Wedding planning is no easy task, which is why so many couples hire planners to help them pull off the biggest party of their life without a hitch. Figuring out how to make your wedding dreams a reality is what wedding planners are all about, but without key information all of those plans are just… plans.
In order to make things a reality for your wedding day, there’s some basic information that your wedding planner should know to help make your vision and dreams come to life. Kate, from Kate Murtaugh Events + Design, is here to tell us five important things to consider when working with your wedding planner. We’re excited to have her as our day-of coordinator for The Big Fake Wedding New England!
Kate is the Owner and Lead Planner behind Kate Murtaugh Events & Design. She loves the excitement of a proposal, the infectious energy of a newly engaged couple, the goose bumps you get from looking at a groom’s face when he first sees his bride, and the awe in each guest as they take in the whole experience. Kate has been doing event planning and design for more than a decade and her work has brought her all over the New England area!
1. What matters most to you?
Think about what you want for yourselves as a couple and also what you’d like guests to come away with after attending your wedding. For example, if you want to ensure that everyone has an incredible dance party, consider spending more of the budget on an amazing band with a great reputation. Maybe your Pinterest board is just brewing with goodies and you don’t know how to communicate your vision. Don’t be shy and send us a link!
2. Do you have sentimental items you’d like woven into your wedding day?
Will you be wearing a special heirloom from your great grandmother or does a friend plan on singing a special song as a dedication? Telling your planner sooner rather than later will help to ensure that each sentimental detail is included in your plans very early on, will get their appropriate amount of time/attention. Bottom line – it will not get missed.
3. Budget, budget, budget.
You know those pesky things that tell you how much money you can spend and determine how the dollars can be allocated? Yes, it’s absolutely necessary and something you need to talk to your partner and wedding planner about. We know it’s not the most fun topic but it’s important to be aware of the plan to help keep costs aligned and on target. Come up with a target number, then hash out the details. Remember, a wedding planner can help you get the most out of every dollar you spend.
4. Who is paying?
Knowing who exactly is paying for what portion of your wedding is super helpful to know in advance. Not only does it allow for proper planning and communications, but it will also help to keep things timely with finalizing the event. Typically, wedding planners help to coordinate the final payments (typically due the day of the wedding or immediately following the event) so that the bride and groom do not have to worry about it. Knowing who will be making those final payments is a vital step in the process and it’s always good to avoid uncomfortable conversations.
5. Family dynamics
Nothing brings out a wealth of family dynamics quite like a wedding. Couples often have to navigate not on their own — but also their families’ — expectations about a single day. Naturally, it’s no surprise that tensions can arise between family members during the process of planning a wedding. Be sure to fill your wedding planner in on the who’s who in terms of your family members to help avoid any awkward situations. How should people be addressed in person and via email, who talks and who doesn’t talk, has there been a divorce, is there a widow, etc. Any details that will help me better interact with everyone involved in the wedding planning process is super helpful.
As a wedding planner, the greatest joy of the planning process is seeing our couples truly living in every moment of their wedding day. Having a clear understanding of exactly what our couples want and how they can get there helps us create those lifelong and priceless memories.
If we’ve done our job well, our couples should be able to describe in detail the moment they saw each other for the first time, what it felt like to squeeze each other’s hands during the ceremony, the taste of the cocktails and the exhilaration of dancing until their feet hurt with the nearest and dearest friends all because they were at liberty to surrender the details of the day to their planner and simply enjoy the beauty of their wedding day.
Photo Credit:
Kangell Photography
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