Hiring a wedding planner is one of the best decisions you can make for a smooth, stress-free planning process. They’re not just your dedicated ally but also a seasoned wedding professional with the expertise to guide you every step of the way. From managing your budget to coordinating with vendors and handling contracts, a wedding planner is your go-to problem solver. 

Your wedding planner also plays a crucial role in bringing your vision to life. While planning tools like notebooks and apps may help keep you organized, they can only take you so far. This is where a wedding planner steps in to take the reins, ensuring no detail is overlooked. Hiring a planner is such a valuable investment in your big day that we’ve even created a comprehensive guide outlining exactly why they’re essential.

Your planner doesn’t need to mirror your personality exactly, but they should be someone you jive with and can communicate with easily and effectively. Trusting them to manage both the small details and the larger, unexpected challenges is key. The perfect balance lies in a mix of professional expertise and a personal connection. This ensures they’re qualified and feel like the right fit for you. So, with a gentle nudge from us to hire that planner, here’s our foolproof guide to ensuring you and your wedding planner are the perfect match. 

Here’s every question to ask when hiring your wedding planner!

Availability & Scheduling

• Are you available for my wedding date?
• How far in advance should I book with you?
• What does your typical wedding planning timeline look like?

Get To Know Your Wedding Planner

• How long have you been a wedding planner?
• Where can I view your most recent portfolio?
• Are there reviews or references from other clients and couples I can see?
• What do you enjoy most about planning weddings?
• How would you describe your planning style?
• How do you approach the flow of the day for both you and us?

Pricing, Packages, & Payments

• What type of services do you provide and what is included in the different packages you offer?
• Considering my wedding, do you recommend month-of/day-of coordination, partial planning, or full planning?
• When does your month-of/day-of coordination package begin and what is included in it?
• Do your packages include coordination of the rehearsal?
• What is your pricing structure?
• Is there a deposit, and when is the final payment due?
• Are there any additional fees I should be aware of?
• Can you work within our budget?

Destination Weddings

• Do you plan destination weddings? 
• What are your travel and accommodation costs? 
• Are there specific travel terms I should know about?

Questions for Compatibility

• What is your guiding principle for the wedding day?
• Can you walk me through your planning process?
• I have specific ideas for something – can we execute these?
• Are there any ideas you will not execute or is there anything you don’t do on a wedding day?
• What is your preferred method of communication?
• How often will we be communicating?
• Will we have meetings, and will those be in-person, over the phone, or virtual?

Express Your Concerns

• How do you handle unexpected situations, such as changes in the schedule or weather conditions?
• What happens if a vendor cancels?
• In the event of an emergency, what is your backup plan? What happens if you are sick?
• I am feeling worried or stressed about something specific. How can we address that early on?

Utilize Their Experience

• Do you have a preferred list of vendors?
• Can I choose my own vendors?
• Do you communicate with vendors or do I?
• I’m not sure what to do about this specific decision. What do you recommend?
• Have you worked at my wedding venue before?
• If you’ve worked with my venue before, is there anything else you would suggest?
• My venue offers a coordinator. Why should I also hire you? What do you do that they don’t?
• My venue offers a coordinator. How would you work with them? What do you do that they don’t?

Logistics & Wedding Day Details

• Do you work by yourself or do you have a planning team?
• How many people will be dedicated to my wedding? How many team members will be there the day of?
• What time will you or your staff arrive, and what time will you finish?
• Can we provide you and your team with meals?
• When and where would you prefer to eat?
• Do you coordinate and facilitate vendor deliveries, setups, arrivals, and break downs?
• If vendor deliveries occur on a different day, is your on-site presence included in the package I’m most interested in?
• What should I do if I need you on the day of the wedding?

Contract & Policies

• Can I receive an itemized list of everything included in my chosen package and a contract for these services?
• What is your refund policy if the wedding is rescheduled or canceled?
• Do you offer any other pre- or post-wedding guidance or services?
• Do you submit your weddings to online magazines or blogs?

A special thanks to Joyful Events by Jade for contributing their expertise to this post!