Hiring a Wedding Planner

Planning a wedding can be an overwhelming task. You have to decide on the location, the flowers, the dress, the food, the favors and more! Trying to choreograph each piece of your wedding so that the day goes off without a hitch requires meticulous planning and research. With so much to do, many couples today are enlisting the help of a wedding planner.

Read on to learn all about wedding planners and to get tips on hiring a wedding planner.

The Wedding Planner

A wedding planner should be able to handle every single wedding detail, from the smallest to the largest. With an understanding of and respect for your budget and wishes, the wedding planner will weed out inappropriate vendors and find the best fit for you.

Here''s a wedding planning checklist that highlights just some of the things wedding planners can do for you:

• assist in budget planning
• assist with the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
• compile a list of bands, DJs, photographers, caterers, etc., for you to review and meet with
• help you decide on decorations and give you ideas for decorations
• help you find the perfect wedding location
• negotiate to secure the best rates from vendors, caterers, musicians, etc.
• remind you when payments are due.

Destination Weddings and Wedding Planners

Couples planning destination weddings should consider hiring a wedding planner who lives in or near the wedding location. For example, couples who are getting married in Maui and other areas of Hawaii can hire a Maui wedding planner or a Hawaii wedding planner. These people will be able to assist with all the wedding details.

It can be difficult to plan a destination wedding, as you might be far removed from the place in which you will be married. A destination wedding planner will be able to help you plan your wedding from a distance.

How to Choose a Wedding Planner

When choosing a wedding planner, you need to pick someone with whom you are comfortable. If you are not comfortable with someone, move on until you find a wedding planner you can relate to. You want a wedding planner who will respect your wishes and your budget. Remember: This is your wedding, not the wedding planner''s wedding.

Wedding planners are in such high demand and planning a wedding takes so much time and effort that you should hire a wedding planner at least a year in advance of the wedding day. If you don''t give your wedding planner ample time to plan your wedding, he could charge you extra.

Here''s a checklist that you should consult when choosing a wedding planner:

• Interview: Ask the wedding planner how many weddings he has planned and ask for references. Also, ask for his tax identification number. Ask if you can see pictures of the weddings he has planned.
• Check References: If the interview goes well, check your wedding planner''s references. Ask if the wedding planner went over budget, if he communicated well, if there were any problems, etc. Contact specific vendors to confirm his reputation. Check with the Better Business Bureau to ensure that there are no problems with the wedding planner.
• Establish Price: Will your wedding planner expect a flat-rate fee, or will she expect a percentage of the total cost of the wedding (perhaps 15 percent of the total cost)? Or, does your wedding planner charge by the hour? It is important to determine pricing well in advance of signing with a wedding planner.
• Get it in Writing: Make sure that you sign a contract with your wedding planner. This contract should spell out every detail, including cost, expectations, reasons to terminate the agreement, etc.