TOP QUESTIONS TO ASK A WEDDING PLANNER: A STEP-BY-STEP PLANNING GUIDE
So, you’re engaged, now what? If you’ve decided you’d like to explore the idea of hiring a Wedding Planner, you have a very important, exciting decision ahead of you! With so many reality shows showing stressed brides, TikTok information overload, or having family pressure to have a wedding a certain way, it is easy to feel overwhelmed when thinking about planning a wedding or simply not knowing exactly where to start.
I’m here to tell you that wedding planning doesn’t have to be stressful. This is a step-by-step guide to planning a stress-free wedding and avoiding being overwhelmed during the planning process. This is what I wish every couple would know about planning a wedding.
How to Start Planning Your Wedding
Pre-wedding planning is key to making sure you have an easy time planning a stress-free wedding. To get started, consider the following checklist:
- Identify your goals: What is important to you and your fiance? What are your wants vs. your needs?
- Determine your budget: This is of the most important topic, as you will soon learn. You should allow for a contingency budget in case of last minute costs which may (and will) arise.
- Decide your wedding style: Rustic, luxury, beach, cottage, urban, industrial, minimal – sit down with your partner and determine what is a style that reflects you both.
- Choose what season you want to get married in: Consider the comfort of your guests and the amenities your guests might need during a specific season.
- Create a preliminary guest list: This will provide an estimated number of guests to provide wedding venues and start gathering your numbers together.
- Choose a wedding venue: Once you’ve narrowed down your budget, goals and wedding style, choosing a wedding venue becomes a little bit more manageable.
- Decide on a wedding day: Think about which day of the week or weekend you’d like to celebrate and if you’d like a daytime or evening celebration.
To help you understand the financial landscape, here is a breakdown of average wedding costs according to recent data:
| Region | Average Wedding Cost |
|---|---|
| United States (National Average) | $30,000 |
| New Jersey (NJ) | $51,000 |
| New York City (NYC) | $60,000 |
Top Questions to Ask a Wedding Planner
Wedding Planners are there to make the process better, easier and more convenient, not hinder the process. Here are a few tips and some questions to ask a Planner to help make sure you are covering some important topics to ensure you are choosing the right professional for you.
Professional Credentials and Insurance
Personally, I believe it is EXTREMELY important to look for a Certified Wedding Planner. That would be my very first question before even meeting a Wedding Planner for a face-to-face meeting. Another VERY important detail to consider is whether or not the individual you are considering is insured. Some venues won’t work with Planners who aren’t insured is reason enough to steer clear of a “professional” who isn’t. Imagine losing out of your dream location because your Planner doesn’t have the credentials to perform a wedding at that location? It’s just not worth the risk.
Building a Long-term Partnership
Make sure you choose someone you are comfortable with. This person will basically be your other half for the next 6, 12, 18+ months, will be there with you every step of the way and will likely turn into a lifelong friend. Keep in mind, this is meant to be a guide. If your Planner doesn’t have all the answers right on the spot or needs a few days to put all the requested information together in an email for you, I would suggest giving them the opportunity to do so before writing them off.
You are giving yourself the absolute best gift you can for your wedding by considering working with a Wedding Planner, as statistics from Zola show that “60% [of brides] feel overwhelmed by setting a budget and 54% don’t know where to begin their vendor search.”