**************************************************
posted by lilhoney1976
I guess I didn't look at it that way. They probably will know how to get special deals for you,sort of like a travel agent. Also regarding the church,I found out that my church has their own coordinator. How did that work out for your daughter? Was your daughter able to set things up the way she wanted and have the coordinator help everything be organized,run smoothly, and be less confusing. Or did she have to go by the churches guidelines regarding the processional?
**************************************************
posted by syringa
Usually, a church coordinator has one way of doing things. The majority of people who get married have no idea what they should do or how, so the church coordinator decides for them. Unless you arrive for the rehearsal or a meeting with the coordinator with a written plan in hand showing how you want people to walk in and stand, you will get the same thing that occurred at the twenty weddings before yours and will occur at the next twenty weddings.
You may find that the church organist always plays the same music for every wedding as well. Some church coordinators take their cues from the organist rather than them cueing the organist. If you want to do things differently than every other wedding, be sure to provide a written plan in advance and either have your coordinator or a friend act as coordinator to help be sure that things go as you want.
**************************************************
posted by hermom
We have decided to hire a day-of wedding coordinator. We will organize and hire the vendors, etc. but I need someone to run the show so we can just enjoy ourselves. The people we could have trusted with this have other roles in the wedding and it will be worth the money to make sure everything is taken care of. We are having a more informal reception and we don't need a coordintor for the whole planning process.
**************************************************
posted by merecia
we are having a coordinator for the day and so far we are looking at 700 to 1000 for the 8 hour job plus meeting a few times to get things cleared up. She will look at our plans and ck for mistakes or improvements, thou I do not think there will be any.
She will collect the tux and return them.
Mail the annoucements the day after.
She will set up the misc for the ceremony like programs,runner, special candles etc.
She will provide the emergency kit, because she uses the same one and it is onee less thing I do not have to worrie about.
The ceremony and reception will both be at a hotel and they do provide for one, but not as personal.
**************************************************
posted by mrsyarwood2b
I agree with almost everyone else that has posted that I would not want to give up control of what will be such a special day to anyone else. I was concerned about the day of the wedding, though, because I didn't want to be harried with all the details.
I got so lucky! We picked a quaint, rural building for the site of our wedding and reception. It's beautiful and very intimate (just the type of space we wanted). The woman who owns the building was an event planner in L.A. and is all about taking over all the "day of" details for me! Such a load off my shoulders!
Aimee "Yarwood"
**************************************************
posted by brideliza
I so want to have a planner. I've looked at a few. We're still in the "figure out your budget" phase. My fiance says we can do it big, but we have to save for it. Of all the planners out there I think we will go with Sasha Souza Events
http://www.sashasouzaevents.com . She seems really on top of it and has all the connections. And we want to have a really amazing destination wedding. I couldn't imagine doing all the planning for my wedding in an unfamilar place. So I think hiring a consultant is the way to go.
Best,
Tiffany
**************************************************
posted by munchkin
Sasha used to be the Wediquette moderator on these boards....she was interesting to say the least.
~Kerry~
**************************************************
posted by asyouwish
Wedding planers use there connections to get you special deals and put together your dream day. A good wedding planer does not take over and do it their way. A good wedding planer will negotiate to make sure it goes your way. You still get to taste 20 flavors of cakes at 3 bakeries; you don't call 20 bakeries to see who makes the flavor you want at a decent price.
If you love to negotiate with vendors, are very organized, have free time, and have no problems making decisions, and are good at finding solutions that make you, your mom, your fiancé, his mom, and your bridesmaids happy- do it yourself.
Of course you can plan the wedding of your dreams yourself. But you don't have to do it all yourself. Get help where you need it.
www.asyouwishwed.com
**************************************************
posted by lilhoney1976
Since my last post on this particular topic, I have somewhat considered changing my mind about the whole wedding planner thing. Although I don't need someone to completely plan everything, I have done some research on this sort of thing and found that since they do repeat business with alot of these vendors, they can act as negotiator and get you significant discounts. They can also make sure everything is organized so you're not running around like a chicken with your head cut off and they have loads of package deals. So, I may change my mind. BUT, I won't turn the entire thing over to them. I'll just have them assist me.
**************************************************
posted by syringa
That is as it should be. You should always have the final say in every decision. Otherwise, it becomes the planner's wedding, not yours.