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Caitlyn
Beginner April 2020

Wedding Planners- Are they worth it?? Do they save you money on your other vendors?

Caitlyn, on January 25, 2019 at 5:30 PM Posted in Planning 0 22
I’m just trying to wrap my brain around our entire wedding budget and looking for vendors, etc. I think it could be helpful to hire a wedding planner, but I’m not sure if it’s really worth the expense... I would love to hear what others’ real experiences have been, good and bad. I appreciate any insight or advice anyone might have!

22 Comments

Latest activity by Susie, on January 26, 2019 at 2:02 AM
  • Sophie
    Super December 2020
    Sophie ·
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    I’m a super organized, Type A person who needs to be in control of everything and know all of the details. To me, a wedding planner is overly priced and would stress me out because I want to do it myself.
    However, if you can afford one, and stress out when it comes to planning, I’d go for it.
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  • M
    Devoted May 2019
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    Worth it if you find a good one. They might save you a little money from my experience.
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  • Becca
    Super August 2019
    Becca ·
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    I personally didn’t just because I enjoy the process of searching for vendors and everything. I also saw that planners could be a couple thousand dollars...so I did not find that worth the money at all. If anything, I do recommend a day of coordinator. Those will save a lot of stress. Some venues come with one tho
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  • Kelly
    Champion October 2018
    Kelly ·
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    For me it was absolutely worth it because my time and sanity is worth something. But I was also never one of those girls who knew exactly what she wanted her wedding to look like and had it all planned on Pinterest. It was not cheap at all. I think if you are having a low budget wedding I would just stick with a day of coordinator rather than a full service planner.
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  • SpringBride23
    Devoted March 2019
    SpringBride23 ·
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    While we don’t have a full on wedding planner, our day of coordinator has already proved she is worth every penny! She has helped me save money on a few vendors, as well as helped me deal with some very difficult vendors. By far one of the best wedding decisions I’ve made was hiring her!
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  • M
    Devoted May 2019
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    Oh you wanted experiences? Lol I hired a lady. Had a website Instagram etc. I liked her work. She was going to help me with vendors and decorating and florals for a price I thought was great. Had a contract and all. She recommended vendors that were kind of pricey in my opinion for my budget with exception of caterer. Well communication started to fall the closer the date came. Now mind you it was around holidays so that’s understandable BUT how is it that the Instagram page was being updated and I wasn’t getting responses? ( perhaps someone else runs it) whatever well she would finally respond when I would say things like the communication was worrying me and I didn’t think it was worth it if I didn’t get responses. She said she had two phone lines. One for business and other for personal. She said she doesn’t get messages on her business one unless it’s cut on. Long story short I had to get rid of her. I’m 5 months out and I have a venue And photographer- who she didn’t find. The ones she recommend were pricey. She was nice about it and refunded my money but it was aggravating because I’m 5 months out and should have everything booked right? Like she didn’t even question me. Which I appreciate her kindness and refunding money but that still leaves me on my wedding day. You know? Her reviews were good. She didn’t have many but we’re good.
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  • M
    Devoted May 2019
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    On the bright side I have someone else helping with florals, decor, and coordination. Smiley smile Smiley smile Smiley smile
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  • Sherry
    Master September 2019
    Sherry ·
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    Literally my exact thought process on a wedding planner. I am having a family friend who knows me and knows how I like things help me out on the day of while I get dressed and doing pictures but other than that, the setup and everything is me with some trusted helpers. I must say that I thoroughly enjoy every aspect of the planning. Keeping things simple helps.

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  • Officiallymrs
    Super May 2010
    Officiallymrs ·
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    I actually enjoyed planning my wedding myself .. I used Ww and the knot to literally find all of our vendors .. our venue had a wedding coordinator and she was a god send, she went above and beyond, never getting annoyed when I sent emails w numerous questions !!
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  • Martika
    Expert September 2019
    Martika ·
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    I am not hiring a wedding planner. I liked the idea of doing everything by myself. And I have my ideas for everything planned out so they wouldn't have been able to do much. However, I am hiring a day of coordinator, to oversee the wedding so I don't have that stress the day off. Everything we already be set, she will just be there to make sure everything is okay.

