What Does a Wedding Planner Do?

A wedding planner will do as little or as much as you need! From the initial budget planning to supervising that the last detail of the reception happens on schedule, a professional bridal consultant personally brings experience and knowledge of the wedding industry into your wedding plans - which can be the difference between an event that comes together and a disaster.

Having a professional look after you can also be invaluable when it comes to finding the people necessary to make your wedding a success, such as musicians, caterers, photographers, and florists. A planner has spent time cultivating relationships with vendors and knows which ones are best for you. Your planner will act as a liaison between you and the vendors, setting up appointments and guiding you through the contracts. A good planner will also find the right combination of professionals, one that can function as a team designed to pull your wedding together smoothly

Remember that the planner will be working for you-she should listen to your ideas and concerns not make proclamations about what to do. She should also be upfront about whether your budget is in line with your vision. You want someone who will be honest about what you can afford and who can find less-expensive alternatives you'll be happy with

Do I need a Wedding Planner?

Having a wedding planner is no longer just about those people who have a budget for the service. It is about the convenience of knowing that there is someone there that will make sure that your dream is realized. Having the help of an experienced professional that is not emotionally involved in planning your wedding can result in a wedding day that meets the expectations of your dreams without breaking your budget.

Can I afford a Wedding Planner?

You have nothing to lose but EVERYTHING to gain by having a wedding planner help with some aspect of your wedding plans. We at Meletlo have a number of different services that can help you figure out what is important to YOU and how that gets incorporated into your wedding budget.

Do you charge for the initial meeting?

No. That is our opportunity to interview each other and see if we will be comfortable with each other. This is a meeting where YOU tell us what your vision for your wedding is and therefore there is no need for you to pay.

What is the largest wedding you've done?

400 guests

Do you go to all supplier meetings with the couple?

Yes, in certain cases the couple may need to pay for travel fees if the distance is over a certain number of km.

Will you provide a detailed outline of a budget?

Yes, in the beginning we have a suggested budget that will give the couple an indication of the lower and upper spend per element. Thereafter we work on something that is suitable for the couple's budget.

Do you personally handle and attend the wedding day?

This is dependent on the needs of the couple. If that is what is required, that is what we will do. We love weddings after all.

What if we don't want a traditional wedding?

We do not serve as the etiquette or wedding police. We're simply here to guide you in making your wedding day as beautiful as possible. We do however strongly suggest that customs and traditions are observed as this will make for happier families.

What happens at a traditional wedding?

A traditional wedding is a celebration uniting the two families together. It is the pre wedding events that signify the traditional aspects of the wedding such as Magadi/Lobola, giving of gifts, sending the bride to the grooms' family etc.

My family says I don't need a wedding planner, they will handle everything?

Weddings can bring families together as members may see this as an opportunity to showcase their skills or cause the greatest rift ever when people don't deliver on what they promised. Every bride has a view on what she wants for her wedding day and having a number of family members also having their own visions can create unnecessary stress. This is why we advise having an impartial party to coordinate everybody's ideas and ensure that the day goes ahead without any hiccups and the family to be there to enjoy the day instead of running around and working on the day

My venue says they can help me and I don't need a wedding planner. Can I just depend on them?

Firstly, what service are they offering you? Coordinating the day is not planning your wedding. We at Meletlo will help you in sourcing your photographer, the DJ, the florist and to manage all of this within the budget. Unfortunately many say they are offering this or more and it does not end up being the case. When someone offers you planning services, you need to get specific with them to find out exactly what they can and cannot help you with.

What wont you help with?

Very little - I often have to take the bride to the loo. Wedding dresses are beautiful but a nightmare to handle on your own

What is the worst thing that has happened to you at a wedding?

We did not count the main table in the preparations, so come the wedding day we were short a table. You have never seen one table being set up so quickly and improvising a centrepiece. Moral of the story, always ask your florist for extra flowers.