Planning While In School: To Hire a Wedding Planner or Not??

marymargaretxo

I got engaged in April, right before my senior year of college. I am soo happy that I am almost done with college! We plan on getting married in October, 2014, but I already want to start planning now!

My question is -- with all the stress of being a full-time student, having a full-time job, and being so young and the very first of my friends to get married, is it worth it to hire a wedding planner? I feel like the help and direction could be really great and useful, but is it worth the cost (I actually don't know what wedding planners usually go for, does anyone know?)? Is it also worth the time and commitment? Or should I trust my instincts and do without one, since no one knows me better than myself?

Please help! Much appreciated xx

catrb89

I think it wil depend on where you're getting married. Our venue includes linens and other items that we'd otherwise have to rent - so it's kind of a one stop shop. They also provide a day of coordinator for us, so that will definitely help a lot.
You've got 2 years, so I think you might be able to do without! A day of coordinator might be good though - they'll make sure everything is in place so you're not running to the reception venue ahead of time to put centerpieces on tables or something.
I can definitely relate though! I'm working and going to school full-time and my wedding is in September 2014!

Annas2013

I'd consider getting a day of coordinator.  You aren't alone though.  I'm getting married right after my senior year of college, am working right on the border between part time and full time, and taking a full course load.  It's possible to plan while in school and working.  Consider the amount of time until your wedding a good thing.  We'll have been engaged 17 months by the time we get married.  There's no way whatsoever I could have planned everything in less than a year like a lot of people my age that are getting married (seriously though, 3 to 6 month engagements are now the norm for people my age around here and I don't see how).

You've got time.  Don't stress out.  Like pp said, if your venue includes everything, then you really don't need a planner.  A DoC makes the day of go super smoothly though.

calliopeia2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_students_planning-while-in-school-to-hire-a-wedding-planner-or-not?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:684Discussion:edb0978a-d723-4989-8c09-ba2300dd9c80Post:7ec79901-f077-4fe1-86d0-8ab58ac7fd44">Planning While In School: To Hire a Wedding Planner or Not??</a>:
[QUOTE]I got engaged in April, right before my senior year of college. I am soo happy that I am almost done with college! We plan on getting married in October, 2014, but I already want to start planning now! My question is -- with all the stress of being a full-time student, having a full-time job, and being so young and the very first of my friends to get married, is it worth it to hire a wedding planner? I feel like the help and direction could be really great and useful, but is it worth the cost (I actually don't know what wedding planners usually go for, does anyone know?)? Is it also worth the time and commitment? Or should I trust my instincts and do without one, since no one knows me better than myself? Please help! Much appreciated xx
Posted by marymargaretxo[/QUOTE]

A wedding planner's fee isn't usually a fixed rate; they charge a percentage of the cost of your wedding.  (Usually 10-15%.)  So if you have a $30,000 wedding, you would pay your planner $3000 on top of that.  If your instincts say to go without one, it sounds to me like you won't need one, though.  Wedding planning is really not as hard as the wedding industry sometimes tries to make it out to be (I think because they want to scare people into thinking it's impossible to make more money!).

Do keep in mind that with a wedding two years out, while it's a great idea to start browsing for ideas now, you probably don't want to make final decisions on too much at this point- venues and caterers could change ownership, dresses can go in and out of fashion, your tastes and ideas could generally just change.

Good luck and have fun!

[Deleted User]

I, too, am in school and planning a wedding. Our wedding will take place October 2013, about halfway through my final year of Grad School. Ask yourself: how much help do you think you will need while planning? Are you decisive or indecisive? Have your bridesmaids and family volunteered to help you or are they more hands-off? Is your wedding going to be large or small? Do you work well with others' suggestions and interpretations of your vision or would you work better solo?

I decided not to go with a wedding planner because: 1. it is an extra expense in an already expensive day; 2. I am decisive and don't get buyer's remorse; 3. I will likely butt heads with a wedding planner because I am headstrong; and 4. I have a year until we get married and I think I can get everything planned with plenty of time to spare.

Just spend a little time thinking about it, write down the pros and cons, and consider why you think you do or do not need a wedding planner before you make your decision. Good luck!

FaithCaitlin

I adore my wedding planner. I could do everything but having her makes me life 1000 times easier.

If it's in the budget, I'd do it.

JaniV123

cost of a planner varies some charge a % of your wedding total others have fixed fees which usually are a min of $2000 for a partial coordination and $3000 for for a full coodiantion. 

a DoC is also a good idea. 

so far we are doing neither because i have family members who coordinate events as their job and they are willing to help

jodi426

I think it really depends on how comfortable you are and the resources you have for those times when you maybe don't have a lot of time.....is your fiance willing to help out with planning??   Will your mother, mother-in-law-to-be, bridesmaids or other family or friends help out and give you advice when needed??   Have you been to many weddings to give you ideas of what you want?

Also, since you will graduate over a year before you get married, you should have plenty of time to get everything coordinated (I'm planning a wedding for two weeks after my fiance and I graduate from college; its a lot of work, but totally worth it!) so if you feel like you will be able to and don't want to spend the extra money on a wedding planner, I would say it is definitely manageable.

vgarlin

I am planning my own wedding while in school, but I had a long engagement to plan during. So you are getting married in Oct 2014? That is far enough away that you could plan, but if you have the money for a wedding planner then go for it! Just get a counsulation and go from there!

lovesclimbing

I'm not even working, just doing school full time and it's crazy! My mom is kind of being wedding planner. Luckily, I trust her not to be a momzilla because if I didn't, I don't know what I'd do because planners are so expensive and we have a very small wedding budget.

marymargaretxo

Thank you all so much for your help! You are all so helpful and sweet

xcchicka03

I am in Physical Therapy school and getting married next Saturday (yikes)!! I did not have a planner however, here are some things you should consider:

1) how many "breaks" from class will you have. I did the majority of my planning on winter break, and the one or two other week long breaks I had from school. 

2) are you a proactive person or a procrastinator. My FI and I got engaged November 23rd 2011 and though we didn't set a date until at least January 2012 we were already looking at venues and interviewing caterers by the first week of January (I purchased my dress 9 days after we got engaged). You have to be able to budget your time if time management is something you struggle with having someone there to keep you on track might be beneficial.

3) how involved do you think your FI will be? My fiance is fabulous and has been such a big help from crafting items with me, to ordering supplies, and designing programs etc.

4) how helpful/effective do you think your friends, your family, and your FI's family will be in getting things done? For instance- my future MIL has been doing some crafting things for us. One of my bridesmaids is making jewlery for my girls, another has been helping with some of the other craft elements, and my mom has been helping with setting up hair and dress fittings.

5) consider the size of your wedding- if it's a smaller gathering a planner may be excessive if it's a lavish 200+ affair a planner may be your ticket.

Hope that helps

Hope that helps.