Why You Need a Wedding Planner

Wedding Planner

Yes, you do need a

let's talk about why

Welcome

A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE

This topic is a difficult one to talk about, but it's so important! We have photographed dozens of weddings over the years and one thing stands out above everything else: you can't do it all.
Weddings have a million moving pieces and it can be overwhelming for a couple to try to orchestrate everything, all while trying to enjoy their day. Having a professional there who knows your vision and gets things done will alleviate stress and allow you to be fully present! Think of it as the wedding gift you give yourself.

- Alison

One of the biggest questions out there is what is the difference between a full service planner and a wedding coordinator? Let's talk about it!

A full service planner will help with a variety of tasks, including vendor communication, creating your timeline and planning the design of your wedding day.

A wedding coordinator will help you carry out the tasks that you have planned on your own for your wedding and oftentimes begin working with you about a month prior to your wedding day. But don't wait to reach out to them, they book up quick! They'll likely help arrange rental pick up and drop off, light candles and set up decor and ensure that everything is where it needs to be when it needs to be there.

We cannot recommend hiring a planner or a coordinator more! Both are wonderful in their own ways!

Planner - VS - Coordinator

What Does a Coordinator Do?

The majority of our couples work with a coordinator and they provide a world of help! Here's some examples of things we've seen coordinators do on wedding days:

Keep the timeline on track for wedding party and vendors
Set up all decor exactly as you want it
Orchestrate rental drop off and pick up
End of the night clean up
Confirm that the license is signed and your marriage is legal
Line up wedding party for the ceremony and cue music
Have extra copies of well.. everything
Wrangle rouge family members during family formals
Serve as a point of contact so you can relax
Keep payment envelopes safe and distribute them accordingly
Create the timeline so that everything runs smoothly
A myriad of other surprise tasks that pop up as the day unfolds

Many venues offer a venue day of or on site coordinator, so a lot of couples opt to not hire a coordinator of their own. But what they might not realize is that the venue coordinator's main priority is to ensure that the venue operations are running smoothly, not the actual tasks for the wedding. Think waitstaff management, timing for caterers, cake cutting for guests, unlocking doors etc.

So while your venue may offer an incredible team of venue coordinators, who are amazing at their job, having a planner or coordinator of your own is still needed.

Venue Coordinators

On occasion, a well meaning family member will offer to help be the day of coordinator. However, it is really difficult to balance being a guest and a "vendor" because they'll want to catch up with guests who are there and enjoy themselves as well. And they should! Plus, weddings are fast paced and it can be really overwhelming to someone who isn't used to the flow of a wedding day and they typically look to the bride or groom for help and that can take away from you enjoying your day!

Tip: If you are not able to hire a professional, ask one to two people in your life that are not directly related or in the wedding party to serve as an attendant on your wedding day!

When There Isn't a Planner

Hiring a professional to help really is the gift you give yourself on your wedding day. I say it a lot but I really do mean it! It allows you to sit back, relax and know that someone else has things covered. And the best part? There's so many options out there!

Are you looking for someone to help you design the entire event and organize all the details? A planner is for you! Do you have a pretty good idea of what you want but could use someone detail oriented to make sure nothing gets missed? You might look into a month of coordinator. Are you a highly organized bride who simply needs someone to get things done behind the scenes while you relax in hair and makeup? A day of coordinator will have your back!

What Pro to Hire?

Over the years, we have worked with some truly incredible planners and coordinators and are happy to connect you to them. Click here to view our recommended vendor list.

Who to Hire?

I know this can be a tough one to read but I appreciate you reading through! We want your wedding day to be perfect and having the right vendor team is a big part of that!

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