The Difference Between a Venue Coordinator and a Wedding Planner
Wait, Why DO I Need A Wedding Planner?
It’s the age old question: why do I need a wedding planner when I already have a venue coordinator? If we were not wedding professionals (and fan girls of all things wedding industry!) we might wonder the same. After all, with a trusted source at your wedding venue, why need an extra pair of hands? Well, that extra set of hands will be doing many things! Both your venue coordinator and wedding planner are essential–in vastly different ways. Wondering how? We’ve got you! Dive in below to see what a venue coordinator does, and what a wedding planner does.
Month of Wedding Planner Role
Within the planner threshold, there are various packages. You may opt for a day of, month of, full service, partial service, or a custom package. We are going to share the most commonly utilized packages: the month of wedding planner and the full service.
Services of a Month of Wedding Planner include:
- Reviewing previously executed contracts with vendors.
- Creation of wedding day timeline.
- Coordinate the processional with the Bride & Wedding Party both in rehearsal and during the formal ceremony.
- Be the liaison with couple’s family, bridal party, band/DJ, florist, photographer, and any and all other vendors the couple may have hired for the Wedding and/or Reception.
- Onsite coordination of Wedding Ceremony and Reception through regular communication with venue staff. Wedding Planner is a liaison between the couple and the venue.
- Deliver and arrange ceremony programs, place cards, centerpieces, favors, any personal items, etc.
Full-Service Wedding Planner Role
The services of a this role include those of the above list as well as the below.
- Make planning much more convenient for the couple.
- Serve as the main point of contact for wedding vendors and the bridal party.
- Distribute payments to wedding vendors for all previously executed wedding contracts.
- Manage the styling of decor and the timing of ceremony and reception, from early stages of planning through the wedding day.
- Recommend and negotiate vendors.
- Assist with proper etiquette and protocol for invitations, family matters, ceremony and toasts.
- Advocate for all details pertaining to your wedding weekend.
Venue Coordinator Role
If your venue is a resort with in house catering, the list below grows to include the management of menu planning and pricing. But for standard venues with outside catering companies hired in, the venue coordinator takes care of the below.
- Acts as your primary venue contact, available to answer questions and communicate with any other departments within the venue to ensure a seamless event.
- Provides an outline of your financial commitments to the venue and payment schedule.
- Communicates all setup requirements of the ceremony & reception spaces to appropriate fellow venue departments for execution.
Above all, your venue coordinator works for the venue. Your wedding planner works for you! Both roles are essential in a dream of a wedding day. Both roles are needed for vastly different yet equally as important reasons.
Ready to get planning? Us too! Contact us here to discuss photography and wedding planning package options. We can’t wait to bring your dream to life!
Written by Social Curator: Kelsey Pfleiderer