So as you guys can tell, I’m pretty comfortable doing research and planning a lot on my own. However, I am a BIG advocate of wedding planners. What’s nice is that nowadays, WPs offer all types of planning packages. From full planning, to partial planning, to day of coordination, they can help guide you through this experience regardless whether your wedding is down the block or across the globe. For our wedding we hired Rachel Cripps-Gervais, owner of the Montreal-based wedding-planning service An English Rose, to provide some vendor reccs and to handle day of coordination. Here are my quick thoughts below on the services we purchased.
Hiring a Planner for Partial Planning:
While I was able to find venue, photographer, DJ, and baker vendors through my trusty friend Google, there were other vendors where we felt we needed a local expert’s POV. These included: makeup artists and hairstylists, florists, officiants, and string quartets. And she did a great job—we are really happy with the vendors we subsequently chose from her recommendations. So figure out what areas you are comfortable researching on your own and which ones you will need help with.
Hiring a Planner for Day of Coordination:
To me this is essential. The first time I saw a planner in action the day of was at my friend Robyn’s wedding a few years ago. Now that was a woman who was comfortable getting sh*t done—she was extremely organized and provided my friend and us bridesmaids with everything we needed. (She even had an assistant trailing us all with lip gloss in case anyone needed a quick touch up. Now that’s service!) I knew then that I just had to have someone running the show the day of.
Our planner will step in about a month before the wedding and will coordinate every single vendor from that point on (i.e., reviewing all contracts, making sure vendors show up on time and that everything is set up correctly, etc.). She will also create a schedule and make sure things run as smoothly as possible. This is a huge relief because I’m pretty sure I’ll be an emotional bundle of nerves, so the last thing I want to hear is that there aren’t enough table settings, or that Granny’s gone missing. I just don’t want to know!! Your wedding planner should essentially be your fairy godmother.
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Did you consider hiring a wedding coordinator?
I hired all of the vendors myself and made a lot of DIY projects, but I hired a day-of coordinator to step in the weekend of the wedding. She help set up the final timeline, email it out to vendors, etc. etc. And the day of the wedding she was invaluable. So worth it!
My venue has a wedding coordinator and I’m hoping that she will be as amazing as one that I would pay for myself.
Hiring a wedding coordinator was the best money we spent, can’t recommend it enough!
I’ve heard great things about An English Rose!
We couldn’t swing a DOC but there is coordinator included in my package at the windsor, as well as a coordinator nun at the chapel so I’m hoping things will go smoothly.
great tips!! i am considering getting a day of coordinator for my NJ wedding
anyone have any recommendations or price ranges for a DOC in nj//nyc
thanks!!
we’ve got a weekend of girl that i know will be worth her weight in gold…
My venue is a whole “package deal” and came with a wedding coordinator. They are taking care of the venue, set up, chairs, tables, linens, catering, hiring waitstaff, door greetings etc., and make sure the day goes smoothly. I found the photographer, bakery for cake, florist, and musicians myself. My coordinator will not really deal with my photographer but when the day comes closer, they will step in and let the florist, baker and musicians where to set up, how many tables for arrangements etc and take over from that point on.
@fashionlove: Hmm I don’t know of any ones specifically in NYC/NJ but maybe you can start by searching for planners on TheKnot or WeddingWire? I typed in a random NYC zip code and got the results for you below;
http://www.theknot.com/Vendors/Manhattan-Wedding-Planners/Profiles/WCS/091
http://www.weddingwire.com/shared/Search?l=y&cid=15&geo=10001&hp=y
Also like the other ladies, maybe check to see if your venue offers a day of coordinator (sometimes this may even be the caterer). Good luck!
@panda: Are you considering hiring a planner or a DOC?
Our venue provides us with a day of wedding coordinator. Best.Thing.Ever.
I definitely recommend a planner. We worked with one at the zoo who has now branched out on her own. Made my day a piece of cake
Miss Mongoose, New Haven, CT Age and Occupation: 28, Digital Advertising Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Business Development Engagement Date: November 19th, 2011 Wedding Date: May 2013 Venue: Hotel Nelligan in Montreal, CA About Me: I was born and raised in Queens, NY (though you would never know due to my lack of a "real" New York accent) but currently live in Connecticut with my fiance. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a crazy obsession for planning and organizing things, so it comes as no surprise that I'm currently obsessed with planning our wedding. I love dancing, music, traveling, reading fiction novels, cooking, the color blue, cupcakes, all things space science-related and TV shows created by Joss Whedon and J.J. Abrams. My fiance and I have been together for seven years and are so excited to finally get married next year. We are planning a peacock-themed destination wedding in Montreal, one of our favorite cities in the world, with 100 or so of our closest family and friends. While we may look very different on the outside, we have eerily similar personalities (probably due to the fact that we share the exact same birthday) and share very similar passions. But above all else, we love each other and love to have FUN!!!
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