Wedding planner, do we need one?

lifeizbeachy

I am trying to figure out if I should hire one? My wedding budget isn't that big so is it worth it??? What exactly do they do anyways??? Isn't it stuff I can do and save money? Do they just hire their friends and get kick backs... whats the deal?

Anyone care to enlighten me? Are any of you girls using one?

clseale13

I don't think anyone NEEDS a planner. If you know what you want and don't mind keeping track of everything and everyone, then I think you'll be fine. If your budget isn't huge I wouldn't waste the money.

I'm hiring a DOC (not a planner) because the museum doesn't provide anyone. I wanted someone to help handle the little details for the "day of" stuff and to tell us when to walk etc. A lot of places provide this service though...and if it wasn't for the fact that my DOC is a friend who is doing it for $300 I probably wouldn't have even bothered.

jendawn80

I don't think everyone needs one, but I decided to hire a DOC too,  basically to be a back up to my venue coordinator and make sure everything runs smoothly in the weeks leading up to the wedding and then on the big day. There are many details in the last few weeks and on the day of that the venue coordinator doesn't take care of so that will be her main job (coordinating all the vendors and being the contact person for them in the last few weeks, etc) so that I can just enjoy the day and not worry about those little  details.  :-)  
Part of it for me is having peace of mind which I feel is worth it.

lifeizbeachy

A DJ I spoke with brings his wife with him and from the way he described it she does what a DOC does and it's part of his services so I am thinking that's all I will need so I can relax the day of.... well as much as possible.

brimcleod

I can give you what I did.

I have a friend who is constantly talking about her friends weddings & how she's helping them plan it. She's  helped so many people plan weddings in my town, and since I just moved here, I figured she'd know more than me.

She mentioned helping me out with the wedding, once I announced my engagement, and I asked if she'd be my voluntary wedding planner. She graciously agreed. She's completely happy with not getting paid, but I'm thinking of throwing in some money when the wedding gets closer to pay her back for all her gas, time, and things she's getting for me.

lifeizbeachy

Thanks, Ihave had more then a few people act surprised that I was considering doing this myself. It made me start to wonder, ya know?