How to Hire a Wedding Consultant
Planning a wedding involves so many details that you may find you need help. A good wedding or bridal consultant will take care of the details, bring you in under budget and help you have a stress-free and enjoyable wedding.
Things You'll Need
- Wedding Planner Book
- Yellow Pages
- Calculators
- Wedding Consultants
- Notebooks
- Pens
Instructions
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Ask friends or relatives who have recently been married for referrals, or check with other wedding vendors. Contact a professional association of wedding or bridal consultants and ask for local referrals.
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Make appointments with two or three consultants. Most consultants offer a free initial consultation.
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Tell the consultant what type of wedding you want and what the budget is. She will tell you how much of your dream wedding she can produce on that budget.
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Ask about payment. The consultant may charge a percentage of the wedding budget, a flat fee or an hourly rate. Consultants who work for hotels, restaurants and DJ services may be paid by their organizations.
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Give the consultant a list of the services you need so that she can give you an estimate.
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Ask to see the consultant's business license, certificate of membership in a professional organization, tax ID number or some other indication that she is in business and not just a hobbyist.
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Ask to see letters of reference. Of course, a consultant will show you only positive letters, but beware if someone doesn't have any at all.
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Ask to see pictures of weddings she has coordinated or assisted in.
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Ask questions such as, "How did you handle all those children in this wedding?" or "Who do you require to be at the rehearsal?" A pro should be able to answer these questions.
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Ask about the consultant's additional experience, including her education, other work experience and special talents.
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Select a consultant with whom you have a good rapport. In the end, the relationship is all about trust.
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Always sign a written contract stating when and how much you will pay for the services you require, and what the arrangement will be if the wedding is called off.
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Tips & Warnings
Some consultants work out of their homes, and some have more experience than others. Anyone you hire should have business cards, stationery, a written contract for you to sign and other evidence of legitimate business operations.
Consider hiring a novice - she'll likely be eager to learn and eager to please.
Treat your consultant with consideration to ensure good service and a great wedding.
After the wedding, indicate your willingness to give a reference if you were satisfied.
Trust your instincts. Don't hire someone you have a bad feeling about, someone who seems interested only in money or someone who seems unwilling to do things your way.
Never hire a consultant who receives a commission or referral fee from other wedding vendors. This is bad business and may make it more difficult to get the best service.
Comments
View all 11 Comments-
Lindah
Aug 21, 2007
I think this article was well written and many of the point here are covered in my article also. I am glad to see that someone else did a research and the same information was aquired. I think I would have liked to see more resources used. I know if I were looking for a wedding coordinator I would want ot know where you got your information and if I can locate the same information. Otherwise BRAVO!!!! -
Lindah
Aug 21, 2007
I think this article was well written and many of the point here are covered in my article also. I am glad to see that someone else did a research and the same information was aquired. I think I would have liked to see more resources used. I know if I were looking for a wedding coordinator I would want ot know where you got your information and if I can locate the same information. Otherwise BRAVO!!!! -
Lindah
Aug 21, 2007
I think this article was well written and many of the point here are covered in my article also. I am glad to see that someone else did a research and the same information was aquired. I think I would have liked to see more resources used. I know if I were looking for a wedding coordinator I would want ot know where you got your information and if I can locate the same information. Otherwise BRAVO!!!! -
Lindah
Aug 21, 2007
I think this article was well written and many of the point here are covered in my article also. I am glad to see that someone else did a research and the same information was aquired. I think I would have liked to see more resources used. I know if I were looking for a wedding coordinator I would want ot know where you got your information and if I can locate the same information. Otherwise BRAVO!!!! -
ginmice
Feb 23, 2007
although some consultants can be a little heavy-handed, it is not in their best interest to not listen to the wants and needs of the couple. References are the life-blood of this industry and a consultant can not afford to only have one way of thinking. I have been a consultant for many years and (even when I do not agree with a decision) I get the most satisfaction from a Bride and Groom who are happy with the results.