The 411 on Wedding Planning. Do You Need a Planner?

Aug 30, 2023

I have 3-5 exploratory or complimentary Consultations a week. While I love chatting with potential couples, not everyone needs, wants or can afford a planner. Most couples schedule time to chat, have their questions answered and learn the lay of the land. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when you start wedding planning and that is why Consultation calls are so vital!

The Consultation

And why you should have one before starting wedding planning

It’s simple… you don’t know what you don’t know. I have so many consultations where at least one person says, “Oh! I didn’t think of that!” Take advantage of the consultations and soak up all that free knowledge!

Questions to expect at your consultation

There will always be different questions based on the couple and their event but these, I think are the basics and help me customize any type of package.

  • What is your date and are you locked into it?
  • What is your guest count? Are you going super small and intimate or over 75?
  • Where are you and your guests coming from? Will you need room blocks and/or places to stay?
  • Are you having a wedding party, does that party involve babies/children and/or elderly people (disabled or limited mobility)? I ask this because it feeds into what venues are accessible and easy to maneuver
  • What is your Budget? I love this question because couples are usually unrealistic about wedding planning and are quickly brought down to earth during this call. This is probably the most important part of planning (with or without a planner) because it sets the tone for your entire wedding.
  • How do you see your day going overall? I like to go through the day from when you wake up to when you and your partner leave your venue. I like to find out where you see yourself walking down the aisle and the type of food you envision eating. Maybe you have thought about this and maybe you haven’t but after that call, you definitely will be and start to have a better idea of what you want and what you can afford.
  • What do you have handled or know is covered? This is something most people do not ask themselves. The consultation call breaks down what you already know you have and what a planner wouldn’t need to assist with.
  • What are your strong suits in regards to your wedding? Are you super Type A or exactly the opposite? Do you like being given tasks and prefer to have a sounding board to ask questions an bounce ideas off of? Are you extremely organized and great with planning but design challenged? We get to the bottom of your planning and/or design needs and really see if there is a happy medium that works for them.

Wedding Planning Packages

Most planners offer the standard three packages.

Full Wedding Planning with Design and Day of Production

This is the creme de la creme. This is the most you can get and usually $8,000.00-$15,000.00+ depending on the planner, guest count and location/s. With this package you are handheld through the entire planning and design process. You receive proposals, invoices and contracts from their rolodex of vetted vendors. You’re gaining a “wedding bestie” there to answer all of your questions, guide you through the entire wedding process, attend meetings with you and much more.

Partial Wedding Planning with Design and Day of Production

This offering is more focused and customized towards either planning or design. This package is dependent on where the couple is in the planning process. By picking this package you should already have your venue, catering and beverage booked. You and your planner can now focus on booking the interior vendors, the details, timeline and of course….Design!

Partial Wedding Planning is a lot of phone calls, mood board, style guides, pdfs and recaps. A lot of planners will offer a consolidated planning and/or design package but still offer the full day of production.

Partial Planning with Design and Day of Production ranges from $3,000.00-$7000.00 and again is based on your specific needs, guest count/date and planner.

Month of Assistance and Day of Production

If you meet a planner who offers just straight Day of Production…RUN! That shouldn’t exist.

Month of assistance is just that, someone there to get those final things in order for you. This is a custom service that should be created based on your specific needs.

Expect your planner or producer to do a total recap of your entire wedding: vendors, venues, design, contracts and invoices. This helps them get up to speed, introduce themselves to your vendors and ensure nothing has been forgotten.

Overall, Month of Assistance main job is to make that month leading up to your wedding as stress free as possible.

Month of Assistance & Day of Production ranges from $2,500.00 – $5,000+ and is usually based on your guest count and date.

Want to find out if you should get a planner? Click here to download a pdf quiz and find out where your level of planning need is! although

Ready to schedule a consultation?

Take a look below to see some of our favorite Las Vegas Wedding Planners! the links lead to their contact page!

Us (duh) P3 Events – fill out an inquiry form!
Weddings by Brooke – contact them!
Storybook Weddings – contact them!

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