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  • Sophie
    Super December 2020
    Sophie ·
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    I bought a wedding binder and filled it with sheet protectors. I separated it by ceremony, reception, photography/videographer, floral and decor, guests (gifts/guest list/RSVP/addresses), honeymoon and then documentation (passport forms, marriage license, copy of any signed contracts)

    i went to a few expos and collected info and put them in the binder so when I was ready to look into certain things, like photography, I had some options and a place to start.
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  • Sherry
    Master September 2019
    Sherry ·
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    There you go! This app has been a god send for me. I am always checking it to make sure I haven't forgotten to do something in a certain time frame, vendors etc. Sounds like you got everything ready to go. Your planning is gonna be a breeze!!

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  • Tamara
    VIP August 2019
    Tamara ·
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    For me, completely worth it if you can find it in your budget for at a minimum day of wedding planning. Peace of mind and being stress free is priceless!! My planner has steered me towards great vendors within my budget because she has been doing this for years and has established relationships, so that has been a help as well. Also, I need to have surgery soon and will be out of commission for two months, but she will stand in for me and make decisions in my absence based on guidance that I will give her. So helpful and again I don't have to worry about anything because I know she's got it.

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  • Sophie
    Super December 2020
    Sophie ·
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    I have SO many checklists and spreadsheets. It helps a lot.
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  • Jerica
    February 2019
    Jerica ·
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    Hi I am an Event Planner and coming from both angles it depends.

    Yes, sometimes they can get you discounts...SOMETIMES.

    The main point of one is to take off the stress of planning. IF you like to plan that's great you will have fun! But sometimes the planning gets to be a lot and that's where they can make it easier. Especially juggling multiple vendors, literally can be a full time job.

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  • M
    Super November 2019
    Melissa ·
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    I say a wedding planner or doc are worth it if you live out of state from your wedding.
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  • Nykole
    Expert October 2019
    Nykole ·
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    I just can’t let someone else plan things for me. I need to be in control. But I could see the benefits of having one if you’re not into the whole planning thing and need some help. If you have an already married MOH or bridesmaid, they may be willing to help you though. Plus, they’d know you better than a complete stranger.
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  • Fwbride
    Super July 2024
    Fwbride ·
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    TOTALLY WORTH IT! so originally we weren’t going to get a wedding planner because it wasn’t in the budget to spend $2000 on. So we had planned most of our wedding when my mom said she’d been having nightmares about the wedding and needs us to hire wedding planner to ease her mind. So she offered to pay and we found one for only $800! She has been absolutely amazing. She has saved us so much money! For example; before we had the WP, FH and I got a quote for our rentals that ended up being over $9000, after we got wedding planner she got us a rental quote for $6000 and it had more on it than our original quote. No we are getting restroom trailers, clear top tent, and a kings table included in that quote that we couldn’t get by ourselves. She negotiated the prices down and then gets us a 10% discount for using a WP. She’s also providing us with our centerpiece holders and table cloths for free!
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  • Yoice
    VIP March 2019
    Yoice ·
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    I would recommend at least a day of coordinator. Mine has not save me money but has recommend me some great vendors and has also given me great tips. I wouldn’t have contract her as a full wedding planner since I like having the control and doing all the planning myself.
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  • Porterpoppin
    VIP March 2019
    Porterpoppin ·
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    I’ve planned my own wedding and done all my own negotiating, it hasn’t been stressful at all. I’ve hired a day of coordinator this week because everyone says how much they’re a necessity. But outside of the day of, if you’re organized or just enjoying planning events I say do it yourself. If you can afford a few thousand and get stressed easily then do for the wedding planner. It wasn’t in my budget for one so I was excited to do my own!
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