Wedding Coordinators

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Jaimie Mackey was the real weddings editor at from 2013 to 2015. She also worked as a luxury wedding planner and produced over 100 high-end weddings and events in Colorado

Lauren Matthews is a writer and editor with more than 15 years of experience in beauty and lifestyle content. She was an editor at for five years.

Do You Need A Day Of Wedding Coordinator?

When planning a wedding, couples often need to ask for help from pros to make their ceremony and reception dreams into a reality. Before hiring a team, one thing and grooms should learn is the difference is between a wedding planner, a wedding designer, and a wedding coordinator. Vendors in each of these roles can help you execute parts of your wedding, but each of them do so to a varying degree.

While a wedding planner addresses logistics along the wedding planning journey, a coordinator helps with executing the wedding plans on the day of. A wedding designer does less coordination than a planner and works more on the overall aesthetic of the event. To learn more about what each role entails, read ahead for a breakdown by the pros.

Wedding planners are all about the logistics, from vendor referrals and contract negotiation to day-of execution of your vision. Planners take the guesswork out of the process, making planning a wedding as seamless and smooth as possible, says Renny Pedersen, owner and creative director of Bliss Weddings & Events. A planner will keep track of your budget and handle the logistics. This is a skill that many can learn, but only the best planners have the years of experience and credentials that set them above the rest.

Wedding Planner & Wedding Coordinator

Some planners also provide design or styling services, helping with the creative specifics of your wedding day. These would be called a full-service planner. A full-service wedding planner begins the planning process with the client from the beginning of the wedding journey, shares Nicole-Natassha Goulding of Chic by Nicole. I would call it the A to Z of wedding planning as we guide our clients through their entire planning timeline and execute it all step by step. Most full service planning teams include logistics as well as design. Higher end full-service companies may also provide services such as RSVP handling or destination wedding concierge services as my team does.

Others opt to leave design details to a wedding designer—which means you'll need to hire two professionals to create the day you've dreamed of. Be sure to discuss whether your planner offers design services beforehand.

A wedding designer's role is purely aesthetic and doesn't include things like contract negotiations or attending appointments alongside the bride. We specialize in design, consulting on everything from floor plans and lighting design to the flowers, furniture, linens, and attire, says Tracy Taylor Ward, president and principal designer of Tracy Taylor Ward Design. We help with the decisions that will give your event a cohesive, stylish, and sophisticated look.

Do You Really Need A Wedding Coordinator?

The ability to design an event and create an atmosphere is a unique and rare talent. It's more than choosing linens and chairs, says Pedersen. A designer has an artistic eye that allows them to conceptualize the whole event and truly transform a space.

A wedding coordinator is logistically focused but on a shorter timeline than a planner. They usually begin helping you prepare a month before the wedding and function as the point-person on the wedding day. They 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. But, they won't be involved in the earlier planning phases or keeping track of your budget. Part of their job is to coordinate everything involved on the day of the event, from load-in and load-out to ensuring that everyone is on schedule, says Pedersen.

Coordinators make sure everything you've done up until they take over is in good shape. Hiring a coordinator to take over the month before your wedding gives them time to tweak any details and follow up on loose ends, says event planner Andie Cuttiford. Everything is in order, nothing is forgotten, and you're free to enjoy your wedding day.

Wedding Coordinator Job Description

Whether you hire a wedding planner, designer, or coordinator, here are a few tips to help the process go as smoothly as possible.

It's best to secure these professionals as soon as you know your wedding date—even if they aren't getting involved until the month before. This tactic also can help you get the most for your money. If a couple books us early, we're happy to provide them with our list of performance-driven vendor recommendations, says Anna Leath of Just About Married.

The cost of a wedding planner can definitely factor into your choice of who to hire. Planners tell us that, for the most part, full-service wedding production and design runs approximately 15 to 20 percent of the total wedding cost, depending on the planner's experience, what region they're based in, and how much time your wedding demands. You probably can expect to pay between $2, 000 and $6, 000 for a wedding coordinator, and between $8, 000 and $30, 000 for a wedding planner or designer.

Hire A Wedding Coordinator? — North State Bridal Guide

You might be wondering if you will need to hire a licensed wedding planner. There's no license or certification required to practice wedding planning—and while belonging to an organization like the Association of Bridal Consultants, the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants, or the Wedding Industry Professionals Association is an indicator of experience, it's not the only one. Talent speaks for itself via photos on the planner's company website or Instagram.

Someone—not you—needs to make sure the wedding day itself runs smoothly and that everything you've planned is executed properly. But, what if a professional wedding planner is not in your budget? While most venue coordinators and catering managers are happy to handle basic on-site logistics and simple setups—like arranging escort cards on a table or placing menu cards at each place setting—keep in mind that their allegiance ultimately is to their employer, not you (meaning they're making sure the food is served on time, not that the DJ is playing the right songs or that there are enough pens for the guestbook).

It would be unfair to expect your vendors to handle tasks they weren't hired for, but it's helpful to tell them that you don't have a planner and won't be securing one, says Joyce Scardina Becker of Events of Distinction. The most professional people certainly will do as much as they can for you.

Bride's Tips // Day Of Vs. Month Of Wedding Coordinators? A Wedding Planner's Explanation

The best option is to ask a responsible, trusted friend to handle a few important tasks, like managing the timeline or handling any snafus that arise with vendors. Be sure to thank the person with a gift card to a store that they like. But, you have to be really understanding that this is not the person's profession—don't expect everything to be perfect, says Leath.The wedding coordinator is an essential player in a couple’s wedding. S/he is normally in charge of the venue logistics, wedding vendors, and time management, and ensures guests are safe and comfortable in the wedding venue.

In this blog post, we discuss in detail the roles and responsibilities of a wedding coordinator, and how you can maximize his or her service on your wedding day.

Also known as the day-of-the-wedding coordinator, this key person in your wedding team is tasked to tie up loose ends on the day of the wedding. S/he may not necessarily be the wedding planner who has organized the vision, nonetheless, his or her role is of utmost importance.

Wedding Coordinator: Roles, Responsibilities, And Checklists

The wedding coordinator is mostly in charge of making sure the activities of the ceremony and reception are within schedule. S/he manages the venue and the wedding vendors. S/he creates contingency plans for weather changes and all other logistical requirements.

The wedding coordinator also acts as the host who welcomes guests, ensuring they are safe and comfortable from the parking up to their seats. For any unexpected challenges, s/he steps in and works in tandem with the wedding planner.

In the wedding industry, it is not uncommon to find that people use the terms wedding coordinator and wedding planner interchangeably. However, there are distinct differences in their roles.

This Is Exactly What You Need To Train Your Wedding Coordination Assistants. — B.e

It is important to know their specific duties so you can decide if you need a full-service wedding planner or just a day-of-the-wedding coordinator for your event. It also gives you an idea