How to find a “REAL” Wedding Planner?

Finding vendors for your wedding can be difficult.  You and your future spouse are often vulnerable because you want to plan the perfect day and vendors know that.  While you are excited, be sure to also be smart! 

Finding a Wedding Planner, it is no different.  There are many people who “pose” as planners or add on the service to another service specialty.  As a consumer you always want to make sure you shop around and ask the right questions. 

Here are some tips for finding a legit Wedding Planner:

- Is the Planner certified? The only regulated certification course in Canada is through the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (WPIC). 

- How long has the company been in business and are they registered?

- Do you feel comfortable with the Planner?  First instincts always matter!!!

- Is the Planner organized?  (remember their job is to keep you organized…so they need to be organized)

- How many weddings do they book a day?  A Planner can only be in one place at a time so, make sure you are the only wedding booked.

- Are the prices too good to be true?  Don’t necessarily go for the lowest bidder or you might be disappointed.  The average day-of coordination package is $700-900 and full wedding coordination packages usually range from 10-15% of your entire wedding budget.

- Is the Planner willing to provide references?  Word-of-mouth referrals and previous experiences are important so contact their past clients.

- Is the company easy to get in contact with?  You will be working with this company for a while, make sure you are comfortable with their response rate by phone and email.

- Read all contracts carefully!  Make sure you know what the cancellation policy is and read all stipulations carefully as it should include; who will be on-site (will it be the Planner you are meeting with and will they have an assistant), what happens in the case of an emergency (do they have backup), etc. 

- How is the Planner requesting payment?  Beware of any Planners asking for full amount due on signing.  Most Planners will ask for a deposit upfront and either installments or the remaining balance due just before the event.

- ALWAYS COMPARE…meet with at least 2-3 wedding planners before deciding.

These are just a few things to look out for.  If it doesn’t feel right or it is too good to be true…continue looking! 

Simply Done Events
www.simplydone.ca

Tags: Certified, Certified Wedding Planner, Day-Of Coodination, Finding Wedding Planner, Full Wedding Coordination, Full Wedding Planning, legit wedding planner, Simply Done Events, WEdding Planner, Wedding Planners Institute of Canada, WPIC