Indian weddings have always been a big family affair with the entire family getting involved in different aspects of preparation. We are all familiar with the fervent pace and excitement that comes with wedding preparations like booking the wedding venue, hiring a wedding decorator, finding and selecting the best caterer, arranging for the priest and wedding ceremony requisites , wedding shopping,  hiring a choreographer and many other little but important aspects. In the recent past, the concept of hiring a wedding planner to take care of all these responsibilities has caught up. Leaving the entire wedding planning to a wedding planner is not a light matter. One should be aware and assured of the wedding planners abilities among other things. Therefore, it is important to interview the  wedding planner in advance to understand if hiring him/her would benefit you or not. Hiring a wedding planner may add to the cost but in effect, you may end up saving a lot of time and money through the entire process. Not to forget, you benefit from having to face less stress too! Once the responsibility of the wedding planning and preparation is given to a wedding planner, the family can be relaxed and focus on other things outside the purview of the wedding planners duties. 

Understand your priorities before you interview a wedding planner. You should be aware of your budget, the number of guests and your vision for your wedding.

Now have a look at the questions you need to ask before you hire your wedding planner

1. Are you available on my wedding date?

Find out if the planner is free on your wedding date. Also, find out how many other weddings if any he would be managing on the same date. It is essential to be aware, as you would want their complete attention on your wedding day. It is best to hire someone who does not have too many weddings to juggle on the same day or has a team that is able to manage multiple weddings at once. Alternatively, if you date is not fixed you can plan it accordingly.

2. How many weddings have you planned? How many of them were similar in size and budget to mine?

This kind of information will let you know how much experience the wedding planner has had irrespective of the number of years he or he has been in the business. It would be preferable to hire someone who has planned some good number of weddings. More the weddings he has managed, the better he will be with ideas and execution for your wedding.

3. What is the average cost of weddings you plan?

Find out about their fees and charges, their minimum budget etc. You need to know if their charges fit into the scope of your budget. If not, you know you should look elsewhere. However in case you have an idea of their work and want to work with them, you may discuss with them the various options available for you in your budget for e.g. part-time or pre-wedding planning.

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4. What services do you offer? What do you specialise in?

Ensure you are aware of all the services they offer so that you know of the different aspects in which they can be of help. Suppose you have active members of your family like cousins who would love to arrange for the music for you, you can count that one out from the wedding planners services required list. Alternatively, if you have already booked your venue with the help of a venue coordinator, then you may want you wedding planner to forces on the other aspects, which the venue coordinator does not provide. Find out about their packages and what is included in them. Also, ask about particular tasks in which you will require assistance. Ask the planner if his strength is in coordination, design, or both. You will require someone who is able to balance both

5. Have you planned any other weddings at our wedding venue?

If the planner has planned a wedding at your wedding venue before, it would be an advantage for you as he would be comfortable with the planning and set-up of the place, the staff, and the logistics. Experience would have taught them what to avoid and what worked well. You may ask for pictures of previous event or weddings they have managed in the same location so that you get an idea of their work as well the wedding venue and how it could work out for you.

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6. What is your procedure for handling vendors, contracts and payment processing?

You should clear payment issues at the earliest. Ask what their normal mode of handling vendors is. Do they take advance from you and conduct the payments to vendors themselves or prefer that you make direct payments to vendors. For your own benefit, it is better to make payment directly to vendors. This allows monitoring your budget.

7. Do you use fixed vendors? How do you select them and how would you coordinate with them?

While you can find and select wedding vendors on your own, it would be better to find out if your planner is able to snag discount for you from the vendors. Of course, you need to be sure; the planner is recommending the best vendors to you and someone less able just out of certain obligations. Your wedding planner needs to understand your priorities and work as a mediator between you and the vendor to achieve desired results.

8. Can you tell us about a unique wedding that you planned?

Ask for pictures and videos clippings if possible of a previous exciting wedding, they have planned. This will give you an idea of their work and style. In addition, you may ask them what they could do for your wedding that would be unique. This will help you to understand their creativity. And whether or not you like their ideas. Suppose you have discussed a royal outdoors theme with them, and they suggest a banquet hall for the wedding, then you must understand you both are not in accord. Give up on that planner. Interview another.

9. Have you ever faced any unexpected disasters? How did you handle that? Suggest a backup plan for my wedding.

You need to know how they have handled problems earlier. What precautions had they taken to avoid disasters? It is important to know how they overcame it. This reveals a lot about their problem-solving skills. You need to hire someone with experience of fixing problems as unexpected issues could come up anytime.

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10. How will we communicate with each other?

Communication. Here is where you need to pay attention. It may seem inconsequential but over the entire period of the planning process, you need to be in touch with the planner. You need to work out a comfortable and effective mode of communication to coordinate the various aspects of planning.

11. How many of your team members will handle my wedding?

Ask for this information so that you are assured of that everything will work out as per plan. You would not want to be stressed on your wedding day worrying about who will take care of what.

12. Can you create a timeline to ensure everything works as per schedule?

Preparing a timeline will help not just the planner but your vendors and wedding guests too. When everyone is informed of the itinerary for the day and are aware of what is expected of them, your event is likely to go smoothly from start to end. Your wedding planner should be able to manage not just the vendors but your wedding guests as well. 

13. What if you are absent on the wedding day?

Contingencies should be taken care of. The wedding planner should have someone capable of taking his place in case he is unable to make it on the wedding day. It could be an assistant or another company.

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14. Ask for references.

Get in touch with couples, which the wedding planner has worked with recently. You may ask about anything you are concerned about regarding working with the certain wedding planner.

15. How do we work out the payments? Are there any additional expenses?

Do not forget to ask about payment options. Know what exactly you have to pay up. Ensure there are no hidden costs involved. You could negotiate and agree upon a payment amount and schedule.

           After this interview with the wedding planner, ask yourself if you feel that the planner has understood your vision for your wedding. Do you think he/she will work within your budget? Did you feel comfortable with him? Go with your intuition. If you do not get the right vibes from him then it, may not work out for you. He may be the best, but he may not have understood your vision. Your wedding planner will be planning a major event in your life and you will have to spend considerable time with him/her to discuss wedding planning over a long period. Therefore, it is essential to select someone with whom you are able to get along well.