hiring a wedding planner

Hiring a Wedding Planner vs DIY: 7 Reasons to Say “I Do” to the Pros!

With as many changes as the wedding industry has faced over the last year, it’s easy to see why spouses-to-be might go about hiring a professional to help plan their big day. Planning a wedding in normal circumstances can be stressful, but dealing with ever-changing circumstances can leave a lot of people feeling overwhelmed.

There are also other reasons a wedding planner could take a lot of weight off your shoulders.

Luckily, we’re here to talk about when you should consider hiring a wedding planner to help with your big day. Read on to learn eight of the biggest reasons.

1. How Busy Are You?

If you and your fiancé both work full time jobs or have other commitments, you might find that it’s completely necessary to hire a wedding planner. If you both find yourself taking time off from work, however, then you might find that you can take planning on yourself.

You should both communicate before taking this step, though, to ensure you’re on equal footing about the decision.

2. Budget Woes

We know, hiring a wedding planner might sound like the opposite of what you should do if you’re trying to follow a budget, but you might find it’s the thing that saves you. Paying this extra money now is going to save you a lot as you navigate the planning process.

Not only will your planner be able to find you vendors within your budget, but they’ll also be able to help you negotiate rates.

3. You’re Planning a Destination Wedding

Whether you’re planning something in a different state or on a different continent, having a wedding planner that knows the area is going to help a lot. This is especially important if you don’t know the culture of the location you’re getting married in.

Every country has different things to offer, and it can be smart to let someone local take the reigns if you’re doubting your capabilities even slightly.

4. You’re Stuck

Whether you’re having a tough time navigating vendor contracts or you simply don’t have a clear vision for your wedding day, having a planner on your team can help you get a clear picture of everything.

They’ll not only be able to help you understand those contracts, but they’ll also be able to help you choose a theme, colors, flowers, and everything else you’re going to need for your wedding day.

5. You’re Not a Planner

This kind of goes with being stuck, but doesn’t necessarily have to. You might know exactly what it is that you want, but you might not want to put all of it together. If you don’t enjoy wedding planning, then there isn’t really a reason to make yourself miserable throughout the process.

You can also hire a wedding planner to simply shoulder some of the responsibilities, but not all of them. So, if there are certain categories or things you want to plan, then you can take those tasks on while the planner takes care of everything else.

6. Lofty Pursuits

Do you find yourself dreaming of chocolate fountains and swans lining your wedding aisle?

With a wedding planner, you won’t have to worry about what’s going to work for your budget. You’re also going to have someone in your party that’s not afraid of giving you a reality check when and if it’s needed. Now, your wedding planner shouldn’t ever be rude to you, but if things are starting to move out of your budget then you’re going to need to switch your ambitions up.

Also, remember that you don’t need to have the fanciest or extravagant wedding for it to be enjoyable either. Even if you have a lot of guests you’re attempting to impress, they’re going to remember the fun they had at your wedding. Not the 10 chocolate fountains you somehow managed to squeeze into the venue.

7. Your Relationships Are Being Impacted

If you’re experiencing relationship issues while trying to plan your own wedding, it’s worth it to at least consider taking a step back. While some stress is normal, you want to ensure your bridesmaids and fiances aren’t doubling as punching bags in the process.

For the sake of not only your relationships, but also your mental health, it might be worth considering hiring a wedding planner to take some of the stress off your shoulders.

8. You Simply Want to Hire Someone

This is the biggest reason, and that’s because it doesn’t require a lot of thinking. If you simply want to hire someone to plan your wedding, then you absolutely should.

In the midst of putting everything together, it might feel easy to need to justify all the purchases you’re making. If you sprung for an expensive caterer because they have vegan options, or maybe you went for the bouquet option that’s above your budget, but reworked somewhere else to offset the price, it’s easy to feel bad about those things — especially if you’re not used to buying things for yourself.

But what a lot of people miss is that you don’t always have to justify the purchases you make for your wedding.

If hiring a wedding planner is in your budget and you feel like it’s a worthwhile purchase, then you should absolutely allow someone to help you plan your big day. 

Remember These Tips When Hiring a Wedding Planner

Now that we’ve gone over these tips for hiring a wedding planner, it’s time to start prepping for your big day. Whether you hire someone to come on full-time to plan the entire thing, or you just start delegating out certain tasks throughout the process, having professional help along the way can make a huge impact once your wedding day comes.

