Though love may not cost a thing, weddings certainly do. One of the best ways to maximize wedding budgets and ensure that money is well spent is to enlist the services of a wedding planner.
"When looking for a wedding planner, couples should look for someone to take the stress out of their big day," advises Whitney Lohr, business owner of Emerald and Whitney LLC, a wedding coordinating and professional event planning service based in Lancaster.
As part of their role, wedding planners wear many hats, which underscores how valuable they can be.
An experienced wedding planner can help couples keep their worries at bay. Countless decisions must be made when planning a wedding, and some couples may feel as if they need to micromanage their nuptials. A wedding planner can take tasks off couples' plates and serve as a sounding board as couples try to make the best decisions.
"We meet with the bride several times prior to the wedding to create a schedule for them and write any special details about their day to make sure it runs smoothly," Lohr explains.
Wedding planners may offer several levels of planning packages, allowing couples to select one that best fits their needs as they prepare for their big day. "Every couple that books us gets access to our 25 Commonly Missed Details sheet as well as access to their own personal Google Drive sheet, which we use to create a schedule with them as well as list all their vendor contact information," Lohr says. "We also offer to walk through the venue with the bride prior to the wedding to discuss how they would like us to decorate."
A wedding planner may help couples score insider deals and will know when a vendor's price is on target or inflated. That savvy saves couples money in the long run. Wedding planners can also advise on ways to save money and allocate funds so couples' biggest priorities get the financial attention they deserve.
"We have worked with many vendors and love to give guidance to help brides stay within their budget but still get the quality they want," Lohr says.
Wedding planners step in to save the day when hiccups threaten to derail plans. A planner will know what to do should a gown become torn or if a vendor fails to respond to calls on the day of the wedding. "We are there to make sure any issues that happen day-of are brought to us instead of the bride, making all the stress fall on us," shares Lohr. "We help the ceremony run smoothly and ensure the bride and her family don't have to run the cleanup at the end of the evening." Removing some stressors allows couples to relax and more fully immerse themselves in their weddings.
"Every bride is different, and we like to help brides showcase their unique style through their decorations, colors, flowers, etc.," Lohr says. Pulling together ideas from every corner requires a creative eye, and couples can rely on a professional wedding planner to help with brainstorming and putting different elements together. He or she likely has seen a vast array of celebrations and can make suggestions based on what has worked before.
"Some brides choose to have a food truck unique to a style of food they enjoy, others use flowers they spend months making, and yet others have a special dance they choreograph to surprise their guests," Lohr shares. "We ensure all these small details are carried out flawlessly, making their dream a reality."
Wedding planners already have a bevy of industry contacts and can pull together wedding details in much less turnaround time than couples with no wedding planning experience.
Additionally, wedding planners can save time on the day of the ceremony by spearheading setup and cleanup. "It is important to make sure your planner is there to help set up and doesn't leave until everything is cleaned up," Lohr notes. "On the morning of the wedding, we check in with the bride and then proceed to decorate the ceremony and reception space, making sure to send pictures to the bride to keep her in the loop and make any necessary changes to the decor."
Wedding planners are invaluable resources who wear multiple hats as they help couples plan the wedding of their dreams. But more than that, wedding planners are often passionate about making each couple's experience the best it can be. "I love finishing a wedding and seeing the joy on the bride's face as she leaves. I love working with the families and seeing them celebrate this day they have waited so long for!" Lohr says. "It truly is a rewarding job!"
Check out what Emerald and Whitney LLC is up to at http://www.emeraldandwhitney.com!
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