In it, he played Fraank, the quirky “artiste” whose wacky creative ideas blew the original wedding budget off the charts. So we decided it was time to set the record straight—to help you get started with your wedding preparations and uncover what real-life wedding planners can offer.

“The first thing couples have to do is have a realistic talk about what their respective dream wedding is,” says Carol Beaugard, founder of Affairs of Distinction, a 20-year-old wedding planning firm in Upper Montclair. Beaugard has coordinated numerous weddings and explains that this step is critical because very often “her” vision is very different than “his.”

Once you agree about the kind of wedding you want, you’ll need to put a dollar figure on it and decide where the money is coming from. Many times the cost is split between the couple and their respective parents, says JoAnn Gregoli, Master Bridal Consultant (MBC) and owner of Elegant Occasions in Morristown. To help manage your budget better, Gregoli suggests opening a new bank account. “This way all the money is in one place, so the couple can easily see where they stand.”

“Two of the top reasons people hire wedding planners is to manage anxiety levels and take charge of the many details,” says Samantha Goldberg, president of Gold Events, a planning firm with offices in Chester and Bridgewater. Goldberg puts the kibosh on the myth that planners inflate wedding costs, saying, a good planner can incorporate a lot of their fees into the projected budget. “We have lots of connections with different wedding vendors, and may be able to reduce their fees by ten to twenty percent.”

Kisha Barner of Pure Ambiance Event Planning in Millburn (pureambianceevents.com) reminds brides that "this is your special day and you only have one chance to do it as you’ve dreamed, so do not be afraid to dream big and think outside of the box." She actually encourages couples to take this opportunity to express themselves. "If you want to have a custom arch, with your monogram made with flowers, go for it! You want a gown that does not seem to measure up to anything you’ve seen, get it," she says. "Anything is possible, so do not get rid of an idea because you think it is not feasible." An expert wedding planner can help make these ideas a reality.

Wedding planner Stacey Levy of Planned to Perfection Events in Bergen County handles everything from RSVP lists and seating charts to scheduling and negotiating rates. “I want to be the person who makes your life easier,” she says. “I have a massive passion for what I do and I get excited for my clients. I love seeing the end result.”

Gregoli adds that food and beverage takes the major chunk out of the budget, so the other pieces should get allocated according to the couple’s specific priorities. “With some people it’s a certain band, with others it may be the flowers,” she says. “The planner does the legwork and narrows down all the variables.”

And according to Beaugard, planning a wedding can take at least 250 hours—so here’s what the savvy wedding consultant can do for you:

Save time—they do all the running
• Avoid headaches—they do all the research
• Keep on budget—they negotiate deals within your resources
• Act as creative consultants for theme, design/colors, décor, lighting, and favors.
• Peace keeper—many planners become a welcome buffer between nervous family members
• Organizer—they advise you what you need to know and juggle all the details and timelines

Wedding costs can vary, depending on a wide number of factors, including the number of guests, your reception hall, the music, flowers, invites, ceremony programs, photographer, and videographer, says Toni DeLisi, MBC and president of Memorable Events in Ramsey. A realistic range can be anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000 for 250 guests, though she has coordinated weddings in the $100,000 to $200,000 range also. Whatever your budget or theme, a wedding planner can help you stay organized and on budget, keeping your stress levels low and maximizing the joy of making your dream wedding a reality.