financial planning

Benefits of an Event Planner

In an age when you can take care of almost any task imaginable from the convenience of your phone, the idea of paying for certain services can seem foolish. This is often the mindset of many couples when it comes to hiring a wedding planner. The idea is that there are enough free apps and planning resources available online for couples to take on the task without any external influence. Though this seems like logical thinking, it is actually a decision that can lead to a ton of unnecessary stress.

From making your life easier to landing you deals you couldn’t get otherwise, an event planner can be a lifesaver in a variety of ways. Weigh these benefits and see why the decision might be right for you.

Offers Years of Experience

Marriage is meant to be a one-time deal for most people. This means that you likely don’t have any experience in planning an event like this. Though you can find inspiration on the internet and ask others about how to go about certain tasks, you are left to assume that the choices you are making will work out in the end. By hiring a planner, however, you are working with someone who has gone through this process time and time again. This level of experience can be invaluable when it comes to ironing out key details of your big day.

This experience level makes your planner a font of wisdom in many regards. The individual you hire can help you with anything from providing information on how you should tip your vendors to organizing sensible schedules for each goal you must accomplish before your wedding date arrives. Whenever you have a question, you’ll know who to turn to for some clarity.

Delivers Cost-Effective Solutions

A key reason many couples ditch the idea of hiring a planner is because it seems like an unnecessary expense. While it is true you will need to pay a fee for the services, the planner can help your budget in a variety of other ways. Namely, he or she will be able to direct you toward cost-effective solutions for almost any idea you come up with. Additionally, the professional world of the wedding industry is remarkably interconnected. A planner can use the connections made throughout his or her career to find you impressive deals and discounts. 

Takes Care of Annoying Challenges

A large chunk of the obstacles a couple has to deal with while planning a wedding are minor things that slowly become more annoying. From arranging the seating chart to keeping vendors in the loop, you’ll find yourself pulling out your hair as these simple tasks slowly transform into points of major stress and contention. However, hiring a planner allows you the luxury of delegating responsibilities to someone who can handle them far better. This solves the problem outright and massively reduces how irritated you become while planning.

Organizes Everything for You

Along the same line of handling annoying tasks, the planner is also the person who can keep all of your information organized throughout the planning phase. Instead of littering your desk with vendor contracts, contact info for the venue, receipts, and to-do lists, your planner can compile everything for you. Should you forget about an appointment with your florist or need to book a consultation with a potential stylist, you’ll have the equivalent of a personal assistant providing you with all pertinent details related to your wedding.

While it definitely can seem like you’ll save money by foregoing the wedding planner entirely, this is not quite the truth. Weigh your options and see how bringing a professional into the mix can help save you a good chunk of change and keep you in the best spirits throughout the entire process.

Destination Weddings

The decision to have a destination wedding can be a big one. Not only will you be looking at your planning tasks from an entirely different perspective, you also must dedicate extra effort to the financial side of things. There are additional costs attached to hosting your nuptials away from home, so it is wise to plan ahead and create a strategy for covering all expenses. Review these points and formulate a plan that will help you feel excited and prepared for your big day. 

Location: Selecting the Destination

Perhaps the biggest factor that will influence the total cost of your destination event is the location you select. The world is a big place, and there are some areas that command a higher price than others. Before you can determine your exact budget for other services, decide where you’d like to hold your wedding. After you’ve picked out a country and venue, you can begin looking at expenses like airline fare, vendors, accommodations, and other details. 

Lodging

Before you dive into the costs related to the wedding itself, you’ll find it useful to research your options with lodging. When you’re asking friends and family to travel far from home, it is practical to offer them a decent place to stay. If your wedding is going to take place in or near a popular tourist destination, you’ll find certain venues offer packages and deals for larger groups. While it isn’t necessary for you to cover the expenses for guests, working with the hotel or resort to reserve blocks at a discount is a good idea.

