What a Wedding Planner Really Does (and Why Chicago Couples Should Hire One Early)
Getting engaged is exciting—but once the celebrations fade, and reality sets in, many couples are left wondering where to begin. If you’re planning a wedding in Chicago, you may already be asking yourself: Do we really need a wedding planner? And if so, when should we hire one? The short answer: hiring a Chicago wedding planner early can shape your entire planning experience—for the better. Here’s what a wedding planner actually does and why bringing one on from the start makes all the difference.
A Wedding Planner Is More Than a Coordinator (and we offer that service as well if you’ve already done some of the heavy lifting yourself)
One of the biggest misconceptions about wedding planning is that a planner’s role is limited to creating a timeline and managing the wedding day. In reality, a professional, full service wedding planner serves as your guide, strategist, and advocate throughout the entire process (and let’s face it, considering family dynamics and the stress involved, we even play the role of therapist once in a while).
From the moment you begin planning, a planner’s goals are clear:
We’ll help you build a realistic wedding budget based on Chicago pricing while identifying your priorities so your spending aligns with what matters most, we have this conversation early so that our goals are clear.
We’ll help you build a dream team. Over the years we’ve curated a broad list of contacts in the industry and are not afraid to use it! We hit the ground running on your behalf using direct contacts to venues and vendors saving you time while narrowing down your top choices, and we’ll also know who is not a good fit for your needs.
We’ll create a planning timeline so that the planning roadmap is clear and works well with your calendar and availability while making sure all your vendors are booked in order of priority — this is an art and a piece of the puzzle that saves time and protects your sanity — no overwhelm, no need to settle because your top choices are booked, and no need to wonder if you missed anything!
We’ll help you make informed decisions before contracts are signed. This early guidance lays the foundation for a smoother, more intentional planning journey.
We’ll help you manage vendors for a streamlined experience and clear goals for your entire team while making sure your inbox is not slammed with all the minutia ( unless that’s your thing …).
We’ll create a cohesive & creative vision that seamlessly mergers the design elements and the logistics, you’re hosting an event and your planning team is here to help you build that vision from small details to big decisions, and ensure that it will look and feel the way you expect, no surprises no stale ideas.
We’ll help you account for the unknown — windy day on the lakefront? A plan B will be in place, communicated and clear; Our job is to think of all the scenarios, be prepared and make adjustments in real time as needed so that the experience feels smooth and flawless no matter what curb balls are thrown into the day … and with hundreds of executed events, we’ve seen some curb balls!
We’ll make sure that you and your family and friends are taken care of this is throughout the planning process with each intentional decision made and during the event by overseeing the day and making sure the caliber of service is above and beyond expectations.
Why Hiring a Wedding Planner Early Saves You Money
Let’s talk about the B word … Budget, and let’s talk about it early! Many couples worry that hiring a planner will stretch their budget—but the opposite is often true. An experienced wedding planner understands local costs, vendor structures, and logistical requirements that aren’t always obvious at first glance. Because you don’t know what you don’t know, hiring a planner early helps you avoid unwanted (read expensive) complications like booking a venue that requires extensive rentals or union labor; or underestimating how guest count impacts catering, rentals, and staffing or overall flow in a specific space. We could go on and on, but we won’t because thinking about those million potential snags is our job, not yours.
When Should You Hire a Wedding Planner in Chicago?
And that’s the magical question … If you’re newly engaged and planning a Chicago wedding, the best time to hire a full service planner is before booking your venue or major vendors, we recommend a year out or more ( but even as little as nine months) is ideal. Early involvement ensures that every decision supports your vision, your budget, and the overall experience you want to create… and most importantly it will help you avoid stress. Planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming and with the right team and guidance from the start, it can feel clear, calm, and even enjoyable.
What sets us apart as planners ?
Because our design services are offered in house, we can seamlessly bridge the gap between logistics and design with all the elements you need: floral, lighting, rentals, and so much more, you’ll have one person that understands the goal, your style and has an global overview of the entire event. Our planning and design team work together in tandem to deliver your vision brought to life.
Here are a few notes from our clients that have recently gone through the planning process with us by their side.
