Should you get a wedding coordinator?

Most brides don't think about hiring a wedding planner until after the wedding. Not everyone requires a wedding planner. If you are going to plan your own wedding, you need to be quite organized, responsible, and you should make lots of time. Wedding planning takes time and that can be a challenge, especially if you work full time. You'll also want to have several family members or friends who are willing to help; people who will help you along the way in addition to helping as coordinators on your wedding day. If you do not have all of these pieces, you should seriously think about hiring a wedding planner.

If you're anxious about incurring the extra cost of a wedding planner, consider that wedding coordinators are experts in their field and are proficient at working within a budget. They can many times negotiate better deals or rates for you because they have good relationships with vendors.

You pay them to take charge of all the hidden details that you don't even know to consider. The role of your consultant varies depending on what you pay them to do. Coordinating and working with vendors, directing the rehearsal, assisting the wedding party and developing the wedding day itinerary are just a few of the duties a consultant can assume.

Some wedding coordinators work just with certain vendors and get x amount of dollars for each wedding they schedule for them. Make sure that if this is the case you are completely satisfied with the vendors your planner books.

Some brides are willing to coordinate the wedding but need help on the day of the wedding to make certain everything proceeds smoothly. Your planner may be willing to assist you on the day of your wedding only; inquire about the fees and charges for only this service.

Wedding coordinators have several methods of setting fees. They might set a percentage of your overall budget; they may bill you a lump sum based on their estimate of the time they spend on your wedding[ or they may bill you by the hour. A competent wedding planner is worth his/her weight in gold.

John has been a licensed and ordained minister for 41 years. He has served as wedding officiant for more than 1,000 Maui weddings with his wedding planning business, Maui Me Inc. All of his ceremonies are original and he performed his first wedding 35 years ago. John has written almost 50 Christian books (which have been translated into eight languages). In addition to performing the ceremonies for Maui weddings, he shoots most of the photography.