First off - Congratulations on your engagement! Are you excited? Have you started planning? Did you decide on a date yet?

Soon enough family and friends will start asking you questions about your wedding, and the stress of planning will set in. At that point you might ask yourself – “Do I need a wedding planner?”

Yes! Well of course we are biased and would love to work with you. But first, let’s dive into the different planning services and what questions you should consider before you book your wedding planner.

What does a Wedding Planner Do?

From the beginning, wedding planners are there to help you stay organized, enjoy the process and have the wedding you always dreamed of. Not only do they help bring your ideas to life, but your planner is there to keep things running smoothly and on time. A wedding planner really shows their talents when he/she discreetly resolves a problem without the couple or their family noticing. Bakeries dropping the cake, an ambulance is called, bad weather showed up without notice, or a vendor running behind schedule - we have seen AND fixed it all.

Most planners offer Event Management (Day of Coordination), Event Design, and Full-Service Planning.

Event Management (Day of Coordinator)

Event Management or Day of Coordination is the most popular service. This service allows couples to plan their own wedding but have a professional jump in a few months before the big day. The planner will create a timeline for the wedding, communicate with vendors, and help with any last-minute to-dos. Typically, this service also orchestrates the wedding ceremony rehearsal, the wedding décor set-up and the wedding day itself.

The last thing you want to worry about before your wedding is texting your hair vendor your getting ready location or confirming what time your dessert will arrive. It’s our job as your Event Manager to be the point of contact for all vendors so you can relax and think about getting married. And not only vendors – It’s our job to find solutions as problems arise and be a resource for family/friends/guests at the wedding if they have a question or concern.

This service truly allows you and your guests to enjoy the wedding day and be fully present in all the specials moments.

Venue: Wilderness Convention Center | Photography: Tara Draper Photography | Flowers and Design: Neira Event Group

Event Design

Remember when we said a planner can help you have the wedding you always dreamed of? An Event Designer can do just that. This service is for the couple who has the coordination of their wedding covered, but needs professional assistance making their designs come to life. They need help with flowers, rentals, and décor to complete the look and wow their guests.

Working with an Event Designer can mean access to exclusive décor rentals and flower pricing.

Full Planning

A Full Planning wedding service is perfect for the couple that is planning a wedding out of town, has a big guest list or is too busy to spend time planning out every detail. Your planner will be there from the very beginning.

Skip the Google search, your planner is your ultimate wedding resource for preferred vendors and checking things off the list. They develop your budget, create your timeline, book your vendors, and keep your wedding planning on schedule. Imagine the stress relief of having a wedding planner a call or text away.

BONUS SERVICE: FLorist

Neira Event Group also offers a flower service, which isn’t something that most planners offer.

For Day of Coordination and Event Design, our team can execute the set-up and design more efficiently by having our own florist. We can seamlessly link your pallet with our flowers and rentals. That’s one more vendor you don’t have to book!

How do I know if I need a Wedding Planner?

Now that you know the services that a wedding planner can offer, it’s time to decide how much help you need. Start by answering the following questions:

Are you getting married out of town?

It’s safe to say that if you are getting married in the town you live in or your hometown it might be easier than having a “destination” wedding. If the location of your wedding is unfamiliar, a wedding planner could be your “boots on the ground” and assist you in finding the best local wedding vendors.

How much time do you have?

Time… there is never enough of it in the day, trust me! Unless you already have someone in mind, it takes a lot of time to research and find the right vendors. Not to mention, the time it takes to meet with all of them, sign contracts and coordinate your timeline. If you find yourself lacking the time to do it all and stay organized, then you might want to consider hiring a Full Planning service. You will thank your future self!

Are you confident you got this but for sure don’t want to be the problem solver on the wedding day?

Problems arise and miscommunication happens, it’s inevitable. Small or big, any issue can get in the way of you enjoying your day. If you don’t want vendors and family members contacting you with questions or problems (especially the day of your wedding), then we recommend hiring an Event Manager for Day-Of Coordination.

Do you like certain colors but have no idea how to put them all together with décor and flowers?

Your Pinterest board is filled with all your favorite wedding ideas, décor plans, and color pallet. Now what? If you need help putting your ideas into action, an Event Designer can help. And remember, they have access to exclusive rentals and flowers that you might not be able to get elsewhere. Keep in mind that an Event Designer will not be coordinating with other vendors as they are not an actual “planner.”

Okay, now that you know the services AND the help needed to make your dream wedding a reality, it’s time to get your planning in motion. Start with our budgeting freebie and contact us to learn about our services in the Wisconsin Dells and Greater Madison Area.

On the other side of all the decisions and details, there are a million special moments to be had with the person you love the most. Enjoy the process and count down the days to your forever!