Pro Tip | What is the difference between a Venue Coordinator and a Wedding Planner?
Photo Credit: Tracy Autem Photography
This is a question we receive too many times to count: what's the difference between a venue coordinator and a wedding planner? If my venue already has a coordinator there, do I even need to hire a wedding planner? What services would a wedding planner provide that a venue coordinator would not? In this week's blog post, we'll tell you all about the differences between a wedding planner and a venue coordinator, and why you should have both, not one or the other.
To start, both venue coordinators and wedding planners are extremely valuable. They're both essential to the success and flow of your wedding day.
A venue coordinator is in charge of the venue and everything that goes along with it. It's their job to make sure that the venue knows what's expected of them, that all of your venue needs are met, and that it's clean, organized and set up correctly for your event. They will conduct venue walk-throughs, let you know about any rules and policies set forth by the venue, and will even help you to create a floor plan based on your guest count and event flow. Below are a few tasks that belong to a venue coordinator:
- Set schedule of availability for venue
- Conduct venue walk-throughs and tours of the space
- Pass along rules and regulations set forth by the venue
- Give ideas and suggestions for the venue setup
- Provide a list of recommended vendors who have worked with the venue
- Provide lists of rentals owned by the venue
- Assist with setup and management of the venue during the event
A wedding planner, on the other hand, deals with everything wedding related. From helping you manage your budget to giving you design ideas for your head table, your wedding planner is in charge of overseeing every intricate detail of the wedding. This is your right-hand person through each step of the wedding planning process. Below are a few tasks that belong to a wedding planner:
- Develop and manage a wedding budget
- Wedding design including tablescape, floral installations and general look & feel
- Recommend wedding vendors and manage/negotiate contracts
- Assist in the decision making process
- Provide monthly checklists to ensure all tasks are done in time
- Develop a wedding day timeline for family, friends & vendors
- Coordinate logistics with each vendor
- Oversee and manage all wedding day activities including setup, duration of the event, and strike
So to answer your question - there is a difference between a venue coordinator and a wedding planner. Both a wedding planner and a venue coordinator are extremely important to your wedding, and will work hand in hand to ensure that no detail is overlooked.
For more information on planning and designing your dream wedding, contact us here! We would love to be part of your special day!