As summer draws to a close, it seems that couples all around me are taking that next step and getting engaged.

It is an exciting time with all kinds of plans to make and decisions to ponder. I remember the time well… I just got married in June. I remember trying to decide whether to even have a wedding. I am immensely glad I did.

A wedding is a chance to celebrate your love with the people who helped the two of you reach this point. It can be as enormous or intimate as you want. As the cliché goes “It’s Your Big Day.”

In the event that you do decide to plan a wedding, no matter how big or small, the one mistake that I continually see brides make is thinking they can do it all themselves. While it can be done, after going through the whole process, I realize it shouldn’t be done.

So many people say make sure to relax on your wedding day, but as a guest or as a bridesmaid, I have witnessed brides having to fuss, cuss, fold and decorate on the morning of what was supposed to be their special day… and all because there wasn’t a person there to handle the details. An event professional can make your wedding day seamless, stress free and enjoyable.

Even I, an event professional, hired a competent wedding planner to handle my day-of coordination, and it made all the difference in the world. You may have a millions reasons why you can DIY… I have five reasons why you shouldn’t.

I am on a Budget: Your budget is the single most important element to planning this shindig. Unless you are getting married all the time, how can you know the costs associated with such an undertaking? A wedding professional can help you come up with a realistic look at how much it costs, ways to save and deals you don’t even have a clue about.

I have plenty of time to plan: Do you like sleeping? The details that can make your wedding seamless and unforgettable are endless… The hours in a day are not. Wedding professionals not only know what needs to be done; they are being paid to do it. Time management is an event professional’s forte, so why stress yourself with never-ending checklists and timelines?

I have friends and family who can help me: I love friends and family, but is everyone cut out to stuff envelopes, package favors or keep track of RSVPs? As helpful as they may be, they also have lives, and nothing can ruin a relationship more than being left out in the cold over programs or making sure the reception hall meets the bride’s expectations.

I can look online for everything I need: The Internet has a never-ending supply of resources for planning your wedding. What it cannot do is give you feedback on who you can trust, what is reliable or negotiate vendor terms for you. An experienced planner has a network of trusted vendors and the ability to keep things within the outlined budget.

I can use the day before to make sure everything is set up: Once the day of your wedding approaches, it can seem time has been put on fast-forward. The last minute details, if not prepared properly, can drive the bride, groom and their family crazy. The wedding party cannot decorate, coordinate, schedule vendors and expect to be ready for a ceremony. Let’s be realistic. A wedding planner can be the difference between a hectic wedding day and a seamless one by being the point of contact and coordinator of your day.

Remember that a wedding, no matter how small, requires planning and attention to detail. You are taking a huge step, building a family. The wedding is a celebration of that, so why spend the entire time in angst when you could trust a seasoned professional to create a memorable day. No, everyone doesn’t use a wedding professional, but if you ask brides who did, watch the smiles that come over their face as the recall their own ability to relax, enjoy and simply be a bride.

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Kelley Carboni-Woods is the owner of Splendid Soirees (www.splendidsoirees.com) in Charlotte. Phone: (704) 807-2613

 

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