Selecting a Gem of a Wedding Planner

As many of you now know, there are four characteristics used by the diamond industry to categorize a stone. These rules are known as the 4Cs: cut, clarity, color, and carat. They were created, in part, to help buyers select the stone that most closely fits their needs. These same rules can apply to the selection of a wedding planner -- that other gem that is so important to the wedding process. Keep in mind that while each criterion is essential to the overall process of evaluating a wedding planner, each measure’s level of importance is different for each couple.

1. Cut
The brilliance of a diamond depends heavily on its cut. A good cut gives a diamond its radiance, as the angles and finish of a cut are what determine its ability to handle or filter light. A wedding involves a tremendous amount of information, non-stop decision making, and myriad personalities. A great wedding planner is one whose “cut” -- personality, experience, and knowledge -- allows him or her to process information and filter it back out as the “light” that will create the optimum brilliance for the bride and groom on their big day. When meeting with a planner, ask him or her questions about past experiences, training, organization style, and the types of clients with whom he or she enjoys working. When it comes to diamonds, cut is different from “shape,” which refers to a stone’s outward appearance. But while cut and shape are two different measures, they can be interchangeable -- especially when evaluating a wedding planner. Being well groomed can actually be an indication of a wedding planner’s cut because good grooming and a clear sense of style (whatever that style may be) are great signs that a planner is up to the task of organizing a wedding that is as put together as him or herself.

2. Clarity
The closer to flawless a diamond is, the more brilliant and the more valuable and expensive it becomes. This measure also holds true for the wedding planner. The fewer impediments there are to his or her ability to clearly process the information necessary to create the brilliance that is a wedding, the more valuable a wedding planner becomes. Can your planner communicate effectively with you and your chosen vendors? Are you able to speak with your planner directly, instead of through a gatekeeper like a secretary or assistant? Does your planner’s communication style blend well with your own? And do you feel your planner is able to understand and faithfully execute your vision? These are important questions to ask.

3. Color
Colorless diamonds are the most desirable since they allow the most refraction of light (i.e. sparkle). Brides and grooms seek to create a wedding experience that best reflects who they are as individuals and as a couple. A “colorless” planner is someone who can create the wedding that they envision, as opposed to one the planner envisions for them. A planner with a portfolio of uniformly-styled events may not be as able to create a wedding that reflects your tastes as well as someone else who keeps you as the event’s inspiration. The most desirable wedding planners are those who refract the light (attention) away from themselves and onto the bride and groom, allowing them to truly shine. The best reflection of a great wedding planner is the brilliant light emanating from his or her clients on their wedding day.

4. Carat
A carat is the unit of weight by which a diamond is measured. Because large diamonds are less common than small ones, the price of a diamond rises exponentially with its size. However, bigger is not always better. A giant diamond that is cut in an unappealing way or has many inclusions (visible or not) is much less valuable than a smaller, more perfect stone.

Flashy diamonds tend to wear the person as opposed to the person wearing the stone. Don’t let your chosen diamond -- or wedding planner -- overshadow the most important element of your big day: you! Simply because a wedding planner is famous (or has written an article for a magazine) doesn’t necessarily mean that he or she is the best planner for you. However, if size and weight -- and name recognition -- are your primary concerns, then by all means, go for the celebrity planner.

The process of selecting a wedding planner may seem daunting, but as is the case with most decisions surrounding your wedding -- including the selection of your life-long partner -- you will know in your heart what is right for you. Hopefully, when looking down at the ring on your finger you’ll be reminded of the 4 Cs and apply them to the many decisions you will face during your planning.