Personal Style
What is the coordinators specific style. Ask to see a portfolio of previous weddings that they have done or check out their website for more info before contacting them. Does their style reflect your own personal taste and style. Are they creative with lots of different ideas or are they more traditional in their planning? Your wedding planner must see your vision and work together with you to achieve it.

Research
Visit bridal magazines and directories to find wedding planners in your area. Visit their websites to get an overall impression of their service and wedding portfolio. Ask friends if they know of any good wedding planners - word of mouth referrals are often the best.

Using a wedding planner can help save you time as well as stress on your wedding day as well as the months leading up to it. These are some questions to ask your wedding planner before signing a contract:

How many weddings have you handled?
Your wedding coordinator may have a relevant qualification or training but how many weddings have they organised? The more weddings the coordinater has organised, the more experience he/she will have in planning your wedding. Remember that you are paying for their expertise and professional service and you expect a wedding that is well organised.


What specific services do you provide?
Coordinators are able to tailor their services based on what you need. You may not require any help in choosing your wedding dress but you may want someone to help you with decor, setting up the venue and budget management. The wedding planner may even offer a consultant service where they simply advise on various service providers and provide quotes. You need to determine your budget and what the most important aspect that you would like the coordinator to work on. If you have a large budget and limited time, you may want a full coordintion service from start to finish.

How are your fees structured?
Some consultants charge a fixed hourly rate while others want a percentage of the total wedding budget. Others make their money from suppliers' commissions and will only charge you a small coordination fee.

Will I be obligated to use the service providers you suggest?
Ask if you are obligated to use vendors suggested by the consultants. You want to know that a consultant will be working with - and for - you.

How many weddings will you work at one time and how many assistants do you have?
Many full-service consultants will work on two to three weddings per month. If a coordinator takes on more than that, you may find it difficult to get personalized assistance. In addition to considering specific responses and qualifications, pay attention to personality. Do you feel comfortable with this individual? Do they listen attentively? Is this person readily available? If you are satisfied with the responses you receive, and the references check out, book 'em!

Costs Involved
Some coordinators work free of charge, serving as a source of information and referrals. Just remember that they have to make their money somewhere. Most likely, the vendors they recommend are paying them for the referral. And that means that they may not have your best interests in mind.

Those that do charge a fee will plan as little or as much of your wedding as you want. Many expect a percentage of the total wedding budget when managing the event from start to finish. Others will bill at a flat hourly rate - particularly if they are offering limited services.

Either way, a competent wedding coordinator should not be an added expense. They should be able to plan a better wedding - at a lower cost - than you could do yourself!

The Contract
A contract protects your interests as well as those of the coordinator. It serves as a written reference for all agreements that the two of you have made. It will also be your guarantee of the services and fees that you have agreed to.

The coordinator may have a standard contract or you can write your own. Just be sure that you make it as detailed as possible and that you review it thoroughly before signing.

Your contract with the wedding coordinator should include:
• Time and date of the wedding
• Service specifics
• All billing details
• Payment schedule
• Details of any special requests or agreements
• Guarantees and liabilities
• Name(s) of any assistants
• Wedding coordinator's name, contact information and    signature

Think Numbers, location, time of day, theme and formality
Once you have established the number of people attending your wedding as well as the type of wedding ie. morning or afternoon wedding, you can begin to think of suitable venue options.

Search for Wedding Venues
Look through bridal magazines and wedding directories for suitable wedding venues or ask friends and family of any beautiful wedding venues that they have been to recently.

Phone before you visit
Before you visit the wedding venue ask the coordinator a few key questions over the phone - this might save you a drive there only to be dissapointed. Ask the following questions before your go:
- Venue availability on your wedding dates
- Number of guests the venue can accommodate
- Catering options
- Number of events the venue will hold simultaneously
- Any special conditions of the venue ie. closing time.

Scope it out
Have a look at the entire facility, including bathrooms and kitchens - this will help give an overall impression of the venue. Note the quality of the lighting, the availablity of plug points for the DJ or band and points for draping.

Compare Notes
Once you have been to a few venues, compare notes - look at the prices of each venue, the food options, the layout and of course the overall feel of each venue.

Book your venue well in advance
Start looking for venues as soon as you know how many people you are expecting. Many wedding venues are booked out months and sometimes even a year in advance, so do not leave this till the last minute. Try booking your wedding 9-12 months in advance.

Decor Friendly Wedding Venues
Check your venue out carefully - if you want draping and fairy lights - ask the coordinator if it can be done. Ask to see pictures of the venue set-up for previous weddings and you'll be able to get an idea of what can be done.

Flexibilty
You may want something different for your wedding such a garden wedding or you may have special requests such as an extra tent outside to extend the seating or dancing area. Think of these types of things early on and ask the venue coordinator if they are willing to accommodate your requests.

Catering
If the site has an in-house chef, schedule a meeting to discuss menu options. Ask them what their speciality is and their recommendations for the type of wedding you are having - breakfast, lunch or evening wedding. Are they open to your ideas or requests for something diffrent or special? For example, you my want to serve a variety opf mini cheesecakes and melk tarts for dessert - would they be open to creating somerthing new?

Fully Equipped Venues
Venues that supply tables, chairs, linen and other partyware will save you money and create a lot less work on your side becuase you don't have to worry about renting equipment.fully equipped space. The less you have to rent, the better. Many restaurants and clubs will supply tables, chairs, linens and most partyware.

All-Inclusive
If you are looking for something non-stressful and hassle free, some venues may help design and put together an all-inclusive package for your wedding day, based on your requirements. This could include the venue hire, catering, flowers, wedding cake and music.

Wedding Venue and Reception in one?
Having the ceremony and reception at one venue might well save you money in rental and transport costs. Many venues have areas for the ceremony with the main reception hall within walking distance. This also makes it simpler and less stressful for guests having to travel from one place to the next.

Naturally beautiful venues
Hold your reception in a decorative venue. A large wrought-iron balcony or a deck with large old wooden shutters may supply all the grandeur you need, whilst a wedding in the middle of a vineyard will provide all the ambience you need.

Intimate & cosy options
Many couples opt for smaller more intimate wedding venues such as a small hotel or restaurant. Renting out your favourite restaurant can mean a cosy and romantic venue for half the price of a large, popular wedding venue.

What to Include in Your Contract
State the date, time and head count of the reception. Also, note the name of the person in charge of your event.

Check that there is a repercussions clause (such as a partial refund) in case of venue snags, such as a broken air-conditioner or heater.

Note the quoted price and what that price includes and does not include - there should be no grey or ambiguos areas.

Make sure the payment schedule details the exact due dates of the deposit to secure the venue and the balance.

Make sure the cancellation and postponement policy are included. Note whether you will be refunded your deposit if you cancel the wedding or if you move the wedding to another date.

Determine how the gratuity will be charged - either included in the overall amount or added on as a a seperate charge at the end.

Make a note of what time staff will need to be paid for overtime and what these fees are.

Detail any rules regarding decorations, food, beverages, closing times and noise levels, as well as fines for transgression of such rules.  


Look for ideas here:
KZN | Durban Wedding Venues
Western Cape | Cape Town Wedding Venues
Gauteng | Johannesburg and Pretoria Wedding Venues