Wedding planners......would you hire one?

I am thinking about opening a shop in my local area. stocking card, paper, envelopes, etc so brides and grooms could make their own stationery. I would also stock favour boxes and table decorations, vases, silk flowers, etc, etc. I have had an eBay for 2 years, selling hand made stationery and I would also offer this service from the shop.

I was also thinking of offering wedding planning services, ranging from planning the whole day to just planning little things like table decorations.

My question is would anybody actually pay for a wedding planning service? Do you know anyone who has hired a planner in the past? How much did they charge and most importantly......were they any good??

Thanks in advance guys :-)

Wedding planners......would you hire one?
I think its a great idea. If its something you enjoy then why not go for it? Not everyone hires a wedding planner because some people can't afford it but plenty of people do. Do a local search in your area to see how much competition you may have. Market yourself well. Ads in the paper, go to as many bridal shows as possible, buddy up with some wedding venues in the area and some bridal boutiques.



A couple suggestions maybe? Be careful of offering too many services. If you are great at personalized invitations then maybe stick to that or offer invites and assistance with centerpeices instead of invites, centerpeices, entire wedding, etc. If you get a lot of business doing invites and then are asked to plan one or two entire weddings you may end up stretching yourself too thin, especially when just starting out. Good luck on any of your ventures!
Reply:I guess if people can afford to they will
Reply:Haha! I love how like half the people didn't read the extra information and told you not to get a wedding planner.



If you live in a larger, busy city, great idea.

Otherwise, your business may not flourish as much as you'd like.
Reply:I think so, yes, definately, who wouldnt want to have there wedding planned for them, i think its a great idea, being flexible with the services that you offer can only be a good thing as it appeals to alot more people. I should imagine only more well off people can afford a planning service, but your service could appeal to everyone, no matter what budget they have. i say go for it! there will most likely be other wedding planner websites that you can learn from and take inspiration from, and the people that run these sites are the best people to talk to. good luck!
Reply:I think you have a really good idea there Claire, but I personally would not hire one. My wife and I enjoyed putting our wedding together ourselves and we have a great many memories from doing so. Sorry.
Reply:There is a market for wedding planners, but I dont they are the same people who would go to your shop. You are selling envelopes and silk flowers; any bride shopping for these items on her own is doing something DIY and probably already planning her own wedding- and enjoying it.

I know I wouldnt have had hired a planner if I had all the money in the world, because I enjoyed the research, the decisions, the DIY.

I just think your two ideas are in different markets.
Reply:I live in DFW and there is a HUGE section in the phone book(s) for wedding planners. There is a market for them, however with any small business there are risks that I'm sure your well aware of. I know that when I get married I will definately be hiring a wedding planner, and I doubt my ceremony will have more than 100 people. I'm just horrible with details and I don't know anything about throwing a wedding. I would be more than willing to pay for some one to handle those details for me so I can enjoy my special day and the days leading up to it.



I don't know anyone who has hired a wedding planner because all the people I know who are married got a 'shotgun wedding'. Just went to the Justice of the Peace and got married like that. (I may live in a big city now, but it wasn't always that way haha) As for cost, I think it really depends on the service being offered. If your planning an entire 500 people wedding then that's obviously going to be more than if your just helping with invites or something for a smaller wedding. I would look around at other people who are in the wedding planning business and see what they charge for what they do and go from there. Google would be a great place to start to look for things like that. Good luck!
Reply:I can tell you from personal experience that wedding planning is ROUGH.



I used to be an EVENT (not just weddings) planner for a winery. My job was supposed to be simply to coordinate the event with the caterer %26amp; the musicians (telling them when %26amp; where to set up, etc), arrange seating at the venue, oversee activities AT the winery on the day of event, etc, etc, etc.

What I REALLY ended up doing was actually having to hold some women's hands through the entire ordeal of planning and preparation of the ceremony! I ended up being there for rehearsals, dinner plannings, floral delivery (and even selection!), and on and on. It was quite horrifying to have some hysterical woman call me and start screaming because she didn't like her cake or her "girls" (i.e., brides maids) didn't like the cut or color of the dress she chose or whatever. Like I had ANYTHING to do with it!

So DO consider the fact that this may happen with you as well....and be prepared for it.



