To Hire or not to Hire a Wedding Planner?

Professional wedding planners may not have quite the same recognition as professional athletes and entertainers, but to many harried brides, they are truly superstars. Otherwise know as wedding consultants, these walking wedding encyclopedias will have answers to all your questions, or will at least know where to find answers. You will pay for the expertise, of course - but if your schedule is a hectic one or if you are working outside the country, you may come to the conclusion that it's worth it.

That's me - the wedding planner - beside the bride with my team of wedding  coordinators.

Since weddings are their business, consultants are experienced in just about all areas of wedding planning. They may have knowledge, ideas and contacts you might not otherwise be able to take advantage of. Not everyone needs or wants a consultant, however, and you shouldn't feel you have to hire one just because someone else does. Some brides enjoy planning their own wedding and have plenty of time to do so; for them the process is as important and exciting as the result. Others, who have at their disposal the past experience of their mother, aunts, sisters, friends, cousins and so on, ask why they should pay for the advice when they can get it for free.

But there are brides out there who don't have anyone to help them, or don't have the time or energy required to plan the wedding they want. It can be especially hard for women with fast-paced careers to balance the demands of their job and their wedding. If you fall into this category, you may find that a consultant can relieve a great deal of the pressure you face.

[excerpts taken from the book "The Everything Wedding Book" by Anastasio, Bevilacqua and Peters]

The major upside of having a wedding planner is that during your wedding day, you won't have to think about the arrival and set up time of the wedding suppliers and you won't have to think of the timeline of the day. The materials needed for the ceremony will be taken cared of before, during and after the wedding.

Truly, wedding planners and coordinators will be your wedding fairies for your once-in-a-lifetime moment on the aisle.