FAQs

I think I can plan the wedding myself, but a friend suggested I call a planner. Why should I use you?
Why not? When your car breaks down do you try to diagnose the problem and fix it yourself? Probably not. You hire a professional that will get it done the right way. Hiring a planner is the smartest decision you will make (and I've never heard anything to the contrary). You will still be able to plan the wedding yourself-you are not losing control of your wedding. Our viewpoint is that this is your wedding, not ours. We want to incorporate everything that is important and special to you, but we want to help you avoid costly mistakes or worse, hire a vendor that is not reputable or the best fit for your day. As consultants, we've seen it all, so we can help you avoid missteps. Plus, you get the added benefit of having less stress and more time in your day to enjoy the things that really matter. Making sure that there are enough sugar packets at the table is not something a bride should have to worry about.

My company uses our human resources department/administrative professionals to plan our parties. That has worked fine in the past. Why should we hire you?
Productivity. If your human resources department or administrative professional is planning a company party, they are not doing what they were hired to do. That means that they are losing productivity and costing the company money. Why ask an in-house person to spend endless hours searching for a caterer when we can have that decision made for you in seconds? It just makes sense to hire a professional.

How long have you been in business?
A Simple Wish was started in 2003 after owner, Jennifer Arezzo, left her corporate event planning job to start her own business. We've been planning events and weddings in the DC Metro area ever since.

How do you charge?
For our month-of and day-of coordination services we charge a flat rate. For planning services (full and partial) we start at a base rate and adjust from there depending on the size, scope, and budget of the event and individual needs of the client.

I am just starting to plan an event or wedding and I only want certain services. Can I book a partial planning package?
Our partial planning packages are intended for clients that have started planning on their own and have decided that they need guidance, professional advice, vendor referrals and less stress. At that point, we work with the plans that have already been made and fill in the blanks. A Simple Wish will not book partial planning services with a client that is just starting the planning process. We specialize in full planning services and only put forth the best product when we are involved in every detail of the planning. Our experience has demonstrated that the best wedding day is accomplished when the bride and the planner have worked together in full capacity.

Will you accompany us to as many vendor meetings as we want? For example, three florists until we find the right fit?
When you book A Simple Wish for full planning, we will accompany you to all of your initial vendor meetings. However, we must remind you that the purpose of working with a planner is to gain insight into the industry and to save time and energy from exhaustive vendor research. We are professionals that have spent years experimenting with various vendors until we've found the best of the best. Time after time our brides tell us that our vendors are top notch and we proudly agree. We call them our "Dream Team." If you trust your wedding consultant, there will be no need to visit more than one or two vendors to find the right fit for you.

Can you get me discounts from vendors?
The role of a consultant is to give the client the event/wedding that they want and work within the parameters of the budget. We do not typically get discounts from vendors, but we know where to save money and how to best allocate the funds. You are paying a consultant for their knowledge of the industry, their repertoire of quality vendors, their advice, support, and standards of excellence. You are not hiring them to save you a buck.

How do you choose the vendors that you refer?
We have spent years working with various vendors and have continued working with the ones we deem most professional, talented, reliable, and responsive.

How many events/weddings will you book in one weekend?
One. We are dedicated to our clients and in order to make the event go off without a hitch, we need to be focused on one event at a time. We will not try to juggle your wedding with another event during the same weekend. All of our attention will be on you.

Do you receive kickbacks from the vendors that you use or do you take a "finder's fee"?
Absolutely not. Our clients are the ones who pay us and we are working for them. Our advice is unbiased and we only use vendors that we deem to be the best in the industry.

The venue that I'm getting married at told me I don't need a consultant. Why would they say this?
As with all types of vendors, sometimes venues have had bad experiences with wedding planners. This is usually due to the planner not being professional or respectful of other vendors or the property. We pride ourselves on working as well with the vendors as we do with our clients. These are folks that we will be working with time and time again and we foster strong business relationships.

Are initial consultations free?
Yes. Our initial consultations typically run between one and two hours long and are complimentary.

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