If you’re ready to take the leap into hiring a planner, contact us today.

event planner prices

Event Planner Prices: How Much Does an Event Planner Cost in 2021? (And Are They Worth It?)

Event planners provide services to help take the stress away from planning a large or small-scale event. Through using an event planner, you’ll often find the end result being better than what you had originally planned for. 

Event planner prices can vary in range depending on how big the event you need to be planned is, what your budget for the event is, and how long the event will take to plan. But, the initial cost of an event planner is worth it, considering the amount of time and energy you’ll save preparing an event this way. 

To learn more about event planning prices, keep reading.

What an Event Planner Does

Event planners are in charge of coordinating all of the fine details that go into planning your event. Event planners may have a team of assistants to help them oversee everything they have scheduled, depending on the size of the event. 

An event planner is a person you will want to trust. They’re primarily responsible for the outcome of your event. Being on the same page with an event planner is an important factor in choosing one for hire.

Don’t be afraid to ask any event planners questions and exchange vision boards and ideas back and forth. After all, they will be responsible for seeking out venues, decorating, hiring caterers and other vendors, and more.

Their jobs involve having to take into consideration contingency planning. They have to be able to foresee what you as a client want and what is doable in the budget and time frame they are given.

They act as a coordinator and scheduler to make sure the event runs as smoothly as possible.

Lots of event planners also pride themselves on coming up with the most creative and unique ideas for your event. They are usually more than willing to bring an extra flair to your event if your budget allows for it. 

They have connections to entertainers such as musicians, magicians, characters, DJs, and more. They also have resources to bring together arcade games, airbrush artists, caricaturists, and anything else you could possibly want at your event.

Most importantly, an event planner uses their time wisely to plan your event so that you don’t have to. Many people in charge of coordinating events don’t have the time to spend planning the perfect event. This is where event planners come in handy.

Event Planner Prices

Event planner prices vary depending on a few different things. Independent event planners may charge hourly, while corporate event planners may charge a percentage of the total event budget. Some event planners may charge a combination of the two. 

Event planners who charge hourly can start anywhere from forty dollars to two hundred and fifty dollars per-hourly consultation.  

Otherwise, planners might take a fifteen to twenty percent cut from the total event’s budget. These are most commonly called event planning packages and are standard for large-scale event planning and corporate event planners. Keep in mind that this cut may not include the hourly base pay towards the event planner as well.

An event planner in Dallas should be professional and able to easily work with their clients. Don’t hesitate to get multiple quotes from event planners to compare their services and rates. 

Expensive event planners probably go by that rate for a good reason. Higher costs can mean that they are well established and have many connections in the community. These connections could mean that you have access to vendors you otherwise would not be able to book or even get discounted rates for certain vendors because of deals they have with your event planner. 

Factors to Consider

There are factors to consider when determining how much your event planner will charge you aside from initial basic costs. 

The type of food and beverage needed at your event can play a role in costs. Some food is more expensive to make and transport. If you have many guests to feed, this will also increase the cost as well. Open bars and fancy dinner meals may be more expensive than hosting a brunch buffet or tea party, for example. 

Decorations are another factor to consider. These prices will vary and be included in your overall event budget, but they can still influence how much an event planner will cost due to the amount of work they have to put in to secure vendors, decorations, and more for you. Fresh flowers, large balloon arches, lights, and more will be more expensive than fake floral arrangements and cheap table cloths. 

 The type of event will very much influence how much an event planner will cost as well. The event planner price can be higher for a large wedding or important corporate event than a small birthday party, for example. 

The location plays a big role as well. Hiring an event planner to plan a destination event will be more expensive than hosting a local event. 

Making sure you have room in your budget to cover the costs of everything you want your event to have is important so that you do not spend more money on an event planner than you’re willing to spend. You want to pay for quality services without sacrificing the main parts of your event.

Hire an Event Planner Today

All in all, event planner prices don’t have to compromise the quality of your event. Hiring an event planner will most definitely elevate your event to the level that you dream it to be. 

Contact Total Events DFT here to hire an event planner in Dallas to help schedule your important event today.

event planner

How Much Does an Event Planner Cost?

Are you planning a wedding, corporate event, or big family blowout? Are you considering the advantages of hiring an event planner?

