Wedding Planner Woes

SgtPepperette · April 30, 2009

So can I get your thoughts on this....I just want to see if Im being an anxious bride or not.

I found a wedding planner whose style I absolutely loved. I didnt think we could afford her, but she quoted us a nice intimate package. In January we were going to sign a contract but than all the layoffs started at my work so we both decided to hold off till after the first quarter. To be safe. She was going to contact me the last week of March with a new proposal in case prices had gone up. Great. Well I didnt hear from her, so I contacted her. Here is how things have panned out.

4/6/09: I contacted her asking for a new proposal for a wedding of 35 people vs the 20 she orginally quoted us for.

4/7/09: Wedding Planner got back to me telling me she was out of town but would be back and get in touch with me on 4/10/09.

4/15/09: Had not heard from her, so followed up with her.

4/18/09: Still had no heard back so followed up again.

4/18/09: Recvd an auto response email saying she was at wedding all weekend and would respond on 4/20/09.

4/20/09: Wedding Planner emailed me back. She let me know she recvd my emails, and was sorry for the late response. She is now in busy wedding season and its tricky keeping up with emails. Than asked me if I was for sure going over 20 people because that takes my wedding out of the "intimate" packages.

4/21/09: Emld her back telling her yes 35 people is what we will have and would love to get things going asap.

4/28/09: No response back from her, so contacted her letting her know how nervous her follow up makes me. And would like to secure a ceremony/reception location soon. My guests are ready to buy their flights!

Here it is 2 days later and still nothing from her.

tylersgirl · April 30, 2009

Melissa-this is a tough one. If I were in your shoes though I wouldn't use her because she doesn't seem very prompt at returning calls/emails. That is my pet peeve! That would make me really nervous that she would possibly act like that and it will probably get worse after you sign a contract, etc. That's just my opinion. Regardless, I know your wedding will be beautiful! I don't think you are being an anxious bride at all.

Sapphire723 · April 30, 2009

Melissa, that sucks.

It's one thing for you to understanding when it takes her a day or two to respond, because she's working all day every day on someone else's wedding. But this has been over three weeks! She probably prioritizes brides who have weddings this weekend before brides who haven't booked yet, which I'm sure you would prefer in the long run (you know, when her attention is fully focused on you instead of new brides). However, she told you she would respond by a certain time and didn't. It's very important for her to be able to be taken at her word, and if she can't follow through and you're not ok with that, I think it's fine to go ahead and dump her. You don't want to be anxious for the next six months because she won't get back to you.

Kristy621 · May 2, 2009

Melissa, I have a simalar situation to you. I have a planner and she is great and she has awesome ideas and everytime I get off the phone with her I feel like wow this is going to be the best party I have ever thrown! The problem was and is getting on the phone with her.

The funny part is that even the girls she gave me for references told me that she was slow to respond and often times I would most likely need to chase her for answers to my questions for the reasons LeAnne pointed out. However I was also told that I would have a wonderful and beautiful wedding so I booked her and jsut chalked it up to island time vs NYC time.

I have to say while I believe that my wedding is going to be awesome. There is a lot to be said for having someone that is able to put a stressed out and out of touch with the planning (due DW) bride at ease. I consider myself pretty laid back and there where times when I just needed to hear that things are on track.

If it is making you upset now, think about how you will feel a month before or weeks before. Think about what is really most important to you and be honest about it. (I thought I would be ok with the response time thing and I wasn't) Then decide what is most important to you and go from there.

Did you get references? Ask for the email address of other brides she has worked with and see what they say about her early reponse time vs her crunch response time. That may help you make your choice

Good luck!

KLC77 · May 8, 2009

I think its time to look into a new planner. It looks like she is really busy, which is good for her, but maybe not so good for you. Imagine its a couple of weeks from now, you've already booked with her and now you can't get ahold of her. Would that be ok with you? If it were me, I'd look for someone else who can handle all of their workload, which includes following up with potential clients, especially ones that seem pretty darn interested in booking. JMO

Also, if her quote is going to go up because you have more people, I would be nervous you will be at the top of your budget and may not get spectacular service.

Soon To Be Mrs. Gomez · May 8, 2009

You know I think WCs are very busy but it does make you nervous. I think you need to call her again and really express yoru concerns so that she really understands your needs.