Alisa Chapman Photography

Many times I am asked, "do I really need a wedding planner?" My answer is always, "Yes, you most definitely need to hire a wedding coordinator." I asked my good friend and wedding coordinator extraordinaire, Deborah Simmons of Signature Occasions the top reasons for hiring a wedding coordinator and here is what she said:

So many brides, especially in the South, feel like they can plan their own wedding. They plan their own parties, host parties for friends, so why can't they plan their own wedding? Main reason - it's their wedding! We have listed the top reasons why hiring a wedding planner is crucial to making your wedding even better than you could have ever imagined.

#1 keeps the budget
Most people think of a planner as an added expense that is easy to eliminate, but planners know where to spend that guests will actually notice as well as have vendor discounts to pass along to their brides. Here are some examples, as planners we offered a band at a discounted rate to our bride so that already saved her $500. Another time, a venue was pushing one of our brides who were getting married in the afternoon to rent a tent (a fee of $2400 for the tent/setup/takedown). We told her to hold off since we knew there was a night wedding and that bride would have to pay and there was no need for both brides to pay. In the end, our bride got the tent (that the night bride paid for)...for free - a savings of $2400! It is all about experience and knowing where to spend and having someone truly watching out for your dollar 

#2 Alleviates Stress
Planners are there to alleviate stress. They are that friend to vent to or call and say "do this" and know it is done. Yes, in the South we are surrounded by family and friends who stand up and help, but believe me...they are behind the bride's back saying "we will be super glad when this wedding is over!" Instead, with a planner, every friend and family member gets to be a guest. They don't have to run to the store the day before the wedding to pick up frames for paper products. Instead, they get to relax with the bride and toast the soon-to-be nuptials.

Lindsay Vallas Photography

#3 Does the Research
The planner already knows all the trustworthy vendors. Instead of spending hours and hours researching vendors, planners already have contacts and vendor discounts that are trustworthy. It is a huge relief to be able to already have that trust!

#4 Helps You Enjoy the Process 
We have so many brides who say...I want to enjoy my engagement. They say they are super organized, but they don't want to become a bridezilla. They want to go to showers and have fun without becoming overwhelmed with phone calls to vendors. A planner allows the bride to still do the fun things - pick out colors, go to appointments, but not have to be overwhelmed with "am I forgetting something"/checklists/budgets/research...just allows a bride to enjoy the process and have a sidekick to do the grunt work.

Chao Photography
#5 Helps Create a Vision...When Needed
It can be overwhelming to take a year to plan a wedding and wonder if everything in the end will come together as one cohesive design. With so many vendors and so many opinions, it is nice to have a planner, who has experience and knows what people actually notice, who can keep you on track to end up with a pulled together style. It allows you to have someone to bounce ideas off of so that each the linens that are picked, the food layout, the flowers, the lighting, the car you leave in, the leave item...it all looks pulled together.

#6 A Mediator
So many people say a wedding is about the bride and groom and it should be...but it is also about two families (and all their opinions!!) It is nice to have a neutral person along the way and there that day (even that you can throw blame at) who can mediate any issues. That can be placement of divorced parents, the fact that you don't want to re-use the flowers from the rehearsal dinner...or that you need to convince the soon to be mother in law that you need to use her flowers. It is always nice to be able to start with "The planner said..." 😉

April and Paul Photography

#7 Someone to Work Just for You
When you hire an independent wedding planner, not someone who works for the venue, that person is looking out for only you and your best interest. She or he will be your advocate in the event a question or problem arises. So many brides hear vendors say they need this linen, this band, this food selection and think that is a must, but you have to think you who recommending that item. Most likely those recommendations are making them more money. For example, a banquet director at a venue may say that you need the best food package because food is important at a wedding but most likely their pay check is a commission of food and beverage sales. An independent planner is strictly recommending items that are going to make your wedding the best...so you know each recommendation is made for the right reason.

#8 Someone to Handle a Crisis
So many brides think they will plan so nothing will happen on their day, but something will. It can be forgotten garter, forgotten petals for the flower girl, a lost band, vintage car that broke down...something will happen - and a planner is the quick thinker behind the scenes to fix it all. So many of a planner's clients don't even know the mishaps of their wedding days and that is the goal.

#9 They are Professionals
A friend or family member is great but there are things that only real life experience can teach you as a planner and you need someone with experience. A planner is someone who can call vendors in an emergency and call in a favor or who already knows how to handle a crisis moment because it has happened before. Experience is something that makes a professional. Let friends and family help by bringing food to the bridesmaids/groomsmen or clean up the bridal party suites...there are so many jobs for family or friends throughout the wedding to help them feel involved but not giving them the job of being totally responsible for your wedding weekend.

#10 They Manage the Whole Weekend
So many brides think that it is just a couple of hours on the wedding day. Even at a minimum, it is an initial meeting, a couple of hours the month before contacting vendors to make sure they contact the planner instead of the bride, hours doing timelines, a meeting again to go over final details/ceremony specifics, another quick meeting to drop off all of the napkins/programs/favors/etc., 2 hours for the rehearsal day, then the planner has to be there for the very first delivery (usually first thing in the morning) until the last gift is loaded into the car...if you really want help - 12 to 14 hours for an average wedding day. That is almost 24 hours just for someone who needs a planner on their wedding weekend-if you want it done properly 😉 You can have someone show up for a couple of hours, but how will that help you? They won't know the vendors, the layout, anything really...so they won't be any help for the bride. A true planner allows the bride and her family to enjoy the wedding weekend to the fullest while they handle the details.

Deborah Simmons is Mississippi's Only Master Wedding Planner in the Association of Bridal Consultants. She is also Mississippi State Coordinator for ABC, Association of Bridal Consultants. In addition, Deborah is a Full Service Travel Agent and Certified Sandals Specialist. Deborah Simmons is founder and owner of Signature Occasions, LLC, wedding and event planning and design in Ridgeland, MS.

At the end of your wedding day you will be married to the love of your life, which is the most important thing but a planner will make the journey to the altar a lot less stressful and allow you and your family to enjoy the celebration.