Wedding Coordinator vs. a Wedding Planner, what is the difference?
A lot! And it is all explained below.
You just got engaged. Congratulations! You and your fiancée have chosen a date and have selected your dream wedding location. Now what?
Do you start calling hotels, find local florists? Who will cater, does the location allow outside food? What about someone to officiate? Do you need special papers and how do you get them? Will your marriage even be legal if in another country? What if the weather suddenly changes? Where do you get the answers? You need help and fast!
The Right Person
It is really simple: find a planner or coordinator that specializes in the selected location. A planner or coordinator can answer many questions for you. They will help you with your special day. However, there is a big difference between the two. How do you determine which you need?
Who you hire depends on how much of the detail you want to handle personally. Or if you want someone to take care of these things for you. If you enjoy the minutiae of small details and have the time and money to spend on both, then hire someone who handles the basics. As a result, the rest of the decisions are all yours. If you do not want to worry about arranging every single detail or making dozens of phone calls and decisions. Someone who has that experience and contacts, is the person you are seeking.
Understanding the difference, will have a major impact on your wedding day.
Wedding Coordinator
A Wedding Coordinator is generally, “Day of Only” support. The coordinator will inform you of what the resort or hotel selected will or will not allow. S/he will develop an agenda for your wedding day, based on the information you give her, what the hotel allows, and the vendors you book to provide décor, music and extra highlights, such as fireworks. Coordinators do not typically develop budgets or help you stick to one. Coordinator services are what you will receive when booking with a hotel. Most require that you use their services. They are not concerned with every detail, but will ensure you have a great day.
Coordinators have several conversations with you to outline the do’s and do not’s. However, it is up to you to stay within those parameters. Some offer to help with only certain aspects. Ask if these are included in the contract. Are they considered “add-on” items? Get a written commitment on the total contract cost each time an item is added. A Wedding Coordinator can be a money-saving decision, if you are willing and able to do all the legwork. This includes research costs, phone calls to book, and every other piece, leading up to your wedding day. If their list of ‘can do’ and ‘cannot do’ works for you and your fiancé, then great! You are all set.
Wedding Planner
Couples who have specific and unique ideas, including food, décor, reception details, possible entertainment, and exact location… a Wedding Planner is the person you need. A Wedding Planner handles all arrangements. They take care of every detail, no matter how small, that make your ceremony and reception unique to you. And, perhaps most importantly, a Wedding Planner deals with possible hiccups along the way. Often without you even being aware that something was amiss. Skip the stressful wedding! Simply enjoy your day.
A Wedding Planner is a professional with extensive experience in logistics, budgets and vendor negotiations. S/he will contract with florists, caterers, DJ’s or bands, airport transport, sunset cruises, and that all important wedding cake. They get the best prices. They know each step of the process. From the first conversation with you and your fiancé, they will begin to visualize your day. S/he is filling in every detail in their imagination, bringing your dream of your day to reality with every site visit, every phone call, every negotiation.
Going the Extra Mile
Wedding Planners meet with hotel coordinators. Often are able to work with them to expand their limits to allow something special, just for you. Wedding Planners create floor plans, determine beach wedding needs, arrange and attend all site visits, determine the best location for your pre-wedding events. And all while staying within your budget. As a result, they will take the stress of planning off your shoulders. They will hold your hand every step of the way. They will find the perfect location and everything you desire for your day.
Currently, having a full-service Planner on board is crucial if your date or location should suddenly need to change because of any pandemic flare-ups. They know if new travel restrictions are put in place. They will immediately begin making all necessary changes, as expected. It is frantic and complicated, but it can be done!
It’s Your Day
Instead of trying to plan, hire, pay vendors and create timelines, for instance. Your Wedding Planner will do all that for you! As expected, they make certain each detail is carried out. And each timeline is enforced. Any problems that arise, the Wedding Planner handles and that includes those that happen on the day of your wedding, often with just minutes to make a decision. Something that only someone with years of experience can do and do quickly! Having a Planner leaves you and your fiancé to just enjoy every day between your engagement and your wedding, letting someone else handle the thousand-and-one details that makes your day everything you dreamed of and more.
This is YOUR day to enjoy. Let the professionals take over and make your day, or weekend, spectacular.
Learn more about Tara Null of Fiestas Los Cabos.
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