On this month’s installment of Wedding Planning FAQ’s, we talk about charger plates, bouquets, and wedding planners!
Q1. Do I need a charger plate?
A1. You don’t NEED anything at your wedding…other than a marriage license, the couple, officiant, and witnesses. But are they a good design idea? Yes, we love them. Charger plates (or chargers) are really just a plate for your plate. However, your meal isn’t sitting at your seat when you arrive as a guest at a wedding. And if your meal isn’t sitting at your seat when you arrive as a wedding guest, neither is the plate. A charger plate allows for a table to look completely set before any food is ever served.
With all of the different charger style options, it becomes part of the overall design. It also gives the venue’s staff distinct spacing for each guest to have enough space to eat and engage in conversation. You don’t want your guests too crowded because the place settings were set close together. A charger plate creates a template for the rest of the place setting. For more tabletop planning, check out this blog post!
Q2. Does my bouquet have to match my centerpieces exactly?
A2. Absolutely not, but they should coordinate and have the same aesthetic to them (i.e. romantic, whimsical, classic…). For example, I often use very premium blooms in a bridal bouquet: peonies, dahlias, garden roses, etc. in addition to a number of premium types of greenery and textured pieces.
In a centerpiece, I will sub in a different type of greenery that is less expensive for a base and will sub a coordinating standard rose in lieu of garden roses or peonies. Since you only have one bridal bouquet but may have 25 floral centerpieces, this is a good way to ensure a coordinating look without breaking the bank.
Q3. Will a wedding planner cost more to have or will it end up saving me more money to have someone guiding me correctly around the planning process?
A3. The decision to hire a full-service wedding planner should be carefully thought out at the very beginning of the planning process when you are looking at your overall budget. On that note, it also should not be solely based on budget. Here are a few pros to think about when deciding if you will need one.
- Often times, planners have wonderful connections with other vendors who may offer a “wedding planner discount” saving you some cash here and there.
- They know the “secrets” in the industry of things you absolutely do not need that you may think otherwise that you do!
- A wedding planner should know their numbers! A planner will keep you within a budget and let you know if you can or can not afford those cross back chairs or stunning velvet linens while showing you alternative options that fit your budget and still look amazing!
- They will make sure everything is set up to perfection, leaving your family and friends to relax and enjoy the day.
- They will make sure you don’t hire “dud” vendors and give you the best selections out there! We have heard many horror stories of couples paying vendors to do their job only to either not show up on the wedding day or not deliver anything close to what they said they would. Now that is a waste of money!
A wedding planner may end up saving or costing you money. But it will save you is stress and worry leading up to and on your big day. Below are a few questions to ask yourself that will help determine if a wedding planner is a good fit for you. If you answer yes to these, start looking for the perfect planner for you!
- Do you have a very busy personal life? (i.e.working full time while going to school and raising a child)
- Do you live in a different state (or better yet, country!) than your wedding?
- Do you hate planning logistics and organizing events?
- Is your wedding a tented wedding? (Backyard weddings are very challenging and you don’t want to forget any details with this one!)
- Do you have an overwhelming amount of ideas (thanks to Pinterest) but are not sure how to execute them without breaking the bank?
In the end, you wouldn’t hire a hairdresser to fix your car. Hiring a professional in any vendor category will save you money and most importantly stress and your precious time.
Looking for more Wedding Planning FAQ’s? Check out these blog posts below!
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