1. "Something old, something new — and everything over the top."Weddings are a $120 billion industry, and most nuptials cost $27,000 on average. With the Bride and Groom planning to spend a lot lower on that, they tend to get woo'd by all the glitz, and nice things that the industry will shove in their face right when they see an engagement ring. With a higher budget means most wedding planners will get paid more, because they take a percentage of the total budget as their fee.
Soiree Events Co. is upfront at the initial meeting about our costs, and from the original time you and your future spouse signs the contract, the price will stay the same until your wedding date.
2. "You say you need a reference? Well, you're looking at her."
Since wedding planning requires no formal training, anyone can hang out a shingle, and a growing number of former brides are doing just that.
Naomi and Marissa of Soiree Events Co. are not former brides, but do have an extensive list of references that you can contact before you decide to go with us. Soiree has yet to have an unsatisfied customer. In fact, everyone has become good friends, and they still keep in contact today if advice is needed - both ways!
3. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep you calm, cool and oblivious."
Indeed, the best planners are those willing to take matters into their own hands when necessary. There is no such thing as a perfect day - and if you say you can have nothing less than perfect, well then...Soiree Events Co. cannot help you there, but Soiree is professional and you can count on that 100%.
4. "I won't necessarily be there on your big day."
As the industry continues to grow, wedding consulting has gotten more specialized — and confusing. Planners now offer tiers of service, from full service to partial to day-of. In addition, many venues now offer complimentary "wedding planning" as part of their package. Unlike the independents, these venue-employed coordinators operate interchangeably, like a help desk; sometimes, the bride and groom have never met the person who shows up on their wedding day. The problem is, couples often mistake this type of help for a full-service planner. Fortunately, couples often have more leverage in this situation than they presume: A simple request for the same coordinator to help out on the day of the wedding can be worked into most contracts.
5. "Congratulations, Gloria and Bill...um, I mean Marcia and Tom!"
When interview wedding coordinators ask them if they book more than one wedding in a weekend or in a day. Soiree Events Co. never books more than one event in a week, so that full attention is focused on any last minute details that the couple needs.
6. "Mixed marriage? Ka-ching!"
With an increase in multicultural and interfaith weddings, consultants are cashing in on the opportunity to incorporate more than one tradition into a single event. Just how much are these two-fer ceremonies costing couples? They add roughly $10,000 to the total amount, after factoring in additional dresses, tents and extra cocktail hours. And that's just for one-day affairs, never mind those that run two days or longer.
To minimize the tab on your own blended ceremony, it helps to have a clear vision of what you want and to communicate that in the earliest stages, says also, if you're having more than one ceremony or event to accommodate separate traditions, consider tying everything into one fun filled day.
7. "The early bride gets the worm."
Good wedding planners live by the calendar. So when you're getting ready to hire one, it's helpful to take a page out of her book: Start your search well in advance — we're talking 10 to 12 months ahead of time, minimum. Not only will the planner you hire have more time to realize your vision, but she'll be more willing to cut you a good deal. That's because she'll be able to save money by locking in vendors, such as photographers and reception halls, so far ahead — and before these vendors effect their annual rate increases, generally every January.
Another way to time yourself into savings is to get married during the "off season" — typically December, January and February — when wedding planners may offer reduced rates.
Another way to time yourself into savings is to get married during the "off season" — typically December, January and February — when wedding planners may offer reduced rates.
8. "Getting married in Hawaii? I'll bring the suntan lotion!"
More than 250,000 couples held destination weddings last year, according to The Wedding Report, and most of them paid a pretty penny for the experience. While there's no getting around the extra fees and added cost of travel accommodations that make excursion weddings an expensive proposition, one place you may be able to score some savings is on your planner. Why? Destination weddings tend to attract a higher class of consultants, who are often more willing to underbid one another to get an enticing gig. Most planners might offer a price break when a particular wedding would make a nice addition to her portfolio or is held at a venue with which she wants to forge a relationship.
9. "Custom silk wedding fans, anyone?"
Nowhere is the urge to splurge more evident than in the realm of wedding frills being foisted upon eager couples hungry to make their day special down to the last detail. From gourmet chocolate wedding-bell truffles to custom sparklers that guests light when newlyweds depart for their honeymoon, the favors at today's nuptials are plentiful, to say the least. Wedding planners have a big stake in this trend. Roughly three-quarters of full-service planners are now charging clients a percentage of the wedding's total budget, rather than setting a flat fee. And since a wedding consultant's commission grows in tandem with her clients' budget, she has powerful incentive to encourage couples to pull out all the stops on their big day — and virtually none to negotiate with vendors for the best deal.
Soiree Events Co. again does not charge a percentage of the budget, but also can assist with custom ideas to give-aways. We have experience in crafts, and resources to finding the best deals.
10. "You don't really need me."When the industry started, wedding planners "mostly addressed invitations, rolled rice and showed up on the wedding day and created havoc,"
Given the amount of information readily available today — including bridal magazines, how-to handbooks and the vast array of wedding-related Web sites — couples can easily put on their own show if they choose to.
How to get started? Ask newlyweds and even big venues, like a prospective reception hall, for referrals for a deejay, photographer or other services. Chances things will go smoothly increase when you hire vendors that have worked together before. Then, once you've selected vendors and collected contracts, devise an event-day schedule and send it out to all your vendors two to three weeks prior to the wedding. The rest is icing on the cake, so to speak.
Still daunted? Recruit a "day-of" wedding planner to oversee production of your wedding and you can finally....relax...and be happy...and that, is priceless...
