Wedding Planners

Those who have hired a wedding planner know that for all its happiness, passion, romance and excitement, preparing for a wedding can also be a daunting task, which requires a lot of hard work and decision-making. Many people are willing to shell out extra money to a wedding planner in order to avoid the hassling with hundreds of details so they can concentrate more on the romantic side of their relationships.

That is why around the world, wedding planners have a growing business catering to potential couples needing help with organizing their weddings.

According to a study by the Association of Bridal Consultants, the number of demand for wedding planners has doubled from seven percent to fifteen percent in the past three years.

In the United States alone, there are more than 2.5 million weddings planned for 2007. A study made by iVillage reveals that a wedding planner's professional fee is usually 10 to fifteen percent of the total cost of the wedding. A result of the 2000 Bride's Magazine survey shows that in the United States, average wedding cost is $19,000.

So, what does a wedding planner do? The wedding planner takes care of all aspects of the event. These duties include but are not limited to supervising the caterer, florists, entourage, choreographers, fashion designers, musicians and photographers.

Wedding planners closely coordinate with the couple and their families. They are constantly engaging with the couple and family about the details of the wedding. Wedding planners should have excellent communication and people skills.

They should have extreme patience in paying attention to the tiniest details and in dealing with people who constantly change their decisions. Wedding planners need to be good negotiators because they not only negotiate with the couple but with other business establishments as well like flower shops, hotels, resorts, churches and photography studios.

Wedding planners also need to be very creative. Many wedding planners design the gown and the general decorations themselves as opposed to outsourcing the work to other businesses. Their job is to translate the client's wants to artistic presentations. Wedding planners also should also be very good researchers and widely read as they need to take into account religious, cultural and traditional considerations.

Many wedding planners advertise themselves in newspapers, magazines and on the Internet. There are also many wedding planner associations across the country and around the world like the Association for Wedding Professionals International. It is important that a couple retains the most qualified and experienced wedding planner possible so they get the most out of the money they are spending.

Remember, the wedding is an expensive undertaking. You should check on the wedding planner's portfolio to know how many and who they have served and know who their connections are (like if they have tie ups with credible designers and caterers). Wedding planners with vast networks can give you great deals like cheaper hotel and resort packages, catering freebies, entertainers during your reception and many more perks.

It would also be good if you know of some references from the people who have availed themselves of the wedding planner's services and ask for their evaluation. There is nothing better than recommendations from other satisfied clients. Qualified and forthcoming wedding planners will be more than happy to supply this information to their clients.

Wedding planners allow the couple to relax and enjoy the event as it unfolds without worrying over the details. The wedding is and should be all about the couple and wedding planners lift the burden from the couple's shoulders so that they can enjoy the happiest beginning to the rest of their lives.