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Frequently Asked Questions
This is your once-in-a-lifetime day! Let a professional bridal consultant handle the details with you. It's your big day. Make certain it turns out perfectly -- and enjoy your wedding!What is a Bridal Consultant?
A Bridal Consultant is a professional whose training, expertise, and contacts will help make your wedding as close to perfect as it can possibly be. you can relax (as much as you can) and be a guest at your own wedding (sm). You can count on a professional consultant to help you in many roles:
Advisor -- As an expert, the consultant knows weddings, from the socially correct invitation formas through the proper planning and organization of the reception.
Coordinator -- Through extensive contacts in the wedding business, the consultant can match you with right professionals, from photgrapher to caterer, o turn your wedding dreams into reality.
Supervisor -- Why should you worry about the details of planning your wedding? Your consultant will work with the other professionals you have chosen to help ensure everything happens just as you wish.
Financial planner -- If you're working with a budget (and who isn't), your consultant can help you organize your dream wedding within your budget by suggesting ways to make your dollar go the farthest.
Mediator -- Caught between "ex"-families and "step"-families? A bridal professional, as an independent third party, can often smooth ruffled feathers and mediate disagreements. Sometimes your consultant may be nothing more than a "shoulder to cry on" to support you during the hectic days before your wedding.
What will a Bridal Consultant do for me?
In addition to making 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 lifestyles, many bridal couples and their families do not have the time for the detailed planning and work that a beautiful wedding requires. For some ideas on the specific services we offer, please see our Consulting Services, Enchanted Bride Packages, and More Services pages.
Won't a consultant want to run the whole show?
A professional bridal consultant will work with you to handle as much or as little of your wedding as you wish. After all, it is your wedding. THe consultant is there to help you and your family and make the day as perfect as possible.
Why can't I do the planning myself?
You certainly can do the planning yourself, and that sometimes is part of the fun. But it also can be a hassle: checking out many sources for each vendor category, making sure all the details are in place, and worrying about whether you're getting the best deal and whether everything will turn out all right. An ABC bridal professional has the training and experience to make it all come together while you relax.
What qualities should I look for in a consultant?
You should be comfortable with the person. You will be spending a lot of time together planning one of the major rite of passage in your life.
How can I tell if a Bridal Consultant is reputable?
All Association of Bridal Consultants members agree to uphold the ABC Code of Ethics and Standards of Membership. Look for the Association's logo and ask to see a current ABC membership certificate or contact the Associtioan to verify a bridal consultant's status. Be sure to ask the consultant during the interview what kind of education and experience they have. The designation of Professional Bridal Consultant (tm) is awarded to Association members who have completed the Professional Development Program. SOme senior members have the designation of Accredited Bridal Consultant (tm) or Master Bridal Consultant (tm). Each of these has a certificate and indicates higher levels of training and experience. Some members also participate in Association-sponsored seminars and workshops. Certificates indicating that they have comleted this training also may be displayed.
Do Bridal Consultants get kickbacks from suppliers?
Some vendors do offer commisions to consultants, much as airlines pay commisions to travel agents. Many consultants pass these commissions to you in the form of additional savings.
What will a Bridal Consultant charge?
A wedding consultant is part of your budget, not an extra expense. In fact, you often save money because a consultant suggests affordable alternatives that still enhance your wedding. The professional bridal consultant will work with you to produce your dream wedding, including the consultant's fee, all within your budget. Please call or email us for a personalized quote or a custom package creation, free of charge.
Excerpted from the Association of Bridal Consultants' brochure "Do You Need a Professional Bridal Consultant" copyright 2006