Wedding planning can certainly feel like a full-time job. With the help of a wedding planner, you can narrow down your to-do list. Your planner can be the first person you hire once you get engaged, or they can be hired after you find your dream wedding venue. There is no right or wrong time frame. We will certainly jump more into detail but ask first yourself, what am I looking for in a wedding planner?

You can receive help from the beginning process, such as the date and venue selection, budgeting, vendor selection, and executing your ceremony and reception.

There are so many amazing wedding planner packages that planners create to help fit all of your needs. You will hear terms like a partial planning package or a day of coordination package, which may be more of your style in planning.

What kind of wedding planner do you think you may need? Here at Addison Grove, we are here to help answer all questions you may have in this field of wedding planning.

If you’re looking for an elegant Austin Wedding Venue check out The Addison Grove in Austin Texas!

WHAT DOES A WEDDING PLANNER DO?

Personalized support

A wedding planner can help you from the moment you get engaged or even just months before your wedding day. They are there to alleviate any stress or worries you may have. Let's start with the day of the wedding.

It is finally here! You are getting ready with your best friends and a glass of bubbly in hand. Your planner is beginning to review your rental order, place linens on tables, ensure the layout matches the plan, and is in contact with all of your vendors.

They are helping place all of your personal items, like photos, signage, or place cards. They are there to answer any questions your vendors may have for you, of course, depending on the matter. Closer to ceremony time, they ensure all candles are lit and that the programs begin to be passed out. Your guests are being seated correctly and that you are tucked away.

They will cue the musicians to the proper song, answer any final question your wedding party may have, and begin the ceremony with your family members, the groom, and your wedding party. Once they are down the aisle, it is your turn!

They will cue the music change, fluff your dress, and send you on your way to marry the love of your life. You are officially married!

Related: Engagement Session at Your Austin Wedding Venue

A Wedding Planner Handles the Schedule

As you recess from your ceremony, we will greet you with a delicious drink in hand and your planner will be ensuring your guests are directed into cocktail hour correctly. As you begin photos, your planner will be checking in with you and your vendors to stay on timeline.

Throughout the rest of the evening, they will keep track of what happens next and ensure your photographer or videographer are there to capture all of the moments. Towards the end of the evening, they will begin to gather your personal decor, cards, and gifts to allow for an easy exit for your family members.

You or your family and friends will not have to lift a finger throughout the breakdown process.

Detailed Planning and Preparation

Now that we have provided a breakdown of what a wedding day looks like, let's dive into the behind the scenes details that lead you up to your big day. You are engaged and find yourself asking, "where do I start with wedding planning?" Of course, maybe the first step is to hire your wedding planner. If not, we'd suggest booking your venue. Have you checked out our Texas Hill Country venue, The Addison Grove, in Austin, Texas? 

Your wedding planner can schedule tours or reach out to venues for their availability and rental information and handle all communication for you.

They will then begin to chat with additional vendors that may garner your attention. Of course, you will want to talk with some of the more significant vendors like photographer, caterer, and music to ensure you all connect on a personal level to make sure your day is how you envisioned it.

Related: 100 Wedding Reception Ideas

A Wedding Planner Keeps Track of Deadlines

There is an organization factor that may be the most beneficial throughout the planning process. Having your contracts organized, payment dates on the calendar, and your vendors secured is exactly what you need for your day.

An action list from the beginning can help you keep track of when things need to be completed. For instance, ordering your save the dates vs. sending out your save the dates. Your wedding planner will cover all of the little details.

When your wedding day concludes, your wedding planner will schedule a time to meet to give back any miscellaneous items they curated from the breakdown. This can include guests' leftovers or maybe missed items that did not get packed up.

They will, of course, keep in touch with you and reminisce through your beautiful photos and future accomplishments. You gain a life long friend!

Related: a real wedding: Sarah and Travis

A Wedding Planner Keeps Track of Deadlines

There is an organization factor that may be the most beneficial throughout the planning process. Having your contracts organized, payment dates on the calendar, and your vendors secured is exactly what you need for your day.

An action list from the beginning can help you keep track of when things need to be completed. For instance, ordering your save the dates vs. sending out your save the dates. Your wedding planner will cover all of the little details.

When your wedding day concludes, your wedding planner will schedule a time to meet to give back any miscellaneous items they curated from the breakdown. This can include guests' leftovers or maybe missed items that did not get packed up.

They will, of course, keep in touch with you and reminisce through your beautiful photos and future accomplishments. You gain a life long friend!

Related: a real wedding: Sarah and Travis

There are a few different kinds of wedding planners you can hire. Choosing the right wedding planner will depend on your needs and the cost of their services.

Full Service Wedding Planner

Your full-service planner cost may start anywhere around $5,000 and range to $12,000 and more. It is all based on their experience, location, and what is included in their packages.

