Congratulations! So, you have just got engaged and are thinking about hiring a wedding planner. Firstly, great idea! It will make your wedding planning experience 100% more enjoyable. Okay, maybe I am a little biased, but it is true! Perhaps you are wondering about the process and when to get a planner on board, or what on earth is a Discovery Call? This blog aims to answer all your questions about hiringand all the perks that come with it.
When should I hire a Wedding Planner?
I always say as soon as possible; one of our core services is to guide you through and offer the best possible advice for planning your wedding. For many weddings, this means being there from the word go - starting with your budget and venue search or looking at Marquee options (if you are having an at-home wedding). Your wedding venue is key, so you need to get it right; you could set your heart on a certain type of venue, but it may not work with your vision or overall budget. Or you could be looking at a venue with a complicated contract or requires a full-service with lots of additional dry hire costs you haven't thought about. These are all the things a full-service wedding planner will look for.
Of course, if you have started your wedding planning or run out of steam, many planners can step in with a Partial Plan service. So, don't feel like you have missed out if you already have the ball rolling.
The different types of services
Suppose you are getting a planner involved from the beginning. In that case, you will most likely choose a Full-Service Wedding Planner, which basically means the complete works: venue search, budget management, design, vendor/supplier sourcing, floor plan creation, managing RSVPs, wedding design, admin and being there on the day to ensure it's everything you dreamed it would be.
A Partial Planner is a bespoke service depending entirely on what you need help with, for example, help designing your layout, sourcing your final suppliers or perhaps logistical elements. This wedding service will always include your planner being there on the day itself, too.
Finally, Wedding Day Management or Final Weeks Service. This service means most planners, including myself, will become involved 6-8 weeks prior to your day. This allows us to create timelines, liaise with suppliers, bring the final pieces together and manage the day so all your hard work goes as smoothly as possible.
What is the first step?
When hiring, it is so important to meet with them to see if you have a connection and like them (you will spend a lot of time together!). Most planners offer a Zoom Discovery Call, which is usually free of charge and is basically a getting-to-know-you call. It is sometimes also called a Chemistry Call. Don't worry about having much prepared for this as the planner will ask questions about you, how you met, your story, your initial thoughts and vision for the wedding, as well as your priorities for the day (or any set details if you are further through the planning journey). The Discovery Call also allows you to ask questions; maybe you want to know how long they have been in the industry, how many weddings they organise a year or if they have experience with a certain wedding style or a particular type of venue. My Discovery Calls are approx. 45 minutes, and its main purpose is to make sure you get the right vibe, leaving the meeting feeling reassured and excited!
What is the process?
Following our Discovery Call, my next step is to send you a proposal based on what we have discussed and which planning service you need. If you are happy with how our call went and my proposal, I will send an agreement for you to sign and an invoice for a deposit, which will secure you. The process from then will depend on the service. If you have chosen a full plan, I will create an initial budget guide, then a venue search or site visit for an at-home wedding. If I am partially planning, I will most likely be supplier sourcing or perhaps creating a design proposal. For wedding day management, consider your date secured, and I will be in touch closer to the time.
How much does the service cost?
For a full planning service, many performers charge a percentage of the budget varying from 10-15 %. Some may be able to offer a fixed fee, but most will always have a minimum spend for this service, and others may even have a minimum budget they work with. Partial Planning will usually be a fixed fee based on your requirements, as will Wedding Day Management, but this may vary depending on the location and size of your wedding.
What happens if my venue has a wedding coordinator?
This is a question I get asked so often, but the role of a wedding planner and venue coordinator is definitely not the same, and yes, you may well need both. You can read more about this here.
I hope this has helped ease any wondering about hiring. But if you still have any unanswered questions, then do take a look at my FAQs or send me an email at hello@yourstoryevents.co.uk. I hope to hear from you to book your Discovery Call soon.
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