Throughout the wedding planning process, you’re bound to learn A LOT, including the differences between a day of wedding coordinator and a full-scale wedding planner. Most wedding planners offer both types of packages but do you know which one you need? To help you determine which level of planning assistance would be most helpful, Jenna of Wildly Loved is breaking down the pros and cons of a day of coordinator and a wedding planner. It all boils down to how much hand-holding you think you’ll need!
From Jenna…
When They Begin Working With You
Full-Scale Planner
A full-scale planner will usually work with you right away. From the moment you sign the contract and pay your deposit, they get things rolling. Usually, I recommend hiring a full-scale planner if you want help developing and fine-tuning your budget, finding a venue, creating your vision, finding your vendors, and so much more.
Day Of Coordinator
Many professional day of coordinators begin about 1 – 3 months before your wedding, which gives them time to understand your vision, connect with your vendors, help with final timeline details, and more. Then, they can show up on your wedding day and make the magic happen the way you always imagined.
“Day of” coordinator is really a misnomer. There is so much more involved before the actual wedding even when you hire a “day of” coordinator. They get to work months before the wedding to make sure everyone is on the same page and that things will run smoothly. Make sure you take the time to find and hire your day of coordinator in advance! Just because their packages don’t begin until closer to your day doesn’t mean their schedule isn’t booked up. For example, many of my clients book me between six months and one year out from their wedding. Hiring them early in the process will help your day be organized and special!
What You Can Expect From Them
Full-Scale Planner
Your full-scale planner will take the reins from day one after you hire them. They will guide you through the ins and outs of wedding planning and their packages are usually all-inclusive. You can expect help with some of the following:
- Determining your budget
- Negotiating contracts
- Finding a venue
- Designing the look and vibe of your wedding
- Researching and helping you select your vendors
- Communicating with and managing vendors
- Attending meetings with your vendors
- Managing and executing your wedding timeline
- Presenting and editing floor plans and layouts
- Directing and executing your ceremony rehearsal
- Managing all day of logistics, set up, and more
Day Of Coordinator
Your day of coordinator will jump in closer to the finish line of your wedding to help you pull those last minute details together and execute your day with no stress to you. Once they take over, you will feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.
Usually, they will begin by going over all your vendor contracts to help you make sure you aren’t missing anything and to bring any questions or missteps to light. You can expect help with some of the following:
- Organizing and finalizing details
- Organizing and finalizing your wedding timeline
- Connecting with your vendors and being the point of contact on the wedding day
- Attending a final walk thru of your venue
- Arranging vendor meals
- Attending and orchestrating your ceremony rehearsal
- Coordinating your wedding ceremony
- Setting up and tearing down your reception
What Levels Of Design They Help With
Full-Scale Planner
A full-scale planner will assist you in developing a whole inspiration board to help share with your vendors so they can execute your vision to a T. This helps them better collaborate with your vendors and ensures you get what you are looking for.
Day of Coordinator
A day coordinator does not handle this. They will ask you for your vision or Pinterest board to help make sure that the vision you have developed with your vendors will come together the day of, but they will not help you create the vision.
How They Help With Contracts
Full-Scale Planner
They will help reach out to vendors, review and negotiate contracts, and help manage the relationship and communication with your vendors throughout your wedding planning process.
Day Of Coordinator
They will ask you for your contacts to review, and connect with your vendors to confirm what’s in the contract and what’s not in order to make sure they are in line with what you agreed on and that everyone is on the same page. If something seems off, they will help ask the proper questions to get to the bottom of things so issues do not arise and there are no surprises on your wedding day.
How They Can Help With Wedding Planning Stress
Full-Scale Planner
While there is stress involved with wedding planning, you can expect your full-scale planner to handle most of it for you. Since they are involved from the beginning, they handle pretty much everything from start to finish and guide you/keep you on track the entire time, which can be a huge stress reliever!
Day Of Coordinator
Since you will still be handling the bulk of wedding planning on your own, you can expect a little more stress and independent decision-making. Of course, your day of coordinator comes in 1 – 3 months before the big day to help guide you along and relieve some of the last minute pressure but overall you are handling things on your own up until then.
