Many brides don't think about getting a wedding coordinator until after the wedding is already over. Not every bride needs a wedding coordinator. If you are going to arrange your own wedding, you need to be extremely organized, responsible, and you should have plenty of time. Wedding planning takes time and that can be challenging, especially if you work full time. You'll also need several family members or friends who are willing to help; people who will help you along the way in addition to being coordinators on your wedding day. If you do not have all of these pieces, you might want to seriously consider getting a wedding coordinator. If you're anxious about incurring the extra cost of a wedding coordinator, know that wedding planners are experts in their field and are used to working within a budget. They can many times get better deals or rates for you because they have good relationships with vendors. You pay them to handle all the hidden details that you don't even know to consider. The role of your consultant varies depending on what you hire them to do. Coordinating and working with vendors, directing the rehearsal, assisting the wedding party and creating the wedding day itinerary are just a few of the duties a consultant can take on. Some wedding planners work exclusively with certain vendors and get x amount of dollars for each wedding they book for them. Make sure that if this is the case you are totally satisfied with the vendors your coordinator books. Some brides are willing and able to plan the wedding but need assistance on the day of the wedding to make certain everything proceeds smoothly. Your coordinator may be willing and able to assist you on the day of your wedding only; inquire about the fees and charges for only this service. Wedding planners have several methods of charging fees. They might require a percentage of your overall budget; they may bill you a lump sum based on their estimate of the time they work on your wedding[ or they may bill you by the hour. A good wedding coordinator is worth his/her weight in gold.
John has been a licensed and ordained minister for 41 years. He has served as wedding officiant for more than 1,000 <a href="http://www.mauime.com">Maui weddings</a> with his wedding planning business, Maui Me Inc. All of his ceremonies are original and he performed his first wedding 35 years ago. John has written almost 50 Christian books (which have been translated into eight languages). In addition to performing the ceremonies for <a href="http://www.affordablemauiweddings.com">Maui weddings</a>, he shoots most of the photography.