Wedding Planner vs. Wedding Coordinator: What’s the difference?

There’s a lot of confusion online as to the different roles and tasks that a wedding coordinator is responsible for compared to a wedding planner. You’ve probably seen those TikToks from brides who hired a coordinator and realized they still have to do almost EVERYTHING themselves…

If you’re at the point in your engagement where you’re deciding on whether or not to hire a wedding planner or a wedding coordinator, I’m here to help you distinguish between the two and find the best fit for your wedding needs! So let’s break it down…

Wedding Planners

The true definition of a wedding planner is a professional who helps couples organize and manage all aspects of their wedding, from the start. This in including but not limited to

• helping allocate budget
• select vendors
• timeline planning
• logistical navigation
• day of execution

Planners are usually full service support and this helps to ensure a cohesive and stress-free planning experience as we do the heavy lifting!

Wedding Coordinators

There are a few different types of wedding coordinators: month-of, day-of, venue provided. They usually step in closer to the wedding day and their job consists of executing the plans that the couple has already put in place with their own planning and booking. They might:

• confirm vendor details
• manage the day-of timeline
• troubleshoot any last minute issues
• set up some venue specific decor

They are there to ensure everything runs smoothly on the day and are not usually involved in early planning stages or in-depth details.

In order to get a better view on which is suited to your wedding needs, check out the comparison chart below!

Time of Involvement

Wedding Planners: involved from the start, often a year or more in advance of the wedding

Wedding Coordinator: typically step in 4-6 weeks ahead of wedding

Scope of Service

Wedding Planners: help with EVERYTHING (budgeting, design, vendors, logistics, site specific needs, etc.)

Wedding Coordinator: focus on executing the plans the couple has already made on their own

Vendor Selection & Negotiation

Wedding Planners: research, vet, recommend and negotiate with vendors

Wedding Coordinator: confirm and communicate with already booked vendors

Budget Management

Wedding Planners: help to create and manage the entire wedding budget throughout all steps

Wedding Coordinator: don’t often, if at all, help with anything regarding budget planning

Design & Styling

Wedding Planners: help with overall design, theme and aesthetic, helping to choose vendors that match

Wedding Coordinator: ensure the chosen design is properly executed

Problem Solving Over Time

Wedding Planners: troubleshoot throughout the entire wedding process and intimately know the plans to help troubleshoot on the day

Wedding Coordinator: mostly solve issues on the wedding day

Time Commitment

Wedding Planners: often commit 100+ hours over several months to a year or more

Wedding Coordinator: usually commit 10-30 hours closer to the event + day of

Cost

Wedding Planners: are more expensive due to their extensive care and services provided throughout the whole process

Wedding Coordinators: are more budget friendly option for those who want to do the planning themselves

Are you already dreading putting all the pieces together and are looking for a stress free experience throughout your wedding planning process? If this is sounding like you, I’d love to chat!

Click here to inquire and book a free consultation call!

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