PLANNING Which Planner? 7272 views

If you're thinking about using a wedding planner, be sure to choose someone that you are comfortable working with and have 100% confidence in their professional expertise.

Wedding planner, Helen Carter has come on board this week to share some top tips on choosing a wedding planner.

1. Who's there? Firstly, find out who is available in your area. Supplier directories and magazines are a good starting point, whilst the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners is an excellent source of thoroughly vetted professional planners.

2. Detail counts. Once you have a list of planners, visit their website and spend some time finding out exactly what they offer and how they work. Do they come across in a professional manner? If the website is poorly laid out or there are lots of spelling mistakes, this gives the impression that they haven’t put in a great deal of thought or paid much attention to detail.

3. Shortlists. Make a list of those that you are interested in and contact them directly. Do they seem approachable and knowledgeable? Do they take an interest in your wedding and take the time to explain their services in more detail?

4. Meet Me. Arrange to meet 2-3 on your shortlist. Many planners offer a complimentary consultation to discuss your wedding and explain how they can help with your preparations

5. How amazing! During the consultation, are they enthusiastic about your wedding? Do they understand what you want and offer ideas on how it may be achieved? Remember that they will want to offer their professional opinion, but if they don’t seem to have taken on board what you are looking for then they might not be right for you

6. Past & present. Ask them questions about their work. For example, how long have they been in business? How many weddings have they done? Do they have a portfolio of previous weddings for you to view? Also make sure that they have public liability insurance.

7. Getting along. It’s incredibly important that you get along with your planner, so do you actually like them?! They may be brilliant at their job, but if your personalities clash you could be in for a bumpy ride instead of enjoying a seamless partnership.

8. How much? Find out how they charge for their services – are you expected to pay a fixed fee or a percentage of your budget? This is very important, as fees will vary from planner to planner. Make sure you are also aware of any additional charges, such as travel expenses, that may add to the overall cost.

9. In touch. Ask how often they will be in contact with you. I personally think this is one of the most important questions to ask, as handing over your wedding arrangements isn’t easy and you want to be sure that you’re going to be kept up-to-date with your preparations.

10. It's written. After the consultation, most planners will provide a written proposal that summarises your meeting and outlines the work to be completed. Does it cover what you discussed? Is the quotation as you expected? If not, contact the planner and ask them to explain the differences

To find out more about Helen Carter, go to helencarterweddings.co.uk.

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