13 Questions To Ask Your Wedding Planner Before You Start Off?

Hiring a Wedding Planner? Here Are 18 Questions to Ask Before You Sign Them On!

Planning a wedding can feel like a whirlwind of choices and decisions—so many vendors, so many options! One of the biggest decisions you’ll make is choosing the right wedding planner to bring your dream day to life. Whether you’re envisioning a glamorous ballroom affair, a cosy outdoor celebration, or a unique cultural fusion, a good wedding planner can make all the difference. But before you sign on the dotted line, it’s crucial to ask the right questions to ensure your planner’s vision, experience, and personality align with yours.

To help you out, we’ve rounded up the top questions to ask a wedding planner before you say “yes” to working together. These will give you the clarity and confidence you need to find a planner who truly “gets” you and your big day.

Image via Kuvam and Naman

Trust us, there are awesome ones that have great Instagram pages, but can be really unprofessional when you most need them. And there are those who are dying to rip you off for a few thousands by offering you sub-standard stuff. There are also ones that really understand your situation and give you a beautiful wedding in less time. Caution, my love is what you need to exercise. We have a simple mandate - ask these 18 questions and that'll help you pin the right one down so he/she can save you time and stress and also, someone who will give you the wedding of your dreams.

1. What’s a challenging situation you’ve faced in wedding planning, and how did you resolve it?

This will help you understand how they approach an issue when it comes to wedding planning. It will also showcase some issues that happen during weddings – so that you are better prepared for it!

2. Do you incorporate any eco-friendly or sustainable practices in your planning?

If you are a couple that wants to have a green wedding or have some sustainable practices in your wedding, this is very important. You need to have the wedding planner on board and clear about what is ok and what is not.

3. How many other weddings will you be working on in the same timeframe as ours?

It’s essential to understand the planner's current workload, as it directly impacts the level of attention and personalization your wedding will receive. If they’re juggling multiple events during the same period, it might mean limited availability for last-minute changes, fewer in-person meetings, or delayed responses. On the other hand, if they only handle a select number of weddings at once, it’s likely they’ll be more accessible and hands-on with every detail of your celebration. Asking this question can help you gauge how much time, focus, and dedication they’ll realistically be able to give to your wedding.

4. What is your typical planning timeline, and what key milestones should we expect along the way?

Every wedding planner has their own process, but understanding how they structure the planning journey can give you a sense of control and clarity over the months leading up to your wedding. Start by asking how they break down the planning timeline—for example, will you work together on a month-by-month basis, or do they have key milestones they prefer to hit in specific time frames?

This is especially helpful for ensuring that all the big details, like venue booking, vendor selection, and design concepts, are taken care of without any last-minute stress.

Image via Anmol and Ashish

5. Are you more of a co-ordination person or are you more of a decor person?

There are two types of planners out there. The ones who are decorator turned planners- who do logistics along with decor but their primary focus is still on aesthetic. The others are the ones who handle the logistics and planning but outsource the decor. Depending on what is more important to you- choose one accordingly. In most likelihood atleast one of these teams will be outsourced.

6. If it’s a décor person, then what is your design aesthetic?

Knowing a wedding planner’s design aesthetic can help you determine if their style aligns with your vision. Are they drawn to classic, timeless elegance, modern minimalism, boho chic, or something eclectic and bold? They might specialize in lush floral arrangements, clean lines with subtle elegance, or vibrant, statement-making decor. It’s also helpful to request examples or a portfolio of past weddings they’ve designed. Look closely at the colour palettes, textures, and types of decor they tend to use.

Finally, ask how they balance your personal style with their design approach. A great planner will be able to take your vision and integrate it into their aesthetic, creating a cohesive look that reflects your personality while utilizing their expertise to elevate it.

7. Have you planned weddings before of someone from my background?

A lot of Indian wedding planning is about rituals which differ not just from state to state, but literally from caste to caste. Someone adept with Telugu weddings wont be clueless about all the elements surrounding it.

8. What is the cost of the average wedding you plan?

You know, we all know how in India people like to drag on the money till the end and then spring a googly on you. Be upfront about the budget and tell the planner you can only go till a certain amount. No, at any point, you are not crossing over your budget. In any case, there will be miscellaneous costs and extras, you don't want to keep widening it before hand.

