| Choosing a wedding consultant is rarely easy due to | | | | vendors can be a good thing. If they regularly supply |
| the fact that many couples will only ever hire one in | | | | these vendors with business they may be able to |
| their lifetime. Even if you are marrying for a second, | | | | negotiate special discounted rates for your wedding |
| third, or even forth time, hiring a wedding consultant is | | | | leaving you with breathing space to spend the cash |
| still not something you have a wealth of experience | | | | you saved elsewhere, like on your honeymoon. |
| with. To help you hire a consultant that will be right for | | | | However, it is important to ascertain the nature of the |
| your wedding ask all potential candidates the following | | | | relationship between vendor and consultant. Does the |
| five questions. | | | | consultant get a commission from sending the vendor |
| | | | business? Are the vendors they recommend the best |
| 1. Can they conform to the budget that you have | | | | for you or are they simply recommending them to get |
| planned? While some consultants may be able to | | | | a kickback? These are all additional questions to ask |
| advise on potential changes to your budget, for | | | | your potential wedding consultants. |
| example, you may have grossly under-budgeted for | | | | 4. Will the consultant liaise with the vendors for you? |
| your photography costs; a common mistake; hiring a | | | | This is an important role of any wedding consultant. |
| consultant that has their own ideas of how much you | | | | The most helpful wedding consultants will not only |
| should be spending on various aspects of your | | | | meet with vendors for you and convey your wedding |
| wedding will do you no favors. They will ultimately end | | | | vision across to them but they will also look through |
| up planning a wedding completely different to what | | | | the various vendor contracts you will need to sign and |
| you wanted. | | | | recognise any potential pitfalls immediately. |
| 2. Will the consultant take the reigns and plan your | | | | 5. Is the consultant up to date with the current trends in |
| wedding down to the very last detail? While you may | | | | the wedding industry? While hiring a consultant that is |
| think that a consultant that answers yes to this | | | | an expert on traditional wedding etiquette undoubtedly |
| question is the one for you, having someone else plan | | | | has its uses, the last thing you want is for your |
| every last detail may leave you losing some of the | | | | wedding to look like it belongs in the nineteenth century. |
| aspects of your wedding unique to you. While this is | | | | A more flexible consultant will ultimately provide you |
| not a reason to discount a particular candidate, it | | | | with a more modern wedding. Make sure your vendor |
| should lead to further discussion. Be firm about what | | | | knows what the current wedding trends are. Why not |
| you want the consultant to take control of and what | | | | arm yourself with information from wedding |
| you want to leave to yourselves. This will help ensure | | | | magazines and blogs before you interview a potential |
| you have a truly original wedding day. | | | | consultant to bring yourself up to speed with the |
| 3. Does the consultant have any preferred wedding | | | | current wedding crazes beforehand? |
| vendors? A consultant with preferred wedding | | | | |