Six things you must consider before hiring a wedding planner

Planning a wedding can be a daunting and exhausting task for a bride to be.

It requires a lot of time and effort, excellent organization skills and a great deal of patience. Nowadays, couples have the option of hiring a wedding planner to help them organize their wedding, which can be a lifeline for those who do not have enough time.

When you're looking for your wedding planner, these simple steps will keep you on track.

1. Contact references

Contact the wedding planner’s references. Ask questions about the event planners’ professionalism, did they stay within budget, were they open to suggestions, how well did the reception run, and anything else that will be helpful for your particular wedding.

Once you have decided this wedding planner is ‘THE ONE’, contact them immediately to pay your deposit and sign the contract.

2. Experience

Choose a planner who has good experience in planning a wedding. Ask him or her about past wedding projects and if possible, pictures or videos of them.

It would also help to have testimonials or references from previous clients. Share with the planner your preferences; bounce ideas off him or her. You will gain insights into whether the wedding planner's vision and creativity is aligned with what you want. Also, find out how many weddings the planner organizes simultaneously.

3. Take some time

Take some time to compare and contrast prices, impressions, notes and, if provided, formal proposals (some planners may draft their overall vision for your wedding and their intended services in the form of a proposal, which would then work as the basis for your contract).

4. Service terms

Hiring a wedding planner can be a cost-effective option since he or she has the right contacts to establish deals that are within your budget.

Wedding planners may charge a flat rate fee, an hourly fee or a percentage fee based on your wedding budget. Once you have decided on the wedding planner, there should be a written agreement stating clearly the services that will be provided by the planner, your expectations and the agreed fees.

5. Ensure that you get along

It’s incredibly important that you get along with your planner, so do you actually like them?! They may be brilliant at their job, but if your personalities clash you could be in for a bumpy ride instead of enjoying a seamless partnership. Hiring a wedding planner is a very personal decision.

You will be trusting them with one of the biggest days of your life, so you need to have complete confidence in their abilities.