Whether you’re planning a small wedding or a large one, you’ve probably already crunched some numbers and wondered how you’ll stay on budget.
Perhaps you want to hire a wedding planner, but you don’t know if it is worth it.
Wedding planners charge a fee for their services (usually a flat fee, based on a percentage of your total budget). However, the benefits of hiring one can almost always outweigh the costs — even for small weddings.
So, if you’re reading this and wondering, should I hire a wedding planner or is the cost of a wedding planner worth it, we’re here to help.
Wedding Planner for Small Weddings
Bride-to-be, Maggie, wrote to us with this question on this very topic. She wonders whether she should hire a wedding planner for a small wedding in Michigan. She writes,
“Hi Emmaline Bride! I’m getting married next summer and planning a small Michigan wedding. I’m wondering if hiring a wedding planner is worth it. I know there are costs associated and we’re trying to stay on budget, so we were planning to just do it ourselves. But now the whole thing is stressing me out and I just want all of this planning to be over with. Do I need to hire a wedding planner for a small wedding?”
Hi Maggie! Great question and congrats on your upcoming Michigan wedding. If it makes you feel better, I think every couple wonders the very same question. Not everyone needs a wedding planner, but many couples benefit from hiring one.
For a small wedding, as you mentioned, that question becomes more specific: do I need to hire a wedding planner for a small wedding?
I can understand how this question is different when you’re deciding to hire a wedding planner for small weddings. This is because it costs money to hire a wedding planner; if you’re trying to stay on budget, you want your dollars to stretch as much as possible. Therefore, how can spending more money (i.e. hiring a wedding planner) actually help you stay on budget? Doesn’t that seem like an oxymoron?
Well, that depends on how tight your budget is, but mostly what you’re trying to accomplish.
Here are two options:
1. Plan the Wedding Yourself
If your main priority for planning your small wedding is to spend as few dollars as possible and really go on the affordable side, cutting things at all costs, then a wedding planner may not be the right choice for you.
You will need to pay them, and that scenario sounds like you may want to elope (and spend the money on a nice honeymoon!)
The benefits here: you can plan the wedding yourself and cut out any unwanted expenses. The cons: you’ll be left doing it all yourself, possibly spending more money on things you didn’t need in the first place.
2. Hire a Wedding Planner
If your wedding guest list is smaller in size, but you have visions on how to make your celebration come to life — and don’t know where to start — then hiring a wedding planner for a small wedding makes perfect sense. He or she can also help you stay on budget, brainstorm fun ideas you haven’t considered yet, and coordinate everything to stay on theme, with style… all while taking care of all the many tasks along the way. If this would make you happy as a couple, then yes, the benefits of hiring a Michigan wedding planner will far exceed the costs.
The benefits here: you’re stress-free and plan a memorable wedding. The cons: you will need to pay money to hire a wedding planner.
In your particular case, I think hiring a wedding planner for a small Michigan wedding sounds like a good idea, and I hope that helps answer your question.
Now, let’s build upon this question a bit and answer it for small, medium, and large size weddings for our readers who may be wondering if they need to hire one, too.
Depending on your wildest wedding dreams — and what you can realistically achieve with your budget — hiring a wedding planner for a small wedding, medium sized, or large celebrations goes a long way towards your total budget and your sanity. Sometimes, that can be absolutely priceless.
I mean, isn’t your sanity worth saving? ;) I’d say so.
Do You Need to Hire a Wedding Planner?
• Would most couples benefit from hiring a wedding planner? Yes!
• Do I think ALL couples need to hire one? No!
Here are some reasons why you may want to hire a wedding planner for small wedding parties, large wedding celebrations, or somewhere in-between.
Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner for Small Weddings (Or Any Size)
1. You are stressed out beyond belief.
Yes, all weddings have an element of stress to them. But they shouldn’t be overpowered by stress. It should be more fun than stressful, 100%. If you’re finding yourself so miserable and overwhelmed, hiring a wedding planner will definitely eliminate all that extra stress.
2. The idea of planning your own wedding makes you nervous.
Do you wish someone was there to guide you? Help? Assist on the day-of? Answer your questions in a flash? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to get a wedding coordinator to help, even if just for day-of wedding services.
3. You want someone on stand-by.
Ah, my favorite part of being a wedding planner (well, besides hearing all the fun stories about the couple and seeing their dreams come to life) is being their chaos manager. We tell our couples three words: “Relax, it’s handled.”
Whether in the months leading up to the big day, the week before, or the day of, you have your pro working behind-the-scenes to keep everything organized and on-schedule.
