Why should I hire a wedding planner?
For a lot of couples, planning a wedding is their first big project together after house shopping. With expectations and advice coming from everyone you know, it can be a daunting task and it is very different from attending a wedding. A planner acts as a third party professional who is not emotionally-involved in the process, who can guide you through etiquette and common issues. They also provide vendor recommendations that are specially curated for your needs.
For busy couples or couples who do not live in the city, a wedding planner can be your hands and feet to plan the wedding, negotiate with vendors on your behalf, make the phone calls and more.
Some couples are able to navigate the planning themnselves, but having a day-of coordinator is a must, so a couple can enjoy the day, and to have someone experienced managing any issues that arise.
What does it mean to be certified?
Certified Coordinators through the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (WPIC) are upheld to higher standards than the regular event planner. WPIC Certified Coordinators have not only learned about the business, but are upheld to a code of ethics that all are accountable to across Canada. Anyone who is found to be unethical in their practice or undercutting the business will get their certification and privileges taken away.
As a WPIC Certified Coordinator, I am connected to a nationwide network of resources, recommendations and ideas from over 2000 other coordinators. There are many discounts that only WPIC Coordinators are connected to, because of the reputation we have gained over the years. If I can’t find something, there’s a high likelihood that another coordinator has looked for the same thing and found it somewhere.
One other perk is that all the assistants that I bring to weddings are always WPIC Certified and are equipped with what we call a Wedding Day Emergency Kit.
Lead planner and owner, Rebecca Chan, is not only WPIC Certified, but holds an Honours Bachelors Degree in Design and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Event Design.
How much does it cost?
As with other wedding vendors, you are making an investment into, arguably, the biggest day of your life. The cost of hiring a planner will depend on how much help you need from them. For details on specific services, head to my Wedding Services page to see which service might be a good fit for you and email us for a custom quotation. All in all, it is an investment towards a stress-free wedding day.
Can you get us discounts or deals?
Some vendors provide a special rate for referrals from me because we have built a relationship over the years and they enjoy working with my team. I certainly pass these discounts on to my clients, but I never push the discounted vendors as a must. If they are a good fit for your needs and style plus they can give a discount – great! If they aren’t a good fit, a discount is not going to be a good deal.
Beyond providing discounts, a wedding planner can act as a third party to assist in negotiations and they can advise on where you may be able to better source a product or service for a better price elsewhere. Because we charge a flat rate fee and not a percentage of your budget, we are always looking out for your best interests.
Which planning service is right for me?
If you are interested in planning help, we offer two popular services.
Full Planning is for the couple wanting assistance from beginning to end. It is a premium service that assists with finding a venue, securing all your vendors through to the wedding day.
Partial Planning is for the couple who needs only some help along the way. Typically a couple has booked their venue already but want help with some of their vendors. It also includes wedding day coordination. We also have a popular Venue Add-On service to assist with the venue search as well.
The best fit for you will depend on how much you would like to invest in a planner’s help and how involved you want them to be.
I am interested, what now?
Contact me today to discuss your wedding needs over a relaxing cup of coffee. Hiring a wedding planner is a small investment towards the biggest event in your life, saving you time, money and stress. If you are interested in hiring a wedding planner, send us a quick email to connect. We’d love to hear from you and see if we can help!
Photography by Aron Goss