Wedding Planner

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. I do different levels of planning for weddings, but the biggest request is to just have someone run the rehershal, ceremony, and reception. So family can sit back and enjoy the day.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Interview those you want to assist you, not every planner will fit every bride. We all have different personalities, so we don't fit each person. This is not a bad thing, it is a reality that takes less pressure in picking the planner who is your fit for you, your needs, & your personality.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. I believe the big secret is that vendors like to deal with vendors, so we can negoitate a bit more than a bride and groom. I believe its the advantage of having a planner involved.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. A bride & groom should have a vision of their day, how they see it coming to pass. They should decide the things they can do for themself, or the help of a family, & the area that they truly need assistance with. Decide what their platium item they "must" have & are willing to spend the extra money on.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I am not the "cookie cutter" planner, meaning my service are not a package deal. You create your own "needed" services with a Ala Carte menu of services.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I love the people I meet, the honor that I was chosen to facilitate a bride's day, the whole process is positive, hopeful and a joy. That is the best part, the simple joy of a union of two.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Can we negotiate the venue price? I tell brides that everything has a way of working out, weather the cost is reduced or I am able to have an extra special touch added without cost.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. Every bride, they bring me to tears when the day comes & I see them, & the honor to be chosen to be part of their day is the very best feeling.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. I am a RN, & have been for over 22 years, I have & still do work as a RN in multiple fields. I believe it gives me a advantage with communication, patients, listening to a bride & truly HEAR what their heart is for the day.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I decided to do this as many of friends & family over the years getting married, I was always the one who stepped in, and ran the show. So for 13 years now, I have done planning.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. A wedding for a young woman who lost her mom less than a year from her wedding date, it was a honor to add touches of her mother to the wedding that no one knew of it, except her. The personal touches that made the day a bit better despite her loss.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. Currently attend teaching, & conferences.

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. Currently the 'big' project I have is a wedding that the bride wants every service I offer, related to she is a single mom, in college, and has little family. So I have become her family. We have visited over 20 different venues, picked caterers to do taste testing with, looked at flowers, got the gown, I took the groom for tux fitting, all the way down to invations, paper announcement with photo to announce the engagement, and name changes. I have done everything that is fully involved in planning and facilitating a perfect day. Cost is always based on total hours, so her package will never match that of another bride.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. I don't believe that my services are complicated, mostly because I have a Ala Carte of services to choose from, so a bride picks only what she wants or needs.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. I would advise to follow a planner, or work for one for at least a year, get familiar with details, contracts, learn to deal with different personalities, listening is the most effective communication skill you can have, so fine tune your ears for hearing and listening.