Big Help for Less Money
Hiring a wedding planner is a wonderful way to get the help you need for your big day. However, some people would rather not have full-time help, either because of budget constraints or because they’ve already done part of the work. Still, many couples simply don’t have the time to be as involved in their wedding planning as they’d like. Enter ‘the alternative planner,’ a service offered for different planning needs, at a price you can celebrate.
While a full-time planner costs from around 10-15% of your wedding budget, part-time consultants start at around half that much. Check out the OurWeddingDay.com Local Vendor section for part time planners local to you.
One of the most popular options these days is the Part-Time Planner, in which the company comes in “later in the game” and acts as your guide. Couples who opt for this have often done some of the footwork (they have a site or picked a couple of vendors, for example), but want help with the rest.
Curtain Up Events, in New York, specializes in alternative planning services, and highly recommends the part-time planner. “It’s great for couples who have given up and need someone to fill in the blanks,” says founder Danielle Bobish. Part-time planners generally charge around 5-8% of the budget, and help find vendors, sites, officiants, even attend fittings.
You can also hire Monthly Planners, in which someone comes in a month before your big day to make sure everything’s been done correctly. For example, instead of finding your site, they’ll make sure the site you found has everything you need. Monthly planners make sure vendors have everything they need and are on schedule, can help with welcome bags, and make detailed timelines. It’s an increasingly popular option that will cost around 5% of your budget.
“Day Of” Planners are popular too. In this case, a wedding planner arrives at your wedding to assist where needed and make sure everything’s in its proper place. They will also take care of any emergencies that pop up. In many ways, a Day Of planner is like having an extra maid of honor (or day-of drill sergeant) on hand. Expect to pay from $500 to$1,500 for this service.
Another great idea is to have a Wedding Consultancy. A planner sits down with both of you for a couple of meetings, gives vendor lists based on your budget and needs, suggest sites, etc. Wedding consultancies are best for couples who have the time and inclination to do the work, but don’t know how to get started. Should you go this route, expect to pay around $500 for the service.
Find a planner that suits your individual needs, and you’re wedding will be right on track!
-David Toussaint
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