Just got engaged on April Fools day! yes my Fiance(oh wow I got one now) is a kidder.
I dont know where to begin. My fiances mother insists she wants or rather I shoudl want a wedding planner to help us plan the event since we are thinking just of the top of our heads we will be having 400 guests.
however, she hasnt mentioned helping pay for the wedding I know my family will help (parents) but shouldnt she too since 200 plus guests are hers?
Umm my FIance(like that word:)) says he knows for sure his parents will help pay and since its understood she hasnt mentioned it.
Geez I hope so.
Is anyone here using a planner from beginning to end? Can I do this on my own with help ofcours from my mother inlaw? Im so sure she will be involved.
Ok any help or suggestions are welcomed.
sophie78
Posted:
Member since
Re: hi Im new here!!:)
I had a fancy wedding but decided not to use a wedding planner. In retrospect, it would have cost a minimum of $15,000. So instead I used that money other places. I think a planner is good for someone who doesn't want to plan a wedding. If you want to plan it yourself, I wouldn't get one. Instead, I hired a well known floral designer who coordinated the lighting, linens, and flowers. In a way, he did the job of the wedding planner.
csorisi
Posted:
Member since
Re: hi Im new here!!:)
It really depends what is going on in your life for the next year. If you think you can plan a wedding then it is really up to you. Although you FI says that his parents will help the first thing that you have to find out is how much each side is going to help w/o that you have no idea what your budget will be or how much you will have to contribute yourself. Good luck--although it is hard to ask for money from your parents it is really necessary to determine what you will be able to do and it will make the planning go easiser b/c there will be no questions later or fights w/ family or FI. Good luck and congrats!!!
Also alot of place have their own wedding coordinator to help you it is included in the price of the hall. Of course it depends on where you have it. Although I recommend using them for help especially if you want to plan your own wedding I wouldn't use them to buy anything since they are overpriced even though they make it seem like they aren't. I found out myself that they are overpriced by about 10-20% so just be careful.
MCDO15
Posted:
Member since
Re: hi Im new here!!:)
congrads and welcome to LIW... nobody bites here so don't be afriad to ask questions.
My friend got engaged on Apr 1st also but the next day, the ring was still on her finger and she couldn't of had it any other way
wedding planners are ok....you can do and organize everything yourself... we did
and LIW (long island wedding), we are your free and probally more caring people that will help you with your wedding.
Good luck
Mrs. dleeny
Posted:
Member since
Re: hi Im new here!!:)
Congrats and welcome!
The first thing you should do is have a get together with your folks and your future in laws to discuss who is paying for what. that's what a lot of the bridal magazines say.
SomethingBlu
Posted:
Member since
Re: hi Im new here!!:)
Welcome and congratulations! I definitely think that if you are organized and resourceful you can plan a fabulous wedding on your own, with the assitance of the wonderful ladies on this site. You can always have a planner for the day of (a Day of Coordinator) to ensure that all goes smothly that day. So yes, it's possible to do it alone. But there's nothing wrong with a little help, especially if you can affird it since they help you secure vendors, discounts and assist with every little detail (and there are lots). I have heard great things about Emerald Events and mv1003 (who helped me tremendously when I was in a jam) can possibly recommend people too, send her an FM - she's awesome.
Good luck and happy planning!
marymoon
Posted:
Member since
Re: hi Im new here!!:)
WELCOME! And CONGRATS!
I don't think you NEED a wedding planner. I prefer to book things myself. I don't think the # of guests has much to do with it. You're doing the same amount of planning whether you have 50 guests or 500. I think LIW is a great resource. You'll find TONS of ideas on here, and you have plenty of time to implement them. Plus there are halls and florists, etc who help ypu plan certain aspects of your wedding bc they include some event planning service. I think you can basically narrow everythingt down and get lots of ideas using the internet and book everything yourself.
Soon2BMrsA
Posted:
Member since
Re: hi Im new here!!:)
Congrats! I dont think you really need a wedding planner unless your schedule is so hectic that you wont have any time at all to meet with vendors.
You can do most of your research online, LIW will be a great resource!!! Just pace yourself and its really not all that bad.
You can always get a Day of Coordinator to help you out the day and week of your wedding so it wont cost you as much as a wedding planner would.
Good luck!
marymoon
Posted:
Member since
Re: hi Im new here!!:)
Also, I wanted to say you cna always vent to me about FMIL's!!!!!! And you're getting married on my 24th birthday
CJStein
Posted:
Member since
Re: hi Im new here!!:)
Welcome and congrats! I think it depends on what you want to do as far as the wedding coordinator. So many brides on this site have planned huge, gorgeous, weddings without the help of a planner, so I think it's totally doable with that large guest list of yours.
Good luck! This board is a great resource, definitely use it.
Danielle2207
Posted:
Member since
Re: hi Im new here!!:)
Congrats and welcome. First things first. figure on how much money you will have saved for all your vendors. You and your FH then will need to sit down with each of your parents and see how much they are willing to help. Once you know exactly how much money you have budgeted you can decide on whether or not you can afford a wedding planner. Wedding planners are a very nice thing to have, it makes your job easier however you do not have to have one. Planning the day can be a lot of fun on your own. Also the site is very helpful in finding good vendors. There are a lot of wonderful people here that can answer pretty much any question you may have. Good Luck and Happy Planning!!
Mrs. dleeny
Posted:
Member since
Re: hi Im new here!!:)
Posted by MCDO15
congrads and welcome to LIW... nobody bites here so don't be afriad to ask questions.
My friend got engaged on Apr 1st also but the next day, the ring was still on her finger and she couldn't of had it any other way
wedding planners are ok....you can do and organize everything yourself... we did
and LIW (long island wedding), we are your free and probally more caring people that will help you with your wedding.
Good luck
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE!! You guys are the BEST!
Katy06
Posted:
Member since
Re: hi Im new here!!:)
Wow! you guys are great!! so many replies!!!
YEs I think the best thing is for us to get together and sort it out. I will tell my Fiance (wow I love that word ) that we have to discuss the money!
Im so excited and Ill be spending the rest of the afternoon reading all the posts on these boards to get into bride mod.
Ive also posted on the vendor forums to see what the vendors have to say(coordinators)
Thanks guys:)
Katy06
Posted:
Member since
Re: hi Im new here!!:)
AM470 $15,000 for a weddingplanner holy cow!!!!
May05Bride
Posted:
Member since
Re: hi Im new here!!:)
Congratulations on your engagement! Wow, I can see you jumped right into planning!
If you have the money, I would DEFINATLY recommend a wedding planner. Throughout this planning, I have been engaged for 2 years, I really wished I had someone to take care of all the little details.
