anyone ever used a wedding planner?

[katierocket]

are they only for the really rich or do normal people use them too?

Hi Katie. I used to be a wedding co-ordinator in various venues accross the UK, and some of my bride and grooms did use wedding planners but generally only the 'rich' ones. The rest just usesd me to do most of the organising!

Are you thinking of hiring one?

message withdrawn

no, just thinking I'd like to be one!

I used a wedding planner and I am not rich in the sense you are thinking. I paid a woman called Siobhan Craven-Robins (who has since gone on to be a bit of a celeb wedding person) £600 to help me organise a trad marriage service in a London chapel followed by a reception in an art galery afterwards. I was living temporarily in N'hants at the time but didn't want to get married there and I didn't want my dad to be stressed (my mum had died the year before) by organisation. I didn't have Siobhan do the full monty like in that movie with J-Lo but she was brilliant in terms of getting a few different quotes for everything and most importantly saving us money. People think that having a wedding planner means you have to spend masses but that is not the case. As Siobhan was "repeat business" as it were you don't get the horrid wedding markup on many things like flowers and cars that suppliers charge as they figure you're only going to come to them once so there is no need to keep in your good books. We had already found our venue but she negotiated a much better price and was also able to say things like we didn't need so many serving staff so could save on them too. She did all the things like confirmation letters for the items she organised and left us to make the creative decisions ourselves. She helped us hire a van to go to France for booze, and also found a great video guy who stayed to the bitter end and got me and dh falling into a car at midnight, two of my best friends bashing into each other trying to catch the bouquet (my fave bit ). Yes, a wedding planner can be about a £20,000 dress and acres of hothouse roses, but I reckon there's a real niche out there for someone who will work hard to give a bride and groom a real value for money, special wedding with clever ideas whether it's trad or funky and modern. Good luck Katie Rocket, I would say go for it - just remember you have to be stunningly organised and incredibly tactful.

where is beccarollover when you need her!