As for the storefront idea, I think THAT is fantastic. You could offer all SORTS of ideas from open stock purchase to design, to actually MAKING the items. I think THAT in itself would keep you busier than you could handle.
Reply:i dont think i would, its an extra expense on top of something that costs a fortune.
Reply:Noooooooo you want the wedding to be about you and him, not what someone thinks you want!!!!!!!
Reply:I personally wouldn't as I really enjoyed the planning stages, my husband and I planned the whole day and the research was all part of the fun. I would use all the other services except the planning itself. Best wishes!
Reply:I know quite a few people who have hired wedding planners and they have said that there good because they take the stress of the big day
Reply:I would never hire a wedding planner when I can do it myself. Anyone can do it themselves, why pay someone else to do it for you. What a bunch of baloney
Reply:yep i would if i was rich and if i wasnt already married
Reply:As a wedding DJ for over 20 years I can say this....While there is a market for wedding planners and indeed some feel the need for them, more often than not you're better off planning the event yourself. Why? Because then YOU have control..not someone else. Any good wedding pro(DJ, Photographer, Caterer, etc.) can help you plan your wedding. It's what we do and our fees include that service. Yes, wedding coordinators can relieve stress....for a price. And that's usually 5-20% above and beyond what you're paying for the other professional's services(wedding coordinators always charge you a commission based on what the vendors will get for their services.) I've also seen them back out of events and leave their brides high and dry.

Ultimately, the choice is in the customer's hands. If you're starting your business, the I wish you sincere good luck. Maybe we'll work together sometime.
Reply:The people that hire a wedding planner: rich people, busy people, lazy people



The people that don't hire a wedding planner: those on a budget, those who are creative and want to do everything themselves



A lot of people do hire wedding planners, but a lot of people don't, as well. It partially depends upon the area you live.



Here's the deal: the cheaper you are, the more you will get hired. As long as you are good. A lot of wedding planner's fee is a certain percentage of what the couple pays for the wedding as a whole. You could start by 10%. This means if you help them plan a $5000 wedding, you'll only get $500 but if you plan a $100,000 wedding, you will get $10,000. The more work the wedding planner puts into it generally, in this case, the more they make. Then you can also have a fee. This will be a set amount regardless of the cost of the wedding. You will spend way more time than it's worth on some weddings and others will be a breeze for what you are getting paid. How much you decide to charge will depend upon your experience, your contacts, the area you will be working in, etc. I would look up some wedding planners in your area in the phone book, and call to see what THEY charge. Then you can base what you charge off of that. Just remember, you will be starting a business, so you might want to make it a little cheaper.



Good luck!
Reply:hmmm this is hard to say because i believe it depends in what area you'll have the shop. Im sure people would use it but i dont know if business would be booming! Hallmark stores do half of what you want to do. However i live in NJ and there are plenty of places like your idea - and well they must be making some money becasue they are still around...
Reply:I think it's a cool idea to offer the planning in a variety of forms. Many people want to do things themselves, but may need advice or help with some things that they just have no clue about or no time to handle. I think that would set you apart from the other planners. I know I wouldn't want to pay someone to do everything, but I could certainly think of some things I'd rather let someone else deal with.
Reply:I've been married twice, and I never used a wedding planner, prefering to do it all myself...wasn't difficult at all. I had a list of all the things needed and a time frame. For my first wedding, a formal one I....



1 booked reception hall %26amp; church ,organist and officiant (this included selection of menu %26amp; cocktail hr, floating bar)

2 booked photographer....ordered invitations %26amp; thank you cards from him, along with favors (he offered this service-it was great)

3 booked florest/ordered all flowers needed

4 booked limo's

5 selected and ordered dress %26amp; accessories, and bride's maid's dresses

6 selected and ordered tuxes with the guys in tow

7 with fiance arranged and booked honeymoon %26amp; bridal suite in hotel for wedding night

8 payed for newspaper announcement in wedding section

9 bought bride's maids' gifts

10 bought wedding cake (thru reception hall services)

11 hired live band

12 went to all fittings for dress

13 sent out invites

14 showed up for shower %26amp; dress rehearsal

15 went trousseau shopping with my Mom %26amp; sister-fun!

16 Got married!



seems like a lot but I started a full year in advance and by the time six months before the wedding arrived I was completely set on arrangements....except for the dresses. They came in three weeks before the wedding so the fittings/alterations could be as close to the day as possible.



my wedding went off as smooth as silk.....all without a wedding planner.
Reply:I dont know anyone that has but i have hired one but thats because im getting married abroad %26amp; it works out easier!

I think i would definately consider it if i was getting married here.



Would you email me your ebay shop please- i need some invitations and stuff. Thanks!
Reply:NO, Do it yourself, your be more happy after and look back at what YOU achieved!



Have a great day