Pay Attention When Hiring your Planner...

While I think that every bride needs a planner, I KNOW that not every planner is right for every bride.  Just as much as you wouldn't hire a photographer that you don't like, or a bakery without tasting their work, you shouldn't hire a planner without getting to know them.  I don't many people that hire a planner on their first email, but just in case you are wondering how the process should go, here are a few tips from a wedding planner on hiring your planner.  Good planners know better than to tell you what you want to hear, during the interview process but planners who just see you as "money" will tell you whatever they think you want them to say.  So this will help in paying attention to little things.

How do they communicate?
If you are strictly an email girl and the wedding planner you are talking to, really only communicates on the phone, that's going to be an issue along the way.  If don't enjoy technology and your planner insist on emails, the planning process is going to be difficult.  If they can't even meet you on your terms to schedule a meeting, then you may want to reconsider.

How timely are they?
This is pretty easy, but sometimes overlooked.  If your planner is late in returning calls, emails or meetings then you will need to be prepared for that during the planning process.  If you are more of a laid back bride and a few minutes here and there don't bother you, then go for it, but if you schedule by the minute, this type of planner will not "fit" into your plans.

Where do they want to meet?
This isn't always easy for a planner.  When you are busy, it is sometimes hard to travel an hour to meet with a potential client, given they haven't booked you yet.  However, trying to meet you in the middle or giving you options is a better idea than if they insist on meeting you where they are located.  I'll always meet with a potential client at her wedding site, since that really allows you to see more of their vision, which in turn will give you a really good idea of how your styles will work together. 

When do they want to meet?
If you hire a planner that can only meet in the evenings or in the weekends, it usually means she has another job during the day.  While this isn't usually an issue for planners, it does mean that she won't be available 24-7 for you.  If you aren't in the search for a 24-7 planner, than this won't be an issue for you, but if you want someone dedicated solely to the planning of weddings, then you'll have to look elsewhere. 

What did they wear?
Yup, even this will say something about your planner.  While, I'm not implying that planners should be in gowns for all appointments, it isn't a good sign if your planner shows up in sweats or anything dirty/wrinkled.  Beyond the obviously, your planners style will be expressed in how she dresses, so you should get a good idea of whether you'll have the same style in planning.  If you aren't a cardigan and pearls kind of girl, then the planner who shows up in them, might not be the right fit for you. 

What did they bring?
Do they have wedding magazines to give to you?  Examples of their work to review with you?  An example of a contract to show?  A notebook to take notes?  Showing up with nothing, is a bad sign that your planner isn't prepared.  Showing up with poorly done materials or old/out of date items, is another bad sign.

Who do they recommend?
I have a HUGE issue with this one.  If your planner immediately says to you "Oh, I have GREAT vendors that I love working with" when you tell her you need recommendations, then you should head out of that meeting.  No planner should be able to recommend vendors to you until they get to know more about your style, budget, timeline, date and any other detail that would matter when hiring a vendor.  It shouldn't matter who SHE likes to work with, it should matter who YOU would work well with.  Of course you will want recommendations from your planner, and we all have them, but they shouldn't be able to give them to you until they know you and know more about your wedding. 

How do they leave?
Did they tell you they would follow up?  Did they insist you book on the spot?  Did they give you documents to review at home?  How they go is just as important as when they show up.  Pay attention to these small details and you'll make a better choice on hiring a planner.

These details are small, but will give you a really good idea on how your planner is and how you'd like working with her/him.  These details are small enough that they can't be "faked" typically.  Anyone can "say" they've been in business for years and done hundreds of weddings but few can convey that level of experience in their meeting ability. 

When all else fails, you can just email me and I'll let you know what I think about the planner you are about to hire. 

Hope you all have a wonderful summer, post will be limited during wedding season but I thought now was a good time to give some information on hiring since I've seen lots of articles that, I wasn't sure, covered, all the details.  Really, this one doesn't either, I could get more into the meeting and how it is run, but that's for another post!

Planners, if you aren't sure how you run your meetings or how you come across, ask a few friends to "pretend" to be brides and then give you feedback.  You might be surprised at how good/bad people think you are in a wedding meeting.  And, even if you think you are amazing during your potential client meetings, it doesn't hurt to hear that feedback from someone.  I've even asked people to sit in and listen to meetings that I have with potential clients.  There is no thing as too much constructive criticism, at least I don't think so.

Happy Planning and for most of you Happy Weddings for the 2010 Wedding season!!!!

www.alleventsplanned.com

A few days missing in the life of a planner...

Readers, I apologize for such a long span of time passing in between blog post.  It is currently wedding season (yay) and with that means that all my focus belongs to my clients and their weddings.  The blog is here for ideas, advice and tips and it will continue to provide new and exciting information and insight into my world, as soon as I get a few minutes to focus on something other than upcoming weddings.  I'm working on a few ideas for new post, so be on the lookout for those soon!

In the meantime...

Happy Planning!

http://www.alleventsplanned.com/

Client Feedback- Jason & Annie January 2010

I love hearing back from brides and grooms after their wedding.  Annie & Jason were kind enough to fill me in on their feedback and I've even have some great photos from their wedding to share! 

Here is what they had to say about All Events Planned, wedding planning services. 

 

Q: What made you decide to hire a wedding planner?

A: We felt a wedding planner is able to bring up all of the important details that we would have forgotten if we planned the wedding & reception just by ourselves.

Q: What types of things attracted you to each planner that you interviewed?
A: We stopped after the first interview!

Q: What was something you found that made you WANT to hire a certain planner?

A: She asked questions and brought up points that we did not think to even plan for during the wedding ceremony and/or reception. She respected us wanting to use our own ideas and we really appreciated that.

Q: What was the best thing your wedding planner did for you?   
A: Everything! She took control at all of the most important transition points of the night; she could look ahead to make sure that things flowed very smoothly, and addressed things before they became an "issue". Took all of the stress away.

Q: What was something your planner did that you would never have thought of doing?
A: One thing? Let's see...how about setting aside an area for gifts, and coming up with a way for the gifts and cards to be transported away from the reception without us having to worry about it. Also, making sure that the transitions were not distracting; she knew exactly what to do, and just said, "Let me take care of this..."

Q: Did you feel that your wedding planner was worth the cost?
A: Absolutely. We would recommend her to everyone we know that's planning anything at all, for anything, ever.


Q: Was there anything you would have changed about your experience with your wedding planner?
A: Paid her more! (If one more client answers that way, I'm raising my pricing, lol)


Q: What was something you wish you would have known before hiring your planner?
A: That a planner makes EVERYTHING easier, and really they are there to iron out every detail. We wish we would have started talking to her a lot earlier.


Q: Is there any situation where you could see why a bride would NOT want a wedding planner?
A: Only if she's insane! (I love that answer)


Q: Any other input you have on your process with your wedding planner (me) any advice, ideas or feedback, it is all welcome. 
A: Her associate was a great help as well; both of you made our day perfect and we still talk about the fact that our day would not have been as special without your help. It was amazing!

Now you can see why I love hearing back from bridal clients.  They have the most wonderful things to say and nothing makes a planner feel better than knowing she made someone's most important day, even better!!  Have you asked your clients to give feedback on your services?  I bet you'll be just as thrilled with what they have to say.  If you are a bride who has hired a planner, why not send her/him over a thank you note right now, it is the best thing a planner can receive. 

All photos were taken by Pulp Foto.  You can visit their site at http://www.pulpfoto.com/