Finding a Wedding Planner or Day of Coordinator, The Questions To Ask

Don't be afraid to enlist the help of a wedding planner or day of coordinator if you feel that all the aspects of the wedding are just too much to handle. Even I had a "day of coordinator" and I run a do it yourself weddings website! She wasn't a wedding pro, just someone I met through a family member who was great at throwing parties. She showed up early that day and pitched in where we needed her. We printed out a general "what is happening approximately when" list and she made sure everything ran smoothly. I was so thankful for all her help.

With the right wedding planner you'll still be able to "do it yourself" to your hearts content while the organizer will handle all the rest. A day of coordinator for example, simply shows up that day and makes sure things are happening on time and that things all fall into place smoothly. She'll pitch in wherever she is needed. Here are a list of questions you'll want to ask your wedding planner or day of coordinator when you are interviewing them to make sure it is a good fit.

Questions to Ask Your Wedding Planner or Day Of Coordinator

• What is your experience? How long have you been a wedding planner, how many weddings have you done? Ask for referrals and CALL THEM! Talk to other brides and see what their experience was with her.
• How many other weddings will you be planning for that same weekend? This is very important, you want to make certain that she'll be available to you!
• Will you be doing the "day-of" coordination and will you have staff? Find out if there are extra charges for extra staff.
• How much do you cost? Does the wedding planner charge a flat fee, an hourly, etc. What is her payment schedule, is it all due up front? Does she charge extra for referrals, a "finders fee"?
• Do you work with vendors regularly that offer discounts? This will tell you how well connected she is.
• What happens if you have an emergency and can't make it to my wedding? Do you have an assistant or a back-up?
• Can you tell me about something that went wrong at a wedding you planned and how you handled it? How do you deal with stress?
• Bring photos of wedding stuff that you like, flowers, decorations, centerpieces, etc. Show all of this to the wedding coordinator and see what she says about them. Does she have new ideas? Does she seem eager or excited to work with your style?
• What is your own personal wedding style? This question is optional, because a professional wedding planner should beable to adapt to your style without their own bias.

A wedding planner can be a lifesaver if you find the right one-especially the day of! Even if you are simply hiring a day of coordinator these questions still apply to them. They can keep track of timing, organization and make sure that everything and everyone is where they are supposed to be at any given time. Trust me, this takes a load off your back!


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