The "Hiring a Wedding Planner" Dilemma

My husband recently talked to one of his coworkers about her wedding which took place a couple of weeks ago. He asked her how her wedding went and she replied, "It was wonderful. One aspect that I would change, however, is that I would hire a wedding planner." When he inquired as to why, she said because she spent the entire pre-wedding, post-wedding and reception answering questions. At the reception, she had to tell people where to go and what was happening next. She said her vendors were wonderful (her photographer was Kathy Norwood- she IS fabulous!) but the bride was the one who had to connect all the pieces. Each vendor played his or her part, but the woman of the hour wasn't able to fully enjoy her most special day since she, in all essence was the wedding planner. Will you save money by not hiring a coordinator? Possibly. Coordinators have great money saving tips, know all the vendors in your area and can assist you in making the very best choices for your preferences and budget. Can you plan your own wedding without the assistance of a planner? Absolutely. However, you should at least consider hiring someone for "day of" or "weekend of" services. Otherwise, you will find yourself being the coordinator, as this bride did, and the wedding of your dreams may not be as enjoyable as you would like it to be. I know, I AM a coordinator, so of course I want you to hire one. However, I've been to weddings without a coordinator; I've lived it. (see this post) It's worth it.

A true story from Bryan/College Station, TX