Wedding Planner: Your Ultimate Guide to a Stress-Free Wedding

Welcome to Ramblewood Events, if you’re reading this, congratulations! You are embarking on the exciting and oftentimes intimidating journey of wedding planning.

You are probably swimming through what seems to be an endless sea of options and advice and it is hard to know where even to start.

Our goal at Ramblewood Events is to take the stress and intimidation out of the process and make it an experience you will not only remember fondly but cherish. We will work together to guide your vision as our focus is to create one of the most magical and memorable days of your life. We are committed to helping you through this journey with enthusiasm, understanding, and expertise. In the following article, we will cover many common questions to help you make informed and confident decisions for your wedding day including the all-important task of selecting a wedding planner.

How Much Money Should You Have Before Planning a Wedding?

The amount of money you should have before planning a wedding is very subjective and it varies between couples. Every couple has a different walk of life that ultimately influences their expectations and finances when it comes to their wedding day. The best place to start is to set a budget for the wedding. Setting a budget for a wedding will help you take into consideration how much you wish to invest into the big day, and then from there you will be able to make the most informed decisions when it comes to planning out every other detail. While deciding on a budget, it is best to set realistic expectations with yourself, your partner, and anyone else who will be contributing funds. But don't let this worry you, because no matter what type of budget you have, it is possible for anyone to have a lovely and memorable wedding.

Factors To Consider When Setting a Wedding Budget

An important aspect to consider when setting a wedding budget is what type of wedding you want to have, an intimate wedding or a luxury wedding. Questions to ask yourself are, “Is an intimate gathering with the closest people to me something that I want?” Or, “Would I prefer to have a wedding with a larger guest list at an exclusive venue?” Keep in mind that Google states that the national average wedding cost 2024 (USA) is around $30,000, however, entry level full-wedding planning for luxury weddings start at $100,000 and can exceed to $500,000+. These prices vary greatly depending on several factors including the wedding venue location, the vendors, food and catering, beverages provided, the season you choose to get married in, and how many guests you’re wanting to invite. Understanding these factors when setting your wedding budget will help you decide the best kind of budget to set for your special day.

What is a Reasonable Budget for a Wedding?

A reasonable budget for a wedding is one that helps meet your expectations and that you and your partner are the most comfortable with. Setting the budget for your wedding is one of the most important details of the planning process. Once it is determined, it will help create a baseline for every decision that is made leading up to your special day. Initially, it is recommended to save between 10-20% of your overall budget as it will assist in covering the initial deposit fees required to secure the venue and vendors for your special day.

What if My Budget is Below $30k?

If your wedding budget is below $30k it is important to prioritize what is most important to you. Having a wedding within this budget is feasible. Many couples prefer to have a more intimate wedding because it is more romantic to them and meets all of their dreams. A few things to help you stay within your budget are:

1. Setting the date for off season - During off seasons, many venues will often discount their standard rates. The venue is often one of the largest expenses for planning a wedding and it takes up about 40% of the overall budget. This is a great opportunity for a couple who wishes to stay within budget while selecting their venue.
2. Minimize the guest list - Keeping a smaller wedding guest list is going to help you stay within your budget. Every person that you invite to your wedding will make the cost go up significantly with food, beverages, and other accommodations. The national average cost per guest to attend a wedding ranges between $100-$300. Do not feel bad about not including everyone. Following this step will help cut costs and allow for more room in the budget for other priorities.
3. DIY the decor - “Do It Yourself” is a wonderful way to help you stay within your wedding budget. Some things to consider in order to stay within budget are making your own invitations, creating your own decor, doing your own flower arrangements, baking your own cake, and offsetting as much labor as possible with the help from friends and family.

What if My Budget is Over $100,000?

A luxury wedding is considered to be over $100,000. Luxury weddings are meant to be a once in a lifetime experience that your wedding guests will cherish for the rest of their lives. It is an exceptional celebration of your love story and creates a day that exceeds all your dreams and expectations. A luxury wedding is all about creating a magical experience for you and your loved ones with breathtaking decor, exceptional hospitality, high quality entertainment, and exquisite culinary experiences. Some highlights of a luxury wedding include:

1. Extraordinary Venue: Luxury weddings mostly take place in jaw dropping settings at dream destinations with exquisite beauty.
2. Elevated Guest Experience: A luxury wedding goes beyond the ceremony to give the attendees the most elevated experiences they’ll cherish forever. This can be tailored to VIP services, unforgettable keepsakes, and personalized touches.
3. High Quality Entertainment: From live music to fireworks, the entertainment will leave a lasting effect on your guests.
4. Premium Photographer and Videographer: The documentation of your wedding day with premium photography and videography is an amazing addition to a Luxury wedding. Having your choice of photographer with an extensive portfolio that matches your vision is a highlight of the wedding day. The day will end, but the photos and videos will last forever.

