I’ve said this before in some of my Instagram posts, but it’s important enough that it bears repeating and has been boldened as the title of this post. Many couples skip over hiring a full planner due to budget constraints, or will save a hiring planner for the end after they’ve already got the rest of their vendor dream team in place to see if it’s in their budget. I’m here to tell you that hiring a wedding planner may seem like a luxury, but it’s actually a necessity and should be budgeted for. And here’s why…
A wedding planner is an investment. When you hire a wedding planner, you gain so much more by having one. It’s an investment in you (by showing that you prioritize your own mental health, time, and your relationship), and an investment in your dream wedding vision (in fact, I think the wedding planner is the key to bridging the gap between the wedding you want to have and the wedding you will have). And the return on investment that you receive is immeasurable, because it includes both tangible things (like vendor discounts and relationships), and intangible things (like the time that you’re saving on wedding planning and research). When you invest in me as your wedding planner, you are investing in the following:
Education- I went to a 4 year university, specifically to graduate in a degree in hospitality with an emphasis in meeting and event planning so that you don’t have to! During those 4 years, I learned so much about different events, planning, technology, organization, contracts, budgeting, and more. And I certainly use this knowledge to help plan weddings. Most couples do not have the same depth of knowledge in this field, nor do they have the time to learn as much as I did in those 4 years to plan their perfect wedding. I spent years educating myself so that you don’t need to.
Experience- I’ve volunteered for and worked many different weddings and a variety of events so that I can offer great insight to couples planning their wedding. Not only do I have experience in working different events, but I also specifically chose my career path in a way where I could have a more wholistic approach in event planning. I have had experience in restaurants where I’ve gained experience in customer service and working with others, and also have worked in reservations and sales in hotels. My hotel jobs have given me insight into negotiating group rates and room blocks, important clauses that should be in hotel contracts, and how hotels sell and execute events. Also important to note, is that I have experience as a recent Bride. My husband and I planned our wedding in San Diego in 2021, so I’m very familiar with the wedding planning process and emotions that come up as a Bride. When you hire me, you get a planner who has had the experience from all perspectives of planning- as a Bride, former hotel sales worker, and wedding/event planner. I have the professional experience of reviewing contracts as a client, and planning corporate events meticulously as well in my day job, which keeps all of my education and experience at top of mind.
You- Let’s be honest- you and your significant other are professionals who don’t have a lot of free time on your hands. And the free time that you do have, you like to spend doing something together, or on an experience (weekend getaway, girls trip, nice restaurant, etc.). When you start planning a wedding, the time you spend working or thinking about work usually doesn’t change. You basically take on more work (which could be considered a part-time job with all of the planning involved) at the expense of the things that you enjoy doing in your spare time. This means, that if you try to plan your entire wedding yourself, the things that fill your cup (your relationship included) tend to take a back seat for the year or two that you’re planning. It is difficult to find a work/wedding/life balance (although I will be coming out with some tips on that in a future blog post) and spend the time and effort that it takes to make your dream wedding a reality. Investing in a wedding planner is so important, because it saves you countless hours in planning, helps your mental health, and gives you the separation and time needed to maintain a healthy relationship during the planning.
Your Dream Wedding- Every couple has a vision in mind of what their perfect wedding looks like. But there are a lot of unknowns between where they are and the wedding they want. Many couples don’t realize the actual cost of things or how to execute everything that they envision. Cue the wedding planner! We’ll help bridge the gap between reality and your dream wedding. While it’s fun to be idealistic as you think about your wedding, a wedding planner will help keep you realistic in showing you how to make your vision come to life. We’ll make sure that we budget accordingly (and don’t over or under-budget for the items that are non-negotiable for your dream wedding day), and that the vision gets executed- two things you won’t have to worry about anymore!
Vendor Relationships and Discounts- One of the most important things to have a good wedding is to develop/maintain great relationships with your vendors. Happy vendors means that they’ll work to do the best job that they can. Hiring a wedding planner is twofold in the arena of vendor relationships- they’ll already have a lot of established great relationships with vendors, and if someone needs to have a difficult conversation with a vendor, it will be the wedding planner so that the couple still remains on their good side. Another one of the most important any things for a wedding is the budget. Because wedding planners have good relationships, they usually have some exclusive discounts that they can offer their couples on products and services. I offer discounts on custom wedding stationery and different vendor discounts!
Saving Money- While this may seem counterintuitive, hiring a wedding planner can actually save you money. We can literally save you money through vendor and product discounts that we offer. We can also save you money in your wedding budget. Having a wedding planner develop and maintain your budget means that you won’t over-budget or over-spend in certain categories, and that you can unlock the potential for other vendor discounts and offerings.
And to think, none of these items are even things that are listed as included in my wedding planning package! While it may seem like an extra expense, a wedding planner offers so much return on investment, and not all of which is tangible. And also keep in mind that while other wedding planners may charge less, those wedding planners don't offer exactly what I offer. My unique education and experiences add up to give you a one-of-a-kind client experience. Add me into your budget, and you'll get so much more back.
Interested in learning more? Send me an email at aem@alexandriaelaineevents.com and let's chat!
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