When planning a wedding in Central Park, whether you are local New Yorkers, or from far away; broadly speaking, you have two options when it comes to the nitty gritty of planning. You can either do the whole thing yourself, and figure out what you need to do, decide where and how, and research and hire all the people you need. Or, you can have someone else to do it for you and guide you through the wedding planning process. There are pros and cons to each method, and I explain in another blog post why I think you should hire a planner to help you to plan your wedding in Central Park. I also wrote a blog post on why I think that planner should be me.
There are several weddings planners offering their services to help couples to get married in Central Park, or anywhere else in New York. We’re all offering something similar but slightly different. I’m a big believer in not forcing my sales pitch on anyone, either you will feel drawn to work with me or you won’t. Here’s how I would advise you to choose the wedding planner that suits you. These thoughts might be quite useful for anyone looking for a wedding planner anywhere, not just New York or Central Park.
If you were getting married near to your home, you would ask for referrals from friends and family, but that is not so easily done if you are considering a destination wedding or elopement in New York. So, the next best thing is to check the reviews. This is not a perfect method. One reason is that very few people actually find the time to write them – when was the last time you wrote a review online? I rarely do it, even though I keep telling myself that I should. Another reason is that what that person wants and likes might be what you want. But it’s a good start. I have reviews on Facebook, Google, and have recently started on WeddingWire.
Social media is a very helpful way to check out someone’s work from far away. Have a look at their photos on Instagram. Check out the sort of posts they are sharing on Facebook, and whether people like and comment on them and how the planner interacts with others who do comment. If they have a Pinterest, this is where they will share pins that they think their followers will find helpful or inspiring – not just their own content but others’ too. And maybe they’re on Twitter, check out the sort of thing they’re sharing there and what they say. All this will give you a good feel for how busy they are, how they communicate, and what they have done in the past.
I have noticed that some wedding planners are upfront about what they charge and have it listed clearly on their website, and some don’t share their fees unless you contact them directly. However they do it, be sure to try to compare like with like. We will all charge something different but then we’re all offering something different. This is why it is important to consider what you need for your wedding day quite early on in the process. If you think you have found the planner who can do the job for the lowest price, ask yourself why it is cheaper – are their communications good, can you see examples of some nice-looking weddings that they have been involved in, do they have good feedback? On the other hand, just because you’ve found someone who offers all the trimmings and charges the earth, this doesn’t mean they will be the best – they might be offering various services and options that you don’t really need or want. They may be taking a larger profit for themselves than someone who prefers to keep busy with lots of weddings for a smaller fee.
Of course the most effective way of checking whether you and another person are on the same wavelength is to reach out and ask them a few questions. Either drop them an email, or set up a time to call. It is really important to think about what you want from your wedding right from the beginning. This can be quite difficult for some couples, because some feel that they just don’t know where to start. But I think it is very helpful to really try to think of good questions to ask that will help you to work out what you want from your wedding day and whether this person is going to help you to achieve it. If you really have no idea during the first stages, have a look through my blog and also as my FAQ page on my website.
Ask how long the planner has been doing this job and how many weddings they have planned. After planning around two hundred and fifty weddings to date I find that it’s uncommon for someone to ask something new, or suggest something I haven’t dealt with before. Although it does still happen from time to time. This means that I can answer a question quickly and accurately. Another thing to ask is who they work with and how many suppliers and connections they have. If you have something in particular that you need, then if they have a long contacts list then they are more likely to be able to help you.
Many clients tell me that, just like when they found their partner, they just know who is right for them. You will find a comfortable rapport with someone who gets you and that is so very important when it comes to selecting the wedding planner who is right for you and who will guide you through the process of planning your perfect wedding with comfort and ease.