There are a ton of benefits of a full-service planner! You are supported from day one with a professional who can guide you through the planning process correctly and keep you organized and on track of creating the most magical wedding day. They are with you from start to finish.

Partial Wedding Planner

A partial planner is a happy medium between full service and day-of-coordination.

An average cost can begin anywhere around $2,000 and go up to $5,000+.

This can be more of an a la carte type of package which allows you to customize exactly where you may need help. Most of the time, we will see clients use this package to receive some help with design, including layout, color palette, or florals. Some may need more help with communication with vendors or the booking process with vendors, which can also be a great addition to a partial planning package.

Day-of Wedding Planner



If you would like to do most of the planning themselves, a day-of-coordination package is perfect.

These packages range between $1,000 to $2000+.

These are planners who you book pretty early on in the process. You do not have too much communication with them until about 3 to 6 months before your event date.

They will check in with you to begin scheduling final meetings with your vendors. They will also touch base with you about your timeline and layout. Around this same time, they will take over communication with all of your vendors, allowing you to enjoy the last few weeks of being engaged and stress-free!

Related: 4 Ways to Feel Best on Your Wedding Day

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HIRING A WEDDING PLANNER?

There are so many reasons why a wedding planner is the best money you will ever spend on your wedding day, and we are here to help give you that extra push to say yes, I need this!

A wedding planner can save you money

You may find yourself asking if a wedding planner helps save you money. It may sound contradictory, but spending money on a wedding planner can absolutely save you money!

They will ask you what your budget is from the start, and they keep you in line with that budget. For instance, if you choose to spend more on a band, they will help you find a photographer at a lower cost. You may even catch a deal with another vendor for your planner, essentially bringing you to them!

A wedding planner can give you great advice

The advice they give is amazing. They have seen it all. Their cool, calm, and collective personality will help you see the bigger picture of any situation. Wedding planners are there to help you, your family, your guests, and your vendors. There is never a need to stress because no matter what, your wedding planner can and will find the solution.

A wedding planner can help you save time

You are able to save so much of your own time and energy with a wedding planner. You hired them for a reason, so ask for their help or to do something on your behalf. This allows you to focus on other things in your life, such as work, friends, your house, etc.

Whether you would like to see a preliminary timeline, layout, save the date ideas, or even menu ideas, you can request them to gather information for you! At the end of the day, it will be your decision, but your planner's input can always be helpful. The list of benefits can go on and on!

Looking for a wedding venue in Austin Texas, Check out The Addison Grove!

WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU ASK YOUR WEDDING PLANNER?

Can you work within our budget?

A big question you will want to start with will be regarding the budget. It is super important for you to be upfront and honest about what you are willing to spend on your budget. This will give them the right idea of what to expect throughout the process.

This will also give them a great starting point on what to spend on each vendor. They can give you an estimated cost for each so you can select accordingly.

What sorts of services do you offer?

Whether they offer month-of coordination, full-service planning, or partial planning, it is great to be upfront with what you expect from your wedding planner.

They can then share with you which of their packages is best for you! Each package should be very upfront with what they offer throughout the planning process and what you can expect from them.

Will you handle the wedding invites?

Depending on which service package you select, your planner can certainly help with your invitations.

Even without that included in your package, your wedding planner may be willing to give you some tips about the formalities. For instance, they can offer guidance for addressing envelopes, wording, ordering, addressing, and mailing or writing on the wedding invites. A perk with a full-service planner is that they will triple check addresses and spelling before printing.

Related: Wedding invitation Ideas

How many people on your staff will be at the wedding?

This is a crucial question for you to feel great about the day of your wedding. Having enough staff members to help execute the wedding day is important. There are a ton of moving pieces on the wedding day, so you will want them to be diligent and informed regarding every detail possible.

How do payments work?

It is essential to know all of the fees upfront. You are paying a decent amount of money for their services, so you want to make sure there are no last-minute fees. If the planner is traveling, do you need to cover their hotel, airfare, or gas for meetings or your wedding weekend?

How many weddings will you be working on?

To ensure you feel great about their process, ask them if they have any other weddings happening that weekend, day, or month. This will help you decide if this wedding planner can give you their full attention. Of course, they can balance it all, but maybe it is super important to you or your fiancé that they are completely present throughout the process, especially the day of the wedding.

Related: The Perks of Having a Luxury Bridal Preparation Suite at Your Wedding Venue!

There are a lot of things that go into a wedding, and there is nothing worse than being stressed during the most exciting time of your lives.

There are so many amazing benefits of hiring a wedding planner. They can help you create your dream wedding day with their help, advice, and knowledge.

Knowing where you need assistance is important, as it allows you to hire someone you can connect with and place your confidence. Wedding planning can be so much fun, and you should enjoy every moment of it without feeling overwhelmed.

Looking for a venue, flowers, or advice for your wedding? Check out what The Addison Grove and Heyens Holdings has to offer today!