What is a bridal consultant? A bridal consultant is also known as a wedding planner, wedding consultant or event planner. It’s her job to help the bride and groom plan their special day. Your bridal consultant is a trained professional whose job is to make your wedding day as perfect as possible and allow you to relax and enjoy your engagement and wedding day. A consultant’s areas of expertise include ... Mediator. Are you stuck between “ex” families and “step” families or just tired of dealing with your mother? Your bridal consultant can act as an independent third party and smooth things over between disputing family members to help mediate disagreements. Sometimes your consultant may be nothing more than a shoulder to lean on when you need some extra support. Advisor. Your bridal consultant is an expert on weddings and can advise you on traditions, trends and etiquette about everything from the proper format for addressing your envelopes to today’s most popular first dance songs. Coordinator. Your bridal consultant will have extensive contacts in the wedding industry and will be able to match your personality and style with the perfect wedding professionals to help turn your wedding dreams into a reality. She can take your wedding themes and ideas and provide you with the right professionals to fulfill your vision. Supervisor. Why should you worry about all the little details on the most important day of your life? Your bridal consultant will work with your other wedding professionals to ensure that your wedding vision becomes a reality. Your consultant will also handle all the details on your wedding day, ensuring that everything runs smoothly ... from your walk down the aisle to your last dance of the night. Financial Planner. Your bridal consultant can also act as a financial advisor for you and your family, helping you establish a budget and stick with it by suggesting the right professionals and creative ways to save money. What does a bridal consultant do? Your bridal consultant will do as much or as little as you want. For example, these are many of the common tasks your bridal consultant can help you with: •  Find the perfect reception site •  Find a photographer and videographer to suit your style •  Help to design your event and offer creative ideas •  Recommend an officiant and ceremony location if you need them •  Recommend a reputable band, DJ or other entertainment •  Help you create a budget and stick with it •  Secure wedding day transportation •  Recommend ceremony musicians •  Recommend a florist for your personal flowers, the ceremony and the reception •  Secure rentals for your at-home or outdoor wedding •  Manage your vendors and negotiate contracts •  Create and execute a detailed timeline and production schedule •  Make sure you don’t miss any important details •  Help you deal with difficult situations in your family or bridal party •  Offer etiquette advice •  Help you select invitations •  Provide RSVP and guest list management ... and more Who can benefit from a bridal consultant? Bridal consultants can do so much for the bride-to-be and her family that almost everyone can benefit from her services. You should definitely consider hiring a bridal consultant if neither you nor your families have time to plan your wedding or you simply prefer professional help. A bridal consultant will be especially helpful for you if you fall into one of the following categories: Feeling clueless. If you just got engaged and don’t have a clue where to start your planning, a bridal consultant will be well worth the money for the time she can save you alone. Because of her professional experience and affiliations, a bridal consultant will know of lots of reception sites, caterers, bands — everything you need for your dream wedding. A bit timid. If you’re like most brides, you’ve never had to negotiate a contract for a party of 200 before ... and the entire process can be overwhelming. Bridal consultants are experienced concerning what should and shouldn’t be included in all your professional contracts, which can prevent any bride from overlooking some important fine print. Your consultant will be your advocate and make sure that your vision is carried out. A big dreamer. If you’ve got the resources and are dreaming of the ultimate fairytale wedding, a bridal consultant can help you achieve that. And if you’re on a tight budget, she can also act as your voice of reason and help you stay on track. A detail hater. If organization isn’t your strong point, a bridal consultant can give you the freedom to let your creativity run free while she tracks the details. A consultant will help you with such tedious details as designing a seating chart, confirming information with vendors and proofreading your invitations. She can map out a detailed schedule of events for your wedding day and act as a wedding-day director to make sure that everyone involved will adhere to the schedule ... even your fiancé’s fraternity brother groomsmen. Heading out of town. If you’re like most brides, you may not live in your home town anymore, or met your fiancé at college and want to return for your wedding. Planning a wedding from out of town is twice as challenging as planning one where you live. And if you’re considering a destination wedding, a consultant is indispensable! The bottom line ... Take advantage of your bridal consultant’s training, experience and expertise. Let her make your dreams a reality! She can save you time, money and stress by doing all the leg-work involved in planning your wedding. With today’s hectic lifestyles and dual-career couples, most brides and grooms barely have enough time for their current responsibilities. Contact Sherrin the Moment to find out how we can turn your dreams into memories that last a lifetime.