7 Questions You Should Ask a Potential Wedding Planner

#1. What is your educational background? Wedding planners can have all sorts of education. Some of them majored in Event Management or Design, others have a degree that has nothing to do with wedding planning. You should also ask if they are a certified wedding planner.

#2. How long have you been working and how many weddings have you planned? Education is important, but experience is even more important. Maybe they don't have a college degree, but their extensive practical experience makes up for it. It's great if they have a portfolio and can provide references.

#3. How many weddings will you be planning in my wedding month? Of course, you are expecting to have their full attention on your wedding day. Most wedding planners do attend the wedding to make sure everything runs smoothly. However, you shouldn't expect that you are going to be their only client. Most wedding planners are working with several couples at the same time. You need to make sure they don't have too much on their plate during the planning process.

#4. What is the average size and budget of the weddings you plan? Different wedding planners have different budgets they are used to working with. If the planner mostly plans big expensive weddings, and you want to have a small wedding and cut your expenses as much as possible, it is not going to work. We suggest that you choose a planner who is used to working slightly below your budget.

#5. Do you have any vendors in mind? A good wedding planner has connections and can suggest venues and vendors. However, if the wedding planner insists that you book only the vendors they recommend and doesn't care for your opinions and suggestions, it's not a good sign. You should also ask them how vendor meetings are doing to be handled.

#6. How do you communicate with clients? Communication with your wedding planner is the key to a successful wedding. Some planners like do discuss things over the phone or via e-mail, while others prefer personal meetings. Some contact their clients about every detail, while others prefer to wait and discuss several issues at once. It is important that you are comfortable with their style of communication.

#7. How do you charge for your work? Most wedding planners charge about 10% to 15% of the wedding budget, but that's not always the case. Some charge by the hour or flat rate. You should also ask about the deposit required to book their services and about the additional expenses you should be aware of.

Of course, there are many more questions to be asked. The bottom line is, you need to discuss everything very thoroughly before hiring a wedding planner.