To wedding videography…a wedding planner is the glue!

If you are reading this, and you are a bride; you’re probably saying to yourself, “I don’t feel I need a wedding planner”. Trust me, you do. A wedding planner is good for your sanity..and mine. They are the glue. They are the wedding gate keepers. They are your eyes, ears, and mind. I have been doing wedding videography for about 4 years, and in my short time in the business I have seen my fair share of weddings. Two things I have seen: a wedding with a planner and a wedding without a planner, and there is a big difference between the two. For those of you who are saying, “but I can get my family member to help me plan,” they can’t. I am sorry to be so blunt, but they can’t. I have compiled 5 reasons why you need a wedding planner from the perspective of a wedding videographer.

Disclaimer: When I say wedding planner, I mean a professional. Someone who has years of experience in this business. Examples are Touche Weddings and Events, Morlina Events, Luxe and Luna Couture Events, Soirees by Lauren, Cherry Blossom Planning Factory, Uniquely Yours by Pearl, and As You Wish….Just to name a few.

This is strictly from a wedding videography point of view.

1) Troubleshooters: The number one reason why brides need a wedding planner is troubleshooting. What do you do when you fall behind? It is not always the vendor’s fault when things run late. I have been at weddings where an automobile accident has happened and a large sum of the guest are stuck in it. Who makes the call to wait an extra 15 minutes to give guests time to arrive? The wedding planner.

2) Timelines: We need timelines! All vendors need timelines! But for me, I love timelines. It helps us determine when things are supposed to happen. Effective wedding videography happens when a cinematographer walks into a wedding day knowing what is supposed to happen and when. The ceremony may end at 7pm. Family portraits will take about 35 minutes because the bride and groom have big family. That means, we have to plan one on one shots for the bride and groom in about 10 minutes because the sun is going down and we will lose lighting.

3) Communication: I can’t always reach the bride and groom when I have questions. Every vendor has their own system that they go through in order to prepare for a wedding day. We all have general questions we ask every bride and groom that helps us get ready for the wedding day. On the wedding day, I may need to find out the room number of the bride at the hotel. The bride may have shut off her phone because she needs to prepare herself for the day in silence. The wedding planner would have the answer.

4) Knowledge: Wedding videography is a growing field. I have said it multiple times, but it is true. Wedding planners educate themselves on the current trends, so they can help steer the bride and groom down the right path. I have met with several brides this year and a common sentence that most use is, “I don’t know much about wedding videography.” Your wedding planner will definitely fill in your lack of knowledge.

5) Glue: Wedding planners bring everything together. They help put the right vendors together. They help make sure all vendors are taken care of on the wedding day. They make sure you, as the bride, are taken care of on the wedding day. They are the glue. When a wedding planner is present, the wedding day, 9 times out of 10, will go smoothly. The probability of having speed bumps and the bride knowing about them, is limited. They are the protectors. They hold everything together.

We need wedding planners. They are our project managers. I can get through a wedding day without a planner, but there is far less to worry about when I know I have one present on the job. Don’t let budget keep you from your dream wedding. A dream wedding includes a wedding planner, just like it includes wedding photography, floral, catering, décor, and wedding videography.