Weddings are supposed to be a dreamy, romantic time for couples; a countdown to the first day of the rest of their new lives; a memorable time that they want to cherish because they know they'll never get it back. Sounds like a fairytale doesn't it? But, then comes the contemplations, the selections, the decisions and endless discussions. And then comes the stress. About picking the venue, the invites, the centrepieces, the cake, the colour of the suit, the flowers, the menu, the favours... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh. Feel like running away yet? Well, there are better (less drastic) solutions. Hire a wedding planner. Believe me when I say that this has more advantages than just wiping the sweat off your brow.

Here's the holy trinity that a planner expertise's in managing:

Contrary to popular belief, a wedding planner is not an added expense, and hiring one will actually save you some moolah. You may be new on the wedding scene, but planners do this for a living. They have access to special industry discounts with pastry chefs, florists, caterers, bands, and almost anything else you'll need for your wedding. Besides, a planner is aware of industry standards and will get you the best of every service within your budget. This is a sure-fire guarantee to reduce at least 20% of your wedding cost.

A wedding planner can most certainly help you go easy on the pocket, but more importantly, they save you time. They definitely can't make the decisions for you, but they can (sure as heaven) help you with them. One phone call, and they can have the options, budgets, and everything else listed out for you, and all you'll have to do is make the selections. Basically, this means you'll have everything handed to you on a platter, and you won't need to invest odious amounts of time (which you could have spent creating sweet memories with your better half) in selecting the table overlays. In addition to this, they can assist you with some hard decisions about the wedding theme or the layout of the banquet hall during times when you're lost and save you some sleepless nights.

Weddings are supposed to be a happy day for the bride and groom. However, a recent survey suggests that a large number of couples didn't recall enjoying the actual day of their wedding as they were so stressed about whether the guests enjoyed their meal or the photographer got the perfect shot of the ceremony. Most newlyweds divulged that they were so caught up with the planning that they were fizzed out and quite done with their wedding by the time the actual wedding day arrived. It's heartbreaking to read such testimonials, especially since things could have been different for these pairs had they entrusted their D-day preparations to the professionals. Wedding planners tend to be well organized, and they can instantly give you the information you need on anything you might need to know to ensure you haven't missed out any details.

There are several myths surrounding wedding planners, and the most important one is the insecurity that the planner will take over the wedding, and the couple won't have a say in the most important day of their life. The truth is, the planner only makes the necessary arrangements and provides the tools for you to make effective decisions. Above all that, they can be a great support to you during the most demanding time of your life. They ensure that your engagement period is fun and enjoyable, and something you'll remember with a smile. On that happy and thoughtful note, here's to a good life!