According to a survey, 96% of respondents said planning a wedding was stressful. As a soon-to-be bride, you may not find this statistic surprising, but why can’t you plan your dream day without the added stress? You can!
If you hire the right wedding planner for the job, you won’t have to deal with unnecessary anxiety before your big day. Not sure where to start? Luckily, our guide can help.
Read on to learn how to hire a wedding planner in Dallas.
Research Wedding Planners in the Dallas Area
The first step on how to hire a wedding planner in Dallas is by researching possible options in the area. The best wedding planner will depend on your specific needs.
A wedding planner should have their own website detailing the weddings and work they have done. Look for photos on these sites to learn more about what elements they tend to use in a wedding.
Hiring a wedding planner may come down to the style you want your wedding to be. Some planners stick with one or two styles over others so be sure to complete thorough research.
If a wedding planner has online reviews, read every one that you can! The best advice is always from those who have worked with the same planner you are considering.
Consult With Your Favorites
Planning a wedding is difficult, so you want to be sure you hire the right person for the job. For this reason, you should always consult with those you like from your research.
Start with a simple phone call to your top three or so choices. During this call, confirm the services they offer, their available dates, and their price range. If the answers correlate with your needs, set up a meeting.
Prepare for the Meeting
The next step to finding your dream wedding planner in Dallas is to prepare for the meeting before heading to it. If you had a large list of possible planners to narrow down, you may be meeting with more than one.
This is more of a reason to get prepared for meetings. Bring inspiration boards, magazine picks, Pinterest boards, etc.
Come with a list of questions you want to be answered and bring something to write down the answers so you don’t forget. You should also always ask for a list of references to contact after the meeting.
By noting the responses to their questions along with their personalities, you will have a better idea of how to hire the right wedding planner. A great wedding planner will respond to your ideas with enthusiasm and even offer suggestions.
Call References
If you followed the above step and asked for references, you can now call those people. You don’t have to hire a wedding planner on the spot. They will understand that you want to ensure you are making the right choice.
Just like you must be prepared for the meeting with the wedding planner, you should be prepared to speak to their references. Ask this general list of questions to get a better idea of a planner’s experience:
- Did the wedding planner stick to your budget?
- Can I see photos of your wedding?
- How well did the planner take on your ideas?
- Was the style of the wedding what you wanted?
- What services did they take care of for you?
- Did the wedding planner have good recommendations and connections?
- Did they communicate with you promptly?
- Did anything go wrong and how did the planner handle it?
By asking the tough questions, you’ll get a better idea of which wedding planner in Dallas you want to hire.
Keep in mind that a planner may give you a list of their best customers. Because of this, it is important to rely on the research you completed and not solely rely on the references.
Compare and Contrast
Comparing and contrasting the wedding planners you researched, interviewed, and so on is the most important step of the process. Take the time to consider all of the information you found.
To truly hire the right person for the job, compare personalities, references, notes, and then proposals if you received them.
After you have made a final decision, immediately call the planner to hire them. Congrats! You’ve found the perfect planner in Dallas, but that isn’t the final step.
Sign the Contract
The last thing to cover after you hire a wedding planner is the contract. If you received proposals from a planner after you met with them, it will often serve as the basis of a contract.
However, to ensure you are getting the most out of wedding planning services, ensure these points are listed in the contract:
- Name and contact information
- Itemized list of services
- Total cost/calculation
- Deposit amount due
- Due dates for other balances
- Refund or cancellation policy
- Wedding planner’s signature
Only sign a contract if all of these important points are included. You should understand everything in the contract without needing to ask questions because you’ve already discussed it beforehand.
However, if you don’t understand something in the contract, don’t hesitate to ask. Once signed, you cannot go back on it in most cases.
How to Hire a Wedding Planner the Right Way
Now that you know how to hire a wedding planner in Dallas, you can start the journey for your dream day. Without the right planner, the wedding day may not go as smoothly as you wanted.
When you follow this guide, you are sure to make the best choice for your personal needs. Your day is all about you and hiring a wedding planner should be no different.
Contact us now to learn how we can elevate your wedding day goals.