FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do i know if i need a wedding planner or wedding coordinator?
There is a difference between a wedding planner and wedding coordinator. Wedding planners are all about the logistics, from vendor referrals and contract negotiation to day-of execution of your vision. They are with you from start to finish. A planner will keep track of your budget and handle the logistics.
Wedding coordinators are logistically focused, but on a shorter timeline than a planner. A coordinator usually begins working with you a few months before your wedding and functions as the point-person on your big day. This person will confirm the vendor scope of services, and create a day-of timeline, as well as make sure things like payments and guest counts are in order. However, a day-of coordinator won't be involved in the earlier planning phases or keep track of your budget.
What is the difference between a wedding planner and a venue coordinator?
Alright! This is a BIG one I want to focus on!
A venue coordinator is NOT the same as a full or partial service wedding planner. And a venue coordinator is also very different than a month of or ‘day of’ coordinator. Your venue coordinator(s) or point of contact is NOT a wedding planner even if they have wedding planning experience.
This does not mean a venue coordinator is bad, inexperience, unprofessional or not necessary. It’s actually quite the opposite (assuming your venue is at an actual venue and not in a backyard, field or space where everything is built from the ground up and every staff member is brought in from different companies). A venue coordinator is a crucial piece to ensure a flawlessly executed event, and even more so when this person and your outside planner/coordinator can work efficiently together to serve you best.
A venue coordinator’s role is to service the venue and ensure venue related tasks, problems, and staff are taken care of. Most of the time, their roles and responsibilities end there and things not pertaining to the venue specifically become the client’s responsibility (or an outside planner/coordinator’s responsibility). For example, a venue coordinator is responsible for providing you with a list of rules and policies of the space like noise ordinances, candle restrictions, guest capacity, and more. They also ensure washroom needs are met, venue spaces are ready for vendor set up, help keep the catering staff on schedule when catering is done in house, and so on.
But a venue coordinator will not attend a bridal gown appointment with you nor will they provide you with opinions on how long hair and make up services should take in the morning for your bridal party of ten women. They typically aren’t taking phone calls with clients to handle sticky etiquette dilemmas like invitation ‘plus ones’ or trying to help you decide who should cover the rehearsal dinner bill. If there’s something that doesn’t pertain to the venue specifically, it’s happening outside of the venue, or if it’s very personal in nature, it’s typically not a venue coordinator’s responsibility.
Most venue coordinators are a part of a larger team and have a superior to report to. They’re often managing many events in one weekend (meaning a lot of couples to connect with during the work week versus the few an outside planner will likely take on), and a lot of the weddings they oversee are like clockwork; in the same place, with similar floorplans, and repeat vendors in the mix. The way they are compensated financially is very different than how an outside planner is paid especially if an outside planner is self-employed versus working under someone for an outside company.
what makes you different from other wedding planners?
​When I first started planning weddings I thought it was all about creating a beautiful design for the wedding, making it one of a kind. I now realize that while creating a beautiful design for your wedding and making it one of a kind is important, the most valuable thing that we do as wedding planners is make the planning process fun and relaxed for you, our couples. We do the planning, budgeting, and coordinating so that you get to focus on the exciting parts of designing your wedding like the food and cake tastings, trying on gorgeous wedding gowns, and selecting the perfect invitation.
will I still have some control over my wedding planning if I hire you?
Definitely! I will do as much, or as little, as you want me to do during the wedding planning process. I always ask you what your wants are, listen to your vision, and then make my suggestions to you.