- Why do you need a wedding coordinator?
- To minimize stress on yourself, your family, and your friends! A wedding coordinator takes your plans and makes them happen. So when the flowers don’t arrive, she contacts the vendor. When someone doesn’t show to help with the appetizer table, she makes sure that it gets done. When the custom wording sticker doesn’t stick to the aisle runner, she handwrites your special message onto the aisle runner. And you never even need to know there was a problem until after the wedding … or never!!!
- I actually know the importance of a wedding coordinator from experience. I did not have an “official” coordinator for our wedding. We instead got good friends to do the coordinating. And you know what? She did an AMAZING job! She took care of everything. But we also wore her out because there was so much she needed to do and it wasn’t necessarily what she would have preferred to be doing on that day. I think it would have been so much better for everyone involved if I had just paid a coordinator instead of tiring out a friend!
- Is a wedding coordinator the same as a wedding planner?
- Short answer: no.
- A wedding planner helps you PLAN your wedding and is with you during every single decision – colors, decorations, vows, etc.
- A wedding coordinator gives you questions to think through about your big day, but you make all the decisions. You do the planning. A coordinator meets with you 2-3 times before the wedding (besides being available for text and phone questions), contacts vendors and volunteers, runs the rehearsal, and then makes your plans happen on your big day.
- Is wedding coordinating one-size-fits-all?
- Nope! Obviously there is a basic “package” that everyone gets — 2-3 meetings before the big day, a list of questions to think through, contacting all vendors and volunteers the week before the wedding, providing the main coordinator and an assistant coordinator, running the rehearsal (either alone or alongside the officiant), and being on-site the entire wedding day.
- BUT … I am also a huge fan of DIY weddings. So I’ve also been known to occasionally do some additional tasks as needed — like writing the guest list chalkboard or an “enter here” chalkboard, making breakfast for the bride, and being available for wedding set-up (which personally I love and think is very important!). Of course, just FYI, these additions will cost a little extra.
- What is the basic package cost?
- This is the part I kind of hate mentioning because I’m always afraid that the cost will turn someone away, but this is part of how I help my family out and it is my job…plus, if my husband is not available for the wedding day, I need to pay an assistant coordinator (haha, I should probably pay my husband too 😉 ).
- So the basic package for your big day is $900. This includes …
- A questionnaire for you to fill out that will hopefully help guide you as you plan and that will aid me in doing my job
- 2 – 3 in-person meetings
- Availability to answer questions via text/phone call
- Contacting all vendors and volunteers a week before the wedding to make sure that everyone is on the same page
- Organizing the rehearsal and being the “bad guy” who makes sure that the bridal party knows what they are supposed to do
- Myself and an assistant coordinator (usually my husband) who will take care of everything on your wedding day so that you can relax and enjoy
- Other things are available for additional cost … just ask!
