Wedding planners assist clients as they prepare for an upcoming wedding. They are called in to either assist with the entire wedding or with wedding-specific activities. They serve as the point person and go-between for the parties getting married and third-party participants, including bakers, florists, or caterers, and closely monitor wedding day activities to ensure everything is running smoothly.
Wedding planners discuss the logistics with their clients and work to negotiate vendor contracts and ensure the wedding day activities run smoothly. They conduct preliminary consultations with clients to discuss available wedding packages, the type of wedding a client desires, and the size and wiggle room of their budget. They arrange meetings for their clients to tour suitable wedding venues and meet with vendors. They negotiate contracts with selected vendors and make payments as required. Some wedding planners ensure stationery items including wedding rehearsal, dinner invitations, wedding programs, and place cards are printed on time and the day of, they look after the client’s wedding gifts and personal property to ensure they are packed away and secured and an assigned vehicle or storage room. Some wedding planners have a bachelor’s degree in hospitality or related fields, and have trained or worked as event planners before specializing in weddings.