10 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Wedding Planner
When you’ve gone to inquire with a wedding planner or coordinator, did this sound like you: “Hi, I was interested to know what services you offer and what your pricing is as well. Thank you!” It’s okay, you can raise a hand without feeling awkward. These are completely valid questions to ask especially if you’re on a tight budget or when you’re unsure of what service to book (let’s be honest - there isn’t a “standard” for offered services). I think that there are better questions to ask when you’re looking to hire a wedding planner or coordinator. We’re going to dive deeper into questions that you need the answers to in order to make an informed decision. Let me guide you through my 10 Questions to Ask a Wedding Planner Before Booking.
Hang on!
Make sure to read all the way to the bottom. I’m also providing you with 3 questions you should ask yourself after your initial consultation.
where do you plan events? do you travel?
It’s good to ask this question in today’s day in age because of how well connected we are with the Internet. You might find a dream planner through Instagram not realizing that they’re based 5 hours away from where you’re getting married. However, what’s cool about our job is that we are not geographically bound, so if you find a wedding planner that isn’t local to you, many planners will travel. Be sure to ask if there are travel fees associated with hiring them.
Do you plan and design all styles of events?
You might notice that the planner’s website or portfolio is full of dark and moody weddings (or colorful and bring weddings)! Remember - a planner is not designing an event for them, rather, for you. Some planner’s have a unique style or taste when it comes to design, but many planners are able and willing to take on other creative projects.
WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER?
I’ll throw this thought out there first: “What do you personally consider Day of Coordination services to be?” Once you’ve answered that question for yourself, let me move on to why you should ask planners about their service offerings. Unfortunately, there isn’t a “standard” for services in the wedding planning realm. What you might call Day of Coordination might be called something entirely else. Planners around the country refer to day of coordination as follows: Month-of Coordination, Same Day Coordination and Management, Final Stages, Wedding Management, and more. Confusing right?
Are you LGBTQ friendly?
I know, I know. This truly is a question that still needs to be asked.
When should I book with you?
You might be surprised at how soon you should book with your planner. Some planners won’t book certain services more than 6 months out. The same is true that some planners might not book with you less than 4 weeks prior. It totally depends, which is why this is a great question to ask.
How many planners are included in your packages?
This is a great question to ask so that you understand who will be onsite the day of your wedding. Typically the number of guests, size of wedding party, number of venues, and the scope of work will impact how many planners or assistants will play a role on your wedding day (pricing normally reflects this, too!). Sometimes, bigger companies might have Associate Planners who will actually take on your wedding. If you want the owner of the company to personally run your events, you need to ask from the initial consultation.
What is your pricing?
Okay, I know that I mentioned earlier that there are other good questions to ask your planner prior to hiring besides this one. However, it is good to know if your planner custom quotes for all service packages (becoming more common), if they charge a flat rate, a percentage, or something else. It’s good to get an idea of what to expect when you go into your initial consultation.
Are you insured?
Definitely ask this question! Some venues only allow insured vendors to work onsite. Not only does this protect the venue, but it also protects you.
Why hire you versus A DIFFERENT planner?
I love this question because it allows you to get a better idea of the planner’s personality and their mission or goals. The answer to this question should squash any insecurities you have about hiring them (or is an indication that you need to find someone else). You want to make sure that your planner is not only a great financial fit, but also a personality fit. Your planner is the person you want to trust 100% as they are carrying a lot of responsibility on their shoulders.
What is your cancellation/rescheduling policy?
I cannot think of a more important time than now to be asking this of your wedding planner. Actually, this question should be asked of all wedding vendors. Every vendor’s policy is different, so be sure to ask this question. It will save a lot of headache, stress, and frustration.
Now, before you say “I do” to your wedding planner, here are three questions to ask yourself:
Do I feel a connection with them? Are we a good match?
Do I like and feel comfortable with their communication style?
Has this person listened well and addressed all of my concerns?
Why ask these? Well again, it boils down to finding the right fit for you. No matter your budget, if something doesn’t feel right in your gut, it probably isn’t going to work out. Trust your gut, read reviews, and ask questions. Every vendor has policies and procedures in place to benefit both you and them, and these questions are a base line. My best tip when it comes to hiring your wedding planner is to schedule a initial consultation with more than one planner. Typically, they cost nothing beyond your time. Quite honestly, it’s worth every minute to find the best fit, ask questions, and make an informed decision.
Curious to read my answers to these great frequently asked questions?
Then head on over to my FAQ page where I answer these questions and a few more specific questions to working with me! I look forward to hearing from you.
Hey, I’m Terra!
Born and raised in Missouri, I’m a grateful wife and dog mom to my rescue pups, Hildi & Lola. I’m a true believer in the pursuit of bold dreams, learning from mistakes, and staying curious.
I'm a girl that lives in her Chacos during the summer, and I'm typically always wearing lipstick. Yes, red is my preference! When I'm not helping engaged couples plan weddings, you'll find me on stage teaching Jazzercise classes. Needless to say, creating engaging experiences that leave people feeling good afterwards is my passion. Seriously!
I’ve created this blog and my wedding packages to empower you to plan an awesome wedding day and put all of the stress and obligations straight into the dumpster! Now that sounds like a party.
