Best Tips
13+ Things Your Wedding Planner Won’t Tell You
Planning your dream wedding or walking down the aisle soon? Discover wedding planners’ secrets about the messy side of delivering a perfect wedding day.
1. I Keep Secrets
At one wedding I planned, the cake went missing after the bride and groom cut it. The bride soon asked where the cake was. Turns out the servers had taken it upon themselves to eat it! We cut the pieces smaller and the bride never knew.
Keeping things quiet is the secret behind making the bride think the wedding was flawless.
(Photo: Stockbyte/Thinkstock)
2. What Stresses Me Out?
When the mother of the groom (it’s always the mother of the groom) steps in at the rehearsal to take over and change the plans. And it’s always the mother of the groom who hasn’t contributed a dime or offered even an hour of her time prior to the wedding who acts in this manner.
(Photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock)
4. Don’t Forget the Tax and Service Charge.
Many couples overlook the “plus plus” when planning a menu. Everything has a tax and service charge, and it really adds up, trust me!
7. Because It’s the Biggest Day of Your Life
I’ll go to great lengths to make sure your wedding is perfect and memorable, including walking miles to a florist in Jamaica to correct the $700 bouquet that arrived to you spray-painted purple.
(Photo: Hemera/Thinkstock)
8. We Don’t Wear Headsets and Heels.
We know the importance of comfortable shoes. People envision The Wedding Planner and think this job is all about glitz and glamour. We’re not Jennifer Lopez.
(Photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock)
10. You’ve Only Known Each Other for 4 Months?!
Can I get 100% upfront?
(Photo: Istockphoto/Thinkstock)
11. I Do Manual Labour and Other Dreadful Tasks
I cannot even tell you how many times I’ve been on my hands and knees, sweating. I sometimes have to count the napkins and linens before they go back to the rental company. I’m talking dirty, smelly napkins, with food, gum and whatever else is on them. Talk about gross!
(Photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock)
12. Flowers Cost More Than You Think
For the most part, they are flown around the world to their end user.
Their prices are affected by jet fuel costs, inclement weather and by the fact that they’re living things that are not manufactured by machines and simply “cranked out.” Likewise, they don’t jump into their vases!
(Photo: Hemera/Thinkstock)
13. You Can Always Elope!
It’s never too late to run away and have a relaxing wedding.
You’ll have great memories to share with your friends and family once you’re home.
(Photo: Hemera/Thinkstock)
15. I Feel Like a Therapist Sometimes
When I am forced to step in to help with family drama, my insight is to be polite and respectful.
Often, meddlesome people just want to be heard out. Since I’m an independent third party, I’m able to bring neutrality to emotionally charged situations.
(Photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock)
16. Sisters Are Tough to Work With
Often the Maid of Honour takes her role very seriously and doesn’t trust my capabilities.
I take it in stride but have sometimes been forced to take sisters aside. By the end of the night, we’re friends!
(Photo: Stockbyte/Thinkstock)
17. Get It in Writing
I’ll make sure everything you’re offered is in the contract. If the first manager you work with offers you a complimentary toast, get it in writing. If that manager leaves for whatever reason, you won’t be forced to argue about these details with his or her replacement.
(Photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock)
18. Stay Focused On the Big Picture
It’s easy to micromanage all of the details at the expense of the big picture. As long as people marry for the right reasons, the details of wedding planning are really secondary. Don’t make decisions to please or impress others.
(Photo: Jupiterimages/Pixland/Thinkstock)
19. You Get What You Pay For
The biggest mistake you can make is choosing the cheapest vendors in the hopes of saving money. Really research your vendors, because you truly get what you pay for.
(Photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock)
20. So the Resort Says You Can’t Use an Outside Vendor?
If you have your heart set on a particular photographer, consult the resort specialist about having a “friend” take your photos. Offer to pay for your photographer/friend’s flight and accommodations.
Many will be eager to build their portfolios with destination shots and won’t charge you as much as they do traditional clients.
(Photo: Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Thinkstock)
21. Try to Reuse Flowers
Especially from ceremony to reception if at all possible.
If you’re planning to do this, tell your florist, otherwise your flowers may arrive one-dimensional, and won’t look as nice in an open space.
(Photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock)
22. What Sets Off a Red Flag For Me?
If you’ve been engaged for a week and your wedding planning organizer is thicker than mine (which usually contains paperwork for the five or six weddings I’m currently planning,) then I automatically tell you that I’m booked on your date… and your backup date.
(Photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock)
23. Do You Really Want to Do This?
Sometimes I get a gut feeling about a couple and really want to say head to counseling or put the wedding on hold.
(Photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock)
Sources: Lynn Jawitz (Florisanllc.com) Denise Georgiou-Newell, WPICC, DWC, CSP, TICO (WeDDings Jubilee Planning Services), Tanya W. Porter (Weddings, Etc. LLC), Holly Schoenke (Simply Sweet Weddings), Gregorio Palomino CEP CWP, Candice “Candy” Cain (Candy Cain Travel), Jill Higgins (Jill Higgins Photography), Jules Rupae (Jules Rupae Events), Wayne Gurnick AIFD (momentsbywayne.com), Karen Clark (somethingborrowedsomethingblue.com), Bryant Keller (bryantkeller.com)