Who needs a wedding planner?
All kinds of brides turn to a wedding planner for help with their big day. Some begin their planning by hiring a professional planner to source a venue and suppliers. Others plan their weddings with little help, then turn to a wedding planner for help with last minute preparations or on-the-day co-ordination.
Is it worth the money?
Yes. Planners’ rates vary, and you will get what you pay for. Most offer different packages ranging from full planning services, supplier sourcing and on-the-day co-ordination. Think carefully about what you want from your wedding planner and choose the right package for you.
What can a wedding planner do that I can’t?
An experienced wedding planner will have a long list of contacts, from venues to florists and cars. She’ll be a great negotiator and save you money, also keeping a close eye on your budget. While you are at work, your wedding planner can devote her day to your wedding plans, solving problems without worrying you about them. On-the-day co-ordination can be a similar godsend. Your planner will help direct the florist, chase up the cake delivery and even keep an eye on the portaloos so you can enjoy every moment of your wedding day.
Featured wedding planners
Expert tip: “Ask friends and family or even the local community to actively help you with the wedding. Perhaps someone has a hidden talent like cake making, hair & beauty or a luxury car that can be used as the wedding transportation.” Bernadette, Dream Occasions
Dream Occasions‘ philosophy is to minimise the stress associated with planning an event. They specialise in events in East Anglia and have an unrivalled knowledge of suppliers and venues in the area. Director Bernadette Chapman is recognised as one of the best English wedding planners, and is also founder of the UKAWP (UK Alliance of Wedding Planners).
Expert tip: “Once you have decided on the time of year you want to get married, and the type of ceremony, the first priority is to sit down with your partner and really talk about what you both want your wedding to be like. Its amazing how many couples have completely different ideas and views of what they want.” The Wedding Genie
The Wedding Genie is a Staffordshire based wedding planning business. Their speciality is getting you started and guiding you to create the wedding you really want. I highly recommend a visit to the Wedding Genie website: it’s written in a friendly way, full of help and advice – and this is a great indicator of the high quality of service you’ll get from The Wedding Genie.
Expert tip: “Compromise – this was one of the teachings in our wedding lessons and it is so important in wedding preparations. You don’t have to compromise on your dream wedding, but it is a union of two people and the wedding may well reflect and celebrate a union of two styles.” Laura Payne, Myriad Genii Occasions
Myriad Genii Occasions is based in Hampshire and is run by a dedicated husband and wife team. Myriad Genii prides itself on a superior knowledge of the finest venues and suppliers in the area, all have been personally visited and experienced. Myriad Genii has 8 years’ experience in organising events, and their commitment to clients is to being simple, honest and dependable. This runs through everything that Myriad Genii do.
Expert tip: “My husband and I got married in Ibiza and hired a planner straight away to help find a venue, caterer and minister. For the most of it I did the rest. What I found most helpful though was knowing that there was someone else who was responsible for things, someone who was at the end of an email or phone to help me with issues I felt were out of my control.” Kelly, Boho Weddings
Boho Weddings is all about flexibility in wedding planning. Kelly focuses her different wedding planning packages on clients’ varied needs – there’s even a rescue package for your last minute panics! Kelly is also the author of our very first wedding planning article which she wrote for the English Wedding website last week. Having trained with the Institute of Professional Wedding Planners, Kelly is perfectly placed to help with your wedding planning and offers different wedding packages to suit your requirements and budget.
Expert tip: “Take the time to do your research and try to get the best deal you possibly can. The internet is a wonderful tool in uncovering hidden suppliers who can work within your budget, but also take to the High Street in the pursuit of bridal bargains. A wedding planner has the time to conduct thorough searches and will dedicate their day to getting you the very best suppliers at the most competitive prices.” Phillipa, Kellington Weddings
Kellington Weddings is a Doncaster based wedding planning business, new to wedding planning but with wide experience in corporate event management and fashion shows. Part of their service includes personal shopping trips – what a fantastic idea! Kellington Weddings offer a complimentary consultation where they’ll listen to your ideas, and create a bespoke planning package to suit your requirements. Get in touch with Phillipa on Twitter!
Expert tip: “Always remember your wedding is about you, and what you are all about. It’s not about trying to aspire to some preconceived idea of what a wedding should be, it’s about putting your own special mark on it and really showing off your personalities as a couple.” Alison, Plans and Presents
Plans and Presents is a wedding and Event Planning business commited to ensuring that your Wedding day is an unforgettable experience, and a day you will remember for all the right reasons. They’re based in Glasgow but cover the whole of the UK. Plans and Presents has various packages and the option of a fully customised event and will be there to give you as much or as little assistance as you wish. They will negotiate savings and discounts and ensure you get the very best for your budget. Owner Alison is easily contactable via Twitter and has many friends in the wedding industry.
Expert tip: “As a male/female planning duo we understand how important it is for both the bride and groom to both input into the wedding plans. Discuss your main priorities for the wedding day before you begin to plan. Is it the dress, the photography or the venue which is most important to you. Decide on these first and then plan your wedding around these key features” Emma, The Wedding Daze
The Wedding Daze offers you a flexible planning service, with bespoke packages to suit every budget. Their devoted, professional service will save you time and money when planning your wedding and they’ll (I love the wording on the website…) guide you tranquilly through a bewildering array of choices, saving you valuable time and stress. The Wedding Daze is based in South Yorkshire and offers bespoke wedding planning services to Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Sheffield, Derbyshire and the surrounding areas. Wedding Daze on Twitter
Expert tip: “Wear comfortable shoes! A bride can be on her feet for a minimum of 8 hours… make sure you have really good shoes, and wear them in a little first… or a sneaky pair of trainers to slip on when no one is looking!” Kim, Wedding Design by Kim
Wedding Design by Kim is based in Essex and is available to travel all over the UK. She offers a full range of services and has a large number of suppliers and venues to recommend. All suppliers have been thoroughly checked to ensure a suitably high standard of service. Kim offers a free consultation. She has over 10 years experience in Project Management and has gained qualifications through The Wedding Planner School (Bristol).
www.AimeeDunne.com London and Kent
www.fabulousday.co.uk Cheshire
www.exclusivelyyoursevents.com Liverpool
www.lynseyfaye.co.uk UK
www.weddingjules.co.uk Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire
www.cnjweddings.co.uk West Yorkshire
www.whiteliliesevents.co.uk Worcester, Hereford, Warwickshire, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Bromsgrove, Kidderminster (also http://whiteliliesevents.blogspot.com)
www.victoriajamesweddings.co.uk Warwickshire
www.ternevents.com UK
www.orchid-weddings.co.uk Kent
www.dimplesevents.co.uk Kent
www.zoelingard.co.uk London and the South East
www.makeourday.co.uk Bucks
www.thebespokeweddingco.com London
www.todayandforever.co.uk Dorset and Hampshire
