Should You Hire a Wedding Planner or a Wedding Coordinator?

Your wedding day isn’t the typical party. Everything needs to be addressed from venue to florist, from linens to photographer, from music and A/V equipment to staging and choreography, and more. Many couples take on the big-ticket items with the help of family and friends, but some prefer to just revel in the splendor of their engagement. Some couples are looking for a guide every step of the way, while some just need a helping hand on the day of the wedding itself. Others just sort of wing it. Which one are you?

The Complete Package: Inclusive Wedding Planners and Full-Service Wedding Coordinators

Wedding planners do it all, leaving the special couple to go about their daily lives without the nuances of research, appointments and vendor management. They can even plan your bachelor and bachelorette parties, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner and even your mani-pedi. This is the most expensive option, but it comes with plenty of perks. You can simply enjoy looking through your bridal catalogues and dream about your special day.

Similarly, a full-service wedding coordinator will turn your wedding dreams into a sure thing. With this option, the engaged couple knows where they want to get married and the vendors they wish to use. They share this information with their wedding coordinator who then ensures your hired vendors live up to their end of the deal.

Not sure if you’re looking for a wedding planner or a wedding coordinator? This article is a helpful resource in distinguishing between the two.

Day-Of Wedding Coordinators and Down-to-the-Minute Duties

You’re the DIY bride-to-be. You sent out “Save the Date” and wedding announcements. You booked the venue, caterers, photographer, officiant, linen supplier and dj. You created your own table decorations and favors for your guests. You prepared your vows. You have your own and your wedding party’s attire ready for pickup. You bought the guest book. You created a seating chart. Scheduled your hair, nails and massage appointments.

Whew! If you’re still in the early planning stages, even this back-of-a-napkin to-do list may have you rethinking whether you really want to be the DIY bride. Nevertheless, a lot of couples and their families take this DIY approach, and do it well. It’s a different story, however, when the time comes to enjoy all the hard work you put into the big day. Enter your day-of wedding coordinator!

What the Pros have to Say

If you don’t hire a wedding planner before your big day, Lorna Marshall, principle planner, business manager and event designer at Posh and Prim in Detroit, always recommends a day-of wedding coordinator. Simply put, the day-of wedding coordinator takes care of all the nuances on the day of your wedding. She keeps things running smoothly and on schedule….Your day-of coordinator will make sure your wedding party, guests and hired guns are prepared for their role in the ceremony and reception. When it’s time to toast the newly married couple, she can ensure each well-wisher keeps their message to a minimum, leaving long-winded speeches off the table and allowing extra time for more accolades. She’ll remind everyone to sign the guest book. She’ll keep the happy couple abreast of their limo’s arrival to ensure they have time to say their good-byes. “All those things that occur at the wedding, we’re hired to do that,” Marshall says. “You don’t want to rely on your family and friends to that.”

Know What You Need and What You Don’t

There simply isn’t a one-size-fits-all option for engaged couples when it comes to wedding planning. There are oodles of in-between options such as a partial wedding coordinator or month-of wedding coordinator. Some wedding planners are just as valuable for their connections to local vendors as their planning expertise. Another big thing that either a wedding planner or coordinator can do is act as a buffer when you’re getting too much help with the planning. Far too often family and friends put in their two cents—welcomed or not—when it comes to the planning process. Take the advice or don’t, but if you can tell the planner or coordinator what’s important to you ahead of time, you’ll have someone at your side who can advocate for you and your fiancé’s personal preferences.

Get to Know Who You’re Working With

Because this will be one of the most important days of your life, it’s important you feel comfortable with your wedding coordinator. That said, don’t simply hire the first coordinator you find. Ideally, you should sit down with three or more candidates and decide as a couple who will work best for your needs. Budget is always a consideration, but no price is worth it, if the person doesn’t seem to have your vision and best interests in mind. Check out Here Comes The Guide for a list of important questions to ask potential wedding coordinators and other helpful advice.

Get Pampered Now, at Your Wedding, and Ever-After

Shifting gears from engaged couple to Mr. and Mrs. should be a celebration, not a burden. So take advantage of the help that’s out there to ensure your engagement, wedding, honeymoon, and life as newlyweds is everything you dreamed of….or as close to it as humanly possible. Part of this help may be finding extra storage space for a while.

Whether you’re hosting family from out of town, going on an extended honeymoon, making room for your new china and linens, and/or preparing to move in together, our full-service storage locations offer the kind of solution that couples are looking for. Use our hassle-pickup and secure storage units to reduce the stress of your wedding planning, to increase the enjoyment of the day itself, and to make sure you start your new life together clutter-free.

Looking for more tips? Check out all our Wedding Planning resources.