You can save yourself a great deal of time and headache by hiring a wedding or corporate event planner. These folks will take over the details and allow you to enjoy the big day without missing any moments while you’re worried about the menu.

But can you afford professional planning? How much does an event planner cost, and is it worth what you’ll end up spending?

Here’s what you need to know.

What Does an Event Planner Do?

An event planner will take on the task of bringing your vision for an event to life. They may find you the perfect location, talk to vendors, and brainstorm about decorating ideas. Your planner may be in charge of negotiating prices, creating contracts, and keeping you on budget.

Your event planner may scout out various venues and field price bids. It’s their job to find the best location for you based on your budget and other requirements.

On your big day, an event planner will handle all of the details so you don’t have to. They will make sure all vendors are present and paid. 

If you’re getting married, an event planner can make sure the ceremony runs smoothly. You won’t need to concern yourself with who is going down the aisle and when, as long as you get there on time!

If your event is a corporate one, you can concentrate on socializing with your guests and making sure everyone feels comfortable. All of the details, such as guest attendance, menu items, and entertainment, will be managed by your event planner.

How Much Does It Cost?

Many event planners will charge you based on a percentage of the total cost of an event. The percentage is usually somewhere between 15% and 20%. So, if you’re going to pay 18% of an event that costs around $30,000, you’ll end up paying your event planner $5,400.

Some event planners may also charge you an hourly rate. Planning hours are usually included in this. They may include hours spent negotiating with vendors or picking out floral arrangements.

Still, other vendors may charge you a combination of an hourly rate and a percentage of the total event cost. It’s important to talk about the details of your payment arrangement before you hire a planner, and make sure you get it in writing.

A number of different factors will impact what your event planner may charge you. Your event location, time of year, and the number of guests will of course play a role. In addition, you can expect to pay a different amount based on your food and beverage choices.

It’s important to remember that the least expensive event planner in your area isn’t necessarily the best option for you. You’ll want to hire someone with a proven track record of experience and quality delivery.

Still, you won’t want to be overpaying for the services completely. Make sure you get at least three estimates in writing before you decide upon a local event planner.

What Are the Benefits of Hiring an Event Planner?

Many folks cite peace of mind as their number one reason for hiring a professional event planner. They want to know that all of the details of their event are being managed carefully by someone who knows what they’re doing.

In addition, your event planner may already have strong existing relationships with bands, florists, and bakers. They will know who to reach out to and which vendors will be able to meet any special requests you might have.

If budgeting isn’t your forte, the right event planner can also help you to save some money on your big day. They will know how to negotiate with vendors for a lower price, and when it’s okay to look for a bargain. They will also know when it’s time to splurge based on your specific requirements.

If you want to focus on the joy of your big day and leave the hassles to someone else, it pays to hire a quality event planner.

How Do You Find a Good Event Planner?

If you don’t have any close friends who have hired event planners in the past, you can start your search for an event planner online. Ask for recommendations in local social media community groups, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Did the event run smoothly? Was the planner able to help with negotiations and budgeting? Were there any unexpected costs along the way?

You’ll also want to check out reviews once you’ve narrowed down your search. Be on the lookout for repeated negative comments, such as a lack of timeliness or friendliness. On the other hand, a string of positive experiences can give you the confidence that you’re making a good decision.

It’s important to hire a local planner, as these professionals will have good relationships with vendors and venue owners in your area. You may also want to ask for at least three references you can speak to directly.

Your Important Day

When it comes to prominent events, you’ll want to know that every detail is a reflection of your taste. The right event planner will make sure that everything runs smoothly so you can focus on enjoying the experience.

Don’t stop getting smart about hiring an event planner now. For excellent professionals in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, contact us today. 

Corporate event planner

How Much Does the Average Corporate Event Planner Cost?

Are you planning a big corporate event? Are you wondering about a corporate event planner, but you’re unsure about the cost and how it all works?

Event planning is no easy task, and corporate event planning takes months of meticulous planning to bring everything to perfection.

The right corporate event planner understands what’s at stake and will guide you through the entire process, from budgeting down to logistics.

So if you’re looking to ditch the stress and hire an event planner in Dallas, then keep reading this guide. You’ll find out everything you need to know about corporate event planning, from the cost to the big event.

What Does a Corporate Event Planner Do?

A corporate event planner has one important role. That role is to make your event a success. Corporate event planning is a long process, and it needs constant attention to detail to make sure things stay on track.

