Professional Wedding Planning & Coordinating has many obvious, and some not so obvious, advantages.  After thorough consideration, you'd be surprised at how some cost cutting can be the most expensive choice in the long run-both monetarily and emotionally.

The main advantage to Beach Bride Guides wedding planning and coordinating is their inside experience and their local perspective you will gain.  They will open you to the popular tourist spots and the special, little-known, local locations only a Island native understands.  You also receive the ideal plan for the local traffic, travel time, rate spikes, quality, reputation and weather patterns (especially for outdoor Beach events).  After discussing your preferences, your personal wedding planner and coordinator understands first-hand what suits your needs to ensure your day is just as you imagine.  You're also sure to see all that South Padre Island has to offer.

Now that you've chosen a South Padre Island Wedding, where do you start?  Begin by outlining a detailed budget for your event.  Make concise budgets, estimating exactly how much you have, how much others will provide and how much each item will cost.  Many couples just start spending and are surprised when they tally it up after.  Jackie Reeves, owner and wedding planner and coordinator with Beach Bride Guides, states, "My clients have budgets ranging from the national average, $20,000 upwards to $50,000.  I would guesstimate the average South Padre wedding to be less than the national average."  When you consider how much you'll be investing, the dollar amount and emotional time, it's obvious how experienced planning and coordinating can be a benefit.

Once your budget is fine-tuned, develop a realistic schedule of events.  Select your wedding date and count back the months necessary to complete each task.  "You should plan at least 15 months out, preferably 18 months," Jackie suggests.  What are the most popular months for matrimony along the Shores of South Padre?  May and June receive the most bookings.  Off-season accommodation rates are available so book your venue at least a year in advance to secure a space during these busy months.  Also, consider a mid-week wedding date.  Be flexible.

Budget issues?  Most brides want to save money, skipping a wedding planner and coordinator believing a friend can manage well enough.  Weddings are uncontrolled events. Problems do arise, some big and some small.  Many brides plan their day believing everything is taken care of once they walk down the aisle.  Yet, in reality, the bride can be inundated with questions on when to start the dance, the dinner, the toast and so on.  After all the time and energy expended planning the wedding, include in the planning how to enjoy your wedding day problem-free.  Keep in mind, friends more often than not, fall into a guest role once the reception begins, leaving the bride to manage the rest.

Wedding planners and coordinators typically offer tiered services.  For instance, you may hire a coordinator to act as an hourly consultant for as-needed questions and advice, a wedding-day director to tie everything together or as a comprehensive event planner and coordinator from invitations to the honeymoon travel.  Consider your time constraints, budget and personal preferences when deciding the extent of service you need.  Minimally, explore hiring a wedding-day director to tie it all together and act as a go-between on the big day.

Furthermore, wedding planners and coordinators bring monetary savings through negotiating contracts, pricing and services.  Explains Jackie Reeves, "I know who the best vendors are, where and when not to trim.  I assist with creating their wedding budget, giving realistic estimates on services and where you should attempt to cut costs.  The important thing to do is prioritize.  What's most important to you?  Food?  Flowers?  Photography?  Sites?  Once you've decided where you want to spend your money, you then have to prepare to spend less in other areas."

"Today's computer savvy brides use the Internet to find destination wedding vendors," states Jerry Wilson.  He suggests taking that one step further.  "It is in the brides best interest to ask for references either from the wedding planner and coordinator themselves, the vendors they work with or both."  After deciding the scope of planning and coordinating services you need, arrange a few personal interviews with your top choices.  Then, compare the answers to select the wedding planner and coordinator that suit your needs.  Here are a few questions to consider:

How long have you worked as a wedding planner and coordinator?

Do you have formal training?

Do you employ others when planning events?

How many weddings do you coordinate annually?

What is the largest wedding you've coordinated?

Do you personally attend each wedding?

Will you assist with the processional and recessional?

Do you assist with set-up and teardown?

Do you charge for expenses or travel?

Do you assist lodging arrangements for guests?

What is your fee; does this include the wedding day?

If issues arise with vendors, how are they resolved?

Who signs contracts; do we pay you for the entire event or each vendor separately?

How payments are structured and when are they due?

A bride's memory of her wedding day need not be peppered with scenes of directing and managing the event.  For this reason alone, hiring a wedding planner and coordinator is worth the investment.  Although your wedding can be one of the most stressful and life changing events you'll ever experience, wedding planners and coordinators are available to take a load off your shoulders.  Enjoy your special day-and enjoy the help they offer!