While it has become more common for brides-to-be to hire wedding planners to manage all the details of their upcoming nuptials, many women are still just a little intimidated by the whole process. For many brides to be, the discomfort stems from being a bit uncertain about exactly what a wedding planner does and a bit afraid that they will get a wedding that reflects their wedding consultant rather than their own special day.

All of that doubt and uncertainty can be avoided by hiring the right wedding planner from the start. To do that, you will need to shop around a bit and interview several wedding consultants until you find one that will put together the wedding that you want on your terms. If you're the type of person who feels awkward talking to strangers, then writing down your questions beforehand can help you get organized and confident. These are some of the most important questions to ask when you interview a wedding planner.

1. Questions about Experience
How many years have you been doing this?
How many weddings a year do you plan?
How many weddings have you planned?
Do you plan events and weddings full time?
What percentage of your business is for weddings as opposed to other events?
What was the most difficult wedding you ever planned and why?
Have you ever planned an event at the venue that I've chosen?
Can I contact any of your former customers for references?
Can I see pictures of weddings that you've planned recently?

2. Questions about Expectations
Can you provide me with a detailed outline of what you'll do for my wedding?
Do you plan full service weddings as well as wedding-day only events? What's the difference between them?
Will you help me with décor, theme, colors and all of that?
Will you provide advice on wedding etiquette?
Will you make initial contact with vendors and set up appointments, or will you provide us with a list of vendors for us to contact?
Will you also coordinate other events surrounding the wedding? Is it part of your standard price or is there an extra fee for that?
Will you personally attend my wedding to coordinate the day?
Can you recommend vendors for things like my wedding dress and flowers?
Do you get kickbacks from vendors that we choose?
Do you work with vendors who offer discounts to “your” brides?
Can you help me choose invitations? Do you sell invitations?
Will you help with seating arrangements or is that completely up to me?
How much guidance can I expect from you?
What parts of my wedding planning will you NOT handle?
Do you have a list of bands and can you recommend bands and/or DJs that will be most appropriate for the kind of wedding I want?
Will you handle all the arrangements for both the church and the reception?
Is there a particular caterer with whom you work? Will you work with the caterer that I've chosen?

3. Questions about Fees
Do you charge a base fee or is your fee based on a percentage of the total wedding costs?
How do you arrive at your fee?
Are there 'extras' for which you'll charge me outside your standard fee?
Will you handle payments to other vendors or do we pay those ourselves?
If I give you money envelopes, will you handle payments on the day of the wedding?
What percentage of your fee do I need to pay up front and when is the remainder due?

4. Miscellaneous Questions
How will you handle it if one of the important vendors does not fulfill their contract on the wedding day?
Have you ever had a dissatisfied bride? Can you tell me about it?
Will you provide a 'wedding emergency kit' on the wedding day?
Will you book other wedding for the same week/weekend as mine?
How accessible are you to me if I have questions?

5. Questions to ask Yourself
Am I comfortable with this person?
Did the planner adequately respond to my concerns?
Did the planner ask enough questions to understand what I want?
Does she seem confident and competent?
Do I feel intimidated by the wedding planner?

That last section of questions is very important. Depending on the level of involvement you expect from your wedding consultant, you may be working closely with him or her for weeks. It is important that you choose someone that you can trust, and with whom you feel comfortable. If the planner dismisses your concerns lightly, does not answer questions to your satisfaction or leaves you feeling intimidated and unimportant, cross him or her off your list and move on to another planner.