Last week was all about planning a wedding yourself. This week, we're looking at the alternative: hiring someone to help you plan your big day. The big question is, do you need a wedding planner or a

coordinator? What's the difference?

Many brides do not understand the difference between a wedding planner and a wedding coordinator, but the services offered by each of these professionals are quite different.

A wedding planner steps into the planning process with the expertise and insight to help you make every little decision regarding your big day.

Their job is to listen to your vision for your wedding day and help you bring that vision to life without going over your budget and without too many "bridezilla" moments.

The most professional and experienced planners will have connections in the local community so they can secure the most exclusive vendors, or may be able to get discounts not offered to brides directly.

The planner's job is to make sure every little detail is taken care of so wedding planning does not overtake your life completely.

A wedding coordinator only plans and coordinates the actual wedding day. They may come into the picture a month or two prior to your wedding day, rather than helping you plan all of the smaller details months in advance. Their job is to make sure the day progresses smoothly while coordinating everyone in the wedding party and your guests.

Top Five Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner or Coordinator

There are five good reasons you may decide to hire a wedding planner or a wedding coordinator, rather than trying to arrange everything on your own:

1.You do not have time to take care of all responsibilities in your daily life, let alone the additional duties required to plan a wedding. You need a professional who can be trusted to take on some of that responsibility, while still allowing you to make the final decisions.

2.You know you do not have the knowledge and vendor connections needed to effectively plan a

memorable wedding. You would rather hire a professional than risk missing something or making a bad decision.

3.You are working on a tight

budget and you know a

well-connected wedding planner can help you get high quality

vendors for less.

4.You do not want to ask your

family or friends to set up for the ceremony and reception, yet you know you won't have time to do that on your wedding day, either.

5.You need someone else to take on that responsibility so that

everyone closest to you can relax and enjoy the day alongside you.

10 Questions to ask a

planner before signing a

contract

If you decide that you do need to hire a wedding planner so you can maintain peace of mind, there are 10 questions you should ask prospective planners before signing them up for the job.

1.Why did you choose to become a wedding planner, and how long have you been in this profession?

2. How many weddings do you plan in a year? How many clients do you plan to take on while working with us?

3. Do you work as a wedding

planner full-time or part-time? What hours are you typically

available?

4. Can you tell me about a wedding you have planned in the past with a budget similar to my budget? How did you go about making sure that budget was not blown?

5. Are you certified? Are you licensed? Are you associated with any wedding planning

associations?

6. Are there are any wedding –related duties that you are

unwilling or unable to take on for your clients?

7. Do you foresee any potential problems with our set wedding date? Please include potential weather related issues, personal matters, and other issues.

8. What vendors do you have close working relationships with? Have you ever used the venue we have chosen for our wedding?

9.Will you be personally present for all stages of planning and

coordinating my wedding? How long do you typically stay on-site after the wedding ceremony to make sure things go smoothly?

10.Do you clearly understand my vision? Can you tell me some of your ideas for this vision off the top of your head?

Once you've met with a few planners, go over their responses with your partner and decide which of them is right for your wedding.

Mala Webber is the founder of IsleDo.com a wedding planning

resource for couples planning a Caribbean wedding. For help with your ideas & planning send your questions to: admin@isledo.com