"Cinderella had outside help," protests the poor insomniac princess-to-be in "Once Upon A Mattress," the famous broadway musical version of Hans Christian Anderson's "The Princess and the Pea."

If you don't believe that planning a wedding can be a huge pain in the underbustle, take a look at the bride's checklist. While Lovegevity and our USBridalGuide is available to point you in the direction of top quality vendors so you can do it all yourself, we immediately acknowledge that wedding planning isn't for everyone. Just as your groom's purchase of a "Chilton's Guide" for his late model automobile doesn't keep him away from his favorite mechanic, your involvement with us should not deter you from choosing a qualified wedding coordinator if you determine that you need one.

The following thoughts on wedding coordinators should help you decide.

1. The best wedding coordinators are very flexible.

Forget any notions you may have had about "all or nothing" or "one size fits all." Today's wedding coordinators can assist you with as much or as little as you prefer. Because many of today's brides are already quite busy with their careers, it's logical for them to obtain wedding coordinator assistance in the same manner that they would "delegate" or "outsource" projects at work. A typical scenario is for the coordinator to do all of the "leg work," checking in with the bride at regular intervals via e-mail to get answers and/or new instructions. You can let your coordinator handle everything, or pick and choose specific areas for him/her to handle -- as much or as little as you prefer. The best wedding coordinators know how to skillfully guide you through the entire process without taking control from you.


2. The best wedding coordinators help smooth family tensions.

Whose wedding is this anyway? While common sense would say it's the bride's, parents and others can be very demanding, particularly if they are the ones footing the bill. A wedding coordinator can be very helpful "sticking up for the bride," ensuring that her preferences are honored or proposing creative solutions that satisfy a variety of concerns.