Five Signs It’s Time to Hire a Planner
A lot of couples assume they can plan their wedding on their own. But it’s easier said than done. Here are five common signs that it’s time to bring on a professional.
Venue: The Culinary Institute of America, Calistoga, CA
Photography: TJ Salsman
Sign #1: You don’t have as much time as you think.
We all start the planning process with the best of intentions. The wedding day isn’t for another year, so there’s plenty of time to plan, right? Well, that might be the case at first. Momentum and excitement are on your side initially, sure. Maybe you attended a wedding fair and have a list of potential vendors you want to connect with. But you have a full-time job and the next few weekends are already booked with travel or other events. You’ll get to your research next month, you assume. But slowly that momentum starts to fade and soon you’re saddled with guilt for not tackling things earlier, as the list of to-do items and the amount of stress you’re feeling start to pile up. You long for more time in the day or week to get to everything; clearly easier said than done…
As a planner, I am dedicated to seeing your project timeline through, from designing your decor to finalizing logistics with vendors. I’ll partner with you each week to help simplify the mountain of decisions and prioritize tasks in a doable way, so you can feel confident with your choices while also getting sleep at night. I will also be able to identify which tasks you can off-load to me or your family/wedding party, so you don’t feel as bogged down. Dividing and conquering is very effective at relieving stress when you’re short on time or feeling overwhelmed. As your partner, I’ve got your back!
Sign #2: The number of tasks is overwhelming.
First, it’s important to know that you’re not alone! The planning process involves making countless decisions, and just when you check something off the to-do list, five more things are added to it! This can feel even more overwhelming when hundreds of choices are thrown at you all at once. Are we going to hire a photo booth or a videographer? How many people will we want to give toasts? Is the seating chart going to piss anyone off? It’s almost too much to handle.
That’s where I come in. As a professional planner, I will help you identify which aspects of the wedding day are most important to you. Do you and your fiancé play in a band and you would rather perform a song than do a first dance? Do you already have kids that you want to incorporate or involve somehow? Do you need to start earlier in the day so your great-grandparents can toast you before they leave for the night? Every wedding is unique and it’s my job to help uncover what is most important about your day. These priorities will help influence the rest of the decisions you have to make. If having a plated dinner service isn’t as important to you as people eating an abundance of great food, that will inform what vendors to search for. Your priorities will influence the project timeline and who can help offload some of your tasks. By focusing on one thing at a time you can tackle the most important task first, decreasing stress and overwhelm. As someone who’s been through this process before, I’ll be able to help keep things in perspective, with the bigger picture and goals in mind. Each decision you make will support your overall vision and priorities, with the ultimate goal of having the best experience possible.
This applies to your budget, as well. As you plan your wedding, there will be countless things you’ll have to pay for. Without a solid plan, it’ll be easier to wander off course and spend money on unnecessary items that don’t support your overall vision or priorities. I won’t mince words. Your wedding will likely cost more than you set out to spend. That’s just the reality of putting together such a large event. As your planner, I’ll be able to help you establish your realistic spending limits based on your priorities and overall vision. I’ll be able to identify workarounds and look for creative solutions to save money while making a big impact. I’ll also advise on what might be worth investing in, such as a good photographer, since photos are one of the few tangible keepsakes after such an expensive ordeal. Regardless of the size of your budget, having a planner to partner with along the way will ensure someone is there to have your back and to identify additional costs well in advance so you can plan accordingly. Investing in a planner like me can save you thousands in the long run and will help ensure that the event you’re creating is the event you want - and can afford.
Sign #3: You’re unsure about what decisions to make.
Sometimes, you don’t know where to start, and that’s okay. If you’re like most couples, this is the first time you’re going through this. So it’s going to feel new and different. A professional planner to guide you through the journey will ensure the right decisions are made at the right time. When I approach the planning process, I learn as much as possible about my clients up-front while identifying what is most important to them on their wedding day. Identifying priorities will help lay the groundwork for the rest of the decisions that have to be made. Do you want to invite everyone in your extended family? Then, we should be looking at venues that can hold many guests. Do you want a fall wedding because you want to share an anniversary with your parents? Then, we need to make sure those venues have your date available. We’ll uncover your hopes and dreams, and go from there.
Sign #4: You’re exhausted.
Congratulations, you’re human! All joking aside, it’s a lot. Especially if you have a lot going on, such as demanding jobs, children, or aging parents. Planning a wedding on top of juggling everyday activities can feel like a real chore, and deciding which color the napkins should be can easily seem trivial. Your feeling of exhaustion doesn’t mean you can’t plan a beautiful and heartfelt wedding, though. Investing in a planner can help alleviate the burden and overwhelm. I’ll be able to help you prioritize what is most important to you on your wedding day. I’ll create a project timeline that works with your busy schedule and prioritize decisions and tasks you can easily tackle. Together we’ll identify which tasks you want to take on vs. ones you’d rather delegate or offload. You’ll have someone you can lean on for the entire process, so you can enjoy getting married. That’s what it’s all about, right?
Sign #5: You feel alone in the process.
Unfortunately, some couples don’t have the luxury of getting help from their friends or family during the planning process. It could be that they are geographically distant or don’t have the time to help. They may have the best intentions and want to participate, but their other obligations pull them in different directions. Even if they have time, unexpected life interruptions can happen, causing tasks to fall lower on the priority list. This undoubtedly will trigger hiccups in your timeline and cause unnecessary delays. Regardless of the scenario, relying solely on friends or family to help is risky. As your wedding planner, I’ll help manage the project timeline, as it’s my responsibility to ensure the event comes together seamlessly. I will also be able to identify which tasks are safe to offload to a friend or family member so that if something comes up causing a delay, it won’t impact any other part of the timeline. Fewer things to stress about means a more enjoyable experience and less tension between valuable relationships. Who doesn’t love a win-win?
Planning a wedding should be both exciting and enjoyable. Without a solid plan, it can quickly become lengthy, expensive, and overwhelming, especially when trying to tackle everything without the help of a professional. That’s where I come in.
If any of these signs apply to you or your situation, let’s chat! I provide customizable solutions to fit your needs and help you reach the finish line. Every wedding is unique, and you deserve the best planning experience possible. Let’s work together to bring your wedding day to life!
