It depends on your circumstances. Here are the pros and cons.

When Tessa Shoup and Jack Lingo began planning their October 2013 wedding, Shoup knew from the start that she’d hire a planner. “I wanted everyone to enjoy themselves and have a great time,” says the Lewes resident. “I didn’t want anyone to have to deal with last-minute details or issues.”

Working with Peggy Burgess of Memorable Events by Peggy in Odessa has been a positive experience for Shoup. “Due to my busy work schedule and other planned events, having Peggy as my wedding planner has eased my stress level,” she says.

Like Shoup, many brides-to-be opt for a planner to reduce anxiety. Many also want expert opinions. “Most people are novices at this—and that’s a good thing,” says Coleen Fitzpatrick of Kennett Square-basedFlourish Designs Unlimited, a florist and event planner. “They’re not Elizabeth Taylor and haven’t been married 12 times.”

Hiring a planner can save time and money. But there are occasions when it might not be necessary.

If you’re considering a planner, do your homework to find the best match. You’re going to be spending a lot of time with this person.

Hiring a Wedding Planner: What Do They Do, Exactly?

The services run the gamut. Just visit the website of Rehoboth Beach-based Make My Day Event Planning. There are at least five packages that can be customized, as well as a la carte offerings.

Hire a planner to handle an entire wedding, from finding the rehearsal caterer to planning the morning-after brunch. Or, pay an hourly consulting fee. You can also opt for day-of services. (The planner should still insist on one or more meetings to go over the day-of details.)

“Except for picking out the dress, deciding their guest list and paying their vendors, there is pretty much nothing we won’t do,” says Samantha Diedrick, owner of Secretariat in Wilmington, which has planned weddings since 1948.

Why Should We Hire a Wedding Planner?

Time, for one. Consider the harried real estate agent who wanted a simple, classy Lewes wedding with a private ceremony and energetic outdoor reception. She could only manage three meetings with planners Leanne Silicato Prosser and Casey Kieffer Bailey of Make My Day Event Planning to share her vision and discuss the budget. “But we made it happen for her—stress-free,” Prosser says.

The partners often see clients who want a beach wedding but live outside the state. Some think a beach event is more easy-going and therefore requires less planning. Not so, says Nicole Bailey of Elevee Events, also in Rehoboth. You still need a caterer, location and possibly rented items.

Planning from afar, however, isn’t limited to destination weddings. Many of Secretariat’s brides grew up in Delaware but now live out of town.

Instead of trekking to the destination to meet with umpteen vendors, the couple can rely on a planner to narrow the options, based on their budget and preferences. Consequently, they only need meet with two or three florists or caterers instead of six.

Even couples living in the town in which they’ll marry may know nothing about catering, venues and ceremony sites. “They need direction, and we can help them stick to their budget, too,” Burgess says.

In addition to handling details, planners can also serve as advisers. Gay couples, for instance, may want help finding open-minded vendors or handling matters of etiquette: Whose name is first on the invite and whose parents pay for which services? Planners can also help interracial couples or couples of different faiths navigate obstacles. When there are conflicts among family members, the planner offers an impartial, expert opinion.

No matter the reason for why they hire a planner, they all want a “day-of event where they can enjoy their own wedding,” Diedrick says.

And a happy couple makes vendors happy. “It always makes our job easier,” says photographer Carolyn Watson. “Just knowing a planner is there relaxes the couple.”

Why Shouldn’t We Hire a Wedding Planner?

If you’re hiring a planner just to set up chairs on the beach, you’re wasting your money. You can often negotiate that service with the rental company. “Know what a planner does,” Bailey says.

That said, planners often go above and beyond to serve clients. Alaina Chamberlain, who married Sean Lanan in June, was impressed when Bailey of Make My Day helped set up centerpieces and distribute favors. At the end of the reception, held on the Lewes Historical Society grounds, Bailey willingly helped with breakdown. “My parents and I didn’t have to run around boxing leftover favors,” Chamberlain says. “We didn’t lose time celebrating with family and friends—time you can’t get back. We got a lot for our money.”

If you’re extremely detail-oriented, reconsider hiring a planner. “It could be difficult for a really Type-A personality,” Chamberlain acknowledges. “You are handing over some control.” You might as well do it all yourself.

