At my first meeting with a wedding planner, I showed up with coffee and no clue what to say. She explained her packages: full-service, partial, day-of coordination. I nodded like I understood, but I didn’t. When she asked if I had any questions, I smiled and said, “Nope!” But in my head, I was thinking: Wait… what am I actually hiring her to do? That moment taught me something important: you’re not just hiring help you’re choosing a guide for one of the biggest days of your life. So I went home, made a list of ten questions, and they completely changed how I chose my planner.
Your Lily
10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Wedding Planner
Each question reveals something important not just about their services, but their style, communication, and values.
✔️ 1. How many weddings have you planned?
Why it matters:
You’re not just looking for years of experience you want relevant experience. Someone who’s planned events similar to yours (size, style, location) will be able to anticipate issues and make better suggestions.
Follow-up:
Ask how many they handle per year and how many they work on at one time.
✔️ 2. Do you offer full-service, partial, or day-of coordination?
Why it matters:
Some planners specialize in full-scale events, while others offer more flexible or à la carte services. You need to know if their structure fits your needs and your budget.
Follow-up:
Ask what each package includes and what’s not included. Some planners offer custom options if your needs fall somewhere in between.
✔️ 3. Can you walk me through what’s included in your package?
Why it matters:
Some planners include everything vendor sourcing, timeline creation, styling while others only cover logistics. Ask for a full breakdown of what’s included in the package you’re considering.
Helpful tip:
Get a sample timeline or checklist from a past wedding to see how detailed they are.
✔️ 4. How do you charge for your services?
Why it matters:
Some charge a flat fee, others a percentage of your overall budget, and some work hourly. Understanding this upfront will help you compare value, not just cost.
Follow-up:
Ask if there are any additional charges for travel, extra meetings, or extended hours on the wedding day.
✔️ 5. Will you personally be working on my wedding?
Why it matters:
If you’re hiring through a planning agency, the person you meet at the consultation may not be the person who shows up on your big day. You want to know who will be your main point of contact.
Follow-up:
If there’s a team involved, ask how communication will be handled and who attends key meetings.
✔️ 6. Can I see photos or testimonials from previous weddings?
Why it matters:
A strong portfolio shows not only their style and experience, but also consistency. Testimonials reveal how they work under pressure and how clients felt about the process.
What to look for:
Diversity in style, positive reviews that mention professionalism and problem-solving.
✔️ 7. How do you typically communicate with clients?
Why it matters:
Some planners love WhatsApp and voice notes, others are email-only. If you prefer phone calls or regular check-ins, you’ll want someone who matches your communication style.
Ask about:
Response times, regular updates, and how often you’ll have meetings or check-ins.
✔️ 8. What happens if you’re unavailable on the wedding day?
Why it matters:
Life happens illness, emergencies, accidents. You want to know what backup plans they have in place.
Follow-up:
Ask if they work with assistants or a planning team, and if someone will always be on-site with authority to make decisions.
✔️ 9. How involved are you in managing vendors and contracts?
Why it matters:
Some planners will handle all vendor communications, reviews, and scheduling. Others may send you suggestions but leave you to book and manage vendors yourself.
Ask specifically:
✔️ Will they attend vendor meetings with you?
✔️ Do they help negotiate contracts or handle payments?
✔️ Do they send vendor confirmations before the wedding?
✔️ 10. How do you ensure the wedding reflects our style and personality?
Why it matters:
A good planner doesn’t push their style they help bring your vision to life. You want someone who listens carefully and offers guidance, not someone who takes over.
Follow-up:
Ask how they collect and organize your inspiration (Pinterest boards, mood boards, color palettes), and how they collaborate with your florist or designer.
What’s Next?
Once the key questions were answered, it became clear that choosing a planner wasn’t just about logistics it was about having the right creative partner. The next step in Lily’s journey brought a new challenge: turning years of saved wedding inspiration into a cohesive, realistic design. In the following post, the focus shifts from hiring decisions to style decisions and how a dream aesthetic becomes a real celebration, without the overwhelm.
Thank you for your time and stay tuned! Yulia
