Wedding planner - is it worth it?

[OTheHugeManatee]

It's looking as though our wedding next year will be 150-180 people including children. My family mostly lives in France these days, DP's parents are 300 miles away, he has a demanding job with lots of travel and I juggle work and a p/t professional training. There's also a decent chance that we'll be buying a house together between now and the wedding.

Wedding planners seem expensive, especially as I've got event organising experience and quite like that kind of thing. But given all the other demands on my and DP's time over the next year I'm sorely tempted. What do you all think? Did you use a planner/coordinator? Is it worth it?

I suppose if you want a really poncey wedding they are worth it. But otherwise, there isn't that much to do - somewhere to have it, a photographer, and something to wear each. Everything else is frippery

If you go to a single venue which offers an all-in package then the vast majority of the work is done for you - all that's left is frocks (which you have to do yourself) transport and photography. And you'd need to look round the venues in person anyway wouldn't you?

Oh and music, but again you couldn't let someone else choose that for you could you?

How much would a housebuyer cost? (you know, Kirsty Alsop type) that's the thing I'd outsource if I could, and they might even pay for themselves if they were a good haggler.

We've chosen a venue already - they don't do a package, so the organising will be up to us. That suits me as I have definite ideas about how I want things to look, and I've got event planning experience so am looking forward to the design/styling bit. It's more to make sure there's a first point of contact for caterers, deliveries, marquee people etc that isn't me, scheduling, and having someone on the day whose only job is making things run smoothly. I suspect there are lots of brides whose mothers effectively do this, but my mother (bless her) isn't really the organising sort so I fear it's either going to be me or a third party.

CMOT - I suspect the wedding I have in mind would definitely class as 'poncy' according to that definition

Then go for a wedding planner who you can just share your styling thoughts with and let them source and co-ordinate it all. Sounds like you'll be stressed if it isn't how you want it all to be, and the sort of venue that needs a lot of work.

I'm very much a 'don't sweat the small stuff' person, so chose an all in one venue to make it easy as dh and I did everything, and neither of us were bothered about colour themes or flowers.

A friend had this planner, and loved her:

www.purely-events.co.uk/

You and I sound the same, OP. I have some pretty specific ideas about how I want things to look, and our venue isn't a 'package' place, and I am planning a largeish wedding on a different continent. I am definitely getting a planner! Specifically I'll probably go for a 'day-of' coordinator, who sets up and manages things on the day. Having been involved as a bridesmaid in a very DIY wedding, I could see that it was a pretty hectic experience for the family and not one I'd wish to repeat at my own wedding, quite frankly.

A good wedding planner will have a wide range of contacts and should even be able to save you money. You need to find someone that you can trust - the relationship is really important if you are giving them responsibility for getting it right.

We got married in the UK but we don't live there, so had some fairly intensive but productive weekends. Although I had time to search and research online beforehand. I don't know if that helps.