If you want to hire an experienced Luxury wedding planner for your special day in Chattanooga, TN or any other destination, please follow this link to schedule a meeting with us at Ramblewood Events!

What does a wedding planner actually do?

A wedding planner job description is they are experts at helping guide couples when it comes to the planning and execution of their wedding day. Their job is to help organize and coordinate every detail of the wedding day and to make the process as seamless and memorable as possible for their clients.

Main Responsibilities of a Wedding Planner

The duties of a wedding planner can vary based on the services provided and the level of involvement you need from them. Some of the most common responsibilities include:

1. Creating a timeline for the planning process and timeline for the actual wedding day.
   
2. Vision and design guidance.
   
3. Sourcing and coordinating with vendors.
   
4. Planning the rehearsal dinner.
   
5. Problem solving and execution of organizational duties on the wedding day.
   
6. Post wedding logistics.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Wedding Planner

When a couple is searching for a wedding planner, it is important to find one with a lot of experience and expertise in the industry. Their portfolio and designs should align with your vision and their reputation should also align with your expectations. This will help ensure a seamless experience on your wedding day.

What is Expected of a Wedding Planner?

What you should expect from a wedding planner is a professional who is experienced and reliable with a proven track record of clear communication adding value to the planning process. Wedding planner duties checklist include but are not limited to:

1. Managing the Wedding Budget
2. Assistance with Venue Selection
3. Decor and Design Guidance
4. Vendor Coordination
5. Understanding and Aligning with the Client's Vision
6. Timeline of the Wedding Day
7. Unfavorable Weather Plan
8. Managing Catering Menu
9. Post Wedding Responsibilities

A Commitment to Your Vision: Turning Dreams into Reality

Experienced wedding planners are committed to achieving their client’s desired aesthetic and ensuring that nothing stands in the way of their vision. They must offer advice when needed, but most importantly, they ensure that vendors comply with your vision during the execution process.

Does a Wedding Planner Do Everything for You?

A wedding planner takes on many responsibilities when it comes to the planning process. Their main responsibility is to make sure that the process of wedding planning is as stress-free and seamless as possible. Although they do take on many duties, they do not do everything for you. There are some elements and details that you will still need taken care of, however, an option to explore if you require more assistance is to hire a full-service wedding planner. Full-service wedding planners offer different services and sometimes take on vendor roles such as design, florals, and catering. Every full-service wedding planner’s service list will vary, but the additional support that they provide for executing a wedding vision is what makes them so valuable.

What to Expect From a Full-Service Wedding Planner

Full-service wedding planners are involved from the beginning of your wedding planning process and help orchestrate all vendors and deadlines, working to coordinate a seamless timeline. Package options will vary depending on which wedding planner you choose and what they have to offer. Some full-service wedding planners offer more services than just wedding planning and take on responsibilities such as florals, catering, and design. Having these extra services included is a bonus because it will require less time for you to find other vendors to perform these tasks. At Ramblewood events, we are excited to offer full-service wedding planning with our wedding planner services list and we strive to serve you with excellence through the following services:

1. Planning: From the beginning vision to the day of execution and clean up afterward, we’ve got you covered. We also provide you with a designated day of coordinator who will be specifically available to you and your family during your wedding month to help meet any need that may arise.
2. Design: One of our favorite assets as your wedding planning team is our opportunity to work with you to design your dream day. We pride ourselves in our ability to bring your vision to life beyond your wildest dreams, and we love getting to know you individually throughout the process so that the day feels truly authentic to you as a couple. We spend time on each detail — from wedding colors, linen patterns, custom print pieces, unique bar menus, exquisite place settings, ceremony installations, and unique rentals — the list goes on and we are there every step of the way.
3. Florals: We have an incredibly talented floral team who will transform any venue into your perfect vision. From bouquets to aisle markers, centerpieces to ceremony installations, we’ve got you covered!
4. Catering: Our catering services offer an outstanding and customizable menu that gives guests an exceptional culinary experience. We work with you directly to build a menu that is authentic to your preferences as a couple.
5. Print Work: We offer special custom print work that adds a special touch to your wedding day. Examples include invitations, dining menus, custom bar & welcome signage, and more!
6. Bar Services: Our premium bartenders offer customizable bar selections and exceptional service for your guests.
7. Vendor Management: An element of our full service planning is vendor management. This means we assist you with the booking process of additional vendors for services we do not offer directly such as DJ, photography, artists, or custom food & beverage vendors. We work with you on the selection, and then we directly handle all communication with the vendors from booking through wedding day so you don’t have to think twice about it!
8. Rentals: We have excellent vendor partners that work with us to curate unique and individual rentals to elevate your day. From table settings to lounge seating, we’ve got access to it all!

If you are interested in Luxury Full-Service Wedding Planning, please follow this link to schedule a meeting with us at Ramblewood Events!

What Does a Wedding Planner Not Do?

