What Does a Wedding Planner ACTUALLY Do?

Planning a wedding can be an exciting journey, but as you start thinking about all the details, decisions, and research involved, it can quickly become overwhelming. With a full-time job or other commitments, finding time and energy to plan can be challenging, even with a helpful family member.  But what happens when a family member’s opinions become too much or the wedding weekend arrives and they want to enjoy the fun? This is where a wedding planner can step in and alleviate the stress, guide you through the decision-making process, and ensure that you and your loved ones can fully enjoy the day. Although there are so many intangibles that wedding planners are responsible for, below, we’ve shared more details about “what does a wedding planner actually do” to create a fuller picture for you!

Picture perfect set up at Laurel Ridge Barn. Courtesy of Bethany Melvin Photography

Wedding planners are industry experts ….

who can offer invaluable resources to create a personalized, beautiful, and seamless event while respecting your budget. A planner allows you, and anyone else involved in the planning process, the chance to focus on the overall details and what most consider the “fun” parts of the planning process (menu tasting, design, etc.) while they handle the logistics and back and forth details with the vendors involved. 

Many planning companies, like Plan to Party, offer a variety of packages ranging from coordination (Happily Ever After) to full service planning (Enchanted Love). These packages may vary between planning companies, however, at the core of what all these packages include is ensuring the wedding day runs smoothly. Sounds simple, right?

The reality is your planner will spend anywhere from 30-40 hours on an event management package and 150+ hours for a full-service package -and around an average of 16 hours straight on your wedding day alone!

Let’s briefly break down the high-level difference between an event management package and a full-service package, and what a planner might be responsible for in each of these offerings:

Handling all the details!

“Happily Ever After” Coordination:

  • For couples who love planning, but also want to ENJOY their own wedding day!

    • Services:

      • Starts intensely helping you with the planning process around 6 weeks prior to the wedding

      • Assists in communicating final details and logistics with vendors you selected

      • Creates a comprehensive wedding weekend timeline to share with vendors as well as you and your wedding party

      • Is onsite on the wedding day directing vendors and ensuring the timeline is being followed and the day runs smoothly

“Enchanted Love” Full-Service:

  • Comprehensive package that includes all aspects of the wedding day! 

    • Services: 

      • Is with you from the beginning, sometimes even before you have selected a date and location

      • Assists in establishing a vision and realistic budget 

      • Connects you with professional vendors to bring your vision to life and will review all contracts

      • Communicates all details and logistics with vendors throughout the entire planning process

      • Helps create a cohesive design based on your vision and budget

      • Is there to guide you during the planning, providing etiquette guidance on aspects such as invitations, family situations, and wedding day flow

      • Creates a comprehensive wedding weekend timeline to share with vendors as well as you and your wedding party

      • Is onsite on the wedding day directing vendors and ensuring the timeline is being followed and the day runs smoothly

So in love! Courtesy of Lacijane Photography

While planning packages offer many essential services, there are countless other tasks that your planner can do to ensure a stress-free and enjoyable experience for you and your loved ones. Some of these unknown services are):

  1. Sews back the groomsmen’s broken bowtie (or split pants!) or broken bridesmaids dress

  2. Makes an extra boutonniere when one breaks 

  3. Makes sure you get appetizers, dinner, and your favorite beverage in hand all night

  4. Makes sure there is a plate and forks by your cake before you cut it so that your ceremonial slice has a place to go

  5. Makes sure that champagne toast is actually poured by the caterer before the DJ announces it’s time for toasts

  6. Stops the band from warming up/doing sound check during your ceremony (if reception is close by)

  7. Stops drunk guests or unplanned guests from getting on the mic to give a toast or speech

  8. Handles all big family/friend personalities and gives them jobs if you need space from them

  9. Brings a portable fan to fan you between pictures when it’s hot outside (also has water and your drink of choice on standby to take sips from between pictures!)

  10. Helps out photographer/videographer to get the perfect shot (throws veil in air for wind blown shot, holds extra lights, crouches behind you holding dress so it doesn’t get dirty, etc.)

Ultimately, a wedding planner is an essential investment that brings expertise, experience, and peace of mind to your special day.  Trust your planner and know that they have your best interests at heart.

Literally takes your breath away, doesn’t it?

  • Realizing a planner sounds good right about now? We’d love to chat and answer any questions you might have about hiring a planner.  Jump over to the Contact page and drop us a note!

Jennifer Savage