Many couples plan their weddings the way their parents did: with a committee of relatives, church members and friends. Others hire a professional planner and hand over the whole project. Most sit somewhere in between.
Whether you need a planner depends on the size of your wedding, your budget, your time and how much you trust your helpers.
What a planner does
A full-service wedding planner helps with the budget, finds and books vendors, negotiates prices, manages timelines, coordinates the traditional ceremony, church service and reception, and runs the day itself.
Good planners know which vendors are reliable, which venues flood when it rains and which decorators deliver what they promise.
Day-of coordination
A cheaper option is a day-of coordinator. The couple plans most things themselves, and the coordinator takes over in the final weeks, confirming vendors, building the timeline and managing everything on the wedding day.
For many couples, this is the most important help, because on the day itself the bride, groom and families should not be answering calls from the caterer.
When a planner helps most
- Large weddings with hundreds of guests.
- More than one ceremony, such as a traditional wedding and a white wedding on different days.
- Couples who live abroad and are planning a wedding at home.
- Couples with demanding jobs and little time.
When you may not need one
Small, simple weddings, or couples with an experienced, organised family committee, may manage without a professional. It helps if one person is clearly in charge.
Choosing a planner
Ask to see past weddings and speak to former clients. Agree in writing what the fee covers, how payment works and whether the planner receives commission from vendors. Meet in person to judge whether you can work together.
Questions to ask
Ask how many weddings the planner handles on the same weekend, who will be on site on your day, and what happens if the planner falls ill. A backup plan is part of a professional service.
The family question
In West Africa, families expect a say in weddings. A good planner works with the family, not against them, and knows how to handle elders’ wishes with respect.
The real cost
A planner’s fee can look like an extra expense. Couples who have been through a wedding without one often count the cost differently: in lost deposits, late vendors and a bride who spent her reception chasing the caterer.