Although wedding planners do handle a lot of tasks, there are still some things that are not their responsibility. This includes some vendor jobs, which aren’t limited to but include photography, videography, or entertainment as these are typically tasks that other vendors are specifically hired to perform. It is important to be transparent with a wedding planner with your expectations to make sure that they are the perfect fit for you.

Wedding planners handle direct communication and planning when it comes to selecting the vendors, and they are expected to be the direct point of contact for the vendors as well. It is not common for wedding planners to do the job of other vendors, however, some are known to offer packages with more services. A full-service wedding planner offers some of the services of vendors which can be very helpful when it comes to the execution of your wedding day. At Ramblewood Events, we offer more services than just standard wedding planning. If you are interested in hiring a full-service wedding planner, please follow this link to schedule a meeting with us at Ramblewood Events!

What is the Difference Between a Venue Planner and a Wedding Planner?

A venue planner works solely for the venue to make sure that all the details such as the room set up and venue questions are met, providing support from the venue’s perspective. The wedding planner focuses on the entirety of the couple's experience from the initial wedding planning to the execution of the wedding day.

How Do Venue Planners and Wedding Planners Work Together?

The venue planner and wedding planner work together by communicating and aligning the timeline of the wedding day and avoiding venue scheduling conflicts, they also coordinate setup and breakdown of everything at the venue.

Main Differences Between a Wedding Planner and a Wedding Coordinator?

The main difference between a wedding planner vs coordinator is that a wedding planner typically works with the couple many months before the wedding, however, a wedding coordinator’s main duty is to execute the logistics on the wedding day for couples who only need assistance on the day of their wedding.

How Much of Your Budget Should a Wedding Planner Cost?

It is recommended for a couple to allot 10%-20% of their total wedding budget for their wedding planner. These percentages are reflected based on the level of service that they provide including the complexity of the involvement on the wedding day and whether or not they are full-service planning or partial planning. Full-service wedding planners charge 20% of the total wedding budget which allows them to be fairly compensated for their efforts including providing their expertise, sourcing vendors, as well as providing trained staff to manage every important detail from contract signing to send-off.

Understanding Full-Service Wedding Planning: Hours, Complexity & Costs

It takes a full-service wedding planner on average 200-500+ hours to plan a wedding, while a luxury full-service wedding planner requires approximately 500-1,000+ hours. Due to the time commitment and complexity of full-service wedding planning, it requires creative and trained staff assistance to help execute the desirable vision for a client’s special day. This is reflected by their 20% fee of the overall budget of the wedding which is a tailored model that aligns the planner’s success to the couple's vision, creating a custom experience with no compromises or hidden fees.

What is The Average Amount for a Wedding Planner?

The national average cost of a wedding planner is around $5,000-$20,000+, this price increases depending on whether you have a full-service wedding planner and the complexity of the wedding. Full-service wedding planner cost is usually 20% of the total wedding budget, which usually amounts to $10,000-$20,000+. This price can increase when hiring luxury wedding planners. The premium cost reflects the high level of skill required for the job, as it demands the expertise of a dedicated team of planners who are committed to making your dream wedding a reality.

Experience Matters: How a Wedding Planner’s Expertise Affects Pricing?

Wedding planner cost per hour ranges from $50-$275+ per hour. Just like with other existing work fields, a highly experienced and polished wedding planner typically requires higher rates. The level of experience that a wedding planner has built over many years allows for them to stay centered under pressure and execute the flawless implementation of your vision. This fine skill has been developed over a long time and the level of expertise is proven with incredible results which makes an experienced wedding planner a valuable investment.

Breaking Down the Costs: What to Know About a Wedding Planner’s pricing

A wedding planner price list outlines the costs that are associated with the services that they provide. It helps benefit the couple when it comes to planning the details of their wedding day by providing transparency in a structured format. A clear and concise broken down list of services with their costs helps couples make better decisions with their budget.

What Should Be Included in a Wedding Planning Checklist?

A wedding planner checklist should include a 12 month breakdown of the priorities and tasks to focus on for each month in order to stay organized and on schedule. This ensures that you stay on track for planning your wedding accordingly without missing any important planning tasks. A simple wedding planning checklist that is easy to follow is also something that you can acquire from your wedding planner. There are many details that are included in a wedding planner checklist including but not limited to hiring a photographer, securing hair and makeup, and sending out invitations. Having a checklist to help you stay organized while planning your wedding will ensure a more enjoyable planning process.

Enjoy a Stress-Free Wedding Day with a Full-Service Planner

A full-service wedding planner is here to make your dreams come true for you and your partner on your wedding day. They are also here to help alleviate the stress from all the many details required to plan a wedding. With so many aspects to consider, it can be overwhelming, which is why we recommend hiring a full-service wedding planner to manage the technicalities of your wedding day smoothly. If you're searching for an experienced Luxury Full-Service Wedding Planner for your event, please follow this link to schedule a meeting with us at Ramblewood Events!