The time to begin asking questions of your wedding planner is before you sign the contract. You need to know just exactly what her services will cost, and what you should get for that money. There are wedding planners who work by the hour, those that base their fee on a percentage of the total wedding cost, and coordinators who take a more limited role, such as working only on the day of the wedding. Any of these types of planners can work out well, as long as you are clear on what to expect. Just be sure that with an hourly planner, you are ask how many hours she anticipates spending on a wedding like yours (and that you give her an honest sum that you can afford to put towards her services). When choosing a wedding coordinator who bases her fee on the total pricetag of your wedding, be sure that she is not the type to push you into more costly vendors so that she can bump up her fee (a good planner will not do this).

Another important question to ask your wedding planner is what type of wedding is her specialty. Most planners will be competent enough to design a wide range of events, yet you will be happiest if you find one whose vision meshes well with your own. When you are having a specialized type of affair, such a traditional Indian wedding, you will have the best results with a planner who is already familiar with the customs of your culture, from the suite of bridal jewelry to the food to the music. Your vendor will be better equipped to source the best vendors if she has experience planning events that were similar to yours. Most planners will have established relationships with a variety of vendors, and working from within that network will tend to yield the best service and the lowest prices.

You should also find out how the planner sees her role in a wedding. Some have real take-charge personalities (actually, they all do; it's a requirement for the job), and will be the boss of the entire situation. This can be a boon if you are the sort of bride who will want her planner to guide her in making every decision from the big ones like the menu right down to the small details like where to get a pedicure and what bridal jewelry to choose. Brides who have extremely busy careers may also be happiest with the sort of planner who has no problem with making most of the decisions. On the other hand, if all you want is someone to oversee the big picture and who will leave the matters of taste in your hands, make that clear from the start. The perfect coordinator for your wedding will be a different person than the field marshal variety.

Another big question on your wedding planner checklist is her timeline. This is one of the key roles that a coordinator will fill – making sure that you know what steps need to be taken when, and seeing to it that they get done in a timely fashion. Remember that when your planner gives you a deadline, it is for the good of your wedding, so don't be resentful if you feel like she is always bugging you to get decisions made. The whole reason to hire a wedding planner is to ensure that you have the most beautiful wedding possible, and at times, you will need to help her help you.