Choose Venue or Wedding Planner First?

I don't really have much experience with wedding planners, but their job is to help you secure vendors to make your wedding vision come to life. I don't think there is necessarily a wrong order to these two, buy if you are planning on hiring a wedding planner, it may make sense to do that first. That way they can help you secure a venue that fits your needs and wants.

Maybe the planner? Even if you book the venue on your own she may have great suggestions or insights.

You could definitely hire a planner and have part of her duties be securing a venue with you. But if there was a venue you love and find before hiring one then it's ok, not really a specific order of things you need to go by

Yes, a planner can help you with finding venues. I did that often for couples. If you know what you’re seeking (garden, hotel, loft, etc), the planner can provide venue suggestions.

I did my venue first. I’m planning to have the person there help me set it up.

It depends on how much involvement you want the planner to have. If you are booking the planner in the very beginning you are looking at a fully involved planner. If you plan on having her help plan 6 months or less out, I would say book the venue first.

I booked the planner first. It helped to have her be the one handle site visits and negotiate the contract and know what to include.

As PPs stated, a planner can help you find a venue. Maybe start with hiring the planner!

PLANNER

This is coming from a professional planner. I cannot tell you the secrets we know. If you already come with a booked venue we have to pretend to like it but secretly we might know that they are going to screw you over. For example, brides come to me all the time who have booked this one venue (who shall remain nameless) and it makes me so sad because without fail this venue always tries to take advantage of my clients one way or another. Planners can help you pick an amazing venue and sometimes they can even get you better deals. Planner first.

Hi there Lynn! Did you decide to hire your planner or book your venue first?