Difference Between Venue Coordinators and Wedding Planners

What is the difference between Venue Coordinators and Wedding Planners? Aren’t they the same? NO. DEFINITELY NOT. Let me tell you why.

DANGLING THE CARROT

Often times venues will try to show their value to you by saying their package “includes a venue coordinator”. At the utterance of these words, the couple’s ears perk up and they begin to think, “Maybe we don’t need a wedding planner then!? What a deal!” But beware! It’s just like it sounds. It’s too good to be true!

I personally love working with venue coordinators. They are an integral part of your wedding team. Venue Coordinators are a great contact when things specific to venue need to be addressed. But… when venues use this as a way to hook a couple into booking with them, it really does a disservice to the venue in the long run. When the bride expects the venue coordinator to handle certain things and they don’t, the couple will not be singing their praises later after the wedding is over.

A VENUE COORDINATOR IS NOT THE SAME AS A WEDDING PLANNER.

A venue coordinator is looking out for the best interests of the venue. Venue coordinators are often juggling a lot of hats that are specific to the catering, the staff, preparation and set up. In general, they are ensuring the entire venue staff is on their game when it comes to your wedding day. They can have a different wedding every weekend and sometimes twice in one day. There is no way that they are going to be able to invest the time and care into your wedding that your wedding planner will. There are literally hours and hours of preparation emails and phone conversations between all the vendors involved that your venue cannot handle.

YOUR WEDDING PLANNER IS THE LIAISON BETWEEN YOU AND ALL YOUR VENDORS.

Your wedding planner will create a timeline for set up and deliveries with all of your vendors and communicate that with the venue. Without a wedding planner, the bride is on the hook for providing all the information and coordinating all the details between each vendor and the venue…AND PLAN HER WEDDING WHILE HAVING A FULL-TIME JOB SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN ALL THAT?!

When problems arise, unless it concerns the venue, they will not fix it. A wedding planner is troubleshooting all day long to make sure your wedding goes off without a hitch. If you break a heel, forget the rings at the hotel, bust a seam on your dress, or if the horse you rented for your carriage eats the groom’s boutonniere, (Yes- this has happened!) your wedding planner will use her experience, skill, industry connections, and her Mary Poppins bag of wedding day emergency kit goodies if necessary, to fix the situation as quickly as possible.

VENUE COORDINATORS ARE A BONUS!

So if your venue has a coordinator, AWESOME! Working with them to keep your day running smoothly is essential. Having a reliable point of contact for your venue on your wedding day is invaluable. Your planner should be in constant communication with your venue coordinator as well as your other vendors so that nothing is forgotten or overlooked.

The moral of this story? If your venue has a coordinator, look at it as an added bonus- not a substitute for a wedding planner. For more about why you need a wedding planner click here.

Happy Planning!

XOXO,