Is a wedding planner worth it ? Do they actually help save money

Mainly what they do is work behind the scenes to make the day run smoothly and that all vendors are on the same page. They set up decor/placecards and tear down

A coordinator provided by venue only makes sure that vendor policies are followed.

A day of coordinator is mandatory for a smooth event. A planner is something else entirely. They locate and book your vendors so you are essentially a guest at your own wedding. If you pick and hire your own vendors and have your own vision then you don't need a planner.

A planner and coordinator aren't necessarily the same! From what you've said you've been able to book so far, I don't feel like you really NEED a planner, we used ours mainly to find the best deals and contact vendors for us. I think you're past that for the most part! But you absolutely need a day of coordinator IMO. I've been to weddings that were BEAUTIFUL but didn't have a DOC and it was a complete cluster. It's most definitely worth the piece of mind to just bite the bullet and get a coordinator. See if the one you talked to was willing to scratch the planning and just work for you the day of!

In terms of money a planner can refer you to vendors within your budget.

It seems like you got a bulk of the wedding plan already so maybe just get a day of coordinator and don’t waste money on a wedding planner. I’m was on the same boat as you and didn’t want to spend the money on a wedding planner especially when I did all the work already as far as researching venues and setting up tours, reaching out to catering. DJ, floral, officiant, etc. but on the day of your wedding you do want that stress off you for the reception! Funny story I was originally going to do a Catholic Church too but had such a hard time pairing a Saturday church with a reception in the city so I opted for a barn wedding and surprisingly my family was ok with it. I would get a day of coordinator to take pressure off you and make sure vendors and family and friends are where they need to be.

I agree with those who mentioned this already: Planners and Coordinators do different things. I’m doing my own planning... I’m already indecisive enough and have changed my wedding vision so many times... so I’ve taken charge of finding my own vendors and rentals. I would hate to frustrate someone just because I have a different vision one day versus the next. However, I did sign a contract with a Day-of-Coordinator who will provide details into vendors we still need, will set up and tear down our elopement picnic, and will work with our photographer regarding a timeline.