George Boyle
Planning a wedding is a stressful and time-consuming process. A full-service wedding planner can help you navigate the complexities of planning your big day, from managing your budget and vendors to executing your unique vision. They act as your advocate and guide, ensuring that your wedding is not just a day but an unforgettable experience for you and your guests.
But what exactly does a full-service wedding planner do? The term full-service can vary depending on the planner, so it's essential to understand what services they provide to decide if hiring one is the right choice for you.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Manage finances | Develop a realistic wedding budget, manage payments, and protect the couple's investment |
| Provide expert advice | Bring design elements together, create a cohesive look, and advise on budgeting and<co: 2,4> etiquette |
| Develop a stress-free plan | Manage the entire planning process, including schedules, invitations, and transportation |
| Execute the wedding day | Oversee setup, delivery, and logistics, and troubleshoot any issues |
| Connect with vendors | Source and book vendors, negotiate contracts, and coordinate their presence on the day |
| Plan design elements | Work with the florist and other pros to create design elements such as escort card displays and signage |
| Offer additional support | Help with wedding etiquette issues, family mediation, and fashion input |
What You'll Learn
Budgeting and financial management
Firstly, a full-service wedding planner will help you set a realistic budget for your wedding. They will educate you on the costs of different elements, from catering to venue hire, and help you understand what things cost. They will also advise you on how to make savings, for example, by using stemware from your venue instead of hiring it in.
Once the budget has been set, a full-service wedding planner will help you manage your payment schedule. This includes tracking expenses, creating and managing a budget spreadsheet, and scheduling payments. They will also advise on how to distribute your budget to get the best value for money.
Full-service wedding planners often have relationships with trusted industry partners and can help you receive discounts and minimise hidden costs. For example, they may be able to organise vendor delivery the day before your wedding to avoid "on-time delivery" fees or negotiate complimentary extras.
A full-service wedding planner will also review and negotiate contracts with partners and vendors to ensure you are legally protected. This includes building in flexible rescheduling options and the ability to carry over deposits, which has become increasingly important.
Finally, a full-service wedding planner will manage the financial journey of your wedding, allowing you to focus on enjoying your day. They will oversee the financial logistics, so you don't have to worry about them.
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Vendor selection and coordination
A full-service wedding planner will also manage the conversations and negotiations with these vendors, using their industry connections to secure the best deals and ensure everything runs smoothly. They will review and manage all vendor contracts, ensuring that the fine print is fair and that all details are accurate. They will also create a detailed timeline for the wedding day, outlining when each vendor should arrive and when each event should occur.
Additionally, a full-service wedding planner will coordinate any rehearsals, ensuring that everyone, including vendors, knows their role and that the ceremony runs smoothly. They will be on hand to handle any unexpected challenges, such as a vendor no-show or sudden change in weather, ensuring that your special day goes according to plan.
Full-service wedding planners often have relationships with trusted vendors and can offer discounts or negotiate complimentary extras. They will also ensure vendor delivery the day before the wedding to avoid any last-minute delivery fees. Overall, a full-service wedding planner will take the stress out of vendor selection and coordination, allowing you to focus on enjoying your wedding day.
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Design and decor
Design services offered by full-service wedding planners can include helping couples select colour palettes, create floor plans, choose decor, rentals, and lighting, and curate an overall aesthetic that carries throughout the event. They may also work with the couple's florist and other professionals to create design elements such as escort card displays, signage, and more.
Full-service wedding planners also ensure the execution of the design on the day of the wedding. They oversee everything, making sure the couple's vision is brought to life. This includes overseeing setup and delivery, managing vendors, and executing the couple's vision on-site.
Some couples may opt for a separate wedding designer to handle the design and aesthetic of their wedding. Wedding designers are purely aesthetic and do not include things like contract negotiations or attending appointments with the couple. They help with decisions that will give the event a cohesive, stylish, and sophisticated look. They can also provide guidance on colour palettes and oversee the decor budget and vendors.
