What the Heck Does a Wedding Planner Do Anyway?

By: Tracey Manailescu

This article is not geared towards couples, this is written with you, the professional wedding planner in mind.

Couples in Canada spend an average of $30k-100k on their wedding.

When that kind of investment is on the line, couples need some guidance on how best to spend, plan and implement their ideas. It is your job as a wedding professional to educate them on what is necessary, what is not, where they can save, where they can best allocate their hard earned dollars, and what will have the most impact.

This can’t happen unless you are letting them know what you do, why you do it, and how you can help them.

There are still so many couples that don’t see the relevance in having you a part of their wedding team.  What exactly are you doing to show them that having you on board is in their best interests? It’s easy to show pretty photos from past events and weddings on social media, a modern office space, and yes if you pay someone, you too can have a gorgeous website and beautiful business cards, but what about the nitty gritty?

How are you letting couples know what you are there for? Here are some ideas to help.

A Blog:  How often are you updating it? Show your expertise by discussing some challenges that you have had at weddings, and how you and your team overcame them such as the ceremony getting rained out, uninvited guests, unwelcome toasts, cake malfunctions, Officiate is lost, wrong florals were delivered, wardrobe malfunctions, cranky and over-tired ring bearers/flower girls, toilet flooding, food delays, makeup artist is missing in action, etc.

Social Media:

You need to be where your potential couples are.

Be Willing to Share Some Helpful Tips: What are your most used items in your emergency kit? Have you come across any new wedding apps that you found were really great for guest RSVP tracking, seating charts or wedding websites? Share them on your business Facebook/Twitter page, or your blog. Do you have any advice for saving money? Best ways to allocate funds? What should not be skimped on under any circumstances? Tips for running a receiving line, helpful guidance for order and duration of speeches, new trends, pantones new colours for the year, etc.

Behind the Scenes Photos: Show yourself in action pinning on a boutonniere, cleaning chairs, stitching a bridesmaids strap, going over the timeline with  other vendors, putting out place cards, cuing the wedding party, etc.

Why Should a Couple Hire You, When They can Have a Friend or Family Member Step In? Let them know some reasons. Who will be running interference for them when lights need to be dimmed, when the limo driver is demanding his tip before he leaves, uncle “Ed’ is drunk and hitting on the bridesmaids, four couples arrive after dinner is served and are demanding to be fed, a wedding band is lost, the wedding cake gets ruined because some little peoples fingers got into it, the late night entertainment has not arrived, limo has a flat tire, Grandma can’t stand the Bride’s father and decides now is the perfect time to pick a fight, guests are swarming the couple at cake cutting time, vendors are lost and need directions (they have your #), timeline (catering) needs to be moved to accommodate photography running late, etc.

Sharing Accomplishments: Have you been recognized in your industry with an award, quoted in an article, had one of your couples wedding’s feature on a wedding blog or magazine, or interviewed on tv?

Sharing Your Education, Credentials and Memberships to Associations: Have you taken courses, attended conferences, joined an Association, invested in yourself in some way to gain further knowledge?  We strongly believe in continuing education. Never, ever stop learning!

Do you have any tips to add to this?  We would love to hear them in the comments below.