Planning a wedding comes with so many exciting decisions, but it can also feel overwhelming at times, especially when it comes to choosing the right professionals to bring your big day to life. I’m sure you have heard all three of these terms being thrown around now and you’re probably wondering that the difference is between them. So let me break it down for you to help you make an informed choice.
Wedding Planner
If you find planning your wedding a daunting task that is overwhelming you, then you may need to consider a wedding planner. A wedding planner is your go-to expert who assists you from the moment you begin planning until the final farewell at your reception. They offer comprehensive services such as:
- Budgeting: A wedding planner can assist with helping you set a budget and will make sure you stick to the final amount set.
- Vendor Liaison: Wedding planners have a lot of vendor connections. They are a great source to recommend and negotiate with vendors such as caterers, florists, photographers, etc.
- Design and Style: Having trouble with figuring out your overall design? Planners assist with the overall design and theme of your wedding. They are great with creating vision boards and coordinating vendors to assist with creating your visions into reality.
- Timeline Creation: Planners will sit down and create a detailed timeline for the entire planning process and a timeline for the wedding day. They are great at keeping on track with that timeline and making sure that everyone goes as planned.
- Problem Solving: They are the main contact person during the entire planning process. They will communicate with vendors and put out any issues that may arise during planning and on the day of the wedding.
Why Hire a Wedding Planner?
If you want a stress-free planning experience and it is within your budget, a wedding planner is worth considering. They give professional guidance every step of the way. They not only save you time, but they can save you money and manage the headaches of managing all the logistics and details that come with a wedding. Here at The Hidden Abbey, one of our favorite full wedding planners is Stefanie Wells from Always Whimsical. She is an amazing planner located in the Canton, Ohio area.
Day of Coordinator
A day of coordinator steps in closer to your wedding date, typically they will assist 1-3 months from the wedding. You will plan the majority of your wedding, but they can assist you along the way as they also have a lot of vendor contacts and can suggest certain vendors you can book. A coordinator will be there the day of the wedding to ensure that what you have plan runs smoothly and allows you the stress-free wedding you deserve. Their responsibilities include:
- Finalizing Details: They can assist by reviewing your contracts for you and can confirm logistics with vendors.
- Day-of Timeline Creation: Like a planner, a day of coordinator will generate your wedding day timeline. They coordinate with the other vendors you have hired to make sure everyone is on the same page.
- On-Site Management: On the day of the wedding, a day of coordinator can handle setup, direct vendors, and ensure that everything runs on time. They will make sure that you and the wedding party are where you need to be while coordinating with the other vendors. They are also your main contact if other vendors have any questions. Any issue that arises during the day, they will be there to problem solve the issue and make sure it does not disrupt your big day.
- Guest Management: They will assist guests on the flow of the day and they will manage any last minute changes.
Why Hire a Day of Coordinator?
If you feel that you have most of the planning under control but want to just enjoy your day without worrying about the logistics, a day of coordinator is going to be your best friend. They will ensure that all your hard work planning your wedding will be executed perfectly so you can just focus on enjoying every moment while celebrating your love. The Hidden Abbey’s sister company, Happy Occasions provides Day of Coordination services, and you can check out those services by heading to our website for more information.
Venue Coordinator
A venue coordinator is employed by the wedding venue. They are the main contact person from the venue and will be on-site while you are at the venue. A venue coordinator is responsible for:
- Venue Maintenance: They will make sure that the venue is ready and maintained throughout your wedding day.
- Vendor Access: A venue coordinator coordinates with the vendor access to the venue. They will ensure that your vendor has everything they need to make your day amazing.
- Venue Policies: Enforcing the rules and regulations that are specific to the venue is something they make sure all adhere to.
- Facility Management: Along with making sure the venue is ready for your big day, the venue coordinator makes sure that the lighting is just right, the temperature is comfortable for all, and any other venue-specific logistics.
Why Rely on a Venue Coordinator?
While a venue coordinator is crucial for venue specific details, remember that a venue coordinator’s primary concern is the venue itself. They are not there to handle any personal details or coordinate with vendors outside of venue-related services. They do make sure that everything is ready to make the backdrop of your wedding perfect. At The Hidden Abbey, we are there to make sure that the space is set up as planned and will “flip” the Sanctuary from an indoor ceremony space to your reception. Learn more about our wedding packages that come with our amazing venue coordinators!
Which Professional Do You Need?
Full-Service Planning: If it is within your budget and you want a more hands-free experience, then you should opt for a wedding planner for comprehensive support for the entirety of your wedding planning.
Day of Coordination: You love the planning process, but want to make sure your plans are executed, then you will want a Day of Coordinator. They will make sure that everything runs smoothly so you can sit back and just enjoy all the special moments.
Venue Coordinator: Rely on the venue coordinator for any facility-related matters. Most venues have venue coordinators, and they will make sure that the space is set as planned and the venue is running at its best the day of your wedding.
Understanding your needs for your wedding day and how much assistance you require to ensure your wedding is everything that you dreamed of and more will help you choose which professional you need. Whether you choose a full wedding planner, day of coordinator, or plan to relay on the venue coordinator, having the right support is key to help you create a seamless and memorable wedding day!
The Hidden Abbey Event Center is a locally owned and operated business. We sincerely hope to encourage couples to learn more about planning a wedding locally. We want to give a special thanks to some amazing wedding venues across the United States who inspire us and help support our venue. We are also thrilled to support other wedding venue owners from around the country with a shout out in each of our blogs. You can find locally owned wedding venues featured on this wedding venue map.
