After photographing dozens of weddings, one thing stands out: you can’t do it all. When there isn’t a professional managing logistics, questions often get directed to us—pulling us away from capturing candid moments.
A planner or coordinator ensures everything runs smoothly so you can relax, be present, and enjoy your day while we focus on telling your story beautifully.
In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences between a venue coordinator, a day-of or month-of coordinator, and a full-service planner—so you can decide what’s best for you and your wedding experience.
Get a glimpse into our process below.
Here’s Why You Need One
A planner changes everything
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?
- 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?
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