There are many ideas people have when thinking about wedding planners. Some feel they are completely necessary to get through the wedding planning process, while others feel they are not needed or may not be the best option. Here are 3 myths we are busting today about wedding planners.
They make executive decisions for your wedding and are in control.
Not at all! Wedding planners can add value to your wedding with guidance and advising you. Wedding planners are here to keep you organized and on track for everything to be ready to go for your wedding. A wedding planner should never be making decisions for your wedding without your approval. At the end of the day, the wedding planner works for you. Even if your idea is a terrible idea, a wedding planner may try to persuade you into an alternative option, but if your mind is made up (and legal/permitted), then ultimately the wedding planner needs to allow you to make the call.
I don’t need a wedding planner because my friends and family can help DIY everything.
Wedding planning certainly took a change when Pinterest became a thing. With Pinterest and YouTube allowing folks easy access to learn new skills including crafting and designing, it’s not always the best option to save a buck and DIY your wedding. Your wedding is so much more than setting up the pretty stuff, you also will be spending the day with your loved ones. This will likely be the only day in your entire life that this group of people will be in the same room. You should focus on the special time with those you love. A wedding planner can alleviate many of the responsibilities on your plate so you can enjoy the social aspect of your wedding. They also may know quicker ways to finish tasks.
Wedding planners are only an option for those with a large wedding budget.
Wedding planners can work in any kind of budget! Planners are happy to work with couples no matter the size or cost of wedding. You can also customize the services the planner will provide from you. Some will be by your side from the moment of proposal to the end of your reception, while some work only with you on the day of to make sure everything is happening as it should. If you are curious on what kind of planning is right for you and your budget, we’d love to give you a free consultation today!
There is a lot to do when it comes to putting together a wedding. Even if you hire a wedding planner who’s taking care of the little fine details, there are some tasks your planner just can’t simply do. Getting these tasks done does not mean you have to tackle them all yourself however. Your bridal party, family, and friends should be happy to help you take care of the little things. But the question is, who does what? Truly, it is up to you. However, we’re providing you with a list to guide you on who you can ask to help you.
Maid of Honor:
Serve as the leader of the bridesmaids; coordinating luncheons and fittings
Plans/Finances the bridal shower, with assistance of bridesmaids
Plans/Finances the bachelorette party, with assistance of bridesmaids
Lists who gave gifts for future thank you cards during showers and parties
Assists in wedding tasks such as addressing invitations, managing guests lists, etc.
Serves as emotional support of the bride throughout the wedding planning process and on the wedding day
Holds the bride’s bouquet during the wedding ceremony
Holds a tissue for the bride during the ceremony
Makes sure the bride’s train is photogenic during the ceremony and during photos
Serves as a witness on wedding certificate
Helps with cleanup of gifts, decor, etc. after the wedding reception
Bridesmaid
Finances/Assists in the planning and set up of bridal shower
Finances/Assists in the planning and set up of bachelorette party
Assists in wedding tasks such as addressing invitations, managing guests lists, etc.
Serves as emotional support of the bride throughout the wedding planning process and on the wedding day
Attend fittings, luncheons, and any other pre-wedding events
Helps with cleanup of gifts, decor, etc. after the wedding reception
Best Man
Serve as the leader of the groomsmen; coordinating luncheons and fittings
Supports the groom in wedding planning tasks
Plans/Finances the bachelor party, with assistance of groomsmen
Serves as emotional support of the groom throughout the wedding planning process and on the wedding day
Holds the rings during the ceremony until it is time for them to be exchanged
Serves as a witness on wedding certificate
Helps with cleanup of gifts, decor, etc. after the wedding reception
Groomsmen
Assists the best man with planning/financing bachelor party
Serves as emotional support of the groom throughout the wedding planning process and on the wedding day
Attend fittings, luncheons, and any other pre-wedding events
Helps with cleanup of gifts, decor, etc. after the wedding reception
Parents typically help financially with weddings, however, finances are always a touchy subject, especially given the costs of weddings. It is best practice to speak with your parents/family early on about what they can contribute.
The wedding ceremony is the part of your wedding that most people will pay close attention to. Not only is it important due to this, but also because of the symbolism for the start of your marriage. While there are many details to wedding ceremonies, the wedding processional is the biggest and most crucial detail to pay attention to.
