Should You Hire a Wedding Planner or a Coordinator?

Here’s what each pro does so you can decide what sounds best for your wedding.

Venue Coordinator

Venue coordinators are employees of the venue. They work with you to organize the layout and arrange vendors. And they’ll provide a list of preferred vendors too. This can be a positive or a negative. If you don’t know where to start or don’t have a preference, then getting a list of vendors who have worked in that space is a great resource. But if you don’t like any of the suggested vendors, you may not have as smooth of a process. 

Because venue coordinators are employees of the venue, their priority is the venue—making sure that everything adheres to their standards and is representative of them.  

And while venue coordinators are great at their jobs and intimately knowing the space, they are going to advocate for what is best for the venue, not you. Additionally, having such knowledge of the venue space is a double-edged sword. They’ve seen a lot done in the venue and may have great tips and tricks for getting things done. Alternatively, they may not be the fresh eyes you need to pull off a completely original look.

Make sure to ask your venue if they have a coordinator. It may be part of your package, and in that case, you don’t have an additional expense!

If they do offer a coordinator, be sure to ask exactly what that entails. They may help with larger issues like cleaning up a dangerous spill, but they may not be willing to participate in the details like arranging centerpieces. 

A good choice for:

Those who want to handle planning on their own, who would like simple day-of assistance, who have a minimal budget, or those who have the option for a venue coordinator as part of their venue package.

Day-of Coordinator 

A day-of coordinator is exactly what it sounds like. They jump into the mix on the day of your wedding to make sure everything that you’ve planned goes off without a hitch. But that’s the thing to keep in mind. It’s everything you planned. You’re completely in charge of design, vendor sourcing, and coordination. The day-of coordinator comes in to provide the service of orchestrating your day to perfection so that you get to actually enjoy yourself. 

So what’s the difference between a day-of coordinator and a venue coordinator you ask? A venue coordinator works for the venue. A day-of coordinator works for you.

A day-of coordinator will advocate on your behalf, implement your vision, and basically have no limits for what they’ll take on. They’ll tie a tie, they’ll hang lights, they’ll console a crying mom. Venue coordinators have no responsibility for managing those kinds of details. If you get a venue coordinator, you’re still on the hook for managing any smaller loose ends. 

A good choice for:

Those who are fully confident and have the time to dedicate to the planning side but want to be completely off the hook on their big day. 

Wedding Planner

A wedding planner is a person or team that is with you from the very beginning of the planning process until the end of the wedding night. They help come up with design elements, source and coordinate with vendors, put up all the decor, run the day’s timeline for you, and then take it all down when the day is done. Where the benefit of a full service like wedding planners pays off is in the stress department. When a design element falls through, when parents want to insert themselves in the process, when there are 1,325 questions being asked on the wedding day, the wedding team will tackle these for you. They’ll effortlessly pivot that design idea into something even better, they’ll field your parents' suggestions while ensuring your vision remains the priority, and they’ll answer 1,325 questions without losing patience. 

Put simply, wedding planners allow you to have fun in the process without having to do the less fun logistical responsibilities. You get to dictate what you want the day to look and feel like, but you don’t have to ask for estimates, be in constant touch with vendors, or oversee the creation of design elements. All of the tasky time-consuming elements that come with executing your dream wedding are taken care of by professionals. So, basically, you’re hiring someone to be your advocate and cheerleader throughout the process and do the heavy lifting for you so that at the end of it all you have a positive experience. (In our experience, no one has regretted hiring a planner.)

A good choice for:

Those who don’t know where to start, who have some ideas but would like expertise to bring it all together, who want to do the fun parts and not the rest, who can’t or don’t want to spend hundreds of hours on planning. 

Wedding Planning & Florals Service 

This is a less commonly available option, but it should be noted (especially because it’s what we do!) This type of service handles everything that a wedding planner does with the added benefit of bespoke floral arrangements. That way, you can be sure your florals perfectly match your vision. Additionally, a service like this usually has access to a broader variety of flowers than your local offerings. They can source your favorite flowers or dried elements, and usually at a fraction of the cost of a separate florist. 

A good choice for:

Those who want a professional touch to every part of their wedding, those who want highly original florals, and those who don’t want to corral multiple parties to get on the same visual page.