(Shandro Photo)

A Photographer is usually with a bride/groom for a very long time on the day of their wedding, so from experience alone they know how important and valuable a wedding coordinator is. Photographers are hired to do one job, take photos. Though they find themselves taking care of things that aren’t usually mentioned in the contract, things that take away from them capturing the day – what they were paid to do.

“Planners are a great individual to have at the wedding to help the bride feel calm and relaxed, and know that everything is being taken care of.  The more relaxed the bride and groom are, the better and more natural the photos will be.” (Haley)

“This means that we are left to do what we were paid for – capture the gorgeous details, emotions and events of the day. We highly recommend to all our couples that they hire a planner.” (Rachel)

Ensuring everyone has the required information and is in place at the right time is the job of the the Coordinator, “the planner is a great go-to person for us when we have questions, so we don’t have to bother the couple or their family with technicalities” (Haley)

When planning the day of schedule a lot of little details may be forgotten, including the appropriate amount of time required for photos – something you don’t want to risk! “The planner is someone to help schedule the day, and they understand a lot more about the wedding than the couple.  It makes it easier for us to ensure that we have enough time for photos.” (Haley)

A planner/coordinator is there to ensure that anything goes ‘wrong’ is, usually before the bride and groom even notice.

“We are with them when their dress rips, their florist brings the wrong order, their caterer is late to bring the food, or a drunk uncle knocks over the cake. So, in addition to trying to capture the good things of their day, we often bear the full brunt of supporting the couple and offering quick-fix solutions – that is, unless they hire a planner. And we always pray that they hire a planner!” (Rachel)

Wedding Components
Planner: A Modern Proposal
Services Used: Partial Planning
Couple: Feyi & Tony
Ceremony Venue: Festival Place
Reception Venue: Derrick Club
Photographer: McMaster Studios (not the photos below)
Rentals: Exquisite Creations
Florals: Laurel’s
Cake: Bake-Me-A-Cake
Transportation: Champagne Limosines 

(photo by: ENV Photography; Planner – Julianne Cragg)

Written by: Julianne Cragg, WPICC

A wedding planner’s main job is to save you time, money, and stress. The largest difference of a wedding with a wedding planner is that you will see the bride having a good time and the bride and groom will be guests at their own wedding instead of having to tend to every little detail that goes array.

Wedding Planners/Coordinators will:
- Obtain lower prices
- Assist you in finding the best vendors
- Negotiate contracts
- Coordinate a schedule with your vendors
- Confirm arrival times and locations, obtain emergency numbers
- Compile a detailed schedule for you, your wedding party, and vendors
- Review contracts from your vendors
- Ensure you receive the services detailed on your contracts
- Ensure your vendors have everything they need
- Set up your ceremony and reception décor
- Transport your ceremony décor (as necessary)
- Direct vendors where to go
- Assist your guests (provide direction/fix attire/obtain high chairs etc.)
- Cue vendors when events are starting/need to end
- Fill in where necessary (i.e if an usher leaves or a guest book attendee does not arrive)
- Keep the event on schedule
- Distribute final payments
- Attend to emergencies

(please note: these are a few applicable tasks, and this can vary from planner to planner, and from package to package)
A big misconception is that your venue coordinator or your relative can take care of everything. A venue will have not contacted the cake person or the florist to ensure they have the correct address and when they are delivering. They also will not call the florist/baker/dj when they have not arrived on time. Will your relative have a back up contact to have another cake delivered or what will happen your bridesmaids pearls go all over the floor, or the ring bearer forgets the rings in the limo, are you going to send them to pick them up? Those are some of the many typical situations that happen at a wedding.

You will also have to be prepared to answer many questions on the day of your wedding, perhaps while getting hair or makeup done while your relative tries to decipher your hand writing or your vendor has a last minute questions. Wedding planners usually will have asked this in advance, have a back up copy, or have a contract/email in hand to answer the pending question.

A wedding planner will give you a list of great vendors to work with, it might not be a direct recommendation for you (as you would receive with full wedding planning), but reputable vendors that they have worked with. Remember they want your day to go as smoothly as possible as it will only make them look better, plus it’s less stress for the planner!

Wedding planners also know what is absolutely necessary to carry out your vision. Some vendors may try to up sell you and tell you need more than you really need. Their goal is to sell you as much as possible; where as the wedding planner is on your side, to ensure you receive your vision, on your budget.

When couples who took on the whole wedding by themselves were asked “what would you have done differently”? The majority say “hire a wedding planner” – ask a friend you’d be surprised!

In short, couples who hire a wedding planner will find that it is the best money they spent, and will enjoy their wedding.