Top 10 questions to ask wedding planners when interviewing them for your wedding

So you’re planning your wedding and you’re considering hiring a wedding planner? GREAT! Good for you. A wedding planner does more than plan your wedding, they are an investment in your sanity and self-care. I am serious. Planning your wedding alone is like sailing a massive sailboat down a narrow river when you don’t know how to sail.

So how do you pick the right planner? There are many factors involved that you need to consider: design aesthetic, communication style, tools they use, etc. As a former wedding planner myself, I have compiled a list of questions that I recommend every couple asks every wedding planner during their interviews. Take notes and ask them these 10 questions:

1. How many weddings have you planned? How long have you been in business?

This number proves experience. Hiring a wedding planner early on in his/her career is a bit of a gamble. You might get a cheaper wedding planner this way, but the quality of work and the experience needed to have peace of mind may or may not be there.

2. Do you plan typically large or intimate weddings?

This is important. Large weddings and intimate (or small) weddings are so completely different and require different attention and experience. Planning an intimate gathering requires special connections and triage duty of the wedding planner. Most vendors needed for a wedding are not available for small events (they more often than not require price minimums be met that cannot be met with so few people in attendance). Large weddings require a planner who is well equipped to run an entire team on the day of, as well as juggle dozens of contracts and details for the months or years leading up to the day.

3. Do you have experience in planning weddings with my specific style? Did you design the weddings you planned as well?

Your style is important when considering who to hire to plan your wedding. Your planner influences the connections and vendors you will make and hire later, the design directions, rental selections, literally every decision you will make about your wedding will be influenced by this person. Hiring based on style is the most important thing you can do in this process.

4. Can you share past mood boards you have created with me?

Seeing the mood boards created by your planner will help solidify style compatibility and give you an idea for what to expect from them.

5. What tools do you use for communication, sharing information, project management? Anything I should learn how to use?

Good to know. Everyone has a different process in running their business, and you should be prepared for a process that works for you.

6. How many weddings do you take on per year? Month? Weekend?

Knowing this will help you understand your planner’s popularity, demand, and availability. If you are trusting in your planner’s process and are okay with a bit more hands-off approach, then a full wedding season (20+ per year) will not leave you feeling neglected. If you are someone who likes a high touch experience, perhaps consider a planner who has a smaller season load.

7. Do you have a team? Do you plan all your events on your own or do you give your events to your team? If you give events to your team? How do you choose who plans which event? Will I be able to interview the planner you want me to work with if so?

Knowing your planner has a team readily available for additional support is not only comforting but provides security for if something were to happen to your planner. Planners get sick too sometimes. They can get in an accident, become pregnant, who knows? A team who is well acquainted with their process and your wedding details can quite easily take over in your planner’s stead if necessary.

8. Do you make yourself available for wedding weekend activities such as rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, etc?

Knowing this will help you prepare the dates you need to reserve for your guests well enough in advance and to make preparations with hotels, restaurants, your venue, etc.

9. How do you react in emergency situations, such as rain, medical, acts of God, etc? If we had to postpone or cancel, will you help me with the transition?

Every planner should say “absolutely!” to this, but it’s always nice to get that confirmation. Without a wedding planner, just think about navigating planning your wedding during a pandemic.

10. What is your communication style like? What should I expect in terms of response time and preferred method of contact? Such as text, email, phone call, etc?

Also a very important question! It’s simple to ask and will garner a simple answer. But it’s great to set realistic expectations and boundaries early on with your wedding planner. It is safe to say that most wedding planners would prefer normal 9-5 weekday communication over email and scheduled calls just like a normal job (heehee!) but not every couple is okay with that limitation. So if your needs are different, it is good to set precedence from day 1.