Wedding Planner vs. Venue Coordinator: What’s The Difference?
These two important roles may sound the same, but key differences can make a world of difference for your wedding.
I have been blessed with a very long career in the wedding and event industry. When I was 16, I began working as a server at a country club and gained my first exposure to the world of wedding coordination. Who would have guessed that my high school job would blossom into such a rewarding career?
My experience working at the country club taught me so much about how the industry works. There are a few things that every couple needs to know when hiring the vendors that will make their wedding day a magical one. Don’t go into this process uninformed!
Learn From Experience
During my time at the country club, I was able to work with several great companies and learned everything I could about running a catering operation. One thing was made very clear to me as I moved up in the ranks from server to catering manager: a caterer can only be of so much help to the bride and groom. I wanted to be able to spend more time with couples and be of more assistance to them than I ever could in the catering business. Elevee Events was born!
Now that I have dedicated myself exclusively to wedding planning, my #1 goal is to make the entire process as effortless as possible for the bride and groom. After all, they deserve to enjoy their big day to the fullest!
A Venue Coordinator Is Not Enough
This is why I am so bothered every time I hear a couple claim that their venue comes with a coordinator, and that they don’t need a Wedding Planner. The difference between a Wedding Planner and a Venue Coordinator is that the Venue Coordinator works only for the venue.
Although most venue coordinators will do a good job within the walls of their venue, overseeing the food service, beverage distribution, cake cutting, and the passing out of favors, the extent of their assistance is limited to your wedding day.
However, they won’t go with you to your floral appointments to make sure the linens match the flowers. They won’t work out a full timeline for al of your vendors, or keep you on schedule so that you arrive on time at the ceremony.
Your caterer will ensure that your food is fresh, well-presented, and delicious, and that their setup looks good.
They won’t be able to run your rehearsal, since they most likely have other events to deal with the day before your wedding.
What Will A Wedding Planner Do?
You deserve to have somebody helping and coaching you through the process both in rehearsal and when the magical time arrives. That is where a Wedding Planner comes in.
The dedicated staff at Elevee Events will handle all the details that are so important for your wedding day to go off without a hitch.
We ask the important questions that need to be answered immediately: have your vendors been contacted and coordinated on arrival times? Will the florist decorate the cake, or leave the flowers for the bakery to deal with? What if vendors run late or guests run early? Has the band arrived and done their sound check?
As a Wedding Planner, we handle these details before they become an “issue” – we plan in advance so everything is coordinated perfectly for your big day. We work hand in hand with your catering manager and venue coordinator. You are the sole focus for us on the day of the wedding, and you should not have to worry about wrangling all of your vendors.
The morning of your wedding, Elevee Events is checking in with you, ensuring you are settled in with your hair and make-up services and that everything is running smoothly. By now, we have connected with your other vendors and are already handling anything that might be popping up.
Just sit back, relax, and enjoy your day!
You Have Options….
Don’t let a venue tell you that you don’t need a Wedding Planner. And don’t let money be an issue that prevents you from hiring this most important of vendors. Elevee Events offers many options that will fit any budget!
If a full planner isn’t in your budget, consider hiring a “Day-Of Coordinator.” They will start working with you about two months prior to your wedding date, when things really start to get busy.
The Day-Of Coordinator will work with your vendors to design a timeline, making sure everything (and everyone!) stays on time from beginning to end. They will also be on-site – oftentimes with an assistant – for the entire wedding day to make sure that there are enough hands on deck to handle any problems that may arise.
Typically, a Day-Of Coordinator will charge between $1,500 – $3,500 for a planning package. Of course, you may find coordinators for cheaper. Beware: do not hire anyone charging you $500 to work your wedding day. You want a planner that will work with you in the weeks leading up to your wedding, not someone who will just show up on your wedding day with know knowledge of what you want. If someone offers to help you out for a rate that seems too good to be true, it probably is ….so run!
… But Don’t Skimp On The Important Stuff!
Remember, when it comes to hiring any vendor for your wedding day, you get what you pay for.
A true Day-Of Coordinator needs to be involved with every process leading up to the big day. This is the only way that they can truly be useful to you. Anyone that just shows up on the day of your wedding will have no idea what is going on. Talk about a waste of money!
Elevee Events is thrilled to deliver the highest quality service that we can to our clients. I can confidently say that we have made each of our couples’s wedding day dreams come true. Let us help you make your wedding dreams a reality!
