Questions to Ask Your Austin Wedding Planner
A wedding planner will be by your side throughout the entire wedding planning process. Therefore, it is important to choose some one who you think you can get along with well. It is recommended that you interview several wedding planners to ensure the right fit.
Watch this video, by wedding planner Victoria Hentrich of Creative Consultants, talking about Austin wedding planning advice, then read on to find out what to ask your prospective wedding planner.
A wedding planner can be the best thing that ever happened to a bride, if you both share the same expectations. Ask these questions to find the best wedding planner for you:
1. What is your experience level?
This is more important than asking “how many weddings have you done?” They could have done no weddings officially but have helped friends or their church with coordination. This is good experience. What you want to avoid is the consultant who tells you she did her own wedding and decided to start the business. Too many times, this consultant is still full of the romantic and fun part of the process and has no clue about the brick and mortar it takes to build a wedding to accommodate someone else’s taste.
2. Is this your full time job?
Generally, if a coordinator isn't full time, their availability during the day is going to be limited. Plus you want to make sure this isn't a hobby for them.
3. How do you charge for your services?
Some wedding planners charge by the hour, some do an estimate of time your wedding will require and some charge a flat fee and still others work on a percentage of your wedding budget basis. Make sure you know what is included and what is not. If it is a percentage based fee, get in writing which budget items that is based on. You don’t want surprises down the road.
4. What is your procedure on the day of the wedding?
Some consultants get you through the ceremony and appear at the reception just long enough to see the set up and then they are gone. You want to make sure the consultant will be there throughout the reception to coordinate your special dances, cake cutting, etc. Have them walk you through a typical wedding day and what goes into it.
5. Can you provide references?
Ask the consultant to provide at least 3 references. It is also a good idea to ask for at least one vendor reference. Vendors see coordinator's work from a different angle than the bride and groom - they see the behind the scenes things that make a wedding work. Make sure the vendor would be willing to work with the WC again. Also, ask your other vendors if they have ever worked with the WCs you are interviewing.
6. What other services can you offer?
Many offer invitations and accessories which makes it easy to take care of multiple details with one contact. Beware of the consultant who is also a caterer, DJ, photographer, etc. If they are doing that job, how can they be there for you as your wedding coordinator too?
7. Have you worked at the venue or with the vendors I have in mind? What are the pros and cons of each?
Right off the bat, this will give you a sense of her taste and insight. If she is negative about your choices and provides new options not in line with your vision, she is probably not a good fit. Should she, on the other hand, offer valid reasons for you to look elsewhere — and make suggestions that are similar in style to your ideas — you know she has done her homework. Even if she loves your choices, it's smart to hear why.
8. What role do you feel I should play?
Before the ball gets rolling, be clear about how her responsibilities and yours will gel. Who has the final say in big decisions? You don't want to be butting heads for months.
9. How do you handle dicey situations? For example, how aggressively do you negotiate? How would you handle something like a groom with a broken leg?
You will be spending a lot of time with your planner. So determine exactly what you're looking to get — whether it's contacts, someone to drive a hard bargain, or a sympathetic supporter — and choose a person who meets those needs.
Still have questions about Austin wedding planning? Contact Victoria of Creative Consultants.
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