Destination and Vendors

Hiring businesses to cover services like catering, entertainment, and photography for your wedding can be difficult under normal circumstances. With destination events, the challenge becomes a bit more complicated. Since you’re likely not as familiar with the area as you are with your home community, you won’t have an immediate knowledge of your options. Some couples find it useful to work with professional planners or venue managers to arrange certain services. This can save you a good amount of time and a lot of effort, though it may cost you a bit more in some areas for the convenience.

Decorations 

One small problem you may encounter when planning a destination event is decor. If you have to board a plane, the last thing you want is to travel with extra luggage containing decorations. What’s more, you may not have the luxury of being able to rush out to the store to grab whatever supplies you need after you arrive. Again, this is a situation where you’ll find it is best to work with your venue manager. Usually, the representative of the venue can coordinate this side of the event for you and make the space look however you’d like.  

Unique Experiences

If you’re traveling with a very small group for your nuptials, you may want to go above and beyond with the experience. There is no need to adhere to tradition when you’re abroad, especially when you’re in a new location that offers lots of possibilities. When there are a few days to work with on your itinerary, consider some extra events for your guests. A trip to the local beach, a dinner at a fancy restaurant, or an opportunity to soak up some culture via a museum or theatrical performance can all be fun activities to explore. 

Though a destination wedding provides the chance to see a different side of the world during a milestone event in your life, there are some details to work out early on. Focus on the financial side of your event and structure your planning process around the most pressing expenses. With a little research, you’ll have the insight needed to make your nuptials come to life in a way that aligns with your budget.

Financial Tips To Help You Save for Your Big Day

Planning a wedding can be a big financial endeavor. Here are a few ways to start thinking about money to help you plan for the big day.

Planning a wedding can be a big financial endeavor. Here are a few ways to start thinking about money to help you plan for the big day.

Planning a wedding can be a very expensive endeavor. Whether you’re aiming for a larger affair or an intimate gathering, you need to have enough money in your budget to cover all associated expenses. It may seem daunting, but there are simple ways to see success. Giving yourself time to sit down with your significant other and create a financial plan can do wonders for the process. There are also a handful of simple ways you can adjust your lifestyle in order to save money for your big day.

Look over these financial suggestions on how to start saving money right now for your wedding. A little research and preparation will go a long way in your attempts to improve your budget.

Assess Your Debt

Most people in the current day and age are living with debt. Whether you’ve taken out loans to cover school or you have a few credit cards you need to pay off, being in debt can inhibit your ability to get ahead with your finances. As you discuss your budget with your partner, work on creating a plan of action for paying down your debt. While making minimum payments might seem sensible for managing your financial health, there are more advantages to getting rid of as much debt as possible.

By lowering the balances on your credit cards, you are freeing up money that can be applied to your wedding. Credit is a great way to take care of expenses like florists or caterers, but you can’t use this option if your cards are all at their max. Paying down your debt can also help improve your credit score. This will help immensely later on if you and your new spouse consider buying a home together.

Get a Concrete Figure

Saving money is a lot easier when you have a concrete goal to work toward. In order to see success from your efforts, you may want to start researching how much it is going to cost you to host the wedding you envision. Call vendors and venues and get a feel for pricing. Learn about the fees associated with obtaining a marriage license and any other costs that you might be responsible for. Put everything together and see what your entire wedding is going to cost.

The number might be high at first, but don’t let this get to you. Now that you have a number, you can start crafting a real financial plan to pay for it all. To create a realistic budget, you might realize that you need to eliminate certain ideas or select less expensive vendors than you had originally planned. You won’t be able to make these adjustments until you have a concrete number to work with. Get started on this as soon as possible, and you’ll have an easier time managing your finances.

Financial Help

Finally, think about any relatives who may be willing to provide financial assistance. Parents and grandparents will often contribute to or cover the costs of specific services. If someone in your life has offered to help, contact them and get an idea of what they can pay for. While you should not expect the assistance, taking someone up on the offer can be a fantastic way for you to get more out of your budget.

Paying for a wedding might be a financial headache, but there are a number of different ways to make it work. Saving money for your big day is all about giving yourself time to assess your finances and craft a plan of action based off what you can afford. Find a plan that works for you and your partner, and get started on saving for your future.