How do I convince my family that a wedding planner is worth it!?

Brooke C, my name is Ernest and I manage a DJ Service in San Antonio, Tx for over 18 years and the difference between a well coordinated wedding and a do it yourself wedding is night and day. Hiring an experienced Planner (and I would count you as experienced) because you have helped friends and family previously and you are giving your assets away which is generous of you but really should think about charging for your knowledge. Most couples plan the biggest day of their lives with no previous experience and I deal with brides who are calling me from work in between phone calls and work interuptions and then they wonder why things fall apart. I can only do my part as a DJ but I have no control when a limo is late or does not show up or the wrong cake gets delivered or oops the hall policy is to not turn on the AC until one hour prior to guests arriving and a cake melts in the process. I have seen it all and I know to many brides who if they could do it over would hire a professional

Make a list of all the reasons your friends & family use you to help plan their weddings. That should be all the ammo you need to convince your family & fiance.

Thank you Denise - I like your "list" advice.

As a wedding planner, I know that I am biased about hiring one. In my opinion, a wedding coordinator for the day of the event is a very good investment.

The best arguement is that you deserve to relax at your own wedding. You also do not want your friends or family to worry about when the cake gets cut or if the toilet gets stopped up. The wedding coordinator will handle those things things or findthe venue/dj/catering staff to handle them. Even if you have a great venue, the site coordinator does not always manage the event. A wedding coordinator handles the communication between all of the different vendors and family members and should be the advocate forthe bride.

Hope this helps.

Wedding Planners are an essential part of your wedding team. I am a professional photographer in the Austin, TX area and the wedding at which there is a well seasoned coordinator run way better. The coordinator makes it possible for vendors to have someone outside of the Bride, Family and Wedding Party to ask questions or voice concerns. It is always hard to sqeeze that extra penny out, but this one will be worth it for your peace of mind and contentment on your fabulous day. Good Luck!

Why not set up a meeting with a few planners so they can "sell" themselves to your fiance and/or family? A good planner will be able to show their value and help you convince them to think about it.

A wedding planner can save you time and money. Most planners know exactly which vendors will help with budgets and special arrangements. The bride is free to really enjoy herself knowing that all the details are taken care of. I agree that having a meeting with several planners and your family is a good idea. You can always buy them a copy of JLo in the Wedding Planner!!

I agree that you should have a wedding planner you can compromise with having the day of only. The benefits of having a wedding planner is that they will take care of everything and your family and friends can enjoy the event and you as well. You won't have to worried about the little things that need to be done. My advise you are already spending a lot of money on your wedding to have a beautiful event why not enjoy it.

What they don't want is a stressful bride, or a bridezilla Trying to plan your own wedding, will prevent you from spending quality time with your fiance and your family because there is always something to do. If you do plan your own wedding, at least consider a Day of Wedding Coordinator. That way you will be able to injoy your special day stress, and worry free.

Have they planned a large scale event? Do they have expertise? Ask them to set up a budget and to refer you to reliable vendors within your budget. Rely on them to keep to a detailed planning timeline

Ask them how they will help you when the maid of honor bouqet is missing. Who is going to tell the photographer where to go and at what time? Who is going to make sure that everyone is lined up appropriately and the wedding starts on time? Who's going to deal with the officiant when they say the table under the alter is too large or too small? What is your family members going to do when the cake doesn't show up? Who is going to tell the DJ that the lights should be turned down or up? Or, that the music is too loud? Who is going to argue with the caterer when service isn't quite right?

Who is going to be there to tell you that everything will be okay...if everyone is else is taking care of other things.

After doing all this, ask them how they will enjoy themselves.

I have worked with Personally Yours Wedding Planners on several occassions and I can't see how anyone could plan a wedding day without one. You can plan up until that special day but on the actual day you need someone to pull everything together for you. I am not an advocate of family wedding planners unless they are professionals. I have seen family "forget" that they have a job to do and they half do it or forget very important details because they are too usy seeing long time famioy members. Interview some wedding planners with your family and they will see why it is needed.

I love your response Lisa Nelson! My fiancés sister was married on Saturday and I was the one who remembered the emergency kit with aspirin & deodorant, etc., had an extra bra strap, brought the champagne and OJ, made little notes for the bride & her mother, pined all the boutonnières on the 9 groomsmen & the ring bearer & the mothers & the grandmothers & the groom, told the girls how to hold their flowers, asked the photographer to fix some things, called the limo company to see where they were, carried the wedding rings & the brides cell phone, found the missing shoes, and decorated the honeymoon suite…I ran around all day, but I was not the bride, I do not want to do all of that when I AM the BRIDE! My mom said she would do all those things and for me just to tell her to do it all…but your response is priceless…I’ll ask her at the end of the night and see how she enjoyed her day especially after putting so much money into the wedding…

Brooke,

My fiance and I recently hired a wedding planner for our October 4, 2008 wedding. My family seems to think the idea is crazy, too. However, I explained to my mother that I do not have the time or energy to go searching for vendors on my own time--my fiance and I both work full time at demanding jobs. There is not enough time in the day to do all the things that need to be done when planning a wedding. Also, your planner can help you save money in the long run, even though their fees may seem a little high at the time. However, planners have connections in the wedding industry and can help you get the best deal possible. They know vendors who will work in your budget. Finally, a planner is there on your special day to make sure things run smoothly, which reduces the chances of your family having to run around fixing every little problem that comes up.