The wedding planning journey is full of twists and turns, but the good news is you don’t have to navigate them alone! With an experienced professional by your side, the process becomes smoother, more enjoyable, and far less overwhelming.
You may have heard that booking your venue should come first, but as a collective of planners with 45 years of combined experience, we recommend a different approach. Today, we’re sharing why you should hire your wedding planner first and how doing so can make all the difference. Read on to learn the benefits of booking a planner early and what to look for during the hiring process.
The Benefits of Hiring Your Wedding Planner First
Their Experience
A wedding planner’s entire career revolves around producing weddings. That doesn’t just mean creating a beautiful event, although that’s certainly part of it. It also means managing logistics, leading teams of creative partners, and transforming a vision into reality. This depth of experience is invaluable when planning an event as complex as a wedding. The sooner you hire your wedding planner, the sooner you can tap into that expertise.
Their Network
Over time, wedding planners build strong relationships with trusted creative partners. They know who consistently delivers exceptional work and who may not. When you hire your wedding planner before booking other creative partners, you gain access to these trusted connections and thoughtful recommendations. You’ll learn more than you ever could through social media or wedding directories, saving time and gaining priceless peace of mind.
Their Wisdom
Our AMA team has planned more than 400 weddings. That means we’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and what can go sideways at 4 p.m. on a Saturday when you least expect it. When you bring us in early, you’re not just getting a planner. You’re getting decades of answers to questions you haven’t even thought to ask yet.
What If You Don’t Hire Your Wedding Planner First?
Many couples book a venue before hiring a planner, but this approach can lead to challenges. It’s common to choose a venue based solely on aesthetics or location without fully understanding the logistics of hosting an event there. When you hire your wedding planner early, they can attend venue tours with you, much like a realtor during a home search, helping you envision the event, identify potential concerns, and understand what the planning process will truly require. If you hire an experienced planner with deep knowledge of venues like AMA, you can also count on their recommendations and expertise to point you in the right direction.
Another common misstep is choosing a venue without a clear budget or estimated guest count. If you take only one step before securing your venue, make it this: establish a realistic budget and estimate your guest count. These two factors guide nearly every decision, from venue selection to catering costs. A planner can help you build a thoughtful budget that reflects your priorities and ensure your venue comfortably accommodates your guest list.
What to Look For in a Wedding Planner
Choosing to hire your wedding planner first doesn’t mean rushing the decision. You’ll spend a significant amount of time with this person and place a great deal of trust in them, so it should feel like the right fit.
We recommend interviewing at least four planners. This allows you to compare personalities, workflow styles, and pricing. Ask thoughtful questions about their experience, creative approach, and problem-solving skills. While pricing and packages are important (and usually easy to find), what matters most is how they think, communicate, and handle real-life scenarios.
Like any creative professional, planners vary in experience and price point. The right choice will align with your budget while also making you feel comfortable and confident from the very beginning. If something feels off, it’s worth paying attention to that instinct.
Plan Your Wedding With AMA
At AMA, we believe in celebrating love of every shape, size, and color (you are welcome here!). We also believe your wedding should be as unique as your love story. Whether you have a fully formed vision or don’t know where to begin, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. From the moment you hire a wedding planner on our team, we focus on building a thoughtful budget and having meaningful conversations so we can truly understand your style and priorities.
If you’re ready to start your planning process the right way, with an experienced team that understands your vision before a venue is ever booked, we’d love to meet you. Tell us about your celebration. We’ll take it from there!
