Should you hire a planner for your Indian destination wedding in Portugal?
Planning a wedding is often described as one of the most beautiful yet overwhelming experiences in a couple’s life. Adding the destination aspect to it, planning your wedding from abroad can have many hurdles. Couples from Canada, US, UK, Spain and more are faced with differences in cultural norms that overpower business deals in Portugal, on top of the language barrier. In this blog we will explore how a wedding planner can help newly engaged couples navigate through the challenges of planning a destination wedding in Portugal.
1. Your wedding planner is a local and has connections with many local vendors
Imagine trying to plan a multi-event Indian wedding in a country that you have visited only once and where English is not the first language. You start researching venues and sending inquiry e-mails, asking if the venues allow Indian catering and have an outdoor space for the Mandap placement. You start receiving responses from your inquiries but don’t know enough about the local unspoken rules to know what can be negotiated as part of your package, as this might not be the norm where you come from. With a wedding planner, you could skip all these headaches by asking your planner to handle these things for you. Your planner will already have an extensive list of venues that they work with, and will know which ones are best suited to execute your vision.
Specifically, an Indian wedding planner based in Portugal will have a broad network of local vendors and venues. For couples looking to get married in Portugal, this can mean saving in costs and access to exclusive venues aren’t discoverable through the internet.
2. Your wedding planner will alleviate your stress and help you maximize your time to make optimal decisions
Planning a destination wedding in a logistical puzzle. Couples spend on average 6 hours a week planning for their wedding, for a single event, according to The Knot.
For Indian weddings, taking into account the Mehndi, Sangeet, Haldi, Ceremony and Reception, it adds up to almost double the time. Part of the work of a wedding planner is to research, source and vet the quality of vendors that they will present to their clients. That work is time consuming and if you are a full-time working bride, this means that the majority of your free time will be spent researching vendors. If you work with a wedding planner, that research will already be done for you and your planner will have skimmed through vendors of poor quality.
When it comes to a destination wedding, couples rely mostly on social media to find their vendors and book them. Unfortunately, while Instagram and Facebook can be a great market place to find vendors, it is often challenging to know if these vendors are of good quality and if you will be satisfied of their service on your wedding day.
It pains me to tell the story of a bride who had decided to hire her mehndi artist from instagram, based on her great following, client reviews and portfolio. After paying full price for a bridal henna, the bride was extremely disappointed as the artist didn’t turn out to be a professional. The lines of her mehndi were harsh, the name of the groom was barely hidden and the intrinsic designs that she had hoped for looked washed down by the lack of thoroughness.
A wedding planner can take on the burden of coordinating vendors, timelines, travel arrangements, and countless details, allowing you to enjoy the journey
3. Emergency Handling and avoid costly mistakes
Unexpected challenges can arise during a destination wedding. Having a wedding planner on-site who can seamlessly communicate with your vendors can be a lifesaver in handling any emergencies or last-minute hiccups, ensuring your day goes smoothly.
In the end, the decision to hire a wedding planner for your Indian destination wedding in Portugal boils down to your priorities, budget, and personal preferences. If you value expert guidance, stress reduction, and a seamless execution of your vision, a wedding planner is likely the way to go.
Remember, your Indian destination wedding is a celebration of your love and commitment. Whether you choose to hire a planner or not, what matters most is that your wedding reflects your unique story and brings joy to you and your loved ones.
