We are firm believers that hiring a Pittsburgh wedding planner can be some of the best wedding money spent. But if your wedding venue offers a coordinator, do you really need a third party planner on top of that? The short answer: it depends. The venue coordinator vs. wedding planner (or day of coordinator) debate is a hot topic within the wedding industry and among engaged couples. We went straight to the source for some help with today’s post. The team at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum Trust, Inc. happens to be some of the most respected and helpful venue coordinators in all of Pittsburgh. They’re spilling the tea and laying out five major differences between a venue coordinator and a wedding planner so that you can decide what’s best for you!

From Soldiers & Sailors…

1.) A planner works for you. A venue coordinator works for the venue.

Seems self-explanatory right? You may be thinking, “But I’m still the venue’s client!” and that is true. However, at the end of the day, the planner is hired directly by you to execute your vision and a venue coordinator, while keeping you and your vision at the heart of the services they provide to you, ultimately has loyalty first and foremost to the venue, which may create limitations for them.

2.) Accessibility

A venue coordinator is going to be working within the limitations of the venue. They will not be available to attend appointments with you at the florist, caterer, bakery, etc. Planners may have more flexibility with evening hours for meetings, allowing you to have an event pro assisting you in navigating those interactions and getting the most out of those products/services, whereas venue coordinators are often held to the hours of the venue itself and venue-related matters.

3.) Portability and Flexibility

Venue coordinators will most likely not be accessible to you in person the entire day of your wedding. Many do not arrive on-site at the beginning of the day, but there are frequently other staff members of the venue present should you have an early morning start time. Additionally, while a good venue coordinator is the master of their domain, they will not be able to be with you at the hotel or ceremony if it is in a separate location. Frequently, your planner is with you starting in the morning and they are able to navigate all spaces being used on your wedding day.

4.) Attention to Detail

With a planner, you frequently have the option to add on design services that will help you nail down the aesthetic of your wedding. Additionally, planners provide a great deal of tools, reminders, and general guidance about timelines and more. While you aren’t your planner’s only client, odds are they are working with a fraction of the clients your venue is working with, which means they have more time to devote to the fine details of your wedding planning process.

5.) Scope of Services

While there is frequently some cross over in services (i.e. a venue coordinator and planner may both reach out to coordinate day of details with your other vendors) a venue coordinator’s scope of services is usually significantly more limited than that of a planner. Most venue coordinators will not set up or tear down your personal decorations (including your cookie table). It’s not necessarily that they don’t want to be doing these things for you. It’s just that they aren’t really able to with everything else they have to do relating to the venue.

Regardless of whether you decide you will be good to go working with just your venue coordinator or you want to add one more person in your corner by hiring a third party planner, make sure to be fully aware of the scope of services of each person to ensure the best experience for your wedding day. Knowing what you are responsible for versus what they will handle makes everything more seamless. As always, if there is any confusion just ask. Your wedding professionals want your day to be amazing and go smoothly as much as you do. Looking for amazing venues with the professionals to help you get it done or decided you want to explore planners? Check out the Burgh Brides Vendor Guide for the best in the biz!