Do You Need a Wedding Planner?

by Anesia Williams

Wedding planning can reduce even the most organized couples to high-strung balls of stress. It’s a highly emotional event, one that you want to get exactly right.

Being a practical planner, you’ve started to wonder, “Should I hire an event planner?” That depends on what you’re after. Here are a few pros and cons to keep in mind.

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Pro: They Know the Local Market You may think it would be better not to hire a wedding planner because it would be fun to handle every detail yourself. It’s a bonding experience between you and your soon-to-be spouse. You’re the kind of bride who wants to control every detail to ensure you get the wedding of your dreams. But, there’s a big problem with that: unless you’re personally in the wedding business, you won’t even know what to research or who to look for.

For example, do you know what florists offer the best deals? Do you know who can do intricate lighting or draping? An event planner knows all of this and then some. They have personal relationships with vendors and they know how to get a price that works for your budget while still producing the result you want. And usually, they don’t need to waste weeks sending emails into the ether. They just need to make a phone call.

Con: Cost A major downside for many couples, though, is cost. As you can imagine, finding someone who’s capable of organizing every detail of your wedding doesn’t come cheap. Finding someone who can organize it well is even less cost-effective. Fees will vary depending on the location and fee structure of the planner in question.

Pro: Stress-Free Planning On the other hand, can you really put a price tag on the experience of a stress-free wedding day? Wedding planners do so much more than just order from a caterer, buy flowers and arrange tables. They’re masters of every aspect that makes a wedding happen. That means a wide range of feats from corralling the wedding party to getting backups in place if something falls through.

If you’re asking yourself, “Should I hire an event planner?” the answer depends on what you want from your wedding day. Do you want to be involved in every detail? Or do you want to carry on your regular life and manage the wedding without any stress? Knowing what you want can help you decide whether an event planner is right for you. Be sure to check out our list of Top Black Planners to Know.