Event Planners

Medusa, the Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot, Jennifer Lopez as The Wedding Planner . . . What do these things have in common? They are MYTHS!

While being a myth does not keep people from seeking some of these out (well, maybe not Medusa . . . ) they often prevent couples from seeking out the assistance of a professional wedding planner.

To help clarify and debunk some of these, here is a list of some of the more common misconceptions (and truths) of professional wedding planners (PWPs), aka wedding consultants, wedding coordinators, and bridal consultants.

Consultants are expensive and only for the rich and famous.

Like most people, much of what you know about a PWP is what you see on TV, the movies, and in magazines. Lavish celebrity weddings raise ratings and sell more copies, but they are not the stuff of everyday real-life weddings. And the people who produce these weddings (Colin Cowie, Preston Bailey . . .) provide a very different service than your local PWP. The local PWP understands who and what in their region, such as current trends, and all the great local vendors and resources.

Also, most PWPs offer different levels of service, from a basic hour-long session to full-service coordination and design, so you should be able to find something in your price range quite easily.

My caterer also does wedding planning. Why not just use them to plan mine?

The main job of your caterer (or florist, or dj, etc.) is to provide the service they are specifically trained and experienced in. While they are busy providing their service on a wedding day, how are they going to take care of any the other behind-the-scenes things? They just cannot be in two places at once.

I have just booked my reception venue and they have a list of "preferred vendors." Why should I pay someone for the same information?

Because a PWP does not give the same information. The "preferred vendor" list provided by venues, caterers, etc. are often vendors who have paid to be on that list, and is not an indication of their style, pricing, availability, nor reputation. The venue provides this very same list to all of their clients.

On the other hand, the list of vendors provided by a PWP is tailored specifically for each bride & groom. You have your own specific style and desires, as well as budget, that you want for your wedding day. A PWP will provide a list of available vendors that you know specializes in your desired style, and fits your budget.

But I do not want someone to plan my wedding they way they think it should be.

A PWP will take the time to find out exactly what you and your fiance want out of your wedding, how you envision your wedding day, how much you have and want to spend, and what your priorities are for your wedding. She will also take the time to get to know YOU. By doing so, then she can make referrals and suggestions based on your unique desires and dreams for your wedding day, and NOT some preconceived notion of what a wedding "should" be.

She will help you plan your wedding the way YOU want it to be, not the way she thinks it should be, or (worse yet!) "the way it has always been done"?

Do consultants take kickbacks from the vendors they refer?

Absolutely not! It is unethical to accept kickbacks, finders fees, or whatever you want to call them. The main focus of a Professional Wedding Planner is you, the bride and groom. The PWPs are looking out for the bride and grooms best interest, not their own, nor any other vendor. The ONLY exception is if the consultant fee will be paid by the vendors and not by the client.

Will a consultant want to run the whole show?

A PWP will work with you, handling as much or as little of your wedding as you want. After all, it is your wedding. The PWP is there to help you and your family make the day perfect. If you want her to, the PWP will run the whole show, but it is your show that she is running.

Our church has a wedding coordinator. Why do I need someone else?

The person at the church is usually only familiar with his/her aspect of the wedding, particularly getting the bride down the aisle on time, not the complete planning process. The church coordinator is primarily concerned with making sure the rules of their church are followed. Do not assume the church coordinator will help with any set-up, assist you and your bridal party while you are getting dressed, pass out and pin on boutonnieres and corsages, make sure everything and everyone is in place, or be able to fix any behind-the-scenes problems that may arise.

I can find vendors straight out of the yellow pages. Why pay someone to do this for me?

You can pick names from the yellow pages yourself. However, this is no indication of their style, price ranges, availability, or if the vendor is even reputable. Referrals provided by a PWP are not pulled out of the yellow pages, but from a data base of pre-qualified, reputable vendors who match a specific set of criteria that fits your wedding vision and budget.

My friend (or sister) just got married, and her wedding was great. Why not use the same vendors?

Of course you can use the same vendors, but do you really want to have your wedding just like someone elses?

My mom is helping me. Why hire someone when we can do it all?

Using the services of a PWP does not prevent you and/or your mom from "doing it all." Instead, with her training, experience and expertise, the PWP is on hand to assist and guide you through the entire wedding process, offering suitable suggestions and quickly remedying any problems, so no one ends up too stressed and too tired to enjoy the big day when it finally arrives. A PWP will help you to look forward to and enjoy your wedding day than get so stressed out that you cannot wait for it to be over with.