Unless you’re already deep into your planning process or work in the wedding industry, chances are you have no idea what the difference between a wedding designer and a planner is, much less whether or not you should hire one (or both).

For starters, you can think of a wedding planner like a house contractor and a wedding designer (or stylist/architect) like the interior designer for the home. “Wedding planners excel with the logistics, such as timelines and budgets, and are often certified in event management, whereas wedding designer excels at visual presentation and creating the overall cohesive look of the event from start to finish,” says Lynn D’Ascanio of D’Asigner Events. In fact, many wedding designers are licensed interior designers and fashion designers too.

If you’re still not sure whether a wedding designer is right for you, here’s how to decide:

1. You’ve got a great sense of style (or you don’t)

A bride-to-be who is either artistically or fashionably inclined, or on the other hand, completely challenged would definitely benefit from hiring a wedding designer, notes Kristen Ley, owner of Something New for I Do. “A beautiful wedding is important, even for those self-righteously deemed a minimalist,” she said.

2. Your venue is a blank canvas
The venue is your ultimate creative expression, remarked Lisi Korn, owner of Forever Events. “Draping, artwork, florals, and custom made installations can transform any background into a stunning work of art,” Lisi notes.

3. You want to bring your Pinterest board to life, but not quite sure how
“A lot of couples come to us with keywords and/or inspirational images, but don’t necessarily have the ‘eye’ for how to bring it all together.” It’s our job to get to know our clients so that we can help take their ideas and produce something that feels true to themselves but even better than what they thought was possible,” remarked Lisi.

4. You’re looking for something truly unique
If you’re hoping to find ways to infuse your personality into your big day, look no further than hiring a wedding designer to do the honors. A wedding designer can source elite vendors and hard-to-find wedding talent.

5. You’re all about branding
If you want to convey a certain look, and keep a consistent theme throughout your wedding, then a wedding designer can make sure your event stays “on brand” for your big day.

Forever Events specializes in luxury wedding planning and corporate event planning in Miami and throughout South Florida. Forever Events’ team, lead by Lisi Korn, can help you create the destination wedding of your dream in the most exotic locations. Contact Forever Events for more information.