Why Hire a Planner?

When you are planning a dinner with friends it can be chaotic—now add a DJ, dishes, cutlery, napkins, table settings, chair options, which dining room, how many bars, and 150 people, and now you're planning a wedding. Envisioning a day on Pinterest is one thing; bringing it to life is the job of a professional planner.

Once engaged, the first few items that need to be addressed are what date(s) you want, where the event will be held, and your approximate guest count. Budget is key from the start too—your planner will help you understand what the average spend is for vendors and where it's okay to cut back or splurge in sync with your vision.

The short answer to when to hire a planner is usually between 12–18 months prior to your chosen date. The planner is the first thing you should invest in. The next step is to sit down with the planner and go through the envisioned day and what things are most important for you as a couple. Once top priorities are established, venue shopping and securing the date is next; after the venue is secured, the rest of the vendor choices and tastings are set up by the planner.

The planner provides insights into the local area as an expert—helping you narrow down which venue(s) would be best, offering alternatives if it were to rain right as the ceremony was starting, and tracking your budget, getting vendor discounts, and guiding you to the best vendors. She keeps you on track for the whole year prior to your big day and manages the timeline the day of, so every detail comes together the way you imagined.