Hello everyone my name is Amy McGonigal and I am the proud owner of Picture Perfect Events LLC in South Jersey. I have wanted to to start blogging for some time now and just never got around to it. There are so many exciting things going on in our business and the industry overall that now is a better time than ever to share my thoughts.
I just met with a wonderful group of event planners from the NJ, PA and DE and let me tell you there are some very creative planners in our industry today. Brides and grooms as well as all clients looking to plan an event should have no problems finding their perfect fit.
Another exciting detail is a new organization is on it's way and it is a group of event design professionals and I am so excited to be involved in the start up. This will truly be a wonderful opportunity for all professional planners and designers to share ideas, trends and overall just improve our craft.
More to come....
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So I felt compelled to start writing this blog because I feel that there are so many misconceptions about event planners and wedding planners out there floating around. I just met with a group of event planners last night and we all seem to have the same complaints. Most of the potential clients have incorrect information about what we do and what is involved in our jobs. So I am going to give you all a list of important things you should know about planners.
There is a large number of inexperienced people trying to pose as planners and they do not have the qualifications to call themselves anything but a person who desires to enter into our industry. If you find that someones prices seem too good to be true then they probably are. These "newbies" as we call them are trying to built a business or get exposure so they will charge a much lower fee then what a professional planner/coordinator would charge. The old saying applies " you get what you pay for".
I think it is essential that the consumers and the facilities out there understand that event planners and an on site coordinator at a facility do not do the same job. If the staff at a venue tells you that there is no need for a planner that is usually not the case. Most facilities do not handle all of the details that planners handle and they also want little to do with assisting you with linens, rentals, props, set up and design details. These facilities host hundreds of events each year and their main focus is not the client. Planners on the other hand are getting to know their clients likes and dislikes and truly have their best interest at heart. Our job is to make sure the event is amazing and every last detail has been touched and the facilities job is to get the food out on time and have the correct amount of seating for your guests. The point is our jobs are very different and sometimes facilities are misinforming clients by telling them an on site coordinator is the same as an event planner and that is incorrect.
Obviously there is a cost incurred in using a planner but in exchange you are getting invaluable advice and the inside track on trends and the best vendors to use. In most cases if you have an experienced planner they will save you on your overall budget by getting the best deals and getting you the discounts that event planners get from vendors through out the industry.
So many people think that a planner is an unnecessary expense but that could not be further from the truth. All of the people and clients I have spoken to feel that a planner was money well spent. By hiring someone to handle the issues and the stress it truly allows you to enjoy your event weather it be a wedding, a birthday party or just a celebration!
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