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Some people say that planners and coordinators don't exactly lighten the load of organizing your wedding, but if you've got too much on your hands, it might be wise to hire one. There's also a difference between these two jobs, though--planners are usually the ones who take care of details prior to the wedding, while coordinators take care only of arrangements on the wedding day itself, the day you least want to be stressed. As bride-to-be, you'll have to decide whether you want a planner or a coordinator, depending on your needs. Here are some factors to consider when hiring a planner or coordinator from Lynn Arroyo of Okasyon Et Al.

1. Background of the company or the person. This is the initial basis of the client's trust. A background check will never hurt anyone, and it'll guarantee a better relationship with your planner and coordinator. Lynn also points out that honesty and trust should go two ways, especially since the coordinators also rely on the honesty of the client so that everything will go smoothly.
2. Skills of the planner/coordinator. Education is as important as experience. It helps if the planner/coordinator had studied the trade by taking up a course in events management or attending seminars, expos, and trade fairs. It goes without saying that education gives the planner/coordinator a more systematic and scientific way of organizing your wedding. Experience is just a portion of their skills, Lynn explains.
3. Don't count on referrals. Just like medicines, a referral can never work the same way for another client because of some factors such as the relationship of the client to the coordinator, compared to the coordinator's relationship with a previous client. To avoid having conflicts with the coordinator or planner, Lynn recommends the client to review their priorities when surveying a potential planner: background, or referrals?
4. Budget. Supposing that money's an issue, this would be a major factor for the couple to consider when choosing a planner or coordinator. The trick is to be honest with the budget right from the start and to never be afraid to say it outright, so you won't waste everybody's time.

For more tips on organizing events, call Okasyon Et Al at 912-5952 or visit their website.

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