This is the first of a series of posts I hope will enlighten you as you plan your wedding. Liene Stevens of Splendid Communications reminded me just today that education and information is an important aspect to planning a wedding and building trust with brides. So regardless if Fete Perfection has been hired or not, I hope that the information you receive from me will be invaluable, even if it's free.
If you have decided to hire a wedding planner for full service planning or day of coordination, scheduling an initial consultation is critical. If possible, schedule this face-to-face rather than by phone. There are times this may not be possible, especially if you are planning from another state but I recommend trying to coordinate a trip at the same time you begin your venue search.
Plan on spending a minimum of sixty to ninety minutes meeting. Bring along a prepared list of questions and have your wedding planning notebook or organizer close by should you need to look for information or contracts. After introductions, get comfortable and don't be shy about getting down to business.
A thorough wedding planner will have done their own homework and perhaps may have provided a questionnaire or survey for completion in advance of your consultation.This will help them to know just a little about you before you arrive and hopefully can help to break the ice. I send my Budget Priorities Questionnaire and Bride & Groom Style Survey in anticipation of meeting potential clients so I know a little about them as a couple, their likes, dislikes, food preferences, personalities and budget priorities.
At this point in your consultation are you thinking "I can't get a word in edgewise" or "are you listening to what I'm saying?" If you find yourself in this position, I'm thinking she's not the planner for you. Your planner should listen to your vision and dreams without taking over the conversation. Communication and trust will be key over the next several months so building rapport early on is mandatory.
Here's my suggested list of questions to ask a potential planner:
- How many weddings have you planned?
- What do you enjoy the most out of your job?
- What do you like the least?
- Do you handle more than one wedding per day or per weekend?
- Who will be my lead Consultant/Planner. What happens if they are sick or cannot be there on my wedding day?
- How do you help me manage my budget?
- Do you negotiate pricing and review vendor contracts?
- Do you accept kick-backs from vendors?
- What appointments do you attend with me?
- How many hours do you work on my wedding day? Do you stay to the very end? If not, why not?
- Do you belong to any associations?
- Will you be my advocate should I have a problem with a vendor?
- Can you counsel on etiquette and advise on matters of hot trends?
Finally, make sure you feel a genuine connection and that she understands your vision, challenges and budget. Make sure too that she isn't bossy, critiques your ideas, has no references or will not sign a contract. After the planner has a clear understanding of your needs, she should prepare a proposal and send within 24 to 48 hours.
I hope you find benefit in this post and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.