Frequently Asked Questions
Questions? We have answers!
Why should I hire a day of wedding coordinator?
Many couples have no idea how valuable a day of wedding planner is, and after their wedding is over they desperately wish they would have hired one. Don't make that mistake! You make such a monetary and emotional inventment in your wedding that hiring a day of wedding planner is like getting insurance. Wedding Coordinators know the industry - they know what vendors are reliable and which are not, how much items should cost, the ins and outs of area venues, etc. The biggest reason to hire a wedding planner is to take the stress away! Your big day should be about LOVE and the person you are marrying - not about remembering to put the custom cocktail napkins out or if the DJ showed up on time. We handle all those worries. Just check out our packages page and see all those line items - if you hire us, you don't have to worry about any of them or make any of your family members deal with it. We have never heard a couple say - man that planner was a mistake! We specialize in Day of Wedding Coordinating in Palm Beach and South Florida. Many couples plan their whole wedding, but just need someone to assist the day of and that's what we are here for.
Is a venue coordinator the same as a wedding coordinator?
No. A venue coordinator is strictly that a venue coordinator. They work for the venue, while Hakuna Matata Weddings works only for YOU! There are so many details that venue coordinators don't handle! They’re going to be there on the day of your wedding, but they won’t be there when you need them to bustle your dress (and then fix it when it breaks), hold your bouquet, tell you when to cut the cake, or put your overnight bags in the limo. In fact, many of them go home after the cake is cut. We are there throughout the planning process - talking to your vendors, creating timelines, etc. Then, when the big day rolls around, we are there to make sure the wedding machine runs smoothly for the rehearsal and the whole wedding day itself - not just for when the venue is being used. We work hand in hand with the venue coordinator to make sure your dream wedding happens.
Your package offerings aren't exactly what I'm looking for, can you do a custom package?
Absolutely. Our wedding package listings are there to give you a good idea of what we can do. If you are doing something outside of the box, we can certainly work up a custom quote for you. Please don't hesitate to ask.
How many events do you do per day?
Hakuna Matata Weddings and Events focuses on quality not quantity. That's what makes our business successful and our clients happy! We enjoy spending our time working with you personalizing your wedding or event. We do not overcrowd our schedule so that we can be available for you when you need us.
This seems expensive. How do you come up with your fees?
Our fees are reflective of our experience in the industry as well as the quality of experience that we provide to our couples. We offer a level of expertise to help guide you throughout those last few months leading up to your wedding day. When couples book with Hakuna Matata Weddings and Events, they know that they are investing in peace of mind, and an unforgettable experience! If you are working within a tight budget, we may be able to create a smaller custom package for your day.
Why should I hire Hakuna Matata Weddings and Events over another planner?
You will never find another owner of a company that cares about her clients and their wedding as much as Lizzie does. A lot of planners come to be, because they plan their wedding and then try and make a career out of it. Lizzie knew she wanted to be a wedding planner from a very young age. She took her time to build her experience and education to make sure she was ready to correctly and confidently handle your most important day! She didn't just jump into the business with both eyes closed. She's a planner which shows throughout all aspects of her life. Through her education and thousands of events under her belt, Lizzie has a trained eye to spot potential issues and solve any problems. With Hakuna Matata, you will get professional, timely, knowledgeable, and caring service. Please call us for a no-commitment consultation to see if we are the right planner for you!
Do you only plan weddings?
No, we plan a variety of events. Lizzie has years of experience in the corporate event world - planning hundreds of welcome dinners, awards banquets, closing ceremonies etc. From venue rental to table linens to entertainment, you can trust Hakuna Matata Weddings and Events to make any event memorable. Check out our events page for more information.
I'm on a tight budget, but I've heard wedding planners can save me money. Is this true?
Yes. Wedding Planners can tell you what you need and what you don’t need (aka, that you don’t have to waste money on X, Y, or Z). We know a lot of the players in the game and some vendors pass on discounts to planners that couples booking direct don't receive. If you really don't have money for one of our packages - we do offer a la carte options for ceremony and reception coordination, set up and tear down. We promise that it will be the BEST money you spend. Wedding Coordinators are here to save you time, money and stress!
What do wedding planners do?
We are the middlemen. We worry about vendors showing up, centerpieces arriving on time, directing guests, and setting up so you don’t have to.
We are the secretary. We type out and organize timelines, budgets, VIP photo and song lists; we keep track of Vendors and their contact information; and we even help with contract language.
We are a neutral party, a therapist and a mediator. We really don’t care if Aunt Petunia hates our guts because we didn’t use her friend’s son to be the DJ! We are here to give you exactly what YOU want on YOUR special day!
We see the bigger picture. When planning a wedding, it is so easy to become overwhelmed with the tiny details, that sometimes the bigger picture can get overlooked. “OMG, I was so focused on the decorations, I forgot to order the cake!” We are here to help you take a step back and focus on the details AS WELL AS the bigger picture.
We are your risk mitigators. Every couple should be able to relax and enjoy their wedding day, and especially be able to enjoy one another. It’s much harder to do that when you have a million people running up to you with questions and mini disasters when all you want to do is soak up the happiness and enjoy yourselves. Our job is to handle the questions and mini disasters for you, and make sure you have as many happy moments as humanly possible.
We have access to the best vendors in the area. You may think, well why would I hire a wedding consultant to contact this vendor when I can just do it myself? The answer is simple. Vendors need referrals (just like anyone else in the service industry), and some are even willing to offer you a discount for those referrals. With the money you save on the discounted photography package or floral arrangements, or even just the time saved in calling around, comparing prices and checking availability, hiring a wedding consultant practically pays for itself!
We are your fixers. Did the rainy weather ruin your beautiful outdoor setting? We arrange it indoors, equally as beautiful, in no time flat. Did a bridesmaid’s hem come loose? We pin it into place. Did you forget to buy a knife and server set? We've got your back.
What is the difference between full service wedding planning, partial planning and day of wedding planning?
We do not offer full service planning- which means the planner is with you from hire date, going to all meetings, and handling every part of the planning process. We do not offer full service planning because Lizzie, the owner and main coordinator, leaves Florida for 5 months of the year to run another seasonal business in Wisconsin, so she would not be able to be at all the necessary meetings. We do, however, offer Partial Planning means that we come in after you have selected your venue and a few of your vendors. We can help give you guidance for your final vendor selections, decor design, and we are available for any questions that come up during the planning process. Day of Wedding Coordination actually starts the month of. We meet with you and gather all of your wedding details. You will leave the meeting with a list of to-dos of things you may have never even thought about. We will create your time line and confirm all the details. Then we are there day of - running the event. We do specialize in Day of Wedding Planning in Palm Beach and South Florida, but we will travel everywhere and we love to work with couple to plan their full wedding!