Corporate event planners can work with public relations or marketing companies to organize events for their clients. They plan and manage conferences, press conferences, product launches, annual meetings, and more.

But before you go scampering off to hire a corporate event planner, you need to be clear on what you want to accomplish at your event.

Know What You Want

The best avenue to finding the perfect event planner is defining what you want to accomplish. Whether your event is to launch a new product or celebrate a huge company milestone, you need to determine the tasks you expect your event planner to do

Not all event planners are made the same, and all of them offer different pricing based on the services you need. But they will typically choose the venue, entertainment and give you food and drink options.

What to Look for First

Recommendations on Google are helpful when searching for the perfect event planner, but you want to take it a step further and find solid recommendations from peers in your field. 

Ask about their work for other companies, how well the event was planned, and how friendly the event planning company was to work with.

When you’re organizing a corporate event, more is at stake, so you need to know what to pay attention to when meeting with prospective event planners. It’s a good idea to meet with at least three professional event planners so you can sit down and compare the pros and cons. 

The first thing you want to look at is the event planner’s actual planning process. You need to understand how their process works, how your input fits in, and a clear picture of the preparation schedule.

You also need to know they will communicate with you. Whether you will have in-person meetings, get email updates, or phone calls. You want an event planner that understands you have a business to run and won’t allow planning an event to disrupt your flow.

Other qualities that make an event planning company stand out are creativity, resourcefulness, and kindness under pressure. So carefully evaluate how an event planning company makes you feel from the moment you meet them.

Get the Specifics

Now you want to get down to the nitty-gritty. Find out what types of events they specialize in. Some event planning companies handle mainly product launches, while others focus on corporate events or conferences.

Next, find out what vendors they partner with or prefer to work with, as typically this gives an event planning company access to discounts for high-quality services.

And don’t forget some event planning companies won’t work with vendors who aren’t on their list, so be sure to ask this question from the get-go. You need to know what your choices are limited to.

Planning your budget is vital, so you’ll want an event planner that’s transparent with their budget plan. And one that stays within your budget as well. Some event planners have a required minimum budget, so be sure to take this into account. 

Event Planner Cost

When it comes to event planner costs, it’s essential to define your budget first. Depending on the type of event, your costs can vary.

Typically event planners can structure their fees in a few ways, such as:

  • A flat fee
  • A percentage of the expenses
  • An hourly rate
  • Commission

On average, an event planner will cost you from $500 to $900 an hour, but don’t forget the average cost varies depending on where you live. Keep in mind that most event planners charge a base fee, in addition to a percentage of the price of an event.

The type of location you need can drive up your overall costs, so make sure you include any additional venue fees. Also, the structure of your event overall can drive up the price. For example, if you have a specialized corporate event with many components, you’ll pay more.

Cutting Costs

When you’re event planning, costs add up quickly. So you need a strategy. To keep more money in your pocket, try things like:

  • Shorten your guest list if you can
  • Create a strict budget and stick to it
  • Don’t be afraid to negotiate on the price
  • Think about event planning for only a portion of your event

You can also consider having brunch instead of dinner and drinks to reduce your food and catering costs.

Corporate Event Planner

Now you know all about hiring a corporate event planner, it’s time to talk to the professionals at Total Events DFW.

Total Events DFW is a top event planner in Texas, with over 500 five-star reviews and 15 industry awards. We can get your corporate event where it needs to be.

So make sure you contact us today to start planning your corporate event tomorrow.

wedding planning dallas tx

The Bride’s Guide to Wedding Planning in Dallas, TX

Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and planning it can be an overwhelming process. Luckily for you, we’ve got your back with this guide to wedding planning in Dallas, TX! 

We’ll walk you through preparations you should make well before your wedding date so you can spend less time stressing and more time celebrating! Keep reading to learn more.

Finding a Wedding Planner in Dallas

No wedding is the same, and you should be sure to find a wedding planner that matches your style. Hiring a wedding planner in Dallas for your big day takes a lot of the wedding planning stress of your hands. Before meeting any potential wedding planners, be sure to have an ideal wedding date range in mind.

A wedding planner will be able to help you create a wedding budget and timeline. Wedding planners can also assist with finding the perfect location, catering, wedding attire, flowers, entertainment options (DJs or live music), photography packages, and more!