But be clear about two things: one, if the planner is expensive, and if you really really want them, then ask them to do a small bit for the wedding and lower your costs. two, your wedding planner cost can ideally be from 10%- 20% of the wedding cost. Don't exceed it! Also, what about their costs - is it a flat fee? Are there overhead costs? Get everything in writing!

Image via Shreya and Rajat

9. What is your USP? 

It's a simple question but it can really give you an insight into the people you are getting into an association with. You may be a quirky couple, but if your planner does mostly big, royal weddings he wouldn't understand why you want a hangover kit on your cocktail. Kapisch?

10. What has been the most amazing/ unique wedding you have planned?

Get details on ideas executed, themes done and what made it unique. It also helps get an idea of the planner's clientele and their own aesthetic.

11. How many weddings have you planned? 

Experience counts for something. And that also means, fewer rookie mistakes. Simply choose someone who knows their business in and out. Ask them to show you their last wedding so you get to see the aesthetics and ideas.

12. What kind of services do you offer?

Hah, we all know a friend who got a kickass planner and realised that she paid the hotel extra for the flowers and other extras when it could have easily been included in the planner fee. A detailed view of what they offer with a break-up for each item is ideal. Do they do only one day planning if you want? Can you pick and choose from their services so your costs can come down? Pat down their services so you're clear. After we give them our budget, will they provide us with a breakdown of how the money is going to be allocated? Ask!

Image via Madhura and Veer

13. Have you worked in my location and site before?

Wedding planning is all about location and the things you can do to it. So get a planner who is familiar with the space. Someone who won't ask you a million questions about plug points and backdrops and windows. Also  if your planner has planned weddings at the same site, she or he will have a better understanding of rules, regulations and vendors permitted to work.

14. What's your contingency plan for bad weather?

If they don't have a plan B right on top of their head, they're definitely not the right ones for you. They need a backup for everything. They need to know what solutions work for each and every problem. If they are blabbering and are bullshitting - you'll know. Ask them if they ever had a wedding disaster and how they handled it. Their answer will seal the deal for you!

15. Details, details. How many meetings will we have? How many days do they need? How fast can things be done? Are we communicating on e-mail or phone?

You need to first know your communication process. Meetings, e-mails, skype chats....you need to know if they are on board with your planning and your periodic checking. It's obvious you are hands-on so you need them to be all hands on deck. You don't want your calls to be put on hold, your e-mails not replied, or your chat requests ignored. Plan out a calendar and you need someone who is enthusiastic about that.

Also, most important, will they keep your ideas and things safe without using them up in another wedding the second you leave the meeting. Whether its Pinterest, email, or WhatsApp make sure you develop a working relationship where easy communication is possible. We highly recommend checking out planners Pinterest boards and inviting them to your own.

16. Hiring other professional for the wedding, like florists or bartenders- are you rigid about using their own vendors or are you ok if you can get in people you like?

Of course, planning is their business but you may love the wedding planner more if they used your florist cousin for the wedding or a tailor you know will deliver. Though it might seem slim, you can use people you like too and your planner should be open about these rules. Put them out before-hand so you know who to include and how to include them into your planning.

Image via Anchal and Varun

17. How many people from your team will be present?

Even some of the most luxurious planners may have really small teams, or on the other side lots of team members and interns which are unnecessary. Depending on your gathering size there needs to be atleast 2-3 senior members present from the team .

18. Which venues can you get us a good deal at?

Many planners have tie ups with venues to give some pretty unbeatable rates. Don't forget to ask their venue list and also cross-check with the venue if their rates are indeed the best ones around.

Bonus:  Keep this information ready and do a few background checks

1. Handling guest logistics, like seating arrangements and transportation coordination at destination weddings
2. What's my budget? How far am I willing to go?
3. What are my dates and my potential dates?
4. Moodboards + Pinterest ideas + friends reccos
5. Number of guests and the kind of guests
6. Small tid-bits and specific things you need at the wedding right away
7. Check through WMG reviews and social media to get the right reviews for wedding planning vendors

Have a question you think we definitely need to ask a wedding planner? Tell us in the comments section! 

ALSO READ: 13 Questions To Ask BEFORE Finalising Your Wedding Venue!