Finding the Right Wedding Planner
The right planner makes all the difference. Start networking well in advance of your wedding. Ask anyone you know--friends, extended family, even the checker at the grocery store or your mail carrier--whether they have a referral for a Vermont wedding planner. You may be surprised at how readily people discuss the subject of weddings and how willing they are to help.Looking online or in the Yellow Pages is also fine; just be sure to interview a number of planners before making a decision. A wedding planner should be organized, usually has a professional-looking website, makes you comfortable and has a portfolio of his or her prior work readily available. If you are able to visit the area you've chosen for your Vermont wedding in advance, check in at your prospective planners' shops. Try to get a general feel for how professional the shop is and whether the samples suit your style.
When you've narrowed down your search to two or three possible planners, ask for references. Request at least five references; ten are even better. You may not feel you need to call that many, but the immediate availability of at least ten positive references is an indication of your planner's talents and experience. When you call your references, be sure to ask them when their wedding took place; the more recently, the better. If five people who used your Vermont wedding planner's services in the past year are thrilled, you can be more confident in your choice.
Budgeting for Your Wedding Planner
Few wedding planners can give you an estimate outright on how much your wedding will cost; there are too many variables, and he or she doesn't yet know what your individual choices will be. But the wedding planner should be willing to give you examples of recent prices on various cakes, flower arrangements and reception hall rentals. If your planner balks at discussing pricing in at least a general way, you may want to choose a different planner.Be clear about your wedding budget. It's best to list each item you'll need to include in your wedding (flowers, the hall rental, food, music, photography/videography) and write down your budget for each. If the total cost is too high, re-work your preferences until you arrive at a budget you are comfortable with. Then take your list to the wedding planner and ask him or her if it's feasible. The planner should be willing to work with you and should be candid about where you can cut corners or what areas to focus your wedding budget on.
Your Personal Preferences
Your Vermont wedding planner should be able to help you decide on specific locations and choices based on your preferences. For example, many nature or Colonial history lovers choose Vermont for their wedding location. Your wedding planner will use that information to offer you a list of choices that take advantage of Vermont's scenic beauty and impressive history (such as a Green Mountains or historic site wedding). He or she will also help you with the most economic travel and best accommodations based on seasonal rates. Autumn is of course a top pick for Vermont weddings; let your wedding planner help you get a great deal during this highly visited time in New England.Most of all, be sure to select a planner who listens to you and your groom, is easy to talk to and makes you feel comfortable. You'll be glad you enlisted in the help of one in the know.
