How do we choose a wedding planner without knowing what they do?

If you are currently in the process of hiring a wedding planner for your Indian destination wedding or exploring the idea of it, we believe it’s very important for you to fully understand what the job entails. Walk with us as we try to best capture the most important aspects of the person who might become one of the biggest and most important assets in your team!

It’s always a different task, tailored for each specific couple

Although it might seem like a very simple question, the answer to what a wedding planner does changes with each and every client a wedding planner gets to work with! Each couple comes to the planning process looking for different things. If we had to summarize the description of the job, it would be someone who understands the vision of a couple, works to build and leverage relationships with those needed to bring the vision to life, and executes (and enables the execution of) the plan when it matters most and when things beyond control will likely come up. Amy Patel of The Storybook Events may have hit the nail on the head by saying that “creating a wedding vision involves a million different decisions that each in one way or another reflect on each other and at the end of the day blend together to create the vision”.

Wedding planners have professional and advanced experience in all aspects of wedding planning, from helping couples to set up realistic wedding budgets to presenting the most stunning wedding decor ideas for your Indian destination wedding to putting together an overall action plan with details on how the wedding day will go that straddles the line of being too detailed but also open enough to account for the flexibility required to handle anything that arises.

From photography to catering and flowers to the music playlist, wedding planners keep you and all your wedding events organized all while lessening your stress and making sure the planning process remains fun and enjoyable for you. Your planner will take care of every small detail during your wedding festivities and will make this a memorable experience with everything falling smoothly into place. Their creations and efforts will take your wedding events into the next level. They will discuss wedding logistics with you, negotiate vendor contracts and ensure that wedding-day activities go as planned.

If you are looking to save money, you may think of wedding planning fees as an expense that you can avoid entirely. However, keep in mind that because of the inside connections and experience, the best destination wedding planners have the tools to avoid common mistakes. Hiring a wedding planner for your Indian destination wedding might be the most cost effective move to end up saving you from inconveniences and make the entire wedding process seamless and easy. This job is at times, one of the most important components of an amazing wedding day, but you may not even realize the full story behind a wedding planner's duties. Beyond their incredible and heartfelt advice, guidance and organization, a wedding planner will handle all (AND THAT MEANS AAAAAAAALL) the small things many couples need an extra helping hand to cover. See just a partial list below!

Just the partial list of what a planner will do for you:

• Managing initial consultations with clients to discuss wedding packages available, a la carte planning, desired type of wedding, wedding budget, etc.

• Discuss wedding details with couples such as: venue options, entertainment, catering, etc.

• Develop design elements such as color palettes, decor rentals, lighting, and general aesthetic details for all wedding events.

• Plan for a site inspection, if desired. Schedule meetings (or video conferences) with vendors such as photographers, videographers, florists, decor houses, DJ’s, dhol players, etc.

• Negotiating contracts with the vendor team and following up on the required payments and due dates so no deadline ever gets missed.

• Ensuring that all arrangements for necessary wedding supplies and equipment are transported and set up in a timely manner.

• Waking up before the crack-of-dawn (typically at 3 or 4AM) to make sure that morning event decor (usually the main event - wedding ceremony) is being set up according to plan.

• Monitoring all wedding-day activities to ensure that everything runs smoothly (soundchecks, set up checks and more!)

• Obtaining any local products that might be needed (coconuts for the ceremony, smoke bombs, welcome bag contents, or any last minute shopping).

• Making sure your loved ones don’t miss out on any key moments. Keeping the families informed on any last minute changes (backup location move, time for transportation, etc.)

As Amy Patel puts it best, “every couple deserves to have some type of planner to help guide them through the planning questions and be a guiding light throughout the planning process. Not only do planners assist in narrowing down selections and researching for the couple and their families, but also provide an array of options and prospective on how weddings can be both traditional and modern. With their experience planners are able to bring the modern elements of designs, and ceremony structures that couples enjoy, and parents appreciate. We serve a tool to mediate between all vendors, and families to create a vision that speaks to the journey of two souls, and the blending of two families, two traditions, and two cultures”. We couldn’t agree more - these essential partners are so very important to planning a successful event!

Shaadi Destinations is the premier, award winning, modern-day destination wedding travel agency for South Asian couples seeking a streamlined process, incredible experiences, and a party friends and family will never forget! We save our couples thousands of dollars while throwing them the wedding festivities dreams are made of.

We live and breathe destination weddings - with just one consultation, you will be light years ahead in your destination wedding planning process. In less than one week, Shaadi Destinations will find you the most perfect resort that meets your needs, your budget, and your desires. With our vendor relationships and pre-negotiated exclusive perks at resorts across Mexico and the Caribbean, we are confident we can find exactly what you are looking for. You'll find we have the best rates, best incentives, and best booking experience.