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Consultants:
Let a Professional Handle It!
By
Megan Mercer
Last Update:
October 16, 2005
What exactly does a
wedding consultant do?
Wedding consultants simply stated are professional wedding
planners. In general, a consultant can sit down with
you and plan your wedding from A to Z, act as the go-between
for you and the florist, baker, caterer, DJ, and photographer,
and do just about everything for you except show up in
a white dress on your wedding day…if that is what
you want!
Since weddings are their business, consultants are experienced
in just about all areas of wedding planning. They have
a wealth of knowledge, ideas, experience and most importantly
contacts that you would otherwise not be privy to! Of
course, every wedding consultant is different and provides
different services, so you will need to check with the
individual as to exactly what they do!
Afraid of the wedding consultant stealing the show?
Having a wedding consultant does not mean you have to
give up all of the power and stand in a corner while
someone else makes all the decisions. Your consultant
will have as big or as small a role in the wedding as
you wish. Don’t be afraid to communicate your desires
and to double-check that the consultant understands them… after
all that is what you are paying for!!
Who should use a wedding consultant?
Consultants are especially helpful to brides who are
planning an out-of-town wedding, have fast-paced, hectic
schedules or in general don’t have the time or
energy required to plan the wedding of their dreams!
Having someone available to make all of the necessary
phone calls, meet with various wedding professionals
and do all of the tedious legwork is priceless!
What about the cost of hiring a wedding consultant!
The cost of a wedding consultant will vary depending
upon the area in which you are planning your wedding
and the extent of service you require. Some will bill
for 10 to 20% of the total cost of the wedding, while
others will charge a flat fee.
In my opinion…anyone who can afford to hire a wedding
consultant should absolutely go for it!! Although it
may seem like an unnecessary cost and service, I promise
a good wedding consultant will actually save you lots
of time, money, and headaches in the long run!
Experienced wedding consultants will know where to find
good deals and help you to stay within your budget. They
may even have connections that allow for discounts. Wedding
consultants also work with other wedding professionals
all of the time, so they know which ones are professional
and reliable. A consultant will be able to help you hire
a quality service provider and get the most out of your
money!
If you still can’t
decide whether you want to use a wedding consultant…
Call around, go out and interview a couple consultants!
Check
out Hiring
a Wedding Consultant for helpful tips on
interviewing and hiring a wedding consultant! There
is no harm done in meeting with a few different consultants
just to see what they are like or what services
they provide. After each meeting, you should
have a better idea of what you want to do!
It is also a good idea to talk with any friends, family
members, or co-workers that were married recently and
used wedding consultants themselves. If they are like
most newlyweds, they will be happy to share what they
learned from their own experiences of planning a wedding!
Find
a wedding consultant near you
in our local services directory!
