Ok, I know what you’re thinking… there’s no way I can afford to hire J Lo to plan my wedding when I already have to pay for … THE WEDDING!!! I hear you, I was thinking the same thing until I read what Jo Martindale at Champink Weddings and Events had to say about it. Jo, is an expert herself. At Champink Weddings they have over twelve years’ experience planning events and bespoke weddings. It might be that you actually can’t afford NOT to have one. Here’s what our expert has to say…

Chances are, you fall into one of two camps in the wedding world: Excited about every little detail and can’t wait to get planning; or: Can’t wait to get married but dreading the planning.

So, you’ve taken the plunge; said ‘yes’ and got a shiny new ring on your finger. Now it’s time for the fun to begin. Chances are, you fall into one of two camps in the wedding world: Excited about every little detail and can’t wait to get planning; or: Can’t wait to get married but dreading the planning.

Whichever of these you fall into, a Wedding Planner is a fantastic and worthwhile service to include in your budget. In fact, a wedding planner can sit down with you and help you work out your budget for all the required and desired aspects of your wedding! A wedding planner takes the stress out of everything, can help execute your creative wedding day vision, or can help you tap into one if you’re struggling with ideas.

With the average wedding taking between two hundred to two hundred and fifty hours to plan, many couples can find this time consuming task along with running their own busy day to day lives overwhelming.

There are hours of research, to do lists, tasks, follow ups, emails and phone calls, invites, bookings, planning, setting up and so much more. You have to be creative, organised and have attention to detail and most importantly, have the passion and flare to do it.

There are people who are trained to do this. Wedding Planners. US. You will never plan an event as big as this one in your whole lifetime, unless you are also a paid professional. Since you leave buying a house to an estate agent, prescribing medication to your GP, and fixing your car to a mechanic, your wedding shouldn’t be where you experiment on DIY.

So whatever your vision, we will help you turn it into reality in any way we can. Whether you simply want to hire decorations assistance with your guest management; want help with securing a venue or suppliers, or want the whole wedding planning service, we can do it all. We’ll assist with as much or as little of your planning journey as you require. Using all our wedding planning knowledge and skills, we can get you the best deal and give you a day to remember.

Many couples worry or think that a wedding planner is too costly, but a good wedding planner with the right connections can actually help you to keep the costs down.

Many couples worry or think that a wedding planner is too costly, but a good wedding planner with the right connections can actually help you to keep the costs down. For instance, we work with preferred suppliers, which means we often get services/items at a lower rate. We’re also a dabhand at negotiating prices with external suppliers plus we can match the perfect suppliers to you and your big day.

 It’s important not to get us mixed up with a wedding venue coordinator, however. While useful, a wedding venue coordinator will only deal with venue-related requirements; we wedding planners deal with the whole shebang!

Picture this: … Your suppliers have arrived and deliveries made, guests are happy and you arrive at your ceremony venue relaxed, calm and happy and enjoy every aspect of your day thereafter. 

  Another thing to take into account is your experience on the day. Picture this:  You wake up on the day of your wedding, have breakfast, then sit back with a glass of fizz and have your hair done, safe in the knowledge someone else is at the venue, ensuring everything is in place and it looks exactly as you want it. Your suppliers have arrived and deliveries made, guests are happy and you arrive at your ceremony venue relaxed, calm and happy and enjoy every aspect of your day thereafter. 

Everyone should have the luxury of a wedding planner, so if you are on a smaller budget and the full wedding package isn’t for you, wedding planners often have a ‘Partial Planning Package’ which allows you to plan your wedding in the way you want, then have the luxury of handing over the stress and organisation during the the last six to eight weeks in the lead up to the big day. This would include: 

•     Chasing guests, 

•    Liaising with suppliers

•    Creating (and sticking to) a timeline for the day

•    Ensuring all contracts have been fulfilled and payments have been made

•     Last minute décor and jobs

•    Attending the day to ensure everything runs smoothly

Don’t forget, no matter what your budget, we can help you realise your dream wedding!

   The amount of things you have to remember when planning a wedding and budgeting for them is what can make it feel stressful, but with our expertise, enthusiasm and passion, we will help the whole thing go like a dream! 

Thanks so much Jo for your expertise and insight! It really does make sense to hire someone who is a trained professional for the biggest event of our lives. AND the fact that wedding planners are able to negotiate great deals, have all the personal contacts and know the ins and outs of the wedding world seems to make it feel like a no brainer. If you are getting married locally in one of the four counties of Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, or Cambridgeshire, be sure to check out Champink Weddings and Events to see all the ways they can help you plan your wedding!

Has anyone used a wedding planner for all or part of your wedding planning? How were they helpful? Would you recommend them to other brides? Tell us about it in the comments below!