Wedding planner vs no planner

Just FYI: your maid of honor is not obligated to help you plan. If you really need the help, I would say pay someone to do it.

It's not necessary. But it really depends on you. I personally will not be using one, but I am very organized and am good at keeping track of lots of tasks, lists, numbers, etc. But if you feel like you need help or can't do it on your own, pay someone to do it.

It's totally possible to do it without! Get a binder, keep spreadsheets, lists of all vendors contacts, use the WW checklist or another checklist of what you should do month to month. As long as you do your research and stay on top of it, it's totally possible.

I don't have a wedding planner and I haven't felt pressured or stressed (yet!). All major vendors are accounted for and I have plenty of time.

Those who say prices are outrageous have NO idea the work or knowledge involved. A real planner is worth their weight in gold and make the process so much easier. For those who can take their time and make smart and rational decisions, and deal with the stress, it's ok without one...but a planner can always enhance the flow and smoothness of the event. If planning is a stress factory or a nuisance to you, they take the pressure off of you. They work for their money.

Outrageous. Yep...Same old....As Jay said, you have no idea how much time is involved. A good planner is priceless. A good DOC is priceless, if you can plan and just need management on the day.

You can't count on your BP to do anything, nor will they be any good at it. Spend the money.

No, their prices are not outrageous. You have no idea what goes into getting your floral designs planned and executed, so I doubt you have any idea how much work goes into locating vendors within the bride's budget, attending meetings with the couple, reviewing every contract, developing and keeping you on a timeline, executing the vision you have for your wedding, and pulling it all together. Weddings are not any social event -- they aren't birthdays, anniversaries, retirement parties, or family reunions. They are something entirely different. Working with brides can be very difficult. Many of them have so much invested in their wedding days, and the sheer amount of communication required can be exhausting (and, as I said, I just handle one aspect of the wedding -- not all of them).

If you're having your wedding at an all inclusive venue, I don't think you need a planner. There will be an event manager who will handle every aspect of your cocktail hour and reception (and your ceremony, if it's onsite).

Remember, a wedding planner (as opposed to a DOC) is a real luxury. We just had a long thread authored by a WW bride who hired a wedding planner, but still, her wedding was almost a non-event -- two weeks out -- due to the details the planner let slide in favor of the bride using family members for just about everything (not to mention her microscopic budget barely allowed her to pay for food, let alone a wedding planner). Look at your budget and be realistic.

At least get a DOC.

This may sound very blunt but a wedding planner is someone I pay to care about my wedding as much as I do. I have organized and hired most of my vendors on my own but got a DOC coordinator early on but she does so much more for me. I bounce ideas off her, she is open to meeting me at my venue if I ask so we can talk about logistics.

I know that she is invested in my wedding and her fee is completely worth it. I keep asking her if she needs more because she is helping me more with things I didn't know I would need and my wedding is still 4 months out.

Find one you connect with and value them

I hired a planner for month of coordinating. She has also recommended vendors to us, and we have unlimited communication with her to bounce ideas and get input. She is absolutely worth it! I have total peace of mind that she understands my vision for the wedding and will coordinate with all vendors to make sure it's executed. Although, I will say that you need to do your research and find the planner that is the best fit for you.

I agree with a lot of these comments. The work a wedding planner and their team does is so much more then anyone could imagine. If you can afford either a full on planner or DOC, go for it! My wedding is going to be 2 hours away from where I live, so having her is such a blessing. Specially not being able to take time off work all the time. They are also someone you can use in the future for other events in the future.

A planner is definitely not necessary. I wanted to plan my own wedding.

Your MOH and BM are NOT supposed to help you plan. Plan your own party!

However, I would definitely recommend a DOC as a MUST HAVE. So if your venue doesn't have a DOC, definitely hire one!

Only you and your fh plan your wedding.

My FH and I (mainly me, lol) have been able to plan everything without a planner. I consider myself as very organized and diligent, and was able to pace myself so I did not get overwhelmed. I also had quiet a bit of free time during the earlier stages of planning, so I knocked out the big vendors then. However, we will have a DOC as it is provided by the venue we selected.

Some of your comments are beyond aggressive, thanks for all of the pointers

What is aggressive? I just reread comments and thought maybe mine was but I don't see any aggression

My wedding planner is literally worth her weight in gold. Fiancé and I still get the sense that we are planning the wedding but she is there to set all the appointments, keep vendors straight, organize meetings, etc etc. it's amazing.