Choosing a wedding planner is a big decision. This is the person who’ll be by your side for months (sometimes more than a year!), seeing your budget, your family dynamics and your wildest Pinterest boards. So it’s worth taking your time.
Here are seven questions I’d encourage every couple to ask, whoever they end up working with. A good planner will love being asked them!
1. What’s your planning style?
Some planners are very hands-on and take care of everything, while others prefer to guide you and let you lead. Neither is right or wrong, but you want someone whose style suits how you like to work. If you love being involved in every decision, you’ll want a different approach from a couple who’d rather hand over the reins and turn up on the day.
2. What services do you offer?
Planners often offer different levels of support, such as full planning, partial planning, venue finding, supplier sourcing or day-of coordination. Ask exactly what’s included at each level, so you can pick what fits your needs and budget without paying for things you don’t want.
3. Have you worked at my type of venue (or in my area)?
Experience with your kind of wedding is a real bonus. A barn, a country house and a dry hire space all come with different quirks, and a planner who knows the lay of the land can spot problems early. Local knowledge helps too. Knowing the venues, suppliers and little tricks of a region saves you a lot of time and guesswork.
4. Who will I actually be working with?
Some planners work solo, while others have a team. Neither is a problem, but it’s good to know who’ll be answering your messages and who’ll be on the ground on the day. If a team is involved, ask whether you’ll get to meet everyone beforehand.
5. How will we communicate?
Do you want a quick WhatsApp, a weekly email or a monthly catch up over a brew? Ask how the planner likes to keep in touch, how quickly they usually reply and how often you’ll get updates. Clear communication is one of the biggest things that makes planning feel calm instead of stressful.
6. How do you handle budgets and suppliers?
A good planner will be upfront about how they work with your budget, and whether they have trusted suppliers they recommend. Ask whether they take commission from any suppliers (some do, some don’t) and whether you’ll have the freedom to bring in your own favourites. There’s no wrong answer here, just a right one for you.
7. How does it feel when you chat?
This one’s less about facts and more about gut feeling. You’ll be sharing a lot with your planner, so you want to feel comfortable, listened to and excited when you chat. Pay attention to whether they ask about you, your story and what you want the day to feel like, rather than launching straight into a sales pitch.
A little honesty from me
I’m a small, growing business, and I love being properly hands-on with every couple I work with. That means you’ll always get me, plus the time and attention your day deserves! I’d never want a couple to book me unless it felt right, so I’m always happy to have a no-pressure chat first.
If you’re at the stage of looking for a planner, I’d love to hear about your plans. Pop me a message on Instagram or via the website and we can have a catch up.
Rosie x