Improving Your Events

If you're planning a destination wedding, hiring an event planner can help ensure that your big day (and the events leading up to it) go as smoothly as possible. However, destination weddings often pose a few unique challenges that you want to make sure your wedding event planner is prepared to handle. Follow these tips to hire a great event planner for your destination wedding.

1. Make Sure Your Planner is Familiar with the Area

As you consider different event planners, you may wonder if its best to hire a planner from your area or from the city where you want to hold your wedding. Instead of focusing on the location of your prospective planner, check that they have experience planning weddings in your preferred locale.

You want your planner to have experience hosting weddings in that area and dealing with the vendors who serve your potential venues. Ideally, they should be able to provide other valuable information about your wedding destination, like possible locales for your guests to stay or catering options. Your planner should also be well-versed in requirements for any permits required to utilize certain venues.

2. Explore Communication Expectations Before Committing to a Planner

If your wedding planner resides in another country or another time zone, you'll need to determine your expectations for communication as early as possible. Remember, other countries may have a culture that a promotes a more relaxed atmosphere.

It might take an event planner a day or so to get back to you, even if you think your question or concern is of the utmost importance. Before committing, ask your planner if they have a specified time period for getting back to their clients.

Another issue to explore is your wedding planner's time zone. Should your planner reside in a locale that is significantly ahead or behind your time zone, know that you might have to schedule phone or video conferences ahead of time. Make sure that you are comfortable relying on written forms of communication, like email, as your primary means of conversing.

3. Inquire About Per-Diem Expenses

Your wedding planner might have to travel to your wedding location; if so, check that restrictions for per-diem costs are in writing. It's reasonable for your wedding planner to expect you to cover their travel expenses, lodging, and meals, but it's also sensible for you to have a limit for these items.

If your wedding planner needs to bring an additional staff member to assist with your event, make sure that you agree to acceptable expenses ahead of time for additional personal.