It was a beautiful day in September for a wedding.

The flowers were in place, the candles were lit, and the radiant bride was ready to walk down the aisle.

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Then the unthinkable happened: A bomb threat was phoned in, and the entire facility had to be evacuated.

Two hours later, the wedding resumed and went off without a hitch, thanks in large part to wedding consultant Carol Thurman of OH! Ccasions. She kept the bridal party and the guests calm, putting the reception on hold and persuading the photographer and other vendors to stay.

While the newlyweds were sharing their first dance, Thurman was on the telephone, lining up a replacement limousine and securing a refund from the limo driver who refused to come back.

Few brides will encounter something as traumatic as a bomb threat, but glitches do occur on the way to the altar. Having a bridal consultant to deal with those snags has saved the day for many a bride.

"We handle the stress so the bride can enjoy the rest," said Deborah Mitchell, owner of Spunky Functions in Stone Mountain.

A bridal consultant can take responsibility for everything, guiding the bride through the whole process and making sure she has the wedding of her dreams.

She or he (yes, there are a few men in the business) works behind the scenes, making sure everything goes smoothly and acting as a liaison between the bride, her family, the vendors and staff at the wedding and reception venues.

"Every bride wants a beautiful wedding, but they often don't know where to start. That's where we come in," said Rhonda Eggert, PWC, owner of My Wedding Planner and graduate of the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants.

Bridal consultants can do as much or as little as a bride wants. Many offer services by the hour or by the package.

They can help the bride plan her wedding from the day she gets engaged until the day of the ceremony, or they can be hired for the last month, the last week or just the day of the wedding.

The average wedding in the Atlanta area costs $22,000, Eggert said, and hiring a consultant can ensure the bride has the wedding of her dreams while sticking to her budget.

"Part of the stress is that brides start making calls and can't find what they want within their price range," Mitchell said. "People in the industry know each other, and a consultant can often put them in touch with someone who shares their vision and is within their budget."

Even if a bride wants to coordinate her own wedding, Eggert recommends hiring a consultant on an hourly basis to help plan a realistic budget.

Bridal consultants recommend that a bride start planning six to nine months before the wedding, although it's possible to stage a lovely wedding in much less time.

Bridal consultants typically meet with a bride for at least an hour to discuss her wedding wish list and the services they offer before presenting a contract. That is the beginning of a communication process that Mitchell says should remain open.

"The consultant has to know exactly what the bride likes and doesn't like; what is most important and what is not so important," Mitchell said.

Interview several consultants and choose the one with whom you are most comfortable, Eggert suggested.

Bring pictures when you meet, to give an idea of your taste and the style of wedding you want.

Most of all, Thurman said, trust your wedding coordinator. Be honest and don't hold anything back.

"If you're not totally open and honest, you're defeating the purpose," she said.