Decide on a Wedding Budget

The wedding budget is one of the most important decisions you will make, so it’s a must to figure out what your wedding can realistically afford. If you’re having trouble coming up with an amount, here are some common ranges:

– $15k-$20k for a smaller wedding and reception at someone’s home or venue

– $25k-$35k on average for 200 guests attending in Dallas TX; more if there are other event elements like outside catering or live performances

– $50K+ when considering all of the above plus travel costs and lodging accommodations for out of town guests (most typical)

While these may seem high amounts, keep in mind that wedding budgets often include many items such as invitations, favors, and the cake. There are also many ways to budget and save money. Cutting down your guest list is one significant way to keep the costs down.

Venues

One of the first steps in wedding planning is choosing your venue. Dallas, TX, has a wide range of options, whether you want your reception at a swanky hotel, a mansion, or even a rustic barn.

If you’ve always dreamed of a vineyard wedding, check out D’Vine Grace Vineyard. D’Vine Grace Vineyard sits on 20 pastoral acres of land in McKinney with lush lawns, water features, and grapevines. This Tuscan-inspired venue hosts private events year-round.

Are you looking for the perfect chapel? Bella Donna Chapel is one of the most beautiful chapels in Dallas, Texas! This Romanesque stone architecture chapel features antique wooden pews and stained-glass windows. If you love old-world historic charm, this is the perfect chapel for your ceremony.

Confirm and Book Your Vendors

You want to confirm and book vendors for your wedding day months in advance. Examples of vendors include the bakery that makes your wedding cake, your photographer or videographer, your florist, and even your hair and makeup artist.

Many vendors request a deposit when reserving their services, so be sure to keep this in mind when budgeting for your wedding. If you’re wedding planning in Dallas, TX, and don’t know where to start, check out this list of popular vendors most people have on their wedding day.

Finalize Your Bridal Party

At around ten months before your big day, you want to finalize who will be in your wedding party. You already have a general idea, but now is the time to start narrowing down your list. You’ll want to think about who will be available and what their day jobs are (depending on whether or not they can take off work).

You should also consider friends of yours who may have made sacrifices for you in the past whom you’d like to pay back by including them in your wedding celebration. Lastly, these people must share some level of intimacy with both partners—in either familial relationships or friendships.

Ask each person if they would do the honors of being a part of your wedding party. When choosing a best man or maid of honor, be sure you choose someone you trust. This person will have to be willing to step up and help out you plan a wedding you’ve always dreamed of.

Find Your Wedding Gown

The wedding gown is often the most expensive purchase a bride will make for her wedding, but it should be one of the easiest decisions. You’ll have plenty more to figure out in your planning process. So don’t sweat this decision too much and choose something you love that can work with any wedding theme or color scheme.

-Wedding dresses are usually classified by style: A-line, ballgown, sheath/column dress, etc., so find what feels right to you. The silhouette (A line vs. Mermaid) and cut (strapless vs. full sleeves) also play a role. Finally, there’s fabric type which includes different qualities like silk satin versus tulle.

If you’re wedding planning in Dallas and are on the hunt for the perfect dress, there are tons of options. With its open, airy space and industrial-chic look, LuLu’s Bridal is unlike any other bridal salon in Dallas, Texas.

Brides receive personalized attention when choosing their wedding gowns from a team of professional bridal stylists. They even recently expanded their plus-size bridal collection, so just about any bride is sure to find the dress of her dreams.

Send Out Your Invites and Create A Wedding Website

Three months before your wedding, send out all your invites to your guests. In this modern-day world, a physical invite is a lovely traditional touch. On your invites, be sure to include a link (or a QR code if you’re super techy) to your wedding website.

A wedding website is where your guests can find all of the details about what’s happening on your wedding day. This includes information like who to contact for more details, the wedding color scheme and dress code, and registry information. Your wedding website should also provide directions, so people have no trouble finding their way to the ceremony or reception venue.

Wedding Planning in Dallas, TX: Our Top Tips

Congratulations! Your big day will be here before you know it, and that means there’s no time to waste with the planning. If you are planning a wedding in Dallas, TX, or anywhere else for that matter, then this post should give you some good ideas and tips to make sure your big day goes off without a hitch.

If you’re planning a wedding in Dallas, TX, and need help, get in touch with our team! From entertainment to decor, we’ll help you create the wedding you always envisioned.