dano_smitho asked:
Me and my fiancee are planning to get married in Denver this April, and have a budget of around $10,000. I realize this is a very small budget but we still want to be able to do things nicely so we cannot waste alot of money. Both of us have almost no experience with weddings so there is alot of room for us to make mistakes, so we would like to hire a planner but are aprehensive of the cost so we would not want to do it unless it is completely necessary
CHAVARRIA
Me and my fiancee are planning to get married in Denver this April, and have a budget of around $10,000. I realize this is a very small budget but we still want to be able to do things nicely so we cannot waste alot of money. Both of us have almost no experience with weddings so there is alot of room for us to make mistakes, so we would like to hire a planner but are aprehensive of the cost so we would not want to do it unless it is completely necessary
CHAVARRIA
BRAXTON
Absolutely not! You definitely do not need to have a wedding planner to get everything right! All you need to do is ensure you write everything down in one place (so you can easily refer back to it), and get at least 3 quotes from your suppliers (to ensure you’re getting the best deal). Also, most wedding websites have a ‘planning’ section, which will tell you the things that you need to do and at what time. Try – they have a fantastic planning section that you can print out and keep track of everything on.
)
My fiance and I have not had any previous experience with weddings either – ours is 8 weeks away, and with prior planning etc (all of what I’ve said above), we have kept on budget (we also had $10,000) – AND we have gotten everything the way we want it.
Hope that helps!
Comment by BEAN — July 16, 2009 @ 9:34 pm
COLBURN
If You Only Have A Small Budget, Don’t Hire A Wedding Planner.
They Can Charge Obscene Amounts Of Money For Pretty Much Just Telling You What They Think You Should Do.
People On Here Are Always Willing To Help, No Matter The Situation. Most Of Them Have Gone Thru Wedding Planning & Know What Will Work & What Wont, What Looks Good & What Doesn’t. Just About Anything You Want To Know.
Why Pay For Someones Advice When You Can Get It For Free On Here?
=)
Good Luck & Congrats.
Comment by DIAZ — July 18, 2009 @ 10:12 am
KILLIAN
Totally not necessary, but easier unless you have a few good friends to help you out! You could always get one for the two days before your wedding (many reception halls have in house coordinators) to help with organizing the rehearsal, keeping everyone in order and keeping things on time. To get an actual planner, to me at least, seems like a waste of money. And I think you only really “need” one if you plan this extravagant over the top wedding that needs to be perfectly orchestrated.
I think you should scratch the planner and maybe go for a coordinator.
Best of luck! Congratulations!!
Comment by BRADSHAW — July 19, 2009 @ 4:25 am
YI
I have planned 2 weddings, one for my son and one for my daughter. If I had to do it again I would definitely hire some planning help. There are all kinds of things you don’t know you need or you forget. I think the mistakes we made cost us more than if I would of hired someone that knew what they were doing. Find someone that does party planning freelance. Anyone that has done a wedding before will know more than you. Or at least get a responsible friend to help you organize things.
Comment by BURNSIDE — July 21, 2009 @ 5:47 am
LINCOLN
Sweetie, we did it without a planner and it turned out fine. As long as you have contracts with everyone, and you give photos to people who need photos (your baker, your florist, whatever) and they sign off on the photos so there’s no question about what things are supposed to look like, then you guys are fine. Just check with your vendors/site regularly and you’ll be fine. Some things take longer than you think–eg, Godiva Chocolate as a favor takes a while if you want the bride and groom’s name on the ribbon, less time if the ribbon is just in your colors. You guys can do this, no problem. Many brides magazines have a time table and a budget form that may help you. And you can assign tasks to your fiance, family, maid of honor, etc.
Congratulations, and have a blast!
Comment by SMART — July 21, 2009 @ 8:58 am
OROSCO
i don’t think it is nessesary as long as you are pacing yourself and have lots of time to do it in. I think that a wedding planner is really needed in a wedding that is going to cost like $50,000 or up because of all of the money involved.
Comment by TEAL — July 23, 2009 @ 10:43 pm
SOLIS
My budget will be closer to $5000-$6000. So I will be doing a lot of the stuff myself. I did find out however that you can hire a wedding planner for the entire planning process, the month before, the week before or the DAY OF. I will probably find someone to hire for the day of to set up flowers, make sure photographers are there on time, etc. Since there’s only about 25 ppl attending, I didn’t want to have anyone running around for me doing thing, I want everyone to relax and celebrate. The day of planner will be perfect for my needs!
Comment by PERALTA — July 24, 2009 @ 3:46 pm
LAKE
Id say skip it. Depending upon your social network / support “system” its totally “do”able minus the professional. It also depends on the venue/ type of wedding & your priorities. Are y’all perfectionists that expect everything to go EXACT, or more realistic and laid back? I’d sit down in the 24/7 grocery store magazine isle and go through the wedding ones for ideas. You wont waste $ for crappy articles, and you can take the ideas and find ways to do them for less! Then give ea. friend a different “day of duty” that you make note of. Also, ask your Dj, caterer etc what their services include. DO however invest in a planner notebook that offers suggestions! Barnes & Noble have several. In the end it all works out!
Oh, & couple websites are big now. It may be handy for maps, and things that can be printed out by your guests, or punched into their GPS’s ahead of time rather than on your penny.
Comment by RICHARDSON — July 24, 2009 @ 6:19 pm
WILDER
10,000 is small? then ours is like a drop in a barrel o.O
It’s Not really necessary unless you constantly get Bogged by it and can’t plan your way out… For Me, I’d rather plan it myself, that way I can say “hey, I did this.”
I found this place that my fiance and I agreed on in Kentucky. It’s a beautiful bed/breakfast that does the buffet, serving, clean up, cake, decor and set up along with tents outside, for over 100 guests, 3500.00. all we have to worry about is the pastor, apparel and DJ. Though my dress was given to me(if I don’t find a prettier one to buy) and the dj might do it for free since he’s a family friend, and the pastor is only like 75.00.. then there’s the honeymoon and ring sets.
if you want the link to that place, I can give it to you but it’s in Kentucky.
just try to sit down and put things into steps, and Family and friends are a GREAT help! (just don’t let them try to take over your wedding)
also, orientaltrading.com has just about everything you need for weddings, and they’re really affordable and low in cost. that’s where we’re getting tons of our stuff from.
Plus, don’t let pride be an issue. some people cringe when they think of getting stuff from thrift shops or wal-mart, but if you’re going to wear it for one day, why not? plus it helps save money that can go toward your honey moon or new furninture ^_~
Oh, and I’m making my own bouquets and buttoneer thingies… I’m getting the flowers at hobby Lobby and you can buy the bouquet holders.
Congrats ^__^
Comment by STOKES — July 25, 2009 @ 4:39 pm
ODEN
No it’s not necessary to get a wedding planner, if you want someone to help you then yes, if noot there is nothing wrong with not having one. A lot of people don’t have one. It’s entirely up to you.
Comment by REAGAN — July 28, 2009 @ 6:23 am
READ
You don’t need a planner. You just need to research all aspects of the wedding before making a choice and finding what works best for you ands at what price. that’s all I do for my clients is the leg work so they can pick what they like.
A planner can help with budgeting, research, and takes a lot of the guess work out.
But if you take your time and ask questions you can do it on your own.
Comment by MORELAND — July 31, 2009 @ 2:37 am