Do i really need a wedding planner?

It's pretty rare to need a wedding planner. Since you already have the basics covered, a full service wedding planner seems like a waste of money. I will always recommend a DOC though. You're not going to want to spend your wedding day setting up decorations, coordinating vendors and guests, and cleaning up.

A few things that you may be forgetting...

Chair/table/linen rentals

Photography

Officiant

Cake

Hair and/or makeup

Because of everything you've already taken care of on your own, I wouldn't hire a full wedding planner but I would advise getting a day of coordinator! I never thought of having one until I realized "who is going to make sure everything stays on track the day of?". I knew I wouldn't want to worry about everything going on because I'd just want to enjoy the day and I also knew my mom would try to micro manage everything and she'd have a miserable time and be super stressed out. I found a very affordable DOC in our area and after speaking with her, I'm so glad we decided to hire one. Otherwise, those day of duties will ultimately end up falling on you or a family member.

You definitely do not need a wedding coordinator, especially because you have so much time for researching and planning. My engagement is only 8 months and I've been doing it all on my own. As long as the anxiety and stress aren't too much for you, I'd say stick with your guns!

However, I do recommend a day-of coordinator. You've been able to plan each piece one at a time, but come the day of the wedding all of these moving pieces are going to be coming together at once, and that's where things can get complicated. It's okay if planning has been stressful this far out, but the day of the wedding your top priorities should be getting ready, getting married, and having an amazing time. Having a day-of coordinator will enable you to do that, instead of having to direct caterers, DJs, decorators, and guests. Make sure you find someone you trust and whom you get along with! They'll be your most valuable asset on your big day!

I'm also very organized and usually are the coordinator of events, when I'm involved, but for our wedding we decided to hire a day of coordinator, simply because it allows me to enjoy the day and the DOC can handle the small stuff that will inevitable be going wrong.

No, you don't need a wedding planner. We went with no wedding planner and no day of coordinator. We had a small wedding with about 28 people. Now I really do wish we had a day of coordinator because there were a few hiccups along the way. I had designated a point person to help "coordinate" things that day but things still went wrong. Mostly the music for the processional/ recessional, somehow instead of entering through the doors on one side of the sanctuary my husband wound up with the officiant standing at the end of the aisle while people were coming in and sitting down. Our recessional music wasn't played. Just little things like that that only I probably noticed.

I cannot recommend a DOC enough!! We are also having a fairly small wedding (probably 50-75) and I really enjoy the planning process. So I knew for sure a wedding planner is not what I wanted or needed. But our DOC helps me stay on track by sending monthly emails and on our wedding day she'll take care of everything and make sure it runs smoothly, which is a HUGE weight off my shoulders. Honestly think it's the best investment we've made!

With a wedding that small, you may just need a point person (i.e. person in charge of keeping your timeline). This does not have to be a professional but it does need to be someone you dont mind missing one part of your day to make sure the other goes smoothly.

I think wedding planners are personal preference. I think if it's in the budget and if you want one, then you should get one, but if you don't think it's necessary; there's on point in wasting the money. I didn't want to have a wedding planner b/c I did not want to spend the extra money on it and I've had a lot of help from both my FH and I's family's and members of our bridal party.