".. We hired a planner because there was no way for us to plan a destination wedding in a country we had never even been to ourselves. But now, looking back, I realize that it would be worth it to hire a planner even if our wedding was in Toronto. The wedding industry is a BEAST and navigating it without any experience can easily drain you, emotionally and financially. And if you have other commitments, juggling them with wedding planning is a road to burnout. I must admit - I am biased because we won the wedding planner jackpot and got THE most amazing person overseeing our wedding. What I didn't realize is how important this role is. I thought that planners just handled the logistics: the research, the contracts, etc. But in reality, a good wedding planner will do ..."