What is the difference between a Wedding Consultant and a Wedding Planner?

Wedding consultants and wedding planners are two titles that often refer to the same job. Both assist prospective brides and grooms in planning and implementing weddings. Wedding consultants cover a wide range of activities; some specialize in one specific area such as budget planning, contract review, advice on the next steps after the engagement, and vendor and venue referrals. They typically don’t get involved in the design element and decorating the day of your wedding.

Why is your package called Day of Management?

I consider what I do managing and not coordinating. The coordination is already done by the time the couple hires me. I am hired to incorporate all the details that the couple has coordinated and design a cohesive wedding day timeline. I also introduce myself to the vendors and get all their details so I can incorporate them into the timeline. On the day of the wedding, my job is to make sure everyone involved is doing their job and following the timeline. I also make sure the guests know where to go and the Officiant is starting the ceremony on time, the right number of chairs are set up at the guest tables, the caterer is running on schedule, the wedding cake and flowers have has been delivered, and confirm they are what the couple has ordered. I also handle last-minute obstacles that may arise so the wedding couple can enjoy their wedding day. This is just a sample of what my packages covers.

Why do you start (30) days before the wedding, I only need the day of the wedding?

I can’t speak for all wedding planners and coordinators but I will not book a client that only wants to hire me to show up the day of the wedding and expect it to run without a hitch. A wedding needs a detailed timeline to run smoothly. You cannot design a cohesive timeline without doing the preliminary work which is meeting with the wedding couple, getting copies of all the vendor contracts, and introducing yourself to the vendors, visiting the venue, and understanding the moving parts of the day. This is all part of the process and included in my Day of Management package. Trust me this process is what makes your wedding day run smoothly with a seamless transition from one event to the next.

Why is a Wedding Consultant/Planner expensive?

There is so much that goes into what a Wedding Consultant/Planner does that is behind the scenes. Today’s wedding professionals are not only working 9-5, Monday through Friday. Due to social media and the ease of texting our clients can reach us almost at any time even when limits are listed on a contract and most of the communication is on the weekend when couples are typically off of work. Other cost considerations such as business insurance, marketing expenses including a website, web domain, and office expenses. In some cases ongoing education and professional certifications. Another consideration that goes into our fee is the travel time to and from meetings, venue site tours, ceremony rehearsal, and the day of the wedding. The last consideration is the amount of experience that we have as well as the services we include in our package. Don’t let the fee be the decision-maker when you hire a professional. A higher fee does not always mean a more qualified wedding consultant and vice versa with a lower fee. There are plenty of very qualified and awesome consultants and planners that charge a very reasonable fee and 100% qualified.