As a newly engaged couple, planning out an entire wedding can be overwhelming.  Where do you start?  How do you plan?  What should you do first?

JAMM Entertainment has the honor and privilege of working with some of the best vendors in the state.  We spoke with several wedding planners to find out what advice every newly engaged couple should have and this is what we discovered.

Hire A Planner

Every planner we spoke with encouraged the couple to hire a planner but why? For most newly engaged couples, this is the first wedding you have planned and you don’t know where to begin.  “Of course brides can absolutely plan their own weddings, however does she really want to be a “wedding planner” on the day of her wedding or does she want to be what she has always dreamed of for that day……a bride!?   My goal as a wedding planner is to allow the bride to relax and enjoy this day with out stress or worry and be able to enjoy her time with her best girls (bridesmaids) and family and friends.  There are many elements going on behind the scenes and a wedding planner acts as the “production assistant” for that day  and will be extremely invaluable,” says Anita Kanellis with AK Brides.

Alene Gamel of I Do I Do! Wedding Planning says, “A planner can help relieve stress during the planning process by keeping you on track, giving you loads of excellent advice, and direct you to the best vendors for you. Think of your planner as sister, mom, best friend, personal assistant, designer, and therapist all rolled into one! And, on wedding day, she is there to make sure you have the best day of your life!”

“By becoming a confidential sounding board, a planner provides countless etiquette advice to address ways to avoid awkward or embarrassing situations. This allows couples to be appear sincere and thoughtful to their friends and family. And finally, planners provide a detailed course of action to guide their clients through the entire planning process allowing this time to be almost as much fun as the wedding day itself, states Rachael Grammer of Two Hearts Weddings and Events.

Have a Plan B

No matter how much planning goes into your big day, occasionally, things go wrong.  Will it rain for your outdoor wedding?  Will your estranged sister and aunt get along?  Anything can happen so it is critical to have a backup plan or a Plan B.

Rachael Grammer says, “Planners are the eyes, ears, and hands of the couple on their wedding day. They are the producer and director of the wedding day production. This allows them to address and correct any complications that arise during the setup and execution of the day. They are also very capable of switching to Plan B when extreme circumstances dictate doing so. By knowing their clients’ wants and wishes for their wedding day, planners know how to advise vendors to correct situations without even having to interrupt a couple during their blissful time of getting ready to say “I Do”.”

Have a Budget

You won’t know where to start until you know how much money you have to work with.  “Set a realistic budget and decide what works for you, ( average wedding in the state is about 19,000,  average wedding in the country 27,000) by talking  with all parents, and figure out what you have to work with. Budget determines everything:  venue, vendors, dress, decor, food, etc, and you won’t  know what you can do without a good budget. Then break it down and get a budget planner,” says Alene Gamel.

Rachael Grammer says, “Planners spend an extraordinary amount of time honing their craft with continuing education, networking with experienced, reputable vendors, and keeping abreast of all the latest styles and trends and best practices of handling events. What this translates too is extremely valuable advice to help couples avoid costly and time-consuming mistakes. Items that fall within this advice for example are what they need to know to establish a realistic budget. Along with this comes recommendations of vendors who are able to work within those limits… a huge time and money saver!”

Selecting Other Vendors

“Wedding planners have already formed personal relationships with vendors in and around the city as well as the entire state and country so in most cases, a lot of footwork has already been done with the planners experience and how long she has been in business.  An experienced wedding planner may also have access to vendor discounts since planners work so closely with vendors throughout the year,” says Anita Kanellis.

Hiring a planner might be the most beneficial, stress-reducing, time and money saving thing you do for your wedding.   While you can always plan and execute everything yourself, ask yourself, ‘Do I really want to be busy with the details instead of enjoying my big day?’  And remember these sound words from Anita Kanellis, “I have never met a bride who regretted having a wedding planner, but  I have met several brides who WISHED they had a wedding planner.”