Venue Coordinators vs. Wedding Planners. There is often confusion in what duties a venue coordinator performs and what duties a wedding planner will perform for you. Brides and grooms sometimes think that they may be paying double for the same service. A valid point, but perception is not the reality in this case. This is why.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?
Your venue coordinator is responsible for your venue (thus the title). He or she is there to make sure all of the venue employees are informed of your reception plans and to ensure that your vendors abide by the venues policies. Think about it: the chef, the serving staff, the setup crew, the landscapers, the hotel staff, the bartenders, the cleaning crew, engineering, maintenance department… just to name a few. Yes, they will most likely be there when your cake is delivered or when your entertainment arrives, but that is the easy part.
Your wedding planner is responsible for YOU, your family, your wedding guests and, ultimately, your wedding – from the minute the first person (you or a vendor) arrives on property until the last person leaves. We are with you the entire day after putting together a comprehensive master timeline that includes all of your plans that you wish to happen, all of the personal touches that you want from your ceremony all the way to the reception. The venue coordinator may not be concerned where your dance shoes are, whether Aunt Mary in a wheel chair is comfortable, if the flow of your reception is going smoothly or perhaps how your liquor tab is progressing. The bride and groom may still be bombarded with questions from vendors (photographer, videographer, DJ). When we are there (or any wedding planner), we answer those questions so that you and your family can truly enjoy your celebration with your guests.
Venue coordinators
Venue coordinators are focused on doing their job… maintaining the integrity of the venue. After all, that is what they are paid to do. We, however, are paid by you, to take care of your every wish for an unforgettable day, from contract review and negotiation, the designing details, reviewing the flow, securing hotel blocks, monitoring your budget, answering etiquette questions, calming your anxiety to managing vendors plus so much more.
As former venue managers, we are fully aware of their importance and the role they play in making your wedding day successful. We can’t lock the doors to the bridal suite to protect your personal belongings, access their liquor room and restock the bar, or find engineering when the ballroom is too warm. But, to be real, your venue coordinator’s first concern at any given time is about the venue performing their contractual duties and it should be.
So, when you ask yourself if you NEED a wedding planner since you have a venue coordinator, think about the many details that go into your wedding – setting out place cards, placing gifts in the car, managing the photographer who wants an extra hour for photos, refreshing your cocktail, bustling your dress and so much more…. We will be in the right place at the right time to guide you throughout your day, from the moment you arrive until your grand exit as husband and wife.
This article is from:
Stellar Event Management
602.820.3399
