You’re engaged—congrats! After announcing the big news, gushing over the proposal, and celebrating with friends and family, it’s finally time to start thinking about planning your wedding. It’s a tremendous job which can be stressful when piled onto an already busy schedule.

You may be wondering about the benefits of planning your own wedding vs. using a wedding planner. “Do I need a wedding planner?” is a question that crosses the mind of most brides-to-be. For some busy brides, hiring a wedding planner will be the answer to all your problems. However, for those who want to have more creative control or save a little money, planning your own wedding may be the way to go. To help you settle this dilemma, we’ve come up with some pros and cons for both. 

Pros of Planning Your Own Wedding

Are you considering planning your own wedding? There’s a lot that goes into it, but the process can be quite gratifying. First, let’s cover the pros.

You’ll get to handpick every detail.

From your save-the-dates to your wedding favors and your dinner-hour playlist, planning your own wedding will allow you to dictate each detail of your big day. Many brides have a sense of pride in creating the aesthetic of their wedding which can give the celebration a personal feel.

You’ll have more control over the planning process.

Some Type-A brides enjoy the entire process of planning their wedding. If you prefer to have more control over the ordeal, that’s totally okay! Planning your own wedding will allow you to be the boss of constructing your perfect day.

You’ll save money.

If you’re on a budget, planning your own wedding will undoubtedly save you some money as hiring a pro comes at an additional cost. Some people opt to hire a day-of coordinator instead of someone to plan their entire wedding which is a much more budget-friendly option. You can expect to pay around $1,500 to hire a day-of wedding planner, while a full-service planner ranges from $5,000 to more than $10,000, depending on experience and demand.

Cons of Planning Your Own Wedding

While being your own wedding planner will save you money and give you more control over the details, it may be tougher than you expect. These are the cons of planning your own nuptials.

You won’t get a professional’s insight.

Most people will only get married once which doesn’t set you up for becoming an expert at the planning process. If you plan your own wedding, you may not foresee some teeny-tiny details and will have to think on your feet as they come up.

You won’t have the same industry contacts.

If you plan your own wedding, you won’t have the list of venues and vendors in your back pocket like a professional planner will. This may not be an issue for a hometown celebration, but a wedding planner’s contacts can come in handy for a destination wedding.

You’ll spend a lot of your time figuring things out.

Wedding planning takes up a lot of time! If you’ve got the hours to spare, planning your own wedding may be an excellent choice, but busy brides-to-be might find the time commitment to be a bit overwhelming.

Pros of Hiring a Wedding Planner

Using a wedding planner to help you plan your big day can be a godsend. Consider the following pros when making your decision.

You’ll have the help of a pro.

For a lot of engaged couples, the toughest part of planning a wedding is knowing where to start. A wedding planner will have the knowledge and experience to kick off the process and guide you through every critical step leading up to your marriage.  

You’ll have someone to sweat the details for you.

Most people have never planned an event as big or important as a wedding, and there are endless tiny details that go into play. Wedding planners are experts at the process and will promptly notify you of decisions and details so that everything goes as smoothly as possible.

You’ll get to bounce ideas off someone.

Wedding planners are in the loop with wedding trends and design ideas. Professionals are great for brides who have some ideas and want to brainstorm with an expert or those who don’t have much of a creative edge themselves. Simply put: wedding planners are paid to bring all your visions to fruition.

You’ll save time.

At times, planning a wedding can feel like a part-time job. A professional planner will spend their time figuring things out, not yours. Wedding planners save you time on researching vendors, contacting venues, ordering a cake, coordinating decorations, and getting your marriage license.

Cons of Hiring a Wedding Planner

Although hiring a wedding planner can make your life much easier leading up to your big day, syncing up with a pro may not be for everyone.

You’ll have to relinquish a little control.

For brides who have been daydreaming about each and every aspect of their wedding, hiring a wedding planner might mean letting go of some specifics of your vision. When you delegate someone to take care of these details for you, you may lose some creative control.

You’ll have to fit it into your budget.

Using a wedding planner will be an additional cost. Although professionals have some inside scoop that can save you a little money, this won’t always be the case. Wedding planners usually provide a number of service offerings that can add up quickly.

Should You Hire a Wedding Planner?

It’s no secret that planning a wedding is an exhausting operation. When you realize how much work is ahead of you, you’ll probably be seriously considering hiring help. A wedding planner can be a great decision as long you find someone you click with and their services fit your budget.

Sometimes all you need to start planning your wedding is a little inspiration. For wedding planning motivation and creative decor ideas, check out The Ring Boxes monthly bridal subscription box!