Do you need to hire wedding planner or coordinator? And how do you find the right wedding planner?

Investing in a professional wedding planner is one of the best ways to ensure you and your partner enjoy the planning process and create an amazing, stress-free celebration!

Here’s why you need to hire a wedding planner: Working with a wedding planner will alleviate stress, save time, and help prevent costly or embarrassing wedding faux pas. You only do this whole wedding thing once. We do this all. the. time.

• We have professional tools and tried-and-true systems to keep your planning process more organized. And our tools are way better than any free wedding planning checklist or budget tool you could find on Pinterest.

• We will help you set a realistic budget and understand common costs in our area, so you can make smart decisions when hiring vendors.

• We have established industry connections and will recommend the best Minnesota/Wisconsin wedding vendors for your needs and budget.

• We provide support and accountability to help you make decisions and stay on top of each wedding to-do.

• A wedding planner is your advocate. We will support your wants & wishes, we can help when family opinions and pressures come into play, and we will always have your best interest in mind as we plan out your day with other vendors.

• Not to mention, we have the know-how to quietly and swiftly manage any wedding day mishaps (not to worry you, but…. we’ve handled some things. Missing place settings? Incorrect floral delivery? Nowhere to put the escort cards? Fixed). We'll take care of it and you'll never even know there was a hiccup.

So now that you know you need a wedding planner… how do you choose the right one? When choosing a wedding planner, it is important to consider their package inclusions, experience, and personality.

First and foremost, do not price shop when looking for your wedding planner (or any vendors, for that matter!).

A planner’s pricing reflects their experience, education, the professional tools they use and provide, and the hours they dedicate to your event. In Minnesota, most professional day of coordinators and wedding planners begin their services at ~$2,000. There is some variation to that based on their years in business or newness to the industry, but you should be wary of anyone priced under $1,500. Pricing less than that is usually a sign of inexperience and indicates that they don’t have the resources and know-how to plan your event professionally.

Use these three tips when researching wedding planners:

1. Consider their experience… How long have they been in the wedding industry? Do they have any professional training or certifications? How well do they know vendors in your area? Are they a registered and licensed business? (Read that again: are they a registered and licensed business? This is so important! Anyone working your wedding day needs to be a legitimate, insured business.) And have people left reviews for their business? Be wary of the people in “Minnesota Wedding” Facebook groups saying they will coordinate your day for $500. You get what you pay for.

2. When evaluating service packages, consider… How many meetings do you get and who are you meeting with (the owner, a lead planner, an assistant)? Is your planner involved in any vendor meetings? What types of planning tools will you have access to? Do they coordinate final logistics with your vendor team before your wedding day? Do they provide help with your wedding design? How many hours are they helping on your wedding day and with how many assistants? Do they set up decor or pack it up at the end of the night? Do they direct a ceremony rehearsal?

3. And just as important, does the planner seem genuinely interested in helping you and do you actually like them!? Your planning process and wedding experience will be so much better if you actually enjoy who you’re working with. Your wedding planner should be a trusted resource and an advocate for your needs and vision. Once you’ve had a consultation with a wedding planner, consider how they made you feel. Are they friendly and professional? Do they seem excited about your vision? Or do they treat you more like another “sale” and seem impersonal or disinterested? If you don’t think someone is the best fit for you, be honest with yourself. Your wedding planner is with you through one of the most special days. Of course they need to offer all the services you’re looking for, but ultimately choosing a planner based on their personality is more important than price-shopping.