What will a bridal consultant do for me?

 In addition to helping make your wedding dreams come true within your budget - and perhaps saving you from costly mistakes - a consultant will save you time. With today's hectic lifestyle, many bridal couples and their families do not have the time for the detailed planning and work a beautiful wedding requires. A professional consultant, working with you, can handle the details, allowing you the freedom to do what you want to do.

    A professional bridal consultant will work with you, handling as much or as little of your wedding as you want. After all, it is your wedding. The consultant is there to help you - and to make your day perfect.

    It is normal for a consultant to charge about 15 percent of the cost of the wedding. Some consultants charge an hourly rate or a fixed fee or some combination of these. Others charge nothing and then earn their income from supplier commissions. All these methods are acceptable, but you should determine in advance how your consultant will be paid.

 A wedding consultant is part of your budget, not an extra expense. In fact, you often save money because a consultant suggests less expensive alternatives that still enhance your wedding. Consultants often can obtain discounts from suppliers. Above all, the professional bridal consultant will work with you to produce your dream wedding within your budget.

You certainly can do the planning yourself - and that sometimes is part of the fun of your wedding. But it also can be a hassle, checking out so many sources for each service, making sure all the details are in place and worrying about whether you're getting the best deal - and whether everything will turn out right. A professional bridal consultant has the training and experience to make it all work, while you relax.

Do bridal consultants get "kickbacks" from suppliers?

Some vendors do offer commissions to bridal consultants, much as airlines pay commissions to travel agents. Many consultants pass these commissions to you in the form of discounts.

How can I tell if a bridal consultant is providing a quality vendor?

The consultant's reputation - and future business - depend on the quality of services, including vendors, you receive.

We are a typical family, with divorced relatives and working parents...
How can a bridal consultant help?

With so many brides and their parents working, a bridal consultant can handle much of the time consuming detailed planning for your wedding. You save time, reduce stress and concentrate on having fun as your wedding approaches. And, with experience dealing with many brides, a consultant can smooth all of those complex relationships in a modern family.