Besides, think about it: you’ll be busy getting hair and makeup done while the groom and groomsmen are getting ready. The photographer will be capturing bridal portraits and snapshots with the wedding party. You’ll have those special moments with your mom or dad, along with all the fun that comes with soaking it in: it’s your wedding day! Do you really want to be in charge of meeting with vendors upon arrival? Making sure the cake is there, looks right, and is all in one piece? Do you have time to alphabetize the escort cards and make sure the centerpieces are set up? If something comes up, can you really jump into the car and go get a replacement? Do you even want to think about anything other than enjoying the day?
No, you’re too busy for that.
And do you really want to ask your mom to miss out on the fun to be in charge of those things? What about a cousin or a friend? At that point, you should hire a wedding planner, since that’s what they are paid to do: take care of it.
A wedding planner will ensure anything that arises, especially on your wedding day, is handled. That’s a very reassuring thing to many couples and is probably the number one reason why hiring a wedding planner is worth it, IMO.
4. You’re not organized.
You’re busy. Life is busy. Boy, is it ever! But a wedding planner puts YOUR wedding needs into their schedule, making sure it is a high priority from the date they are hired until the big day itself. They keep things moving, and on schedule. What could be better than organization for one of the biggest days of your life?
If you’re not organized and you have no idea where to start, you may want to hire a wedding planner to guide you.
PRO TIP: This planning organizer can really help, even if you’re the most disorganized bride! You can get it at BlushPrintables.
A good coordinator will create a checklist and a timeline, cross off the items as they are completed, and may even want to tackle things ahead of schedule, simply to alleviate any stress… and to stay one step ahead.
That’s always a good thing with weddings, particularly because the 2022 and 2023 wedding seasons are supposed to be the busiest they’ve been in decades.
5. You want to avoid all the drama.
Hey, drama happens, but do you want to know a secret? Hiring a wedding planner is a great way to keep drama at bay. They can see to it that your wishes are met and you can be the go-between for any questions from family or guests ahead of the big day. That keeps your life less busy and makes for another fantastic reason why wedding coordinators are a great asset to have.
6. You know nothing about weddings.
Someone who does wedding planning all the time knows the ins and outs. They know everything you need, might want, and what to NOT waste your money on, along with the latest trends, color palettes, and new, fun ideas that everyone wants to have at their wedding ceremony and reception.
Some couples simply don’t find wedding planning interesting in the least. And that’s OK! We all have different likes and dislikes, hobbies, and interests. That’s why we’re not all wedding planners. :) The wedding day is a wonderful moment for you, but perhaps all the planning sounds not so exciting after all. And that’s OK, too.
If you don’t know anything about weddings, and frankly, don’t really care to plan it yourself, then hiring a planner for your wedding may be just what you need.
7. You want to stay on budget.
If you want to keep your costs low, without sacrificing quality, getting a wedding planner near you to help is a great place to start. Even if you handle most of the day-of coordination yourself, your budget is going to be extremely important in creating the wedding day you want.
A wedding planner will help you cut costs where you can, add more to the budget where it is needed, and find clever workarounds to save you money whenever possible. He or she will also keep you on track and remind you of that trusty old budget so there aren’t any surprises (and they also know extra costs that are sometimes hidden, like cake cutting, particular linens, certain chairs, tips, and of course, all those taxes and fees that are regularly added outside of the regular cost).
8. You don’t want to forget a thing.
This is probably the number one reason to hire a wedding planner: don’t forget anything on your wedding day. Did you get the right favors? Arrange the place cards alphabetically? Steam the table linens so there are no wrinkles? What time is the wedding party arriving and will there be stylists at the hotel or at the salon? How many entrees should you have, and what kind of beverages will be at the bar? Did you pick out the guest book yet?
Okay, you get the idea. That’s not to overwhelm you, but to let you know that wedding planners have everything under control.
If not missing a thing is on your docket, then you should hire a wedding planner for small weddings, large weddings, and anything in-between.
Well, we hope that answers your question about whether you should hire a wedding planner. Does it seem more clear now? I hope so! If you have any questions, just let us know in the comment box below.
And you know what? Whether or not you hire a wedding planner, I know your day will be absolutely beautiful. Have fun and enjoy the moment, it goes by way too fast! You’ll be looking at these before you know it.
Hire a Wedding Planner for Small Weddings (Or Any Size!) In Michigan
And of course, if you’re in Michigan, we’d love the opportunity to plan your wedding with you and take away all the stress. You can request details here for your upcoming wedding.
Happy Planning!
xo
Emma
