When many think of wedding planners, Jennifer Lopez's frantic character in the aptly titled "The Wedding Planner" comes to mind. That was a fairly accurate depiction except, of course, most wedding planners don't run off with the groom. A wedding planner really can be a busy bride's right hand.

Why should I hire one?

Wedding planners aren't just for the wealthy. No matter what type of wedding you want, big or small, lavish or thrifty, a good wedding coordinator can be your ally, advocate, artistic director and much more.

Many married couples say planning a wedding is a full-time job. If you've already got one of those, finding time for all of the wedding details can be hard.

Wedding coordinators save you a lot of stress by doing the planning and legwork for you. Whether you know exactly what you want, or you don't even know where to start, the wedding coordinator will be doing all of the hemming, hawing, haggling and negotiating for you.

Because wedding planning is what the coordinator does year- round, he or she knows all the best vendors (and might be able to get you deals). If you're planning long distance, that kind of expertise can be invaluable.

But can

I afford one?

You should figure that about 10 percent to 15 percent of your budget will go toward a full-service wedding planner. But don't let that put you off. Some consultants charge a flat fee, while others charge by the hour.

Wedding planners don't always handle the whole shebang. A variety of services are usually available. Some couples want just a little help getting started and will work with a coordinator to develop a "blueprint" for the wedding, including a timeline, a checklist and a vendor plan based on the expert's recommendations.

Other couples bring in help at the other end, hiring a consultant for "day of" services to ensure the whole plan is executed according to schedule (which leaves every member of the wedding party including the moms free to relax and enjoy the day).

Finally, some wedding planners make themselves available for free-lance work, so you can sign them on to scout out reception sites or work on vendor dilemmas on an hourly or a la carte basis.

Make a list of what you want a consultant to handle for you. You'll be able to use it as a reference when you're comparing prices.

What should I look for?
There are several key qualities you should be looking for when you talk to prospective wedding consultants.

First, they should demonstrate

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