This unpredictability is one of the main reasons the wedding
planning field is so attractive for many. If you are the kind of person that
enjoys a dynamic and unpredictable (but exciting!) working environment,
becoming a wedding planner might be the perfect career for you.
So let’s get right down to it! The following is our summary
of the primary duties and skills that EXIN Shagoon are responsible for Engagement.
- Initial Consultation
The initial consultation between the planner and the client
serves to set the groundwork as to what the client is expecting from the
planner and what the client is planning to do. The client may be the bride, the
groom, the mother or father of the bride, the mother or father of the groom or
any combination of these people.
Day of coordination involves taking care of all the
logistical details of the wedding on the day of the wedding itself.
- Day of Coordinator
Most brides have looked forward to their wedding day since
they were little girls, and many refuse to let anyone else plan the details of
their wedding other than themselves! Having said that, these brides also
recognize that their wedding day should be about enjoyment and bliss.
·
Pre-Wedding
As a Day of Coordinator, your first responsibility will be
to look over the contracts for each vendor the client has chosen to hire. You
will then will contact the vendors approximately one week prior to the wedding
and introduce yourself and ensure you have accurate day of contact information
for each of them.
Don’t just settle
for your vendors’ landline phone numbers. Be sure to obtain their cell numbers
too, in case of an emergency.
- Wedding Day
On the day of the wedding, the wedding planner should arrive
at the venue early enough to supervise all vendor set-up and answer any
questions that may arise. Planners should ensure that the bride, groom, DJ/band
and photographer are all informed in advance of each event (grand entrance,
first dance, cake cutting, garter toss, etc.).
The wedding planner
should be the liaison between all the vendors and the bride/groom on the day of
the wedding. This will enable the bride/groom to enjoy the day with their
friends and family instead of having to chase after vendors.
- Wrapping up
And don’t think that your job is done after the guests and
newlywed couples have exited the reception. Even after everyone clears out,
planners should make sure all of the client’s personal property and wedding
gifts are properly packed and secured in a vehicle, hotel room or storage room.
Plan ahead and have your client recruit volunteers if there are a lot of items
to be packed or stored.
- Full Service Planner
Of course, not all brides envision their wedding as Disney
fairy tales, or perhaps they have but are too busy with their careers and just
can’t be hassled with the details of planning their perfect wedding, so they’ll
ask you to take care of them each step of the way.
·
Budget
In some way or another, the budget will affect every
decision of the wedding. Very early in the planning stages, the wedding planner
should initiate a detailed discussion with the client as to their budget for
the wedding. Some clients will handle the budget themselves and some clients
will want or need your assistance. Before considering any venues or making
appointments with any vendors you must be certain that everyone agrees on the
total budget for the wedding.
·
Venues
Once the budget is agreed upon, it is time to begin
researching venues. Comparing venues can be one of the most complicated jobs a
wedding planner has to do, but it is also where they can be provide the most
value to their client. Each venue you are considering will probably include
different rental items, price their food and beverage differently and may
figure tax, tip and service charges at different rates.
The sooner
you rule out the wrong wedding venues, the quicker you’ll find the right one.
Venues are often booked over a year in advance so don’t delay for too long!
- Vendors Selection
Once a venue and date is selected and confirmed with a
deposit, it is time to begin selecting vendors. Just as is the case with
venues, many of the best wedding vendors (photographers, videographers,
florists, etc.) can book a year or more in advance. To ensure the best
selection of vendors for your client you want to quickly begin booking
appointments for vendors within your client’s budget and style.
- Turning Magic into Reality
After the venue and vendors are booked and secured, your
client will need your help with everything else that makes a wedding the
magical day they always envisioned.
Your client may want your assistance with the selection of
the bride and bridal parties attire. This may include attending appointments at
the bridal salon or simply giving your opinion on photos sent to you by email.
It is a good idea to attend at least one appointment with the florist, since it
will typically be up to you to distribute the corsages, boutonnieres, and
bouquets to the bridal party and you will want to be familiar with the ceremony
and reception décor as well.
Since every wedding will be entirely unique, the answer to
the question, “What does a wedding planner do?” will never be entirely
complete. But nevertheless, take away this message: your primary duty as a
wedding planner is to satisfy the concerns that the bride had when she decided
to look for a wedding planner. These concerns will always change, and that is
OK. As long as you’re there to meet them, you’ve fulfilled your duty.
Go out there and remember to enjoy it! You’re playing a key
role in making someone’s dreams come to reality.
