If you're considering hiring a planner to help you in the weeks leading up to your event, please interview planners knowing that "day-of" planning/coordination involves much, much more than the planner and her assistant simply arriving on site the day of your event.
The term "day-of" planning (or "day-of coordination") gives a false perception of what it requires to professionally execute an event. Planners typically work more than thirty hours to execute "day-of." At Merriment, we believe it's not only our job to make sure that the day flows smoothly, but we also believe that it's our responsibility (in that capacity) to confirm all of the arrangements you have made leading up to the event; to confirm your set-up plans with your vendors and venue; to help you with last minute arrangements that have fallen by the wayside (inevitably, transportation); to produce an agenda for the weekend that best serves you and your vendors; to have plan B's for plan A's; and to bring the expertise we've earned to your event - troubleshooting, managing and coordinating.
For that reason, many planners will require clients work with them for a minimum of hours or during a minimum time period leading up to the event - for us six weeks out from the date.
{image by Worthington Photography from Jolene's wedding}