planner/coordinator…it’s all the same, right?! Wrong

Hopefully, we’ve all seen J Lo in the movie when she adjusts her dinner plate a 1/4in to make it symmetrical for her frozen dinner in the iconic wedding love movie The Wedding Planner. It’s a great movie if not a bit deceiving about what to expect when you hire a coordinator or planner. Sorry to burst any bubbles and or balloons here but most coordinators do not adjust plates 1/4in at home or a wedding. 1/2in yes, 1/4in no.

Let’s start with a basic definition and job description. Wedding Planner: This person is going to recommend vendors to you based upon your tastes, their experiences and expertise. A planner could also assist in recommending a venue or even finding one and securing it for you based upon date, guest count, reception plans, indoor/outdoor requirements, guest or bridal party handicap needs, liquor requirements etc. Planners are much more involved in the pre-day part. They will be in a whole different price range than coordinators due to the amount of time they spend on your event. Every single planner is different. Every. One. Someone who can legitimately call themselves a planner is a person who has been in the event industry a long time and has also been able to overcome any and all unforeseen issues that may arise from throwing a breaker to a drunk bridesmaid passed out in the bridal suite and on that note, they usually, not always, are ALSO the day of coordinator. Most offer packages from which you can choose what best suits your needs. Wedding Coordinator: A newer term to the industry is the “Day Of Coordinator”. The Day of will organize a timeline for the bride as far as makeup, hair, decor setup, photos, ceremony start and when to be ready times. But she will also make sure all your vendors are lined out. Most "Day Ofs” will reach out to vendors prior to your day to be sure everything is ready to Rock N Roll. Some will ask for contact info to make calls that day. A Day Of will also coordinate with the DJ and wrangle the Bride and Groom/family for things like cake cutting and first dances. Her main job is to make sure everyone is where they need to be when they need to be there. Many Day Ofs will also set up your decor and some even include their own decor in their service fee. Cleanup after the reception may also be included but that depends on your coordinator and what her package includes. Good coordinators are well worth their cost. I work with a couple and they do a fantastic job… check them out! Lauren Lamb with Lauren Lamb Events is one of my faves! laurenlambevents.com