Typically, a wedding planner takes on the role of managing the budget, finding and booking vendors, showing you design options within your budget, and taking care of all research and execution leading up to the wedding. They are there the wedding day to bring all the plans to life. A coordinator may help a little with the planning, but typically is helping with the wedding day execution only. Some will offer vendor recommendations, timeline planning tips, and a pre-wedding meeting but not to the level as a full planner would do. BOTH are great options to give you and your family the ability to have a stress-free wedding day.

A VENUE COORDINATOR IS OFTEN NOT ENOUGH
Venue coordinators are employees of the venue and act as a liaison between the wedding couple and the venue team. Oftentimes, couples don’t know the difference between a venue coordinator and a planner hired outside of the venue. The venue coordinator is responsible for everything that specifically deals with the venue like tables, chairs, linens, and if catering is through the venue. At the end of the day, they work for the venue, not the couple. A wedding planner is responsible for everything that comes with your venue AND all vendors outside of the venue and is hired by the couple. A wedding planner is going to be way more hands on the day of your wedding coordinating vendors, timelines, design of your tables, etc.

A WEDDING PLANNER CAN SAVE YOU MONEY
lot of couples start out by thinking they can’t afford a wedding planner. What so many couples don’t realize is how much money a wedding planner can actually save you overall on your wedding. Wedding planners have connections, know the best deals, and can identify when something is worth what it costs or if it is overpriced and you should look at other options. You may actually be able to get discounts from other vendors you wouldn’t be able to get on your own. When you are looking at the budget, they can give you budget friendly alternatives you may not have thought of before. They come with a wealth of wedding budget knowledge. They also know the in’s and out’s of hidden costs. Planning a wedding often involves a multitude of hidden costs that may catch you off guard from service changes, to gratuities, to delivery fees. These fees can add up quickly and planners can help plan for this in your budget.

CREATE A TEAM THAT WORKS WELL TOGETHER
The team of vendors you create for your wedding day can make or break your wedding in so many ways. Wedding planners have experience working with vendors and can give you the best recommendations. They can also help you steer clear of vendors that are..less than amazing.

GIVE YOU BACK TIME
Wedding planning is incredibly time consuming. When you hire a wedding planner, they can help with your to do list. Did you know they will even reach out to vendors to get quotes and narrow them down to present you with the best options. I can’t tell you how long it takes to fill out inquiry forms for every vendor you need. They help you with contracting vendors and understand contracts and what to be on the lookout for or red flags.

ALLOW YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO BE PRESENT
You may think, oh my family can do it. Remember, this is a special day for them too. They are so excited to be present with you and experience this special day. I see so many frustrated family members being pulled in a million different directions on the wedding day wishing they had hired someone.

REPURPOSING ELEMENTS
Wedding planners are creative wizards when it comes to repurposing elements for your wedding day. I have seen so many wedding planners repurpose things in ways I would have never imagined. They know how to strategically reuse decor and arrangement throughout the events, ensuring you get the most out of every item. They really take “get your money’s worth” to a whole other level. They are also hands on to make the magic happen in a way your family and friends cannot be.