Wedding Planners Are Worth It: Here Are 5 Ways They Can Save You Time, Money, And Stress
After your partner proposes, and you say, “I do,” the engagement high is unbeatable.
Then, once reality starts to sink in and you realize you have to actually start planning your wedding, you may become totally overwhelmed.
Not only are weddings a hefty financial investment, but there are also so many little things to take into consideration. From vendor attainment, contract negotiation, and guest seating arrangements to floral options, color palettes, and day-of logistics– there is a lot to figure out.
And for many brides, becoming entrenched in the planning just adds stress and takes away from the simple joy of being engaged. That’s why for some couples, hiring a wedding planner is entirely worth it.
In 2022, the national average cost of a wedding planner was $1,900, according to a study conducted by The Knot. However, it is important to note that this price will likely vary based on geographic location and the extent of services.
For instance, hiring a full-service planner versus a day-of wedding coordinator.
Now, even $1,900 may seem like a lofty price tag on top of an already expensive wedding day. But don’t get discouraged– because there are five key ways that wedding planners can save you time, money, and stress.
1. Cut Out Contractual Complications
Putting together a full-day event with 100+ guests is obviously complicated. So, it is naive to believe that you won’t encounter any roadblocks throughout this process.
farmuty – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
While you might be tying the knot for the first time, though, a wedding planner has gone down this road countless times before. And with their professional expertise, they can navigate the nitty gritty to help save your bottom line.
When negotiating with vendors, for instance, you may want to avoid unnecessary fees. Or, you may want to change courses for your big day and get out of a contract altogether.
In these instances, a wedding planner will be able to help. Since they work in the wedding space– and can be a referral source for other brides and grooms in the future– vendors, venues, florists, and other contractors want to preserve their working relationship.
So, these businesses may be more lenient or flexible when wedding planners advocate on your behalf as opposed to you just advocating for yourself. After all, they know that your planner has the ability to contribute to or take away from future sales– and they want to avoid the latter.
2. They Are Budget Savvy
Setting and sticking to a wedding budget may seem easy. But you may go from wanting to upgrade your floral arrangements to realizing that you are thousands of dollars over your budget in a matter of days.
Wedding planners have seen it all before, so they can help you avoid unnecessary expenses.
Think of yourself as the CEO of your wedding day: you have the “big picture” vision and a bunch of ideas on how you want your day to go. And by your side is your wedding planner or CFO– who uses your ideas to figure out how to stretch your budget and make it all happen.
3. Discounts Galore
In a similar vein, wedding planners can help you stay within your budget by flexing their industry connections.
When newlyweds go to speak with vendors, they may be hit with price-gauged rates. But, when experienced wedding planners enter the equation, vendors know they cannot pull a fast one and get away with it.
At the same time, wedding planners often have relationships with certain trusted vendors. In other words, you may get a 10 or 15 percent discount just because you were referred by your planner.
And this may not seem like a huge deal at first. But when you are booking services that cost thousands of dollars, the savings will really add up.
4. Get Exclusive Vendor Access
You may not know that some vendors actually turn down couples who do not have a wedding planner. This is more common among large and highly-sought after vendors who want to work with professionals and focus on the nitty-gritty of their service.
Still, if you have a certain vendor in mind, your wedding planner may be the key that unlocks access and lands you a contract for your big day.
Similarly, some popular venues do the same thing– requiring a wedding planner or coordinator to even book in the first place.
This may not be of interest to you depending on your budget limitations since you will be spending money upfront. But, if you are dead-set on securing your dream wedding location, then this perk is priceless.
5. Take Back Your Time
After you get engaged, your work obligations, childcare responsibilities, chores, and personal obligations do not just stop. Instead, wedding planning just goes on top of your already-filled plate– spreading you thin and taking away any remnants of free time you had before.
Fortunately, wedding planners can give you back your sanity and help you save time.
We have all heard the saying, “Time is money.” And it could not be more true during wedding planning.
If you are a first-time bride, everything will be new to you. So, just like riding a bike, completing purchase orders, perfecting a menu, or scheduling the day-of logistics will take you twice as much mental energy and time than a seasoned pro.
But, with a wedding planner, you can leave these nitty gritty tasks to the professional. Then, you can spend your invaluable time actually enjoying and celebrating your engagement.
Perhaps you want to use your spare hours to start boxing up your apartment before you move into a new home with your partner post-wedding. Or, you simply want to relax with your fiancé and reconnect before the chaos.
Any way you choose to spend it, time is your most invaluable commodity. So, stop stressing and enjoy your engagement by hiring a wedding planner– because you will (hopefully) only experience this period once.
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