The difference between a wedding planner vs a venue coordinator

1. Roles of a wedding planner v a venue coordinator

2. Your Wedding Suppliers

Your venue coordinator may suggest suppliers you can use, based on their recommended list. Whereas your wedding planner will source specific suppliers, (if you need this part of the service) who are a right match for you and your wedding. Undertaking all the research, so that you don’t have to. Your wedding planner will also be the point of contact for your suppliers, to work through the logistics. 

For example, if you have gone for a dry hire wedding venue. It is often useful to have a wedding planner onboard with expertise to plan the logistics in venues like these, so that nothing is overlooked. We will be able to review all the plans and make provision for anything you might have forgotten. Most venue coordinators will not do this, although there are some good ones.

On the day when issues arise with your suppliers, your wedding planner will find a solution to whatever the issue is, so that you don’t have that headache to deal with. If you don’t have a wedding planner your venue coordinator may need to liaise with you on your wedding day to help with any unresolved issues. This is not what you want to be thinking about on your special day.

3. Wedding Design

Venue Coordinators do not work on your wedding design.  They can show you how the venue has been styled before, but they do not create a wedding design for you, that is unique to you.

A Wedding Planner will design your ceremony and reception (if needed). We can help you choose your colours, linens, flowers, table set-up and so on, that reflects your personalities. We will be there to coordinate between your florist and lighting to ensure they provide what you need. And will be there to set it all up on the day, bringing your gorgeous vision to life, checking and double checking everything is as you requested, whilst you sip on your bubbles and get ready in peace.

4.   Wedding scheduling

A wedding timeline may not be something that you are thinking about right now but nearer the time, it is essential. Your wedding venue coordinator will provide a timeline from the point you reach the venue, when your food will be prepared and served (if the venue is providing catering) which is only part of your wedding.

Your wedding planner will provide a schedule that details all aspects of your day, from the moment you open your eyes on your beautiful wedding day.  We will know everything that is happening with your wedding day and will factor this into your detailed timeline. From scheduling arrival times for all your suppliers, your bridal party, when and which photos will be taken, what songs you wish to have played for each dance, when your dancing starts, what happens to your gifts at the end of your wedding and so much more. We cover everything, so that you can have peace of mind that it’s ALL taken care of. 

5. Wedding Planning Continuity

With some venues, the venue coordinator you are working with now, may not be the person who is assigned to work on your actual wedding day. This can be unsettling, especially when you have built a good rapport with your venue coordinator.

During the 9 months of planning my own wedding our venue coordinator changed 3 times as people left the role for other jobs. I was told a week before my wedding that a new venue coordinator would be looking after us on our special day. This left me feeling frustrated and unsettled. I had to inform this new contact of all my specific wishes and trust that it would be done (as unfortunately I did not have a wedding coordinator for my day and so wish I did). As your wedding planner on the other hand, we will be with you throughout your wedding planning journey, we do not change.

Don’t make the mistake of not hiring a wedding planner because your venue has a wedding coordinator. There are great venue coordinators and brilliant wedding planners, but we do different things.

Investing in a wedding planner earlier in your journey will save you from heartache and stress closer to your wedding. Venue coordinators and wedding planners can work well together, to ensure you have the absolute best day.

If you need help planning your wedding, please get in touch natasha@pearlineevents.com I would be delighted to hear from you.

Natasha x