This is a question many young couples wonder about when they begin planning for that big day. The answer is not the same for every couple. How you answer the following questions can help you decide weather or not you need the help of a professional.

1. Do you, or some one in your family have the time?

Lack of time is the most common reason for hiring a professional. Arranging a large wedding can feel like a full time job. There are so many little details needing to be taken care of. Wedding Coordinators have done this before, they know what questions to ask, and what details must not be overlooked. They are skilled managers, negotiators and mediators and are able to take the worry and frustrations out of arranging your big day.

2. How soon is the wedding?

This question relates directly to the one above. If you start planning your wedding a year in advance it will be much easier to find the necessary time to complete the planning yourself.On the other hand if your fiancée pops the question over Christmas or on Valentine’s day and you set your sites on a summer wedding. You may want to consider hiring some help even if it is for only part of the planning.

3. Is the wedding being held in the same town as you are currently living?

Holding a wedding away from where you reside is the most compelling reason for needing to hire a professional. Whether you are planning your wedding in the town you grew up in or at a vacation destination. You will find that having someone local looking after your interests can be invaluable.

4. Does the wedding venue you are considering have an event planner on staff that can assist you?

Some venues that do a lot of weddings or events will have their own event planner on staff. If they do, interview them to find out what assistance they can give you. If the venue can take care of a lot of the details, and you are happy with their style of doing things, then book them. Having your wedding in a location like this can save you a lot of time, possibly eliminating the need for a coordinator. Make sure you ask if they will be available during the wedding to take care of any unexpected problems. Also ask for a list of references for the services not provided by the venue. Example: florist, musicians and decorators. By using people that are familiar with the location you are less likely to run into problems due to miscommunication, as the vendor and the wedding site will already have an established working relationship.

5. “Can we afford a Wedding Coordinator”?

The answer to this is question is yes, more often than you would think. Many couples, when arranging their own wedding, end up overspending from their original budget. In some cases quite considerably. The role of a wedding coordinator is to work within your budget providing strict financial control of your wedding expenses. It is their job to find the services you need without exceeding that budget. They will also have many contacts with in the wedding industry, often receiving a much better rate on services than you could expect. These savings can be passed on to you. Consequently, the real cost of using a wedding co-ordinator can be much less than you would think.

Wedding co-ordinators may charge hourly, a flat fee or a percentage of the total wedding cost. No matter how they charge it is money well spent. Many couples feel that they will lose control of their wedding preparations if they engage the service of a wedding co-ordinator. This is not true. A wedding co-ordinator is hired to serve you and will be receptive to your own needs, ideas and style, so long as you communicate them clearly. They will do everything they can to plan the wedding that you desire.

Wedding co-ordinators are also a terrific resource of ideas to help make your wedding unique and different. They keep track of all the details and advise you of all deposits, payment schedules, appointments and delivery dates, assuring that nothing is overlooked or forgotten.

So if you have decided that hiring a Wedding Coordinator is right for you, here a few more points you should consider.

1. Establish what the wedding co-ordinator charges and get it in writing, along with a list of the tasks that the co-ordinator is to be responsible for.
   
2. Ask the names of at least two couples whom the wedding co-ordinator has recently worked for and contact them for a reference.
   
3. Tell your wedding co-ordinator about any special requirements or ideas you would like incorporated in your wedding day.
   
4. Let your wedding co-ordinator know what your total budget is. You may wish his or her guidance at establishing how to distribute the total budget over all the items needed for the wedding. But this should be decided upon at your first planning meeting.
   
5. Let your co-ordinator know about any difficult family situations you have so they can anticipate the likely problems and have solutions ready.