Pictured: Indigo Event Planning

Venue Coordinator, Day of Coordinator, Full Event Planner…what does it all mean? What’s the difference? What do you actually need? I’m here to help break it down for you and hopefully, you’ll be able to get an idea of what is the right choice (or choices!) for you.

As a wedding photographer, I have gotten to work very closely with coordinators and planners, and have even befriended some! Wedding vendors tend to create a pretty close-knit community, which is so great, both on a personal and professional level. It really helps us be able to work well together on the day and I also get some insider knowledge I can pass along to my clients and, now, all of you reading this!

Venue Coordinator/Manager

It is always a big win to find the venue that you love for your wedding and an even bigger plus if they have a venue coordinator! Venue Coordinators are in charge of everything at the venue, they generally make sure everything there is to your liking and is running the way it should. They oversee staff and communicate your needs with them (and their needs with you!) and usually also facilitate set up and tear down of the space (although some may have limitations in what they can or will do). They are there to help you, absolutely, but at the end of the day they are an employee of the venue and that is where their main priorities lie. One great thing about having a venue manager, though, is that they are usually pretty well-oiled machines! They have executed countless events in this location and know how to keep things running smoothly.

Day of Coordinator (Also known as Wedding Management)

Day of Coordinators have the same overall goal in mind for your wedding as a venue coordinator: handle the logistics and keep everything and everyone on schedule and on task so your day ends up as perfect as possible! The biggest difference is that when you hire someone to manage your wedding, they are focused on taking care of the couple is their number one priority. And their work spans far beyond just things respecting the venue. They coordinate with all of your vendors, ensure everything is set up and executed to your liking, and help wrangle bridal parties and family and friends as well! They are THE point person, ready to keep things going according to the plan and your vision. They are also absolutely prepared and ready to handle all the crises and problems that will inevitably arise. One of the reasons a lot of coordinators have started calling this service wedding management is because the scope of this work starts way before your wedding day. Having someone who knows you and what you want for your wedding and is able to have your back and be there to handle every detail is absolutely one of the best investments you can make for your event.

Full Planning

Full wedding planners do everything the day of coordinators do…and more. They are an active part of the entire wedding planning process with you. They can help you with the design of your wedding, bringing all of your hopes and dreams to life. They work with you on your budget, a timeline, finding and hiring the right venue and vendors (wedding photographers are a high priority!), and pretty much any part of the wedding planning process you might want or need help with. They can be there with you from the start, or brought in when you realize you need help. They can even be someone to lean on or give you advice when certain difficult situations pop up. Pretty much, when it comes to wedding planners, it’s whatever you want. They are there for practically anything you need to help make the day of your dreams go exactly the way you want it to.

At the end of the day, it is up to you what you want or need to make your wedding day perfect for you! Venue managers and wedding coordinators/planners typically love to work together (the more professionals on your team the better!), so if you have the means, having both at your disposal creates the best chances for a stress-free, smooth, day! Everyone’s circumstances (and budgets) are different and are going to determine what you need. Maybe you’re having a pretty simple day and have a ton of help already, so you don’t feel you need too much assistance on the day of your wedding. Maybe you’re incredibly type A and are enjoying fully planning everything out but just want some help making sure things go smoothly during the event. All of these things can be considered to figure out what is the right choice for you. I know, for me, I wish I had ended up at least hiring a day of coordinator, after everything that I have learned. Knowledge is power and hopefully, this explanation helps you find what you need! And, if you have hired your photographer already, we usually have some recommendations for the best coordinators and planners in the area!