The survey also found New Jersey and Massachusetts topped the list of most costly states to tie the knot . When committing to as significant a financial investment as a wedding , couples may want to do all they can to ensure their big day is a hit .

There are many advantages to hiring a professional wedding planner , who can take the stress out of a process that should be fun .

Courtesy photo There are many advantages to hiring a professional wedding planner , who can take the stress out of a process that should be fun .

Lightens the responsibility load : A wedding planner takes time-consuming responsibilities off couples ’ plates . These can include scheduling appointments , dealing with vendors , conducting walkthroughs of locations , and more . This can be a big asset to couples who work full-time .

Helps couples save money : Knowledge and experience also comes with contacts in the industry that can help couples save money . The planner likely knows where to get the best deals , and may be privy to insider pricing and other discounts .

Reduces overall stress levels : There ’ s a measurable difference between the stress experienced by couples who don ’ t hire wedding planners and those who do . The main goal of a wedding is for it to be memorable and for couples and their guests to enjoy themselves . By leaving the planning to someone else , couples can arrive at the big day feeling more relaxed and ready to have fun .

Serves as a sounding board : Wedding planners can take couples ’ ideas and turn them into reality . Seasoned planners know how to help a couple ’ s vision come alive .

Offers a wealth of knowledge : A good wedding planner has years of experience handling weddings and will know which aspects will work and which may not . Also , a wedding planner can likely handle tasks expeditiously , while couples with no experience planning a wedding may not work so quickly .

Serves as a buffer : While everyone wants weddings to be incident-free , conflicts can and do arise . A wedding planner can serve as a mediator or run interference between challenging family members or even vendors .

There is an extra person around : Wedding planers can field questions or handle tipping and other tasks on the wedding day , freeing up time for couples to have fun . Wedding planners can provide support , expertise , company , and industry contacts to make weddings go smoothly .

28 Community Life