Planning a wedding is a beautiful, yet intricate journey that often demands more time, energy, and expertise than anticipated. This is where a wedding planner can be beneficial to have on your team. Your wedding planner will be your guiding light throughout the process, ensuring that your vision becomes a reality, not just streamlining the process, but guiding you through a maze of choices and decisions. 

Similar to any other vendor during the wedding planning process, there isn’t a shortage of wedding planners to choose from. So how do you know which planner is going to be the best for you? Finding a wedding planner who aligns with your personality is as vital as finding the perfect wedding attire or the ideal venue. Weddings are deeply personal celebrations, reflective of your unique style and preferences. A wedding planner who understands your personality not only ensures a smoother planning process but also helps in curating a day that truly feels like ‘you’, so it’s key to find someone that you can effortlessly exchange ideas and expectations with. Asking a wedding planner some or all of these questions will help you decide if they’re right for you.

Remember, your wedding planner is not just a logistical coordinator but a partner in crafting an unforgettable celebration that mirrors your love and personalities. Take the time to find a planner who not only boasts expertise but also shares a genuine connection with you. It will make all the difference in creating the wedding day you’ve always dreamed of.

To make sure you’re on the same page and set for success, there are important questions to ask a wedding planner before securing their services. We’ve listed our top 9 questions to ask during your consultation, as well as our own answers to these. 

What is your communication style?

We prefer an open and conversational communication style, and we communicate primarily by email. At Buttercup Celebrations, we pride ourselves on being very responsive to our clients. You should never be left wondering where things stand regarding your wedding! We check in weekly with you through email and meet with you monthly. You may also communicate via text! If the message concerns anything regarding wedding day deliverables, we’ll confirm details by email so that we both have all expectations in writing. 

Will the design process be collaborative?

Yes, definitely!! We begin the planning process by getting to know the two of you, and the questions are extensive. You’ll start by listing the ideas the two of you have for your dream wedding,. After that, we’ll talk about your values, your history as a couple, and the ways you prefer to spend your time. We believe your wedding should reflect your relationship! We’ll learn everything from your fashion sense to how you decorate your home, the music you listen to, and the restaurants you favor. The two of you will build your wedding vision with Rebecca.

Once that is complete, we’ll progress to selecting your venue and the wedding pros to bring your dreams to life. Meanwhile, Rebecca will build her design proposal based on your wedding vision and your answers to her questions. Once your wedding pros are all secured, she will present you with the design proposal. You’ll be able to give feedback and tweak any aspect of the design you wish to, until everything is exactly what you’re envisioning!

Who will we work with if we secure your services? Will they be our point person during the entire planning process?

Rebecca Fulk is the sole wedding planner with Buttercup Celebrations and will work with you throughout the planning process. She will add additional staff for your event as necessary to ensure all of your needs are met. You may see several Buttercup Celebrations employees on your wedding day.

How do you handle vendor selection?

As noted above, we will work with you to develop your wedding vision before selecting any vendor, including your venue. (This assumes you haven’t already secured this before hiring us.) We will give you a curated list of wedding pros in each category that we believe are best able to bring your particular vision to life. This doesn’t mean that you’re limited to only  these wedding pros, though. If you have a particular provider in mind, we are happy to vet them for you. We will meet with them and you to decide whether they’re a good fit for your wedding. We’ll also be honest with you if we believe there are reasons they may not meet your expectations. After all, you’re hiring us for this expertise. Ultimately, though, hiring decisions remain with the two of you. 

What assistance do you need from us during the planning process?

You will have a manageable level of “homework” tailored to your unique situation. We’ll also let you know how soon we need answers to particular questions, as well as what the consequences would be if we don’t hear back from you. (These could include a lost opportunity to work with a particular photographer, or applicable late fees after a certain date). If circumstances arise that will prevent you from getting back to us on time, we simply ask that you let us know what’s going on. We may be able to procure an exception to someone’s policy for you, as long as we’re kept informed. 

How many events will you be working on at the same time as our wedding?

To maintain our high level of customer service, Buttercup Celebrations takes on a maximum of 5 wedding planning and design couples each year. We may also have a few wedding management clients, but wedding management does not require the same time investment on our part, as these couples essentially do the planning and design process themselves, with Rebecca joining near the end to create the event timeline and iron out logistics for the wedding day. We intentionally limit our clientele in order to serve our existing clients well. 

Do you offer evening or weekend appointments?

Yes! Appointments are offered 4 evenings a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday), as well as weekends by appointment, as long as we don’t have a wedding that weekend. We’re flexible!

How many people from your team will be onsite during our event?

It depends on the size of your guest list, the type of venue you’re using, and how long the event will last. You will usually have at least 2 people onsite at all times, maybe more. 

How do you handle a rain plan and who makes the final call?

At Buttercup Celebrations, we will create a comprehensive inclement weather plan for your wedding day/weekend. This includes much more than just rain. In scenic central Illinois, after all, we have wind, rain, snow, heat, cold, and sleet, sometimes all in the same week! Our goal is to create a plan that you won’t hesitate to implement if necessary, because it still gives you a beautiful wedding. We will help you balance your wedding day dreams with the comfort of your guests. Buttercup Celebrations will never unilaterally decide to implement a weather plan – this decision is made with the couple, the wedding planner, and the venue coordinator, if your venue has one.

Conclusion

Hiring a wedding planner is an important decision! It will set the tone for all of wedding planning and can mean the difference between a stressful engagement and a joy-filled one. The right wedding planner will make the multitude of logistical decisions much less daunting. During a consultation, these questions to ask a wedding planner should help you make a decision more easily. You’ll learn a lot by the way any wedding planner answers these questions. Ultimately, choosing a planner comes down to the working relationship you can build with him or her. To explore a working relationship with Buttercup Celebrations, complete our inquiry form here to schedule a no-obligation consultation. We’d love to talk with the two of you!