You should also be open to advice, Diedrick says. Rely on the experts to guide you in matters of tradition and etiquette.

Some reception venues, such as a hotel or a conference-event facility, have onsite staff dedicated to event planning. Consequently, you may not need an outside planner.

Don’t hire a planner if you’re simply looking for deep discounts and freebies. “We can only negotiate so much,” Diedrick says.

Indeed, budget plays a part. Burgess worked with a couple struggling to pay the venue deposit. She told them to secure the venue first then see if later they needed help. “I won’t take their money if they’re having problems paying for the wedding,” she says. “That wouldn’t be right.”

Too Good, Too True: Saving Money by Hiring a Wedding Planner

In many respects, yes, but you might need to qualify it. Planners have longstanding relationships with vendors who often provide them with discounts, depending on the season. “If we get discounts we pass them on to our clients,” Prosser says.

A good planner will review your vendor contracts to look for problems. Fitzpatrick recalls the client who attempted to cut costs with a caterer but wound up removing the breakdown service from the contract. A busy venue, such as a museum, won’t tolerate dirty plates or glasses lingering in the space when more weddings are scheduled, and few brides want to clean up in their wedding dresses.

Bailey remembers the caterer who was charging a per-person fee for coffee at an outdoor beach wedding. Since not everyone would drink coffee, they cut back. Ditto for the client who was going to pay $12 per person for cheese and fruit for 200. “That’s a lot of money for a cocktail hour,” she says. They reduced the count. When the cheese ran out, it ran out. There was more food to come.

Fitzpatrick, who handled events when she was with ING Direct, can quickly spot critical details the layman can overlook. Take the bride who told Fitzpatrick that a friend with a restaurant would handle food. “What does he know about catering?” Fitzpatrick asked the bride. “Does he have the staff? How will the food be presented? Will he provide utensils: forks, knives, spoons? Are there enough?”

Planners can also find ways to save money. At a reception held in a field, for instance, guests can dine off sturdy yet elegant paper plates but use traditional silverware, Fitzpatrick says. Instead of having a caterer bring rented chairs and tables, which a caterer will mark up, she might recommend going directly to the rental company.

If hotel rooms are involved, a planner can negotiate room rates and perks such as a complimentary suite for the parents or a hospitality room. “There are all these things that the average person doesn’t know to ask,” Fitzpatrick says.

Planners can also offer do-it-yourself tips to save money. For Tessa Shoup’s wedding, Burgess plans to collect her backyard tree branches for centerpieces.

“Having a wedding planner is a small price to pay for a worry-free wedding day,” says Shoup.

How to Find the Best Wedding Planner for You

When Tessa Shoup and Jack Lingo began planning their October 2013 wedding, Shoup knew from the start that she’d hire a planner. “I wanted everyone to enjoy themselves and have a great time,” says the Lewes resident. “I didn’t want anyone to have to deal with last-minute details or issues.”

Working with Peggy Burgess of Memorable Events by Peggy in Odessa has been a positive experience for Shoup. “Due to my busy work schedule and other planned events, having Peggy as my wedding planner has eased my stress level,” she says.

Like Shoup, many brides-to-be opt for a planner to reduce anxiety. Many also want expert opinions. “Most people are novices at this—and that’s a good thing,” says Coleen Fitzpatrick of Kennett Square-basedFlourish Designs Unlimited, a florist and event planner. “They’re not Elizabeth Taylor and haven’t been married 12 times.”

Hiring a planner can save time and money. But there are occasions when it might not be necessary.

If you’re considering a planner, do your homework to find the best match. You’re going to be spending a lot of time with this person.

Delaware Wedding Planners

Elevee Events
727-5778, eleveeevents.com

Events By Lovely
526-2255, eventsbylovely.com

Flourish Designs Unlimited
547-4908, flourishdesignsunlimited.com

Lovely Girls Events
545-0412, lovelygirlsevents.com

Make My Day Event Planning
227-7111, makemydayevents.net

Memorable Events By Peggy
690-1677, memorableeventsbypeggy.com

Secretariat
654-4479, secevents.com

Silk Style Events
silkstyleevents.com

Simply Perfect Weddings
525-2406, simplyperfectwed.com

Tiffany Chalk Events
(866) 966-9033, tiffanychalkevents.com