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Wondering why you need a wedding planner? Lots of us ponder stuff like, do I need a wedding planner? What does a wedding planner do? Can I just plan my own wedding?
Do you need a wedding planner or day of coordinator?
Do you need a "day of" coordinator for your wedding, or can your mother-in-law's friend take care of it for you?
These questions are up there with “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” We've had readers swear by wedding planners and claimed their wedding planner saved them money in the long run. We've also heard folks who've said their biggest wedding regret was not having a wedding planner or at least a day-of-coordinator. And there are newlyweds who didn't have a wedding planner at all and wouldn't have changed a damn thing!
We love hearing different perspectives from our array of readers. But best believe there are wedding stories like Izzie and Joshua's where we're like “DANG! THIS is the reason why you should hire a wedding planner!”
We initially asked Cillia Marion of Marion Matrimony Events to share this African wedding with us because we ADORED the suits (omggg wait till you see what the groomsmen did to the insides). But when Cillia told us how she helped plan a 200 guest wedding in Houston with an Air Force couple who lived across the world in Japan, we had to tip our hats!
On the fence and still researching “Why you need a wedding planner?” …We'll let Cillia answer that for you:
Izzie and Joshua are both in the Air Force and planned their dream wedding while stationed in Japan! They had over 200 guests, some of them coming all the way from Tanzania. From their rich culture to all of the personal touches, their day was phenomenally special.
Why do you need a wedding planner?
Because they will help you ROCK this custom suit action like this…
BIG YES to incorporating your culture into your wedding ouftit!
We found a tailor to line the inside of the suit jackets with the flags of the countries each groomsman was from, you'll see mostly Cape Verdean gents but everyone had a chance to be represented. This was such a unique touch that I have yet to see at another wedding.
What does a wedding planner include?
Think of them as your wedding sidekick. Got a wedding task you're dreading tackling? A wedding planner can handle it with smart solutions and savvy ideas. Here's what Cillia did to help her bride coordinate bridesmaids' outfits (without the stress!).
I took the bride's favorite colors in the palette and created a custom roster of dresses for the bridesmaids to choose from to get the right color mix and avoid the bride having to stress over what each person wore. Leave it to the planners to handle this level of coordination and communication!
Does a wedding planner deal with guests?
Wedding planners should honestly be called problem solvers. This includes knowing how to manage and organize people…Lots of them. Here's how Cillia deal handled a 200+ RSVP list that was changing up to the minute:
We made them a custom seating chart but they kept adding and changing guests so it was irrelevant when the wedding came around. To work around changes to the guest list/seating chat, I stationed my team at the doors with tablets or phones, distributed the updated table plan, and had them search the person's name and tell them their table assignments. I created table numbers and place cards so when they got to the table, they knew which seat was theirs.
Do wedding planners plan the details of your wedding?
They can handle as much or as little of the details as you want from colors to florals to invitations!
The bride loved fall vibes but wanted it elegant so we chose The Farmhouse for a clean look and created dark, vibrant decor, flowers, and details. We hand-cut all of the napkins from cheesecloth, did all of the setup, design, decor, and flowers, hired all vendors, created the invitation, everything!
So, do you need a wedding planner?
Well, if you and your partner are busy as heck (for example, being in the Air Force…) then a wedding planner is the sidekick you'll want to have for an epic and stress-free celebration.
We scheduled all of their appointments, mailed their invitations all over the world, tracked their RSVPs, all of that. It turned out magical. There were plenty of adventures planning this Texas wedding with a couple that lived in Japan, had two dresses in two different states, and only visited America twice during their engagement, but we made it happen!
If you're considering hiring a wedding planner, you'll want to work with someone like Cillia who comes prepared with creative solutions, quick thinking, and an eye for detail. Take it from this happy couple!
Wedding vendors:
- Venue: The Farmhouse Events
- Photographer: Adrianne Michelle Photo
- Planning, Florals, Stationery, Decor & Setup: Marion Matrimony Events LLC
- Catering: Phat Daddy's Catering
- DJ: DJ Mood Swang
- Officiant: Your Power Consulting
- HMUA: Simple Beauty Artistry @simplebeautyartistry
- Dessert: Miko's Sweets @mikossweets
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