Added: 01/13/2006 |
Wedding consultant
More people are finding that a good wedding consultant could be a source of information, ideas, and contacts for the bride-to-be. Hiring a wedding coordinator could help ensure that the wedding day ends far more spectacular than the bride has ever envisioned. They provide guidance on etiquette, invitations, planning and directing the rehearsal and ceremony, even arranging transportation and accommodations. Wedding coordinators may also assist in locating a site for the ceremony, shopping for the wedding gown and wedding accessories, arranging for childcare. As such, professional wedding consultants are compensated well for their knowledge, talent, time, and expertise.
A consultant's primary function is to help a couple to learn, implement and manage all the necessary tasks required to host a successful wedding event.
The wedding consultant assumes the role of a planner, facilitator, mediator, money manager, artisan and organizer of all parties concerned. His role is to be "on top" of everything - every finite detail of the wedding. Wedding coordinators can do just about everything - from arranging a budget and timetable to remembering to bring white bobby pins for your veil. Duties can include setting up appointments, offering etiquette advice, mailing invitations and recording responses, coordinating the decorations, negotiating contracts, and attending to many other details. However, many planners also set their limits as to what they can and cannot do.
Weddings, being extremely emotional events, can oftentimes try the patience of a saint. The wedding coordinator must be able to "handle" any situation that will arise. He will be dealing with not only the bride and groom-to-be, but everyone else in their families and circle of friends. Even the most well-planned, beautifully orchestrated event has some sort of emotional twist or turn, that a consultant must be able to skillfully negotiate.
There a several things that a wedding coordinator could do for you. In particular, he could:
Help you to create the type of wedding you want. With that knowledge you'll be able to pick your venue, vendors, color scheme, theme, music, etc.
Help you create a budget sheet and keep track of where your money is going and how much is still left.
Help keep you on your budget and not go over...too much!!
Suggest vendors that fit your budget and ideas.
Make a wedding planning schedule so that you know what you've done and what still needs to be done.
In most cases a coordinators can save you money, because of their connection in the industry.
Take care of any emergencies that arise.
Create a wedding day schedule.
Be careful not to choose a swindler for them. Otherwise, instead of saving money and time, you will get just the opposite. Here are some hints on choosing your wedding coordinator:
A professional wedding coordinator will have taken a wedding coordinator /consultant /planner course and have a diploma to show.
Call the organization on the certificate to make sure that it exists.
Is the coordinator organized?
Do you feel comfortable with him?
Is he friendly?
Does he know his stuff?
Does he have any references?
How long have he been in business?
Is he within your budget?
Is he computer literate?
Does he have another job or does he coordinate full time?
Pricing Your Wedding Coordination Service
The pricing of a wedding coordinator will depend on the location, nature of tasks involved and his level of expertise. Some wedding coordinators charge is based on a percentage of the wedding's cost, while others charge a flat fee. Flat fees may range from 10 to 15 percent of the wedding budget. An average wedding using a coordinator costs about $15,000. Some coordinators charge an hourly rate ranging from $50 to $150 per hour. According to many wedding coordinators, the average wedding takes about thirty-to-forty hours of coordinating, which ends up costing between $1,500 and $3,000.
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