This blog post is sponsored by WeddingWire, the free online wedding planning site for finding the perfect vendors, reading reviews, building a wedding website, creating a registry, and more. We’ve used WeddingWire every step of the way during our process, especially to find our beautiful (yet affordable) Southern California venue! Now we’re just a month away from the Big Day!!! Also, be sure to check out the video below. All views and opinions are my own.
In a few short weeks I’m marrying my partner of ten years, Maxx. I’m beyond excited to become his wife and to call him my husband. I’ve wanted this for so long, and while I imagined planning a wedding would be joyful, I didn’t anticipate how stressful and expensive it could be. I thought our planning would be different — maybe simpler and less costly — but the reality is that weddings require a lot of time, coordination, and resources.
Early on we realized we needed help, so we hired a wedding planner. Michelle Newson of Onederland Events has been our cheerleader, vendor matchmaker, accountability partner, and honest friend. Last weekend we visited our Topanga Canyon venue with Michelle and introduced her to my favorite local vegan spot, Vinh Loi Tofu. If we hadn’t already booked our vegan caterer, we would have begged them to cater our wedding — even Michelle, who loves meat, enjoyed the food. Over lunch we mapped out next steps: collecting vendor contracts, finishing our wedding website (sneak peek coming soon), seating arrangements, whether to hire a DJ, and how to light the dance floor.
Hiring a planner felt like the right decision for us, but how do you know if a planner is the right choice for you — especially on a budget? Here’s what we learned.
Do I need a wedding planner?
Planners offer different packages: Wedding planners can handle a range of services. Full-service planners manage every detail from start to finish, while others offer partial planning or day-of coordination. We chose a package that fit our budget and needs; full planning would have been ideal but cost-prohibitive. If your budget is tight, consider hiring a planner a month or two before the wedding to handle the final logistics once major decisions are already made.
Time is money: A good planner saves time by recommending trusted vendors and making connections. You can compare numerous vendors yourself, but that takes hours you might prefer to spend working, relaxing with your partner, or focusing on other priorities. For us, having someone vet options and shorten the search process was a huge advantage.
Staying organized: Planners keep every detail in order and ensure deadlines are met. They manage contracts, confirm timelines, and coordinate vendor responsibilities so you can enjoy the day without worrying about logistics. That confidence — knowing everything is handled — is worth a lot.
You can also use WeddingWire’s free online planner to organize vendors and contact them directly. It includes a detailed countdown checklist so you don’t miss important tasks — apparently I should be writing my vows tomorrow!
You’ll need a coordinator: Many venues require a day-of coordinator. That person ensures the event runs smoothly, communicates with vendors (caterer, florist, DJ, videographer), and handles guest issues so you don’t have to. Often a planner fills this role as part of a package.
When choosing a planner, pick someone you like and trust. They’ll meet your family, interact with guests, and keep your timeline on track, so it’s important to have a good personality match.
What if you’re on a tight budget? If funds are limited, consider hiring a planner only for the final month and the wedding day itself. If you prefer to manage the entire process, WeddingWire remains a valuable free tool with vendor reviews and visible pricing that can help you find cost-effective options. For us, finding an affordable venue on WeddingWire that allowed outside catering and alcohol was a major step in sticking to our budget. After the wedding I’ll share more about how we managed costs in Southern California — spoiler: it’s not easy.
We hired Michelle not only for her expertise but because we wanted accountability from someone outside our family and the peace of mind to truly relax on our Big Day. Working with her has been helpful and a lot of fun so far.
She’s not vegan — yet — but she’s open-minded, so maybe she’ll be converted after working with us 😉