The Secret Behind the Planner - Client Relationship
The early days of working with your wedding planner are so similar to the beginnings of a new relationship, it’s almost spooky. You meet, you hit it off, you decide to move forward, you even meet the parents! And, like any new relationship, a foundation of trust is crucial to the success of the planner-client connection. The trust and acceptance that is built through the wedding planning process is vital to all aspects of planning, which is why it is so important that you choose a wedding planner you trust and can be completely comfortable with.
Your wedding planner is the person that will vouch for you in all situations and trust plays a big role in that. The client needs to trust that the planner will lead them down the right path and give solid advice and suggestions, and on the flip side, the planner needs to trust that the client is being open and honest with what they want and what is important to them. You want to feel that you can be honest with the person helping you plan such a monumental day of your life without worry of being judged for things you like, or uncomfortable over things you don’t.
While the couple is technically the client, parents have become such a big piece in the wedding planning process that I see them as clients as well. Yes, the couple are the ones getting married, but the parents play a huge role in the decision-making process and are often a big part of the financial backing of the wedding, so a relationship with them is just as important. As a third-party observer to the wedding planning, I am almost a buffer between parents and couples while also being a spokesperson for both sides. Communication among all parties is a big part of my job as a planner, and I always strive to ensure everyone is on the same page and feel they are being heard and their opinions taken into consideration.
When your wedding day comes around, you want to enjoy the day knowing the person you chose to run the show is someone who has your back and is 100% committed to making sure everything goes smoothly. This is where the culmination of the relationship and all the trust you built through the process comes into play. Your planner is the person (with a clipboard!) coordinating all the logistics of the day, answering questions from anyone and everyone, and will usually be the person holding your dress up while you use the bathroom and definitely the one using a very sharp pin to attach your boutonniere to your lapel. Trust comes in a lot of forms, and the comfort of being able to trust someone with your well-being is part of that!
The planner-couple relationship is so much more than just business based – it is a relationship based around trust, honesty, and the ability to be comfortable and genuine around one another. It is so important to choose a planner you feel you can be yourself with; your wedding day is an expression of the two of you as a couple, and having someone who has a clear vision of what this means is what planners do best. I personally feel that I create a special bond with every single one of my couples, and basing this on trust and honesty is the key to a smooth planning process and overall successful wedding day.