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Planners and Coordinators, what is the difference?
Almost every hotel with a reasonable number of weddings now employs a wedding coordinator - a member of their regular team who is responsible for liaising with couples before their wedding day, and ensuring things go smoothly on the actual day.
As a result, freelance wedding coordinators have begun to brand themselves as wedding "planners" rather than coordinators.
Unlike hotel based coordinators who are there to ensure plans run smoothly for the hotel AND the couple, wedding planners have the couples interest as their only priority and will negotiate with your suppliers on your behalf.
Planners often divide their services into three sections:
As a result, freelance wedding coordinators have begun to brand themselves as wedding "planners" rather than coordinators.
Unlike hotel based coordinators who are there to ensure plans run smoothly for the hotel AND the couple, wedding planners have the couples interest as their only priority and will negotiate with your suppliers on your behalf.
Planners often divide their services into three sections:
- Sourcing venues and suppliers
- Negotiating with suppliers and making arrangements
- Support and attendance on the day
Do you need a Planner?
Many couples are starting to appreciate the benefits of employing a good wedding planner. It’s not just about planning the wedding. It’s also about managing the day.
There are four main reasons for employing a good coordinator.
It may seem like an unnecessary cost, particularly if the budget is tight, but a good coordinator can save you money by having reliable quality suppliers, by helping you avoid expensive mistakes and by knowing how to achieve what you want cost effectively. It also allows you to get on with your life while they get on with most of the leg work for your wedding.
When choosing a wedding coordinator, choose someone you like and trust. You will be working together in an emotional atmosphere so you need to get on. Are they organised? Do they have good listening skills? How do they handle changes to your requirements? Do they have insurance? Will they attend on the day?
Ask for a free, no obligation initial discussion with the wedding coordinator to see how they might be able to help and likely level of fees.
There are four main reasons for employing a good coordinator.
- They will have planned and managed many weddings already. This is probably your first wedding event.
- They will have reliable suppliers and back-ups. You are probably relying on friends’ recommendations and luck.
- They will manage the wedding budget. You might be tempted to choose what takes your fancy and then find you have overspent when you total the cost.
- They can sort out problems on the wedding day. You should be sharing the day with your guests, not running around organising everything and sorting out problems.
It may seem like an unnecessary cost, particularly if the budget is tight, but a good coordinator can save you money by having reliable quality suppliers, by helping you avoid expensive mistakes and by knowing how to achieve what you want cost effectively. It also allows you to get on with your life while they get on with most of the leg work for your wedding.
When choosing a wedding coordinator, choose someone you like and trust. You will be working together in an emotional atmosphere so you need to get on. Are they organised? Do they have good listening skills? How do they handle changes to your requirements? Do they have insurance? Will they attend on the day?
Ask for a free, no obligation initial discussion with the wedding coordinator to see how they might be able to help and likely level of fees.