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Guest experience and entertainment
Ensuring that guests have a memorable experience is a key part of a full-service wedding planner's role. Here are some ideas for guest experiences and entertainment that a full-service wedding planner might suggest and organise:
Interactive experiences
- Interactive champagne servers
- Bouncy castle
- Mariachi band
- Photo booth
- Outdoor lawn games (e.g. corn hole, giant Jenga, scavenger hunt)
- Tarot card reader
- Caricaturist
- Children's colouring station
- Dance-off competition
- Beer pong
- Bonfire with s'mores
- Circus performers (e.g. acrobats, stilt walkers, contortionists)
- Casino games
- Mini-golf
- Fireworks
- Amusement park rides
- Vintage arcade games
- Karaoke
- Silent disco
- Magic show
- Axe throwing
- Petting zoo
- Tribute band
Food and drink
- Midnight feast
- Waffle stand
- DIY cocktail bar
- Hot chocolate bar
- Whiskey and cigar bar
- Ice cream stall
- Prosecco drinks van
- Pimp Your Drinks station
- Grazing table
- Doughnut wall
- Biscuit decorating station
- Pizza van
- Street food trucks
- Afternoon tea
- Rolled ice cream
- Signature cocktails or mocktails
Other ideas
- Photo scavenger hunt
- Confetti cannons
- Hangover kits
- Unusual guest book (e.g. a wooden wedding jigsaw)
- Personalised wedding magazine
- Escape room experience
- Singing waiters
- Live painter
- Couples quiz
- Temporary tattoos
- Custom crackers
- Doggy day care
- Date night ideas jar
- Live musicians
- String quartet
- Acoustic guitarist and singer
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Troubleshooting and mediation
Wedding planners are adept at troubleshooting, and their expertise and industry connections are invaluable in this regard. They can recommend the best vendors and negotiate fair deals, ensuring you get the best value for your money. For instance, they can suggest a photographer who excels at unposed pictures or a florist who is a guru with orchids and asters. They will also review contracts, ensuring you are legally protected and that all agreements are in your best interests.
Full-service wedding planners are also skilled at managing last-minute crises. Did the DJ cancel at the last minute? Rest assured, they have backup contacts on speed dial. Is the bride's dress zipper broken? They've got a kit for that. A good wedding planner will have solutions for every problem, no matter how big or small.
Additionally, they act as mediators and confidants, providing a calming presence and offering advice when needed. They can help you navigate sticky situations, such as managing divorced parents or informing a family member that their children are not invited. Wedding planners are also well-versed in wedding etiquette and can guide you through any concerns or dilemmas that may arise.
A full-service wedding planner will also coordinate all the details with vendors, ensuring everyone has the information they need to work together seamlessly. They will be the point of contact and handle any questions or issues that arise, so you don't feel overwhelmed.
In the end, a full-service wedding planner's troubleshooting and mediation skills are crucial in ensuring your wedding day runs smoothly and that any problems are handled efficiently and effectively.
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Frequently asked questions
A full-service wedding planner is a professional consultant who guides you through the entire wedding planning process, delivers on your vision, and exceeds your expectations.
A full-service wedding planner's duties include managing your financial investment, providing expert advice, developing a stress-free plan, and executing your wedding day to perfection. They also help with design elements, family mediation, wedding finances, fashion input, and scheduling meetings.
A wedding planner is responsible for the entire event, from the initial planning stages to the execution of the wedding day. A wedding coordinator, on the other hand, focuses on logistical planning and support on the wedding day itself.
A full-service wedding planner can save you time and money, provide expert advice, and ensure a stress-free planning process. They can also help you create a unique guest experience and offer guidance on etiquette and family mediation.
When choosing a full-service wedding planner, it's important to consider your wedding vision, budget, and the planner's process and services offered. Ask about their full-service package and whether it aligns with your event size and vision. Open communication about your expectations and their working methods is key.
