So in case you weren’t already aware, I used to be a wedding planner. I planned weddings, designed weddings, and busted my butt at weddings. Before blogging full time, I was in the thick of everything having to do with weddings- which is also why I share wedding planning tips and advice so often here on ELD. I most certainly wouldn’t be doing so if I didn’t know what I was talking about!

Since I want to make sure that I continue to have experience in weddings, every now and then I help friends of mine with the weddings that they’re doing. Recently, I had the opportunity to assist a friend of mine with an amazing wedding that took place at a family estate. And at some point between digging through a trash can, washing dishes, and moving furniture, I was reminded and reassured of something that I already knew: the BEST wedding planning decision that a bride could EVER make is to hire a wedding planner. 

Sure, I could just stop with that statement, but I feel like I need to elaborate more. Because I feel like sometimes brides think they can’t have a wedding planner- or maybe that they don’t even need a wedding planner.

Well my friends, I have news for you- you CAN have a wedding planner because you DESERVE to have an amazing wedding!

I promise you- the benefits of having a wedding planner will far outweigh any negative that could possibly exist (and that negative is most always money, right?). The ability to allow your friends and family to not have to worry about a single thing on your wedding day is reason enough. But it’s also about having someone to help with anything and everything. It’s about having someone there for YOU who will do whatever it takes to achieve a successful and memorable wedding. It’s about really and truly being able to enjoy your wedding day.

In addition to just your wedding day, let’s also not forget about the fact that you’ll have less on your plate in the days and months leading up to your wedding day. No need to create your wedding day timeline, distribute said timeline to 10+ vendors, or call those 10+ vendors to confirm times- your wedding planner can handle that. Oh, and all those emails with the 10+ vendors throughout your wedding planning process? What if you could just streamline that down to an email from ONE person? Because yes, your wedding planner will handle that. And making sure you order things on time, get your payments in on time, and hire vendors on time? Yep, you guessed it- your wedding planner will tell you who, what, where, and when. These are of course just some incredibly basic examples- but you get the picture, right?

[Read more: WHAT A WEDDING PLANNER REALLY DOES & 7 THINGS WEDDING PLANNERS DO]

Image by Krista Marie Photography

But now with all that said, I know there’s something else you’re thinking. There’s this thing that happens when the phrase “wedding planner” is mentioned. You immediately think of someone literally planning your wedding FOR you, without any help or say from you. But because you know what you want and you want to plan your own wedding, you immediately forego the thought of hiring a wedding planner.

Well my loves, luckily the days of “that kind” of wedding planner are far beyond us. Having a wedding planner is about having someone to *help* you and guide you. You are still involved in your wedding. YOU still make the decisions. YOU still go to meetings. And yes, YOU are still planning your wedding. Having a wedding planner doesn’t mean you’re not planning your wedding. It just means that you’re planning your wedding WITH a wedding planner. You’re planning  your wedding with someone who knows the ins and outs of weddings. Someone who will guide you along in your process. And let’s face it- someone who will ultimately save you money because she can tell you exactly who and what you need for your wedding, as opposed to you guessing and estimating.

[Read more: PLANNING YOUR OWN WEDDING]

So we’ve talked about the benefits of having a wedding planner. And that you’re still planning your own wedding, just WITH a wedding planner. But now comes the last piece of the puzzle- the money that has to be spent to have a wedding planner. In the grand scheme of things, the cost of a wedding planner is most certainly money well spent. I don’t think I’ve EVER heard anyone say that they regretted hiring a wedding planner. Between saving your own sanity, your family members’ sanity, and your fiancé’s sanity, that alone is worth it’s weight in gold. And then there are of course all of the wonderful benefits I mentioned previously.

But I also know that it’s hard to part with money, especially when you have a limited amount of funds. Which is why I think it’s important for you to know that when it comes to planners, everyone offers different things- which also means that everyone has different price points. I’m confident that you can find a wedding planner who will fit into your wedding budget- you just have to look. And know that you usually don’t have to pay the FULL amount up front- you can do payments! Heck, if I were planning my wedding right now, I would pay for a wedding planner out of my own pocket, outside of my wedding budget. Because I know that for the mere cost of a wedding planner, so many things would be taken off my shoulders.

And with all that said, I hope you now see my reasoning for saying that hiring a wedding planner is the BEST decision that you could ever make when planning your wedding!

Have any questions? Have you hired a planner already? Comment away below- I’d love to hear from you! 

———————————————

Want more info on wedding planners and what they can do for your wedding? Click below!