[dillonj]

Last question... don't wedding planners get referral fees from bands / DJ's, caterers, photographers, bakers, etc.? If so, then is it possibly cheaper for me (although a lot more work) to hire these vendors directly because then they won't have to pay the planner a referral fee? What % of a wedding planner's annual income is derived from these sort of referral fees?

[Nancy Tucker]

Dear Hiring a wedding planner,

NO! NO! NO! Sorry I didn't mean to yell. Don't even consider hiring a planner who is taking money from vendors they are asking you to hire. Who do you think the planner would be loyal to? You pay the planner and consider it an insurance policy to make sure your day is "how YOU want it".