My fiancee and I are looking for a good wedding planner in or near The Woodlands/North Houston area. Does anyone have any recommendations or suggestions to help us out?

Global Event Group.

Based outta college station and can handle ANYTHING.

save the cash...plan it yourself

Engaging Events .... Jordan is an Aggie. They're friends of ours and they're great.

www.thegrandevent.com
281-217-6790

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save the cash...plan it yourself

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I couldn't agree more!!!

En Vogue Events friends of mine, but I agree just save the money and do it yourself.

Kelly Balfour, also an Ag was our planner:
http://www.eventologyweddings.com/
713-409-5737

She did a wonderful job, and we really can't praise her enough. She easily saved us more money than her own cost. My wife was actually able to relax on our wedding day, and that's a big plus (for me!)



[This message has been edited by WundreLlama (edited 8/4/2010 10:51a).]

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She easily saved us more money than her own cost.

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Can I ask how she saved you money? What did she do that you couldn't do yourself? And yes, I understand time is money and we all value our time differently.

Wedding Planners usually have relationship with vendors and get reductions on price.

For example, if you use this photographer or this caterer, they give discounts to my couples.

I'll have to ask my wife for the numbers/details, but she saved us money because she gets discounts from the various service providers that she recommends. Take the photographer for example. Because we went through Kelly, we paid something like half of what people normally pay for her service (we used Sharon Nicole, who also did an excellent job). I know we got discounts on the cakes, the limo, floral arrangements, etc. I'd imagine she gets these discounts because she brings them so much business. The money we saved through her discounts, discounts we wouldn't have otherwise gotten, paid for her services and then some.

It just seems that if that rate is out there (either for a caterer or photographer) anyone should be able to negotiate the same rate. Maybe Guitarsoup could chime in. I wonder if he gives cheaper rates to coordinators. And then does he honor that rate if someone comes to him and asks for it.

NOTE: This is not meant to belittle or bring hate upon planners. Merely my interest on exactly how much they can save you.

we are only having a day-of planner. i thought i wanted to use a wedding planner in the beginning but ended up not really needing one because i wanted to plan everything right away and in my own way. venues we went to that were really interested in telling us who we should use were a major turnoff to us. just something to think about. wedding planning really doesn't take that much time.

tamulax,

Anyone is free to try to negotiate with with vendors. Maybe some will honor those other rates, which as far as I'm aware of, aren't published. The thing to keep in mind is that brides are (usually) not repeat customers. Wedding planners, on the other hand, are. A wedding planner that is happy with the price and performance of a vendor is more likely to bring more business back to that vendor than a bride who is also happy with the price and performance.

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wedding planning really doesn't take that much time.

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This! I did almost everything online, and we had a pretty big blow-out of a wedding if I do say so myself. We were engaged for 11 months but easily could have been ready for the wedding in about 2-3.

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The thing to keep in mind is that brides are (usually) not repeat customers.

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I understand that they may not be repeat customers.... but word of mouth between former brides and future brides goes a lot further than you think.

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I understand that they may not be repeat customers.... but word of mouth between former brides and future brides goes a lot further than you think.

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No, I recognize that good word of mouth can be extremely valuable. My point was, that is likely why planners get discounts. Can you offer a better reason for the discounts offered to wedding planners and their clients?

I don't think it can be officially determined if a single bride can get the same discounts. From my experience someone who is willing to shop around usually gets the best deals.

But alas, I see what you're saying.

I second that megs...

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Maybe Guitarsoup could chime in. I wonder if he gives cheaper rates to coordinators. And then does he honor that rate if someone comes to him and asks for it.

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I've never given coordinators any cheaper rates or kick backs. The coordinators that suggest me do so because they know their clients get a great value for their money, a quick turnaround and because I will act professionally.

Many photographers are looking for bulk, and they are probably the ones that give kickbacks discounts to the coordinators for getting them lots of weddings. Do nothing but weddings all the time. That's not me. I will never shoot 40+ weddings in a year like some guys, and I don't want to. The more you take on, the more difficult everything is and the harder it is to give really good service or really put your heart into editing the pictures right.

It may work for other people, but we don't do that.

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venues we went to that were really interested in telling us who we should use were a major turnoff to us.

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Probably because they get a kick back of a certain percentage from those people.

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A wedding planner that is happy with the price and performance of a vendor is more likely to bring more business back to that vendor than a bride who is also happy with the price and performance.

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If a wedding planner knows two cake makers.
Cakes by Flipper makes awesome cakes. Taste great, stay together. Look great. She is $7/slice.
Cakes by tamulax33 is very good. Not quite as good as Flipper, but quality is above average. $7.25 a slice, but the coordinator gets a 5% cash kickback on the cake.

Who does the coordinator suggest and build up? The really spectacular one, or the one where she makes an extra $100 or so?

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but word of mouth between former brides and future brides goes a lot further than you think.

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This is very true.

Thank you GS.

My fairy god mother