Should you use a Maui wedding planner?
Unless you are familiar with what Maui has to offer, a full service
wedding coordinator is highly recommended. Besides making all
the arrangements for you (something to consider if you're trying
to make phone calls from a different time zone and racking up
huge long distance phone charges to Hawaii in the process), the
cordinator will be able to keep an eye on costs.
How do you choose?
It’s natural to feel overwhelmed by the
sheer number of wedding companies on Maui. How do you choose? To
be honest, the final choice
will probably come down to pure, gut instinct. Below are a few tips
to finding the best Maui wedding planner for your event.
Choose 2-3
wedding companies to contact:
Visit the web sites of a few of the planners listed in the frame
on your left to get an idea of their services and prices (if you
don't see a list on the left, click here). You can either contact
them directly, one by one through their own web sites, or use our
Quick Inquiry Form, in which case all the wedding coordinators
you see listed will receive a copy of your request.
Questions to ask:
1. Ask the prospective
wedding planner if you can contact previous brides to check their
references (email is the least intrusive).
Try to get references from
couples that received roughly the same wedding services you are considering.
For example, if you are considering a Hawaiian wedding package on the beach,
ask for the email addresses of other wedding couples who booked this same
package….even
better, the same beach! Some people like to check the Better Business Bureau.
On the BBB web site, simply type in company name or URL to see if there are
any unresolved complaints. The coordinators listed on the left are all checked
with the BBB prior to listing them on the mauiweddings.com site.
2. If you
are planning an outdoor wedding, inquire about the possible
added cost of a backup
location in case of rain. A backup location is not included in the price
of a typical beach wedding package. Read more about beach weddings
on Maui here.
3. Ask who the Officiant will be, and whether
you can receive some ceremony samples.
4. Ask the coordinator you
are speaking with whether they personally will be present at your
wedding. Sometimes there is an added
cost for this, and other times it
is not possible due to scheduling, and they will have a colleague attend in
their place. You should know this in advance, and have the
opportunity to meet and/or
speak with the colleague before your wedding.
5. Ask who they use/recommend for
photography, floral design, etc. Many of companies providing Maui
wedding services are online now and you can view samples of
their work.
Final recommendations:
Your choice of Maui wedding planners
will ultimately come down to the personal relationship between
you and your prospective
planner. Some brides-to-be even
fly out to Hawaii to interview potential candidates. For most, this is a
cost prohibitive option, so be sure you use your phone time constructively
and follow
your instincts.
More Hawaii wedding tips |
