What is a bridal consultant?

 A bridal consultant is a professional whose training, experience and vendor contacts will assist to  make your wedding as close to perfect as possible plus let you relax and enjoy “your” day. A  bridal consultant takes on many roles during your wedding to include:

• Advisor:
  As an expert, your consultant knows weddings and etiquette associated with all aspects of a wedding from invitations to proper planning and organization of the reception.
  
  
• Coordinator:
  Your consultant can pair you with the perfect professional vendor for your unique wants and needs from the photographer to the caterer in order to make your wedding dreams become reality.
• Supervisor:
  Why worry about the details of planning before and during your wedding when you have someone with experience to do it for you. Your consultant will work with you and other vendors that you have chosen to make sure everything happens the day of your wedding as you have contracted so that you may remain relaxed.
  
  
• Financial Advisor/Planner:
  If you have budget concerns, your consultant can work with you to organize and prioritize your weddings needs to make your wedding a reality within a budget. They are able to do this by suggesting ways to wisely utilize and stretch finances and offer vendor discounts where available.
  
  
• Mediator:
  Your consultant, as an independent impartial person, often is able to smooth ruffled feathers and mediate disagreements between family members along with any other significant members of your wedding, so the burden is taken off of your shoulders.

   What can a bridal consultant do for me and my wedding plans?
   In addition to making your wedding dreams become a reality within your budget, a consultant will    save you time and from making a costly mistake in negotiating contracts. With today’s hurried  
   lifestyles many couples and their families do not have the time for the detailed planning and
   additional work that a beautiful wedding requires. A professional consultant, working with you,
   can handle the details and allow you the freedom to enjoy your engagement with out worrying
   about the small details.

   Can a bridal consultant save me money?
   Many wedding vendors offer discounts to consultants that are passed on to the bride and groom
   allowing them to save money on the same services they could have personally requested. Using    a consultant should not be an added expense to your wedding budget due to discounts received
   and creative ideas suggested to achieve the same look for less.

   Will the consultant make all of the decisions leaving me out ?
   A professional bridal consultant works with you and for you, handling as much or as little of the
   wedding as you want. If you want the details left to someone else, then you have an experienced
   person to do all of the work. If you would like someone else to just review the details and make
   suggestions you might not have thought of, you have a person that is your helper in all the
   planning aspects you need. It’s your wedding - you can do as little or as much as you would like.

   Why can’t I do all of the planning myself?
   You certainly can do the planning yourself, and that is sometimes part of the fun of having a
   wedding. But it can also be an added burden to you or a family member due to the time and
   research it takes to check out many vendors and finally making sure all the details are in place.
   There are many aspects to think about: etiquette or traditions you want to include, contract
   signings, set-up the day of, and worrying about whether you have made the right decisions and
   gotten the best deal. A professional bridal consultant has the training and experience to make all
   of those aspects work, while you relax and enjoy your engagement and wedding.

   What qualities should I look for in a consultant?
   You should be comfortable with your consultant because they are planning one of the major
   events in your life and remember you will be spending a significant amount of time with them that
   will be invaluable to you. The consultant should have experience and be a member of a bridal
   organization to show they are a professional and committed to the profession. They need to be
   timely in response to questions and needs you have regarding your wedding, assertive yet
   pleasant to work with and most of all innovative and creative to make your wedding dreams come
   true.