Wedding Coordinator, Wedding Consultant, or Bridal Consultant — call it what you will, but choosing the right person to help you plan one of the most important days of your life is critical.
We at Wedtro.com have compiled a thorough list of questions you need to ask before hiring a Wedding Coordinator. Forgetting any of these questions could cost you — financially and emotionally!
Here’s the list of pertinent questions:
· Do they have references? Always make sure you call every reference; both brides and vendors.
· Do they have a portfolio of other weddings they have planned that you can look at? Make sure you’re comfortable with what you see. Stephanie Isbell of Planned Perfection says, “Ask to see their portfolio and find out what their responsibilities were for each wedding they showcase”.
· What type of payments do they accept and when do they expect payment? You certainly don’t want any surprises here! What is their fee structure? Can they charge you a flat fee or do they charge by the hour? A flat fee is your most cost-effective option, if you can swing it. If not, do they have special pricing arrangements with vendors? Are you limited to the vendors they prefer? Question how they track the time spent on your wedding and review their cancellation policy?
· Who signs the contracts with other vendors? Do you pay them directly or does the wedding coordinator pay them and then charge you for expenses?
· Ask when they are available? Will they be there for your rehearsal dinner and the day of your wedding and for what duration? How often will they meet with you? Will they go with you to meet with vendors? How often will they provide you with written updates? Do they have a business license? Are they insured? What are their credentials?
· What will they do if they aren’t able to make it to your wedding? Will they work on any other weddings the same weekend as yours? · Do they have staff to assist with your wedding? What will their role be in the process?
· Will they assist with the processional and recessional? Do they assist with set-up and tear down?
· Expect to pay Coordinators anywhere from 7% - 20% of the total cost of your wedding.
Remember that the average wedding takes 100—300 hours to plan.
Hiring a wedding coordinator over a year out is ideal. Locking in vendors, before the start of the new year, many times can save you money. If you don’t have that kind of time, don’t fret. The best wedding planners have the vision and organization to drum up the wedding of your dreams in no time.
Hiring the right Wedding Coordinator can relieve wedding planning stess, and save you an immense amount of time. If you’ve got an idea of what you’d like to see created on your wedding day, but are pressed for time, splurging a little monetarily on the right Wedding Coordinator will be well worth the money!
Article by Nita Ammon of Nita Helping Hand?
A special thanks to Stephanie Isbell with Planned Perfection, who can be reached at 502-415-0011 or check out her website at www.plannedperfectionevents.com
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