Do I need a wedding planner?
If you’re planning a personalised wedding, you might be wondering ‘Do I need a wedding planner? What do wedding planners actually DO?’
I put these burning questions to Yorkshire wedding planner Hannah of Hannah Rachael weddings…
When I imagine a wedding planner in my head, they’re a woman with a clipboard in a stately home barking orders. But I first met you pushing a van out of the mud in a field! Do you think people have a false idea of what wedding planners actually do?
I can see why people have this preconceived view of wedding planners as this is what I’m told a lot of wedding planners do. I’ve had a lot of suppliers come up to me this summer in shock saying I’m not like other planners they’ve worked with before. They, like you, expected me to turn up with a clipboard and not really do much and that’s just not me at all!
I’m there to get stuck in and help with whatever is needed to make sure my couples have the best wedding possible. If that means clearing plates and pushing cars out of the mud, then that’s exactly what you’ll find me doing!
What did you do before becoming a wedding planner? How did it help? When did you decide that you wanted to be a wedding planner?
I’ve been in the wedding and event industry for several years now. When I was 16/17 (over 10 years ago) I helped out at a local bridal boutique and completely fell in love with the whole bridal process. I’ve always been interested in art and design, and this just took it to another level. I then went on to do a degree in fashion design and I specialised in bridalwear.
After graduating I had various retail jobs and decided that my heart lies in events, specifically weddings and so I did some unpaid work experience within the events team at a local hotel which led me to land a job working in a 5* country house in Cumbria where I did everything! I coordinated weddings, helped with bedroom reservations, social media, served breakfast and was even one of the duty managers. I learnt so much and will be forever grateful for the 2 years I spent there.
I then moved back to Yorkshire and worked as a corporate events executive for a 5* hotel in York and then went on to be an event manager for a wedding caterer. So, I like to think everything I’ve done over the last few years has led me to where I am today.
What kind of wedding ceremonies do you typically coordinate? What sort of places do you work?
I tend to work with a lot of couples who are having weddings on private land in structures such as marquees, tipis, and yurts. This tends to be because they want a bit more help throughout their planning to make sure they have everything accounted for and have someone who can support during set up and be there on the day to manage everything.
Having said that though I am very lucky and do get to work in some beautiful venues up and down the UK too.
What kind of couples tend to choose to work with you? What is it about your values and skills that they are drawn to?
I have the most wonderful relationships with my couples, and I think that’s because I really like to take the time to get to know them. I invest in their wedding and want to make sure I’m there to help them to create a day which feels completely unique and personal to them. I also feel extremely privileged to be asked to be a part of a couple’s wedding and I do take this responsibility very seriously. I’m a very detailed person and like to make notes and take the time to go through every element no matter how small it may seem to make sure we have everything accounted for. A lot of my couples are very detailed people too and I think this is why we work so well together.
What is your favourite part of the day as a wedding planner?
It has to be the ceremony, I bet you agree with me on this one. It’s where a couple’s personality really shines, and where everyone comes together to celebrate. It’s the whole point of the day after all. I’ve always feel so honoured to be able to witness a ceremony, it’s just such a beautiful and personal moment.
When you’re scheduling a wedding day, is there any advice you would give to couples?
Yes, loads! One of the most important things to consider is your timeline and your supplier’s requirements. It’s crucial that you know when your suppliers will be arriving onsite for set-up and on the day of your wedding. Do they need power and water? What equipment will they be bringing and what access do they require?
Make sure to tell your suppliers the key timings of your day e.g. the time of your ceremony, wedding breakfast, speeches, evening guest arrival etc as these will play a big part in everything running smoothly.
As someone who sees a lot of wedding ceremonies, what do you find special about celebrant-led weddings?
How personal and flexible they are. There really aren’t any restrictions when it comes to celebrant-led ceremonies which I love. I adore how a good celebrant really taps into the unique qualities of each couple and helps tell their individual story.
I also love that a celebrant lead ceremony can take place anywhere, I think that can help to make a ceremony memorable and special.
I won’t ask which was your favourite wedding (they’re all favourites!), but what elements do your favourite weddings all have in common?
That they truly represent my couple’s personalities. My couples want to create a day which feels completely bespoke to them, they want to have fun and enjoy being able to celebrate with their loved ones without having to worry about a thing.
What’s the most surprising wedding tradition you have seen?
I can’t say I’ve experienced anything particularly surprising, but I did have a wedding this summer which had a family sweet cart. It’s something their family has done for years and is a tradition very close to them and sweets always go down well at a wedding.
Why weddings? What’s so special about them for you?
I just adore weddings and have done for as long as I can remember. I love how detailed they are, how creative you can be and that they are centred around love. It’s such a unique industry to be a part of and I honestly could not see myself doing anything else. I love that wedding buzz you get; the rapport you build with your couples and the people you meet - it's like nothing else.
What is your special wedding preparation ninja skill?
It has to be my function sheets. I produce a function sheet and timeline for each wedding, and they hopefully contain everything I could possibly need to know about my couple, their team of suppliers, their guests, and the day itself.
I’m a very detailed person and I don’t like winging things. So, this is my way of making sure we have a plan and as you’ve seen first-hand weddings don’t always go to plan or run to time and that’s ok, because when you have a plan in the first instance it means that the day doesn’t turn into utter chaos!
What would you advise couples to ask when choosing their wedding suppliers?
So much! That’s why I set up my LET’S TALK DETAILS mailing list as another way of providing free planning tips and support as there is a lot to consider when choosing your team of suppliers.