Finding Your Uk Wedding Planner: A Guide

Planning a wedding can be a stressful and time-consuming process. A wedding planner can help you achieve your dream wedding by working closely with you to ensure your ideas are heard, your budget is mapped out, and your vendors are curated. Wedding planners can also provide theme and styling suggestions and on-the-day coordination. In the UK, there are many wedding planners to choose from, and it's important to find one that suits your personal preferences and budget. Online platforms and apps can help you discover and connect with wedding planners in your area, while venues often have recommended vendor lists. Asking friends and family for referrals and checking out social media can also help you find the perfect wedding planner to make your special day unforgettable.

Online tools and apps for wedding planning

There are many online tools and apps available to help you plan your wedding. Here are some of the best ones:

WeddingWire

This is a great resource for couples who don't know where to start. It's like a search engine for local vendors and wedding professionals, with reviews and pricing. You can also find additional tools such as invitations and a planner.

Carats & Cake

If you're looking for inspiration, Carats & Cake is the place to go. It features real weddings with a vast array of styles, from bohemian to waterfront nuptials. You can also find the vendor team for each wedding and create your own wedding website.

The Venue Report

If you're looking for an unusual wedding venue, such as a barn, a warehouse, or a chateau, The Venue Report will give you plenty of options. It's not just for weddings, but it includes curated venues from around the globe.

WeddingHappy

WeddingHappy is a mobile app that helps you stay on track with your wedding planning. It includes a timeline, simple lists for tasks and vendors, and payment reminders. You can also share your progress with your fiancé, parents, or maid of honor.

Pantone Studio

Colors are an important part of wedding planning, and Pantone Studio can help you pick the perfect palette. You can capture colors from any photo and build your palette, as well as test colors on 3D materials and designs.

Mint

Mint is a popular personal finance app that can help you create a custom budget for your wedding. It syncs with your bank account and credit cards, so you can easily track your spending. You can also set up alerts for due balances and stay within your budget.

Google Drive

Google Drive is a great way to stay organized and keep all your wedding documents in one place. You can upload and share Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PDFs, and photos with your planning crew. It's easily accessible from any device and familiar to Gmail users.

Trello

Trello is a task management tool that lets you create boards and cards to visualize your workflow. It's great for keeping track of your to-do list and can be accessed from your desktop or mobile device. You can also add due dates, checklists, notes, and labels to each card.

Allseated

Allseated is a tool that helps you create a wedding reception layout and collaborate with your venue or planner. It's especially useful for large guest lists or unusual venue layouts. You can also use it to assign place settings as RSVPs come in.

Riley & Grey

If you want a unique and stylish wedding website, Riley & Grey is a great option. They offer limited-edition templates that are easy to navigate and hidden from search engines. You can also embed links to Kayak for flight bookings and Google Maps for directions.

The Knot

The Knot is a comprehensive wedding planning resource with tools such as a vendor marketplace, wedding websites, a planning app, invitations, and paper products. They also have a budget tool, a vision quiz, real wedding albums, and an active community forum.

Canva

Canva is a free web-based tool and app that allows you to design custom graphics for your wedding, such as invitations, signage, and thank-you notes. They offer a wide range of free templates that you can customize to your liking.

Honeyfund

Honeyfund is a honeymoon registry app that lets you register for flights, accommodation, tours, and more. You can also use it to register for cash funds or gift cards for your favorite stores. It's a modern registry option that makes it easy for your guests to contribute.

Wedding planner books

There are a variety of wedding planner books available to purchase online, with some of the most popular being sold on Amazon. Here are some examples:

• The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner and Organizer: This book includes worksheets, checklists, inspiration, calendars, and pockets.
• Your Perfect Day Wedding Planner: This book includes a wedding countdown calendar and comes in a floral design.
• Wedding Planner Book and Organizer for the Bride: This book has 5 tabbed sections, an elastic closure band, and inner pockets.
• The Budget-Savvy Wedding Planner & Organizer: This book includes checklists, worksheets, and tools to help you plan your wedding on a budget.
• Wedding Planner Book and Organizer for the Bride by Tullofa: This book has a hardcover with a metal corner, 5 inner pockets, and notes pages.
• The Little Book of Wedding Checklists: This book provides a portable guide to organising your dream wedding.

In addition to purchasing a wedding planner book, you can also find free online wedding planning tools and resources, such as those offered by WeddingPlanner.co.uk. Their website includes planning tools like checklists, table plans, and budget trackers. They also offer a physical wedding planner book that you can purchase.

