7 more tips for working with a wedding planner

Advice from top wedding planners across the U.S.

Hiring a wedding planner for part or all of the planning can streamline your focus and help reduce your overall costs. We asked some of the best wedding planners in San Diego, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Atlanta how couples can most effectively work with a wedding planner. Here’s what they had to share:

San Diego Wedding Planners Always Flawless Productions — Image provided by Always Flawless Productions

“I think the biggest mistake couples make is reaching out to a wedding planner too late in the process. I can’t tell you how many times I have had couples reach out to me after booking their venue, caterer and photographer, and they have almost completely maxed out their budget. While I am good at what I do, and can make a dollar go along ways, I unfortunately am no miracle worker! If they would have come to me prior to booking all of that, I could have helped them manage their budget and priorities, and found fitting vendors for their style and budget. I guess the moral to the story is to book your planner prior to booking any of your other vendors.”

– San Diego Wedding Planner Ashely from Always Flawless Productions

Los Angeles Wedding Planner Bright Blue Events — Image provided by Bright Blue Events

“I would recommend getting your planner first. You then have a knowledgeable person at hand to consult at each step of the way at the very least…or you have a champion negotiating on your behalf and making sure you don’t run into any pitfalls going through the process.”

– Los Angeles Wedding Planner Carole Grogan from Bright Blue Events

Dallas wedding planner Rachel Events — Image provided by Rachel Events

“By trusting their planner to guide them throughout the process and utilize the suggestions and partnerships they have to offer.”

– Dallas Wedding Planner Rachel Eden Leuck from Rachel Events

Dallas wedding planner Each & Every Detail — Image provided by Each & Every Detail

“Talk to them early on in your planning process! Even if you are just looking to have someone help manage the wedding day, start looking for your match early on and get their advice as early in the process as you can. Even with our smaller packages, we love to give as much advice as we can to help couples find the right path for them when it comes to budget, logistics, vendor selection, etc. Planners are best used to prevent issues rather than just solve them on the wedding day!”

– Dallas Wedding Planner Wendy from Each & Every Detail

San-Diego-Wedding-Planner-I Do Weddings-Events-photo by True Photography — Image provided by I Do Weddings and Events

“By keeping us in the loop, communicating wishes and frustrations and most importantly, finding someone who you can trust on the wedding day!”

– San Diego Wedding Planner Melissa from I Do…Weddings & Events

atlanta-wedding-planner-sister-secrets — Image provided by Sister Secrets

“Couples can most effectively utilize a Wedding Planner by being 100% honest with what they want and what they don’t want. It is important to remember that I am hired by them and will carry out their wishes no matter the opinions of vendors, family members and guests.”

– Atlanta Wedding Planner Callie Rackley from Sister Secrets Wedding & Event Planning

Dallas wedding planner Birds of a Feather Events — Image provided by Birds of a Feather Events

“Most of our clients come to us because they want to enjoy the planning process and not stress too much. The best client relationships I have had are with the people who completely trust me and let me do my thing. I think this is the best way to utilize your planner – let them do what you hired them to do :)”

– Dallas Wedding Planner Wendy Kay from Birds of a Feather Events