Planner Shhmanner…. I Don’t Need One

Morgan is the owner and lead planner at Morgan & Vine Events in Vancouver, BC. She is a certified wedding planner through WPIC with over ten years of hospitality, catering and event experience. She holds a BFA in acting from the University of British Columbia and a diploma in accounting. She has done events such as Cirque du Soleil, The Lawyer Show Fundraiser, The Vancouver Folk Music Festival, and (of course!) countless weddings. Morgan founded Morgan & Vine Events because she is a passionate storyteller, adrenaline junkie, and people lover. 

If you’ve ever said “planner shhmanner… I don’t need one”, please keep reading. If you’ve ever said “I think I want a wedding planner”, keep reading. If you’ve ever said “Morgan did my wedding and I don’t know what I would have done without her-she is so awesome at what she does-and so funny-and smart-and a superhero goddess…” then thank-you, I’ll pay you later.

In all seriousness.

If you have chosen to plan your wedding yourself which many are very capable of doing and I applaud you, do yourself a favor and invest in a certified month of coordinator (aka day-of coordinator). I call it month of because it’s more realistic. It takes a month or more to transfer ‘hats’ in my opinion and to make sure everyone is on the same page and for communication to be streamlined. But I digress. That’s another blog post for another day. Whether its Morgan & Vine Events or somebody else—do it.

“Wedding’s are already so expensive, we can’t afford one.”

True. Wedding’s are becoming very pricey. But they don’t have to be if you find the right planner. It’s our job and joy to make your dream come to life within your budget. There’s a saying out there “If you think hiring a professional is expensive, wait till you hire an amateur”. So. True. For so many reasons. We know what’s out there/available. For example- my couple wanted harvest wood tables. The catering company quoted them upwards of $2000 before delivery. I found nicer harvest wood tables including delivery for less than half of the initial quote. Why? Because I knew that price was too high. I look at pricing and options for rentals and flowers and catering for fun. At another wedding, about an hour before dinner we realize the rentals were short about 30 dinner plates. Instead of having the rental company emergency rush ($$$) the 30 plates (which would have never made it in time), I sent someone to IKEA to buy 30 white plates. We replaced all of the children’s plates with the IKEA plates. Problem solved and money saved.

“My friend/aunt/sister-in-law/bridesmaid is going to do it”.

First off, it’s impossible for someone in the wedding party to be the coordinator. If they are then they are clearly not “partying”. Putting any guest in this position takes them out of the fun. So if it’s someone you really don’t want to be a part of the festivities then perfect!

Secondly, this is more than likely their first rodeo. Planners/Coordinators have seen it all. Literally. We know how to prevent problems before they happen, keep a cool head when they do happen, and are fully equipped (emergency kit, contact #’s, schedule, contracts, training) to fix it. From wine spilled on your wedding dress, lost rings, to allergic reactions, we got you covered. We have also already established relationships with the venue and other vendors which makes for smooth communication and knowledge of how they work.

Thirdly, your planner is there for you because they want to be. Not because they have to be. They are your personal assistant/ servant/ therapist/ sounding board/ and co-pilot and ultimately want you to have the best day of your life. Family getting opinionated and pushy? Use the “well the wedding planner said” as your excuse. We make a great third party mediator too.

Finally, you want to hire a planner/coordinator that is WPIC certified. What is WPIC? The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada is a certification that is recognized and accepted worldwide. WPIC Certified Wedding Coordinators are held to high standards of conduct and can have their certification stripped and be disbarred from the association if they do not uphold the Code of Ethics.

WPIC Code of Ethics*-

• We do not accept kickbacks (money for referrals) from vendors. Vendors must know that the clients are the recipients of any discounts given.
• We treat each client fairly, and we will be honest and upfront in the representation of our clients.
• We uphold our ethics. We will not take or attempt to take clients from, or discredit, other vendors with gossip or slander.
• Every client will receive a detailed contract for Wedding Day Direction, Destination or Full Wedding Coordination services.
• We will provide all services agreed upon in the contract that must be signed by both the client and Coordinator at the commencement of service.
• We believe in continuous education, networking and training within the Wedding Industry.
• Our pricing is upfront and industry comparable.  We will not devalue our profession by offering unsustainable prices.
• We will make every effort to return calls and emails in a timely manner. (Within 24 hours)
• We always endeavour to benefit our client and not ourselves. Vendors are suggested on merit, in the best interests of the client, not ourselves or the vendor suggested.
• We can not guarantee your wedding will be perfect, but we can guarantee we will do everything within our power to make sure it is as close to perfection as it can be.

“We just don’t need one.”

When I worked for a catering company we did a lot of weddings where there was no planner/coordinator. Let me tell you, they did not go smooth. The bride was always scrambling last minute setting name cards and favors, or hanging up decorations when she should have been getting her hair and makeup done with her gals drinking some bubbly. Family was there to ‘help’ but it just resulted in a lot of yelling and tears. Things did not run smoothly because there was no one keeping everyone on schedule or adjusting it as needed. There would be massive gaps in time where nothing was happening. The couple never ate the food they planned or paid for because they were to busy running around doing 101 other things. This was absurd to me. I always make sure my couple gets their own little canape plate while they are getting their photos done so they don’t miss a single thing and get to enjoy their hard work. Dinner? My couple is going up for seconds because they have nothing to worry about or do other than enjoy themselves and each other. At the end of the evening do you really want to be scraping candle wax out of holders, stacking chairs, or taking down decorations because you have to be out of your venue by a certain time?! No. You’ve spent hours, weeks, months, years, planning your wedding and have finally just married the love of your life. You need to enjoy it.

Hire a professional you trust that will take the time to get to know you and execute the biggest day of your life so far.

*Retrieved from https://wpic.ca/code-of-ethics/