Today's Wedding Planner
by Cheryl Beckett - ThePartyConnection.ca

There are many women today running households, home-based businesses and juggling families. With the exception of having someone to help them find reputable vendors, most brides want to plan their own weddings. Consider a wedding planner to help assist the bride throughout the wedding planning process and make the event run smoothly. Planning an event can become hectic, and finding time to make all those phone calls can be stressful and difficult. A skilled wedding planner will help follow up with suppliers to make sure nothing is forgotten about. A wedding planner can contact vendors, meet with the couple at different locations, help them choose colors, design ideas and be the mediator in family disagreements.

Some things to consider:

How do you charge for your services?
There are three basic methods that consultants use to determine service fees; flat fee, percentage of budget, and hourly. Depending on how much attention and assistance you require will determine which plan is best for you. Ask the consultant to work out a customized package to make sure you receive the most for your money.

Do you have a contract? Always sign a contract!
This should be provided by the consultant, but make sure that it includes who will be consulting on your wedding, how much they will do, how much time they will spend on your wedding, and who will be assisting on the wedding day and for how long.

Do you know vendors in my area?
It is important that the consultant is familiar with and has established contacts with vendors in your area, or is willing to find them. They should be familiar with vendors before introducing them to you.

Do you have preferred vendors or will you provide me with choices?
Never let a consultant force you to use one particular vendor. That vendor is probably very good, but it is always your decision, and it is the consultant's job to provide you with a few carefully chosen options.

Do you have vendor references?
Your consultant needs to be a team player, willing to help with every detail leading up to and on your big day. Find out how well they work with other vendors. This will also give you an idea of how that consultant is perceived in the local industry, and may give you important feedback to help you make your decision. Below are ten questions that will allow you to determine which consultant will work best for you:

Are you certified to be a Wedding Consultant?
Anyone can consider herself a wedding consultant if she ever helped out at a wedding. The difference between a weekend wedding consultant and a professional is training and continuous updating of knowledge in the industry.

The Association of Bridal Consultants requires an extensive training program and several courses each year in order to maintain certification, and lays guidelines, ethics, and standards which all members must follow. To find a certified wedding consultant, log on to the Associations website at www.bridalassn.com.

Will you be there on my wedding day?
Seems silly, but if you don't specify, you may end up with a great plan but nobody to help you direct your day.

Find out specifically how the consultant will assist you with your wedding.

It is your special day, and it is the consultant's responsibility to assist you in any way you wish. When you have chosen a consultant that is there to meet your needs, you will find out what an asset having one can be.

Cheryl Beckett - ThePartyConnection.ca