Wedding planner cost

Location

The cost of hiring a wedding planner will differ depending on where you are in the world. For example, according to Plannie, a worldwide network of event planners, the average hourly rate for a planner in New York City is about ten times that of a wedding planner in Oaxaca, Mexico.

In the UK, the average cost of a wedding planner is £2,616, with prices ranging from £1,000 to £5,580. In the US, the average cost is $2,000, with prices ranging from $1,500 to $2,700.

Type of Planner

There are several types of wedding planners to choose from, including:

• Full-service wedding planner: Comprehensive planning from the very beginning. They cover everything from budgeting and finding a venue to overseeing the day itself. They are usually the most expensive option, costing between $5,000 to $25,000 and up.
• Destination wedding planner: These planners tend to be full-service and are often priced accordingly.
• Month-of wedding planner: Help with final walk-throughs, tastings, layouts, and other last-minute details. Prices range from $1,000 to $8,000.
• Day-of wedding coordinator: Putting plans into motion on the day, handling logistics, and solving problems. Prices range from $800 to $3,000.

Services Provided

Some wedding planners offer additional services such as invitation design, guest list management, and honeymoon planning, which can add to the overall cost. Planners with more experience and those who are in high demand will also usually charge higher fees.

Wedding planners can charge a flat fee, an hourly rate, or a percentage of the total wedding budget.

Overall, hiring a wedding planner is a great way to relieve stress and ensure your big day runs smoothly. While the cost can be daunting, it is worth the investment, and planners can often help you save money by negotiating with vendors and avoiding costly mistakes.

Wedding planner reviews

When searching for a wedding planner, it's important to read reviews to ensure you find the right person to bring your dream wedding to life. Here are some tips on how to find and utilise wedding planner reviews:

Finding Reviews

The first step is to find reviews from other couples who have used wedding planners. One great source is Hitched.co.uk, which has a dedicated section for wedding planner reviews. You can search for planners in your area and read reviews from couples who have used their services.

Another option is to use WeddingWire, a wedding planning search engine with reviews and pricing information for local vendors and wedding professionals. This site has a large database of over 500,000 vendors and 5 million reviews, making it easy to find options in your area.

Reading Reviews

Once you've found some potential wedding planners, it's time to dive into the reviews. Look for planners who have a good number of positive reviews, and pay attention to the specific details mentioned. For example, do they mention that the planner was organised, creative, or good at communication? Try to get a sense of the planner's strengths and weaknesses to see if they align with what you're looking for.

Asking for Recommendations

In addition to reading reviews, consider asking friends and family for recommendations. A personal recommendation from someone you trust can be invaluable, especially if they have similar tastes and preferences to you. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask for their honest opinions and advice.

Other Considerations

While reviews are important, there are also other factors to consider when choosing a wedding planner. Make sure to ask about pricing, services offered, and their overall style to ensure they're a good fit for your vision and budget. It's also crucial that you feel comfortable and respected by your wedding planner, so choose someone you get along with and who understands your needs.

By combining reviews, recommendations, and your own personal judgement, you can find a wedding planner who will help make your special day everything you've ever dreamed of.

Wedding planner questions

Experience and Approach

• How many years of experience do you have as a wedding planner?
• What is your approach to wedding planning? For example, do you focus on a particular style or theme?
• Can you provide testimonials or references from previous clients?
• What types of weddings have you planned in the past? (e.g. cultural or traditional weddings)
• Have you worked with venues similar to my chosen venue?

Services and Availability

• What services do you offer? For example, do you provide full planning, partial planning, or day-of coordination?
• Are you available on my wedding date?
• How many weddings do you take on at one time?
• Will you be the one working directly with me, or will it be someone else on your team?
• How often will we be in contact throughout the planning process?
• What is your preferred method of communication?

Budget and Costs

• How do you structure your fees? (e.g. flat fee, percentage of the budget, or hourly rate)
• What is included in your fee, and are there any additional charges I should be aware of?
• Can you create a package that suits my specific needs and budget?
• How do you handle payments and deposits?
• Do you have experience working with my budget range?

Logistics and Troubleshooting

• How do you handle last-minute changes or unexpected issues on the wedding day?
• What is your process for managing vendors and suppliers?
• Can you help me find vendors and suppliers that fit my vision and budget?
• How do you ensure that my wedding day runs smoothly and on schedule?
• What happens if there is an emergency or unforeseen circumstance?

Remember, it's important to ask questions that are relevant to your specific needs and priorities. The right wedding planner will be happy to answer your questions and ensure that you feel comfortable and confident in their abilities.

Frequently asked questions