What is a Wedding Processional? A wedding processional is the lineup of the bridal party, family members, and of course, the bride and groom that will walk down the aisle. This will include your bridesmaids and groomsmen, ring bearers, and flower girls. Many people find this to be a delicate task due to honoring the most important people in your life in a big way. There are many ways you can arrange your processional and luckily there is no right or wrong way. How it is done will depend on several factors.
The Officiant The Officiant is the person performing the ceremony. This can be a pastor, priest, minister, or just someone who is certified to be an officiant. You may also opt to have a special loved one perform the wedding ceremony, in which they can register online to become a minister very easily on sites such as The Universal Life Church. Typically the officiant is the first person to walk the aisle at the very beginning of the ceremony. They may come out alone or with the groom.
The Groom The Groom is the one role in the entire ceremony that has the most options for coming down the aisle. They may walk down with the officiant, with their parents/mother, or with all of the groomsmen in a line. The decision of who they are walking with will determine at what point they should walk down the aisle.
Parents/Grandparents Some couples want to incorporate their parents in the wedding ceremony. Some may even choose to have their grandparents walk down the aisle if they are able to. If you would like to include your family members in your processional, there are a few ways to do this. If grandparents are included, they will typically go first, followed by parents. If anyone has mobility issues, or walking alone, you can arrange for a sibling who’s not in the bridal party escort them to their seat or have someone in the bridal party do so and sneak back around.
Parents can be done in a number of ways. The groom may walk up with his mother, with his father already seated, or he can walk down the aisle with both of them. Traditionally, the bride’s father will walk the bride down to give her away, however this isn’t always the case. Sometimes both of her parent’s will walk with her or not at all. The mother can also walk down the aisle alone during the ceremony, with the groom’s mother, or be escorted by a loved one. The key is to have family members walk down the aisle before the bridal party begins.
The Bridal Party There are two main ways to have your bridesmaids and groomsmen walk down the aisle during your processional. The most traditional way is to pair the groomsmen and bridesmaids together and have them walk down in opposite order of their stance on stage, meaning the best man and maid of honor will walk down the aisle last, but will be standing closest to the bride and groom.
The second way option for your bridal party to walk down the aisle is to have all of the groomsmen walk up together with the groom, and have the bridesmaids walk out one at a time, solo. If you opt for this, the men will walk out in order of which they are standing and the women would walk out in reverse order.
Ring Bearer/Flower Girl Children in a wedding can always bring a special touch to a wedding, especially if they have a sweet connection with the couple. Traditionally the ring bearers and flower girls will walk down the aisle right before the bride. They may walk down together or separately, which can be decided through many factors. An example would be their ages and if they need the older children to help guide the younger ones and it is easier to keep them together. If you are sending them down the aisle separately, traditionally, the ring bearer would go first, so that the flower girl(s) can lay the pedals for only the bride (and her father) to walk on. Additionally, you do not need both a ring bearer AND a flower girl, nor do you have to have either at all.
The Bride The one rule that really doesn’t have any wiggle room is that the bride is the grand finale of the processional. The bride may walk up with her father, parents, or alone. She may also choose to have someone else give her away such as a brother or other family member in the event her parents have passed or are not at the wedding. If being given away, the bride and her escort will stop at the end of the aisle and the officiant will ask who is giving this bride away, in which the escort will address (“I, her father, do”, “her mother and I do”, etc.).
How to have a Seamless Ceremony Holding a wedding rehearsal is crucial and very simple. Most rehearsals take 15-30 minutes depending on clarity of the processional order before the rehearsal and cooperation of all parties. If possible, avoid alcohol for the bridal party until the rehearsal is complete, as people will tend to get distracted, taking more time. In the rehearsal make sure everyone is aware of who they are walking with and in what order. They will also need to establish their marks of where to stand, and the speed in which they should walk down the aisle. Having a wedding planner or coordinator for the rehearsal is a great way to get through the rehearsal as a third party will have a better time getting everyone in order and make sure everyone has an understanding of their part in the ceremony, so the only hitch to go off will be yours and your mates.
