Choosing the planner for you ...


Wedding Planning is a rapidly growing sector of the wedding industry, hardly surprising when you consider the wedding market is worth billions with an average wedding now costing £20k.


The popularity of films like ‘Confetti’ and ‘The Wedding Planner’, TV series like ‘Wedding Stories’ , ‘4 weddings’ and ‘The Wedding Planners’, plus ‘Wedding TV’ have bought the wedding planning industry into mainstream weddings.


It is no longer considered a luxury and more a necessity to have a wedding planner.


Why consider hiring a wedding planner?


Time – they can save you valuable time, taking on the not so enjoyable aspects of planning, leaving you with the fun parts.


Knowledge - they know what’s hot and new in the wedding world because suppliers of new products and services often come to wedding planners to launch their products.


Value - they know what’s good value and we often obtain


discounts for our clients. Weddings are our business and we know what is overpriced and what the better value alternatives are, ensuring that your budget goes as far as possible.


Experience - they can match our tried and trusted suppliers to your exact needs; independent planners have time to get to know their small client base well and spend a lot of time accurately matching with tried and trusted wedding suppliers to ensure absolute perfection.


Advice - they give sound, non emotional advice for family dilemmas and etiquette queries. A wedding is such an emotional occasion for everyone involved that an outside professional opinion is often of great value.


Reduce Stress - they help reduce the stress associated with planning a wedding by knowing realistic timelines for all wedding tasks.


Detail - they offer meticulous attention to detail – wedding planners want your wedding to look ‘wow’ and ensure that the smallest detail you envisage is not overlooked.


Your wedding - they do not take over or implement our ideas; it’s your wedding always. It is our job to take your vision, and implement it, but at every step you are approving items; a good planner’s service can be amended to suit the needs of individual clients.


How to choose a planner right for you


Look through wedding magazines or search engines to see which planners are listed for your area. Look on the directory for planners who are members of the UKAWP. Start by reading their websites thoroughly to understand how they operate.


Contact them for more information and arrange a consultation with at least two that meet your requirements. This should be arranged at a time and place convenient for you.


The Consultation and what to ask


During the consultation, does the planner ask lots of questions regarding your personality and any initial plans?


Do they understand your wedding vision? They should be enthusiastic and build on your ideas.


Do you have a rapport and feel at ease with them? Remember you will be in close contact during the planning so you must actually like them as a person!


How long have they been in business and how many weddings have they organised? Can they provide references?


Ask how they charge, for example do they charge a fixed fee or a percentage of the budget?


Ask if they accept commission from suppliers and are discounts


passed onto you – all members of the UKAWP comply with a code of business practice and do not accept commission.


The Proposal


Following your consultation the planner should send you a proposal.


When this arrives, does it match your recent discussion? If the quote is not acceptable, then contact the planner to discuss.


Are there be any items that could be removed? Check whether there are any extra charges, i.e. travel, accommodation, administrative work.


Confirming your planner


Once you book a planner, make sure you sign a contract. Read it carefully.


Don’t forget to use your planner as an information source; they may be able to advise you on any issues of concern.


Keep in regular contact with your planner and update them of any changes.


Editorial courtesy of UK Alliance of Wedding Planners www.ukawp.com


Celebrate Weddings - autumn / winter 2011-2012 13


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