One of the most exciting times in any couple’s life is when they make the decision to get married. But if you ask someone who has already had a wedding before, something they will tell you is that it also tends to be one of the most stressful moments too. That’s because planning a wedding (and reception) is filled with so many details that there are times when it can simply seem like an overwhelming experience. That’s why it’s a good idea to hire a wedding planner.

Of course, you want to select one who will make life easier and not more taxing.

That’s why we wanted to provide you with five important questions that you should ask during your initial wedding planning consultation. Check these out below:

Are you licensed and do you have references?

Although someone could be sued for claiming to be a doctor or lawyer when they are not licensed, that is not necessarily a requirement when desiring to do work as a wedding planner. That’s why one of the first questions that you should ask them is if they are licensed (which will confirm that they have an extensive education in the field) and also if they have references. If they do, you know that they have experience working as one.

How do you communicate with your clients?

There’s nothing like having a wedding planner that doesn’t have the best communication skills, especially when you are in an emergency situation. So, it’s important that you ask any of the wedding planners that you are interviewing how they can be reached. A reputable one will have a phone number, email address and clear business hours where they or their assistant can be reached. (They will also assure you that they will respond to emails with a 24-hour period and that they are available in case of an emergency too.)

Do you work alone or with a team?

Remember that the reason why you’re hiring a wedding planner is to take some of the wedding planning responsibilities off of you. So, if you are having a fairly large wedding, you should definitely inquire if they are working alone or with a team. For a party that is larger than 150 guests, it really is best to go with someone who at least has one working partner who can help them with the workload.

How many clients do you have scheduled for the month of my wedding?

If you were thinking about hiring an events planning company, something that you should ask about is how many weddings they have scheduled for the same month as yours (and definitely on the same weekend). You don’t want to find yourself in a bind because they are at another venue or they are stuck in traffic because they were dealing with another wedding party’s needs. So, if they say that they already have a wedding scheduled on your date, it’s best to look elsewhere.

What is your fee?

Once you have found the person that you want to work with, before signing on the dotted line, be sure to ask them first what their fee is and then if there are any additional ones. Some wedding planners have itemized fees for certain services that they provide and it’s best to know that before you receive their invoice. For more information on the benefits of hiring a wedding planner, visit The Knot and put “wedding planner” in the search field.