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Medusa, the Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot, Jennifer Lopez as The Wedding Planner … What do these things have in common? They're all 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 what's in their region – current trends, and all the great local vendors and resources.
Also, most PWPs offer different levels of service, from basic hour-long sessions 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? A caterer's (or florist's, or dj's, etc.) main job 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 other behind-the-scenes things? They just can not be in two places at once.
I've 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. This very same list is given to all of the venue's clients.
On the other hand, the list of vendors provided by a PWP is tailor specifically for each bride & groom. You have your own specific style and desires, as well as budget, that you want for your wedding day. Would not you rather have a list of available vendors that you know specialize in your desired style, and fit 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 fiancé 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 notice 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's always been done?"
Do not 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. A PWPs main focus is on you, the bride and groom. She is looking out for your best interest, not her own, nor any other vendor's. The ONLY exception is if the PWP's fees will be paid by the vendors and not by the client.
Will not 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 – getting the bride down the aisle on time – not the complete planning process, and is primarily concerned with making sure the rules of their church are followed. Do not absorb the church coordinator will help with any set-up, assist you and your bridal party while you're getting dressed, pass out and pin on boutonnieres and corsages, make sure everything 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. References provided by a PWP are not dropped 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 can not I use the same vendors? Of course you can use the same vendors, but do you really want to have your wedding just like someone else's?
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. Would not you rather look forward to and enjoy your wedding day than get so stressed out that you can not wait for it to be over with?
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Source by Jean Neuhart
