Salt Lake City Party Planners Salt Lake City, UT

Advantages of hiring a wedding planner

What's the advantage of hiring a wedding planner for your big day?

Mary Cosby: "To sum it all up, it means a stress-free wedding."

Lorna Reid: "So the couple can enjoy the engagement and wedding process."

Lori Woodbury: "We can foresee all the problems that crop up and stress you out."

As a wedding coordinator, what are some of your job duties?

Cosby: "Decorations, floral arrangements, photography, invitations, transportation and ideas."

Reid: "Whatever their needs, we meet them. We can budget and decorate the whole event."

Woodbury: "We find the location, provide the flowers, the photographer and make arrangements with vendors."

How do you charge for your services and what's the cost?"

Cosby: It's eighteen percent of the overall budget. The average wedding runs around $10,000."

Reid: "We charge a flat fee of $1,200 if the wedding budget is below $25,000. If it's over $25,000, we charge a percentage."

Woodbury: "We charge $500 for 20 hours of planning and day- of services. If they choose to get their flowers, photographer and food through us, the planning is free."

How do you help a couple manage their wedding budget? Is this difficult, especially if a bride has her heart set on a specific plan?

Cosby: "Within their budget you have to determine what's a necessity and what's a want. It can be difficult, but we're trying to make their dream a reality."

Reid: "We see what they want, then give them several options within that budget and style. It's difficult but we put it all on an invoice so they can see how much it really costs."

Woodbury: "We go over the numbers and prioritize the needs. It can be hard but we've been doing it a long time."

How many years of experience do you have?

Cosby: "10 years."

Reid: "Eight years."

Woodbury: "Two years."

How far in advance before the wedding should a couple book your services?

Cosby: "We've done a wedding in two months, but I prefer a year."

Reid: "It's the first thing you should do when you get engaged."

Woodbury: "Three months."

Do you personally attend every wedding and rehearsal? If so, is there an extra fee for this?

Cosby: "I do attend every wedding. There's no extra fee."

Reid: "No, but one of the coordinators involved in the planning process will be."

Woodbury: "You bet. There's no extra charge."

If you become unavailable on the big day, do you have a backup?

Cosby: "I do, but it's not likely."

Reid: "Yes."

Woodbury: "Yes, of course."

How do you handle difficult brides or family members?

Cosby: "I try to kill them with kindness."

Reid: "You just try to return them to what they were before the stress."

Woodbury: "You have to be as tactful as possible. It's their day."