5 Crucial Questions To Ask Your Wedding Planner

Finding a wedding planner you trust isn't always the simplest process. Each one has their own unique style and approach, and you can't always be sure that they'll mesh with your personality.

But what happens when you do find that perfect planner that totally understands your vision? (Hint: the work doesn't stop there!) Here are five questions you need to ask your wedding planner to make sure everything goes off without a hitch.

1. Do you do day-of coordination? While this may seem like a given, most firms charge extra for helping out on the actual wedding day in addition to the event planning. If this is the case, you'll want to make sure you let your planner know that you'd like her services on the big day. That way, you'll be able to enjoy your celebration without stressing about deliveries, vendors, or any other minor details.

2. Do you have any extra fees or hidden costs? This is where your budget comes into play. While most wedding planners are fairly upfront about the cost of their services, you can never be too prudent when it comes to the financial side of things. Let your planner know that you trust her completely, and you just want to get a full rundown of all the costs beforehand. This is a reasonable request, and it will ensure that you don't get blindsided by extra costs down the road.

3. Do you have any preferred vendors? If you've booked a wedding planner whose style you know you love and whose judgment you trust, allow her to guide you in the vendor selection process. She can help steer you in the right direction when it comes to hiring a trusted florist, DJ, and caterer and you'll be able to rest assured that she can vouch for all of the businesses she recommends.

4. How do I make my wedding unique? If a distinct celebration is what you're after, there's no better person to help you realize this vision than your wedding planner. If she's been in the biz for a while, she's likely seen hundreds of weddings over the years, and she knows what's cookie-cutter and what's truly unique. Make it known that standing out from the crowd is your main priority, and she'll definitely deliver.

5. What does the timeline look like? This question is a crucial one to ask, because you'll want to start marking important dates off on your calendar ASAP. Your planner should be able to draft up a rough outline of meetings, bookings and any other events leading up to the big day so you can start building your own wedding planning schedule around her plan.