This post was written by  wedding planning extraordinaire, Tatum Pettrey. She has a great perspective of what it takes to plan gorgeous weddings, and I'm so happy she's able to share her thoughts with us! For more about Tatum, check out her website!

Hiring a wedding planner is an important step in the process of getting married. A planner is going to increase the value of your special day by providing professional insight and guiding you throughout the journey. They will bring your visions to life in a cohesive and beautiful way! Hiring a wedding planner is an important decision, you should definitely choose someone who you connect with and who will always have your best interest at heart.

Before hiring someone, ask these questions:

1. Which of your packages do you think is best for my needs and my budget? Allow the planner to hear your desire of what a planner would do for you and tell them a budget – they will be able to immediately pin point which of their packages or offerings will be best for you. From there you can discuss other options as well, you may find that a higher package will really help you.

2. What is your process when recommending vendors for my wedding? Wedding planners have different methods when it comes to helping you pick vendors. Ask if they have a set list of vendors they always recommend for every wedding or if they tailor their recommendations to each bride specifically. Ask if they will properly research any vendor that they haven’t worked with, if needed, to make sure they are a reliable business and a great fit.

3. What will the day of my wedding look like – when do you arrive and leave? Are you hoping to have your planner help with setup, well you want to make sure they will be there early enough to do so. Make sure you also ask if they will stay throughout the entire event and help with exit coordination, etc.

4. Have you ever worked at my venue before or one with similar style? You will feel more at ease knowing whether they have worked at your venue before or a similar one, however, if they have not, that is okay too! Just make sure to see if they will visit the venue before the wedding to do a walkthrough and plan out the logistics. Professional wedding planners can take on new venues with ease, so just ask about their process in those circumstances.  

5. What will the wedding planning process look like? It is important to know how the process will go? How often will you meet in person, will they attend vendor appointments, will they keep you on track throughout the journey? Some things will depend on the package you book, but you want to have a clear understanding of their services and what planning your wedding with them will be like!

I hope those questions help you have open and honest conversations with your potential wedding planners and lead you to book some fabulous professionals to help plan the best day of your life.

Here are two quick tips for brides!

* Always bring a notebook. Even if you have a wedding planner who is keeping track of everything, you still should always bring a little notepad of some sort to write down to-do items, important dates or meetings, things you need to brainstorm, etc.

* Update your wedding planner on any tasks that you do without them. If you decided to purchase some décor items one night – let your planner know so that they are always on the same page as you. The more information they have on your wedding, the more seamless everything will be.

About the Author

Tatum Pettrey is the owner of Make My Day Wedding & Event Planning and the creator of the Make My Day Wedding Expo. She offers a variety of planning services to anyone planning an event in Northeast Florida and beyond. Her company was voted Bold City Best Wedding Planner in 2017. Tatum is originally from Tulsa, OK., and went to college at the University of Arkansas. She and her husband wanted to live near the beach, so after getting married, they packed up their things and hit the road. Tatum is a go-getter and enjoys connecting people through her leadership in networking groups and through the MMDWE platform. Her hobbies outside of planning include, reading, going to see new movies and try new restaurants and hanging out on the beach!