While sleek tuxedos and flowing gowns have never gone out of style, hiring a wedding planner is no longer a “black or white” question. Some brides today shy away from employing a coordinator, thinking they can plan their wedding alone or hoping to avoid extra costs. They might want to think again: Planners’ professional expertise ensures that the big day runs smoothly and can save couples hours of stress and thousands of dollars. Hiring a wedding planner also doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing decision, as companies are increasingly offering specialized services to meet every bride’s needs.
Saving cash
“Sometimes wedding planners are seen as a luxury vendor, not meant for every budget,” says Ashley Henry, owner of Simply Elegant Bridal Consulting in Brooklyn Park. “But we cater to every bride, on every budget.” Simply Elegant’s fees are assessed as a percentage of how much money the planners save a couple through their negotiations with Twin Cities vendors.
Planners do charge a fee, but they save couples vast amounts of money due to their relationships and negotiation skills with vendors and venues. Years of experience in the field allow them to connect brides to top-quality florists, bakers, videographers, decorations, bands, transportation, photographers and rentals.
“If you put two or three thousand dollars into a planner, you’ll see that money back in discounts [on other services],” says Henry. “All of [our] planners are fabulous with this.”
“We know the ins and outs of the best vendors,” says Amy Rubins, owner of Minneapolis-based Fête Perfection, who works with thousands of wedding-related businesses across the United States. “How do you know you’re getting the best vendor? We offer reliable, trusted referrals. Consequently, the vendors are grateful for the referrals and give us complimentary upgrades or discounts, which we pass directly along to clients.”
Skipping the stress
Beyond saving couples money, wedding consultants cut hours of organization time and relieve stress. “Many brides don’t think to work with a wedding planner until things start to go wrong,” says Lora Grafenstein-Kinzel, owner of At Your Service Weddings in Minneapolis. “Even if they’re planning their own wedding, a couple can come to us at the beginning of the process, and [we] make things go even smoother.”
Today, many brides start planning on their laptops, seeking deals and venues online. While the Internet is a valuable tool for brides- and grooms-to-be, wedding planners say it can’t replace collaboration with professionals who have ties within the industry and can help negotiate contracts.
“Wedding planners know the resources out there, so we can match them up with brides based on their needs, budget and style,” says Grafenstein-Kinzel. “Brides don’t have to go through the hours of research trying to find the vendors on their own.”
A new trend is also emerging, with an increasing number of brides hiring planners employed by their wedding venue. Venue planners and independent consultants offer distinct services, however. “The big difference is that someone on-staff is looking out for the best interests of their company, while an independent planner is looking out for the couple’s best interests,” says Rubins.
Many brides also allocate planning to family members, but Rubins notes that a professional presence can be helpful in unforeseen moments of stress. “With our experience, we know this industry inside and out, and we can solve any problem that comes our way,” she says. “If someone is freaking out at the wedding, we exude a quiet, calm confidence, and our [serenity] is catching. The couple knows we have it covered.”
Pick a package
Every bride has a unique vision for her wedding, but not all have the same needs. In response, wedding consultants offer a range of services from which couples can pick and choose.
Most wedding planners have partial packages, where clients can talk through ideas, get connected to vendors and work out timelines through consultation meetings. “Halfway through the planning, some ‘do-it-yourself’ brides may come to us and need help,” says Henry. “We have two or three meetings that they can use whenever, where we sit with them and guide them through basic problems.”
Other brides want to plan their own wedding, but take the weight off their shoulders on the day of the event. Businesses like At Your Service Weddings now specialize in “day-of” coordination. Couples who use this popular package employ a wedding-day coordinator who works closely with reception coordinators, decorators, photographers, limo drivers and DJs to ensure the day runs smoothly.
“Think of us as being the glue that holds everything together, an air-traffic controller, worker bee, the person that keeps everyone calm and the one to make sure every detail has been checked off the to-do list,” says Grafenstein-Kinzel.
Some couples may opt to save time and effort in the months before the wedding with full-service planning. Purchasing a full-service package can also lead to a more elegant wedding day. Fête Perfection, for instance, focuses on helping brides create a chic and timeless style. The company also escorts couples on venue searches, in a style that’s both convenient and luxurious. “We pick them up in a limo and take them to as many venues as they need to see,” Rubins says. “It’s efficient, as opposed to taking a few cars and navigating around Minneapolis or St. Paul, and the couple feels pampered.”
Regardless of which services a bride requires, wedding coordinators in the Twin Cities seek to create an enjoyable planning experience, which ultimately culminates in a relaxing—and, of course, unforgettable—wedding day.
“My belief is that you want this to be the day you’ve always dreamed about,” says Henry. “You don’t want to worry about any little things. You want to have a glass of champagne, sit with your girlfriends and have a good time. A great wedding planner can do that for you.”
Levels of service
Wedding planners are here to help, regardless of how much, or how little, you might need.
- Consultations: This service is best for brides who want to do their own planning but need help selecting vendors and making decisions.
- Day-of coordination: If you’re handling your own planning but don’t want any stress for you or your family on the big day, consider hiring a day-of coordinator.
- Full-service planning: If the thought of planning a wedding makes you want to run and hide, you’d be wise to hire a full-service planner who can take on the full workload—all you have to do is show up to the party.
- Add-ons: Some planners also offer à la carte services like post-party cleanup, and event design, which focuses more on aesthetic elements like creating pretty tabletops.
