How you can get a wedding planner on board,
save money and appreciate your free time
by Martina Paul, Cotswolds and London Wedding Planner & Wedding Designer
Engagement
Congratulations, you are engaged! Yay, you have the perfect ring on and it is time to pay attention to all those wonderful photos that keep jumping at you on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. Before you know it, you are browsing for all things wedding when you wake up, on your break at work, on your way home, and discuss your perfect day with your fiancée while cooking dinner, during dinner, and of course, during your favourite tv program.
It is now official, you are planning the wedding of the century!
The Mission
Yes, you are now on the mission. You have spent hours if not weeks looking at the perfect wedding photos and room designs online. You know what you want! What becomes clear very quickly – this is going to be time-consuming. What becomes clear after that – this is going to be potentially a stressful journey, especially with a busy work schedule. And if you were okay until now – wait until you start confirming your guests’ attendance and trying to do a seating plan.
How does it all work?
I understand that you are a very organised couple, you are a savvy Pinterest browser, you know what you want and we love that – however, it is still your first time planning a wedding, design, and trying to work out the wedding day management.
Your time is precious, you deserve to have fun on this exciting journey and to be well looked after on your big day! This is where we come in. We work as a team on your dream day, on schedule, on budget. So you can just pick and choose from the perfect wedding suppliers selected just for you.
Let’s have a look at what do services in the UK cost and how can a wedding planner not only keep you sane but also keep some money in your bank.
VENUE
| COUPLE | + WEDDING PLANNER |
|
1. DECIDE ON LOCATION 2. FIND VENUES 3. RESEARCH VENUES 4. GO VISIT VENUES 5. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT 6. MEET COORDINATORS 7. LIKE COORDINATORS 8. GET BROCHURE 9. PAY DEPOSIT ON THE PRICE IN THE BROCHURE = 4 SATURDAYS OFF + 40 hours research time online = £6500 BARN HIRE £2500 DEPOSIT |
1. DECIDE ON LOCATION 2. GET VENUES SHORTLIST 3. VISIT ONE VENUE RECOMMENDED 4. GET PRICES AVAILABLE FOR WEDDING PLANNER 5. PAY DEPOSIT = 2 SATURDAYS OFF + 2 hours research time online = £5200 BARN HIRE £2500 DEPOSIT |
WEDDING DRESS
| 1. FIND THE BRIDAL SHOP
2. CONTACT THE SHOP 3. LIKE AND TRUST THE BRIDAL ASSISTANT 4. FIND YOUR DRESS 5. PAY FOR THE DRESS AND ALTERATIONS = £1500
|
1. GET A SHORTLIST OF RECOMMENDED BRIDAL SHOPS
2. VISIT SHOP 3. FIND YOUR DRESS 4. PAY DISCOUNTED PRICE FOR THE DRESS AND ALTERATIONS = £1200
|
PHOTOGRAPHER
|
1. FIND THE STYLE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHY 2. FIND THE PHOTOGRAPHER 3. PAY THE PHOTOGRAPHER 4. CONFIRM THE TIMELINE AND LOCATIONS FOR THE WEDDING DAY 5. PAY THE PHOTOGRAPHER = £1500 |
1. SHOW TYPE OF PHOTOS YOU LIKE TO YOUR WEDDING PLANNER 2. GET A SHORTLIST OF RECOMMENDED PHOTOGRAPHERS 3. PAY THE PHOTOGRAPHER WITH AGREED DISCOUNTS
= £1100 |
ACCOMMODATION, BAND, DJ, BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES, CAR, CAKE, CELEBRANT, GROOMS’ SUIT, DOUGHNUT WALL, FLOWERS, MAGICIAN, PHOTO BOOTH, RINGS, VENUE DRESSING, SWEET CART
| 1. FIND LOCAL SUPPLIER
2. CONTACT SUPPLIER 3. GET THE QUOTE 4. NEGOTIATE THE QUOTE PROVIDED 5. PAY DEPOSIT 6. PAY FULL AMOUNT OF MONEY 7. CONFIRM WEDDING DAY TIMELINE, 8. AGREE ON ACCESS TO THE VENUE 9. CONFIRM CLEAR OUT AND ACCESS TO THE VENUE 10. RE-CONFIRM CLOSER TO THE DAY AND ON THE DAY = £5000
|
1. GET A LIST OF LOCAL SUPPLIERS
2. PICK YOUR DESIGNS 3. PAY DISCOUNTED PRICES
= £3800
|
CATERING COMPANY (Price for a 3-course meal for 70 guests)
| 1. FIND CATERERS
2. RESEARCH THEM 3. BOOK CATERERS 4. ONLY THEN TASTE FOOD 5. RE-CONFIRM 6. PAY = £3000
|
1. MEET RECOMMENDED CATERERS
2. SAMPLE SOME FOOD 3. BOOK CATERERS 4. PAY
= £3000
|
HONEYMOON
| 1. FIND DESTINATION
2. DECIDE BUDGET 3. RESEARCH AGENTS 4. BOOK HONEYMOON
= £2500 |
1. CHAT TO US
2. DECIDE BUDGET 3. DECIDE ON RECOMMENDED DESTINATION 4. BOOK HONEYMOON 5. ENJOY DISCOUNT
= £1800 |
SUMMARY
| TOTAL COST | £20000 | £16100 |
| WEDDING PLANNER | £0 | £2400 |
| TOTAL WEDDING COST |
£20000 |
£18500 |
| AVERAGE HOURS SPENT ON PLANNING BY COUPLE |
300 |
40 |
- Prices used in the study used to illustrate the differences
As you can see, a professional wedding planner already works with reliable suppliers and has worked with them for a while. We also know how to research new suppliers in new destinations and venues.
Good wedding planners tend to be obsessed with weddings and we are no different. We love to see our couples relaxed during the wedding planning journey, and excited on the wedding day.
How can we help you?
