}

Wedding Planning 101

Wedding Planner vs. Venue Coordinator

  1. Marriage is the most important of all earthly relationships. Every couple wants their wedding to be hassle-free and memorable. That is why they hire an experienced wedding planner. Wedding planners know how to execute each task easily and efficiently.

  2. […] I cam across a great article that was written on the fabulous Planners Lounge website by my colleague Debbie Orwat and I wanted to share it with you.  I get this question a lot […]

  3. As a planner, I love venues that have their own coordinators! They are the experts on that building from layouts to load-ins to lighting. I think it’s important that brides realize that venue coordinators who are employed by the venue must put the venue first and this means that they cannot leave the venue for any reason. A wedding planner can leave and go pick up that groomsmen’s tie or missing cake cutter. They also are not involved in the timing prior to the couples arrival at the venue and this includes ensuring photographer, florists and families are all timed correctly.

  4. Claire Barry says:

    Great article Christine!

    Here in Ireland the role of an independent wedding planner is still misunderstood, and it’s further misconstrued by venue coordinators telling couples they don’t need to hire a wedding planner.

    In an effort to educate a wedding couple about the differences between a Venue Coordinator and a Wedding Planner I wrote a little piece about it on my blog…

    http://www.whitesage.ie/blog/oh-the-venue-coordinator-will-handle-everything-i-dont-need-a-wedding-plannercoordinator

    I feel the more we as wedding planners can educate couples on the differences the better equipped they are to decide on whether they need our services.

    Cheers!

    Claire x

  5. […] I cam across a great article that was written on the fabulous Planners Lounge website by my colleague Debbie Orwat and I wanted to share it with you.  I get this question a lot […]

  6. Great article. I was just asked this question the other day. I have worked as both and was asked while wearing my “venue coordinator” hat, “do I still need to look into hiring a wedding planner?” My answer, “yes!” Your wedding planner will assist you, the bride and your family and wedding party on the day of your wedding (as well as the many mo this before.) They will ensure that you aren’t forgetting anything (material or detail,) the day of the wedding. Set up your decor, keep you on your timeline, collect your wedding party and family for photos, toasts, entrances, dances, etc. the venue coordinator is going to be busy supervising kitchen and waitstaff, moving furniture, setting linens, putting up signs, assisting vendors with finding outlets, tables and chairs, keeping your bridal suites and bathrooms stocked and clean and making sure your young guests stay out of the champagne fountain! Both professionals are imperative and will need to work together with open communication. Just one suggestion, less is more, when it comes to questions. Yes, the wedding planner needs to know many details of the venue, catering, set up, etc, so they will need to be present at the final walk through. That meeting, or sometime around then, is a great time to bring a thorough list of questions. Number the questions so that the venue coordinator can reply to all at once, in one email, rather than a thousand emails asking different questions. Depending on how involved the bride wants to be in the planning process, cc her on the email so she knows that the two of you have everything under control and all of her details are being figured out.

    • Debbie says:

      Thank you so much for your comment and wise words Katie. You are right on with everything you shared. I appreciate you taking the time to write this!

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