LOCAL WEDDING PLANNERS Creative Transformations Styling & Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 Elegant Events by Maria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Sirpilla Soirees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 What does a do Wedding ? Planner Planning a wedding is stressful. Finding and meeting with vendors, staying on top of payments, mastering DIY decor, and dealing with family drama is a full time job! If you could use some help, advice, or guidance, you may want to hire a Wedding Planner. Just check out some of the roles they can play! Financial Advisor Wedding Planners have years of expe- rience. From the numerous weddings they’ve planned, they’ve met various lo- cal vendors to connect you with. Whether you’re trying to stay on budget, are looking for a specific style, or want the best of the best, your Wedding Planner will be able to recommend some vendors. They may even be able to get you discounts, help you avoid costly mistakes, and advise you on budg- eting. Fairy Godmother You have more important things to do than negotiate packages with vendors. You have a full-time job, a home to take care of, a social life to uphold, and a fiancé to adore. Planning your special day is your wedding planner’s full-time job! They will dedicate all their time, ideas, and experi- ence to make sure no detail is overlooked. They know the latest wedding trends, eti- quette and tradition, what works and what doesn’t, and will ensure that your wedding vision is made a reality. Stress Reliever Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime event. You want to be relaxed, excited, and fully present on your wedding day – not rushing around perfecting final de- tails and taking calls from your caterer! Likewise, hiring a wedding planner will give you free time to appreciate your en- gagement instead of stressing over napkin colors or menu options. Plus, he or she will ensure that everything gets done on time and according to your vision, will handle any crises, and will keep you and your wedding party on schedule on the wed- ding day. WEDDING PLANNER PLANNING PACKAGES Full-Service Partial Day-Of Power Hour Initial consultation 3 Idea generation 3 3 Budget creation 3 Vendor suggestions 3 3 3 Site tours 3 Vendor selection 3 Contracting 3 Available for questions 3 3 Etiquette knowledge 3 3 3 Timeline development 3 3 Vendor confirmation 3 3 Direction of the rehearsal 3 3 3 Distribution of timeline 3 3 3 Day-of coordination 3 3 3 * Packages vary by company A Wedding Planner works to ensure that your vision is prop- erly (and perfectly!) executed. So, it’s important for you to get to know them! QUESTIONS TO ASK Notes: Ask these questions: 1. How long have you been planning events? 2. How many weddings do you plan per year? 3. Do you have a portfolio and a list of references? Yes No 4. Can you negotiate special rates with other vendors? Yes No 5. Will you handle every aspect of the planning? Yes No 6. What kind of packages do you offer? 7. How often will we talk/meet? 8. Will you be there the day-of? Yes No Planner Package Cost Range*: $500 to $3,500+ * Packages vary by company 12 | TODAY'S BRIDE +12 MONTHS UNTIL "I DO"