Questions & Answers

Why should I hire a professional wedding coordinator?

The biggest misconception is that a professional wedding coordinator is a luxury. With today’s failing economy, people need to watch their budgets. Hiring an expert, with years of experience, is an investment. In the long run, they will save you stress and money by keeping you and your budget on track and providing you with cost saving tips and ideas. For people watching their bottom dollar, a professional wedding coordinator isn’t a luxury but a necessity!

I’m on a limited budget. I really can’t afford a Wedding Coordinator?

Couples on a restricted budget are the people that need a coordinator the most. With insight and expertise, an experienced coordinator knows how to negotiate and stretch your dollar without compromising your vision. Hiring a coordinator during the beginning stages will often save you more money than the cost of their services. It’s not about price but how much they can save you!

What should a coordinator charge?

Professional Coordinators charge several different ways: hourly, percentage or flat rate. If you need help throughout the planning stages, it will benefit you to have a custom flat rate package. Prices will vary depending on the complexity of the event, logistics, and number of meetings, as well as the length of planning. Asking a coordinator to quote a price online or over the phone, is like asking a contractor to bid on a job they know nothing about. An initial meeting to discuss location, budget and vision is crucial in getting an accurate proposal and a true feeling on how a coordinator can help.

My family and friends have volunteered to help me plan my wedding. Is this a good idea?

It’s a great idea to have family and friends share ideas and the joy that comes with planning a wedding. But it cannot compare to a professional when it comes to saving money or reducing stress. A professional wedding coordinator is a neutral party working on your behalf to build and transform your vision. They have no emotional ties or demands that come with friends and family. Although friends and family mean well, they don’t have the resources or experience to deal with any crisis that may arise. This will be the most important party you will ever plan! Isn’t it worth it to have a professional bring your vision to life and let your family and friends enjoy the process?

I have hired the best vendors. Why do I still need to hire a professional coordinator?

Vendors provide you with a valuable product. Their sole purpose is to deliver the best photos, gorgeous floral arrangements, live music and a perfect dining experience. But they work independently from one another. In other words, what good is having the best vendors if they are not brought together and directed on the day of the wedding? A professional wedding planner’s role is to coordinate all of the vendors, timelines, set-up, coordination of all the logistics and orchestration a seamless celebration. Imagine your vendors are actors on stage. They are the best at what they do, but if there is no director to guide them to work in sync, the production will most likely flop. Unlike a stage performance, your event is a once-in a-lifetime event. You only have one shot at doing it right; there are no more practice rehearsals or replays. Can you afford to be without a coordinator?

My catering company is including ‘day of coordination’ for my wedding? Isn’t that enough?

NO! Although a catering manager’s role is crucial in keeping the evening’s timeline and events flowing smoothly, they are not available during the most crucial parts of the day. They are not there with you when you are getting ready; they are not assisting guests with hotel transportation they are not coordinating attendants with make-up schedules so photos are not delayed; or pinning boutonnières; or bustling your gown. Their catering role is a huge responsibility, which requires meticulous attention to setup, food and service. Taking the catering manager’s focus off the food and service to attend to vendor set-up, wardrobe malfunctions, cue musicians, or line-up the wedding party, will most certainly compromise what you paid them to do which is to create a perfect dining experience.

My hotel or reception site has a ‘day of coordinator’ for my wedding? Isn’t that enough?

Locations compete for revenue. Promoting a one-stop-shop is often attractive to a first time bride trying to save money, but it does come with a price. A catering manager at a venue will include coordination services as part of their comprehensive package. Their goal is to offer value by saving you money so you don’t have to hire a wedding coordinator. The reality is that most venues work off commission. Their incentive is to close the deal not actually save you money. The fact is that venues only make money by booking not by working countless hours answering questions, creating a vision or holding your hand every step of the process. Do they really know your every want and need? They are juggling 3 to 5 events each week. Often times, a catering manager is scheduled to coordinate one or more events at the same time as your celebration.

Other times, your catering manager, whom you’ve been working with for months is transferred or has scheduled vacation. Your event is then handed to someone else in his or her department. All of the little details pertaining to your once-in-a-lifetime celebration are now in the hands of someone else who has to interpret someone’s notes. Remember you get what you pay for.

I like planning parties and I am organized so why do I need a coordinator?

Your wedding is likely the biggest, most elaborate party that you will ever plan! Do you have the experience? In order to do anything well in life, you must practice. Your wedding is just one day. Do you truly think that you can pull it off without years of practice? A professional wedding coordinator has seen it all and has the knowledge and expertise to handle any unexpected occurrences, and with detached emotions. Even if you had all the time in the world to educate yourself to plan your own wedding, would you be able to truly relax and enjoy your engagement and the day itself? How can you oversee the setup when you are supposed to be getting dressed and ready? And how can you answer questions your vendors may have when you are walking down the aisle? How can you work behind the scenes and still enjoy the moment? Do you think you should have to handle uninvited guests, medical emergencies, wardrobe malfunctions, traffic conditions, power outages, missing attire, crying children, drunken guests or the no-show DJ? Do you have the knowledge and resources to resolve all the things that come up throughout the evening? Should you be working rather than enjoying the magic as it unfolds? If you decide to plan your own event, at least consider hiring a pro to handle the day of coordination. Cherish every moment!