So, what does a wedding planner actually do?
What Does a Wedding Planner Do?
Planning a wedding can be fun and exciting, but when you start to think about the details, the decisions to be made, and research to be done, it can quickly become overwhelming. This is likely your first time planning a wedding, or large scale event, and you have other commitments (job, kids, life). That’s where a wedding planner comes in!
A wedding planner can help you through the research and your decision making process. We help keep you on track, and ensure you can enjoy this process! As a wedding planner, we know this industry. We know how to coordinate an event that is personalized to you, beautiful and logistically sound, and within your budget comfort zone. A planner allows you to focus on the overall details and “fun” part of the process, while we take care of the logistics, and back and forth details with the vendors involved.
Photo: Dearly Beloved Photography. Floral: OC Fleur-ish. Planning and Coordination: Ryann Kristena Events
Types of Wedding Planning Services
Wedding planning is not a one size fits all service. Most planning companies, like ours, offer a variety of packages ranging from Event Management (also known as day-of or month-of coordination) to full-service planning. The details of what is included in these packages varies between companies, but they all include making sure the wedding day runs smoothly. On average, your planner will spend 30-40 hours on an event management package, 150+ hours for full-service, and 12 hours straight on your wedding day alone!
We’ll briefly break down some of the high level differences between an event management package and a full-service package.
Event management (also known as Day-of Coordination):
Typically steps into the planning process 1-4 months before the wedding
Assists in communicating final details and logistics with the vendors you selected
Creates a detailed wedding timeline to share with the vendors and your wedding party
Is onsite on the wedding day directing vendors, making sure the timeline is being followed and that the day runs smoothly
Full-Service:
Is with you from the very beginning, sometimes even before you have selected a date or the location
Will assist with your vision and budget
Connects you with professional vendors that fit your vision
Communicates all details and logistics with vendors throughout the planning process
Helps create a cohesive design based on your vision and budget
Creates a comprehensive wedding weekend timeline to share with your vendors and your wedding party
Is onsite on the wedding day directing vendors, making sure the timeline is being followed and that the day runs smoothly
Photo: Dearly Beloved Photography. Floral: OC Fleur-ish. Planning and Design: Ryann Kristena Events
The Hidden Magic of a Wedding Planner
Each planning package includes a long list of services and details that a planner will do to help make your wedding planning process stress-free and enjoyable for you and your family. Beyond logistics, design, and coordination, wedding planners take on countless behind-the-scenes tasks to ensure everything runs smoothly. Here are just a few of the ways we go above and beyond for our couples:
Ties the ties for the groomsmen
Sews back the groomsmen’s broken bowtie
“Floofs” your wedding dress before you walk down the aisle
Makes an extra boutonniere when one breaks
Holds the flower girl before it’s her turn to walk down the aisle (because she’s fallen in love with your planner and just wants to be held)
Provides the kids with extra goodies (glow stick, crayons, bubbles, etc) to help keep them entertained
Bustles your wedding dress
Provides safety pins, bandaids, hair spray, bobby pins, etc. to everyone who needs it
Helps the photo/video team get the perfect shot (throwing the veil into the air, holding an extra light, etc)
Photo: Reels of Joy Photography. Coordination: Ryann Kristena Events
Why Hiring a Wedding Planner Is Worth It
Your wedding planner is so much more than someone who just “shows up” on the wedding day. We are problem-solvers, logistical experts, designers, and your biggest advocates throughout the process. Trusting your planner means knowing that every detail will be handled with your best interests in mind. We’re experts, and we’ve seen a thing or two when it comes to weddings!
If you’re wondering, “What does a wedding planner do?”—the answer is: everything needed to make your wedding stress-free, seamless, and unforgettable.
If you’re curious about our wedding planning packages, we’d love to chat! Schedule a consultation with us today!