If you’re planning your wedding, you may be wondering whether you need a wedding day planner or a venue coordinator, or both. To know which wedding professional can best serve you on and leading up to your wedding day, you need to know the difference between an onsite venue coordinator vs wedding planner. Both professionals can be beneficial in making sure your big day goes off without a hitch, but they do different things and serve distinct purposes. Here's a breakdown of the difference between an onsite venue coordinator vs wedding planner to ensure you have the right professionals by your side throughout the planning process.
What is an Onsite Venue Coordinator vs Wedding Planner?
The most significant difference between an onsite venue coordinator vs wedding planner is their focus. A venue coordinator focuses on and looks out for the venue’s best interest, while a wedding planner focuses on and looks out for your best interest. Typically, an onsite venue coordinator works for your venue and is responsible for ensuring the space is ready for your wedding day. They may help oversee set-up and tear-down, as well as address any venue-related issues throughout the planning process.
On the other hand, a wedding day planner works for you–you hire a wedding planner of your choice to be by your side throughout the entire process. Your planner is responsible for helping you develop your wedding vision and doing everything it takes to make that vision come to life. A wedding planner assists with choosing your ideal venue, selecting vendors within your budget, coordinating design and decor elements, facilitating vendor relationships, and so much more. Anything you can think of regarding your wedding, a wedding planner helps you manage it. From the moment you hire a wedding day planner, you have a knowledgeable professional by your side to ensure your wedding day is perfect.
Reasons You Need an Onsite Venue Coordinator
The only time couples need an onsite venue coordinator is when the venue requires it. Some wedding venues have coordinators who must be involved in planning and executing the venue logistics for your wedding. Because the venue itself employs venue coordinators, the cost is typically included in your venue package. Other responsibilities of an onsite coordinator may consist of facilitating onsite catering (if required or selected) and managing room blocks for hotel venues.
The most important thing to keep in mind when considering the differences between a venue coordinator vs wedding planner is that they are not the same thing. While a venue coordinator manages aspects of the venue, they do not help with other wedding planning elements. If your venue doesn’t require you to work with a venue coordinator, your wedding planner can handle all the venue responsibilities (along with everything else!).
Reasons You Need a Wedding Day Planner
Even if your venue requires you to work with their onsite coordinator, you still need a wedding planner. You mustn’t overstep your boundaries with the onsite coordinator. They are employees of the venue and are responsible for ensuring the venue is ready for your wedding. That’s it.
A wedding planner helps you with all aspects of your wedding. They can do everything a venue coordinator does and then some. Here are just a few of the reasons you need to hire a wedding day planner, even if your venue has an onsite coordinator.
- ● A wedding day planner is with you up to 12 months before your wedding to design, plan, and coordinate your dream day
- ● A wedding day planner helps you research and find the perfect venue
- ● A wedding day planner creates a personalized budget and assists with managing costs and saving you money throughout the process
- ● A wedding day planner researches wedding vendors that fit your style and budget
- ● A wedding day planner helps develop and execute your theme, color, style, and complete wedding design
- ● A wedding day planner helps navigate last-minute changes and unexpected events (like COVID, inclement weather, or other unforeseen circumstances)
- ● A wedding day planner coordinates your wedding rehearsal and other wedding-related events
- ● A wedding day planner creates and distributes a detailed wedding itinerary, floor layout, and task list for your contracted professionals
- ● A wedding day planner coordinates accommodations and transportation for out-of-town guests
- ● A wedding day planner provides onsite coordination and supervision of your ceremony and reception
So, while your venue may require you to work with their onsite coordinator, you can see that they aren’t a replacement for a wedding planner. In fact, if you get to choose between an onsite venue coordinator vs wedding planner, hiring a wedding planner will provide you with significantly more support throughout the planning process. At SPC, we provide hands-on guidance and advocacy for all these tasks in our full-service wedding planning package.
How to Find the Right Wedding Planner for You
One of the best things about hiring a wedding planner is that you get to choose the right planner for you! At SPC, we would love to talk with you about your wedding vision and share how we can help bring it to life with our wedding planning services. Contact us today to learn more!
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