in place for a wedding. Leave that coordination to someone else so you can get ready stress free and enjoy the event with your friends, family, and new spouse! Your planner will be the point of contact for all arriving vendors, wedding party, and guests. They can also manage the setup and teardown of the event. Some planners will only stay 8 hours on the day of your wedding while some stay from start to finish. Be sure to confirm that your planner will meet your day of needs.

Additional Activities - A wedding planner can provide many many valuable resources that you might not have considered including a custom planning checklist, how you can incorporate sustainability into your event, invitation and program guidance, assistance with wedding etiquette questions, and an emergency kit for the day of so you can be prepared for common wedding mishaps.

We hope this answered a few questions you may have had about what you can expect from your wedding planner. If you have any more questions, please reach out to us either in the comments or via email. We look forward to hearing from you!

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