Before you rack your brains with all the details, you’ll want to enjoy your engagement. It’s an incredible relationship milestone to reach, and one that shouldn’t be rushed. So, have the champagne, embrace all that comes with your new soon-to-be-wed status, and don’t jump in before you’ve appropriately freaked out (in all the best ways). You’ll get to the big things below, but you won’t want to overlook “the little things” that are super special and meaningful along the way. Now that we’ve settled that – let’s jump into what kind of wedding planning help is the best fit for you!
Photography by Jen Huang Photography
While often used interchangeably, the terms “designer,” “planner,” and “coordinator” mean different things in the wedding world. When you hire someone, it’s important to know exactly what roles they fill and which services they offer. Some services are more affordable than others, so even if you can’t afford a full-service planner, you still may be able to hire a coordinator that can take some weight off your shoulders.
A wedding planner organizes and manages all the logistics of your day. Normally, couples work with this individual and his or her team from the beginning (or near the beginning) of the process. Depending on the package you choose, this could include venue tours, vendor negotiation and management, timeline creation, budget management, etc. These professionals are the OG “I Do” ideators.
A wedding designer is focused on the style and aesthetic of your day. They don’t negotiate with vendors or schedule timelines, but they can help choose decor details like linens and tableware, manage rentals, create a floor plan, and bring together the look and feel of your day. These professionals are the visual visionaries.
A wedding coordinator takes on the logistics of the day after you’ve planned them. They can help finalize vendor contracts and schedule the day, but won’t be there to help early on in the process. Their job is to help things run as smoothly as possible on the month, week, and days leading up to the wedding. These professionals are the ones who execute and troubleshoot the day you tie the knot.
Photography by Luna de Mare Photography
Full service pros are just that: full-service! They’ll take the lead on essentially everything, from setting your budget to sussing out design plans, handpicking your venue and vendors, managing your guest list, reviewing and negotiating contracts, and creating manageable timelines to keep you on track with all of your to-dos. They’ll be there every step along the way and continue to be all-hands-on-deck when it comes to the actual day itself.
If you like the idea of being more hands-on with your wedding planning, but still want some help, partial planning and coordination may be the route for you! Most wedding planning companies offer partial planning and coordination.
Month of coordination services aren’t there to help you choose or secure vendors, or design the look and feel of the day. However, they do help pull all the details together and make sure things run smoothly on the day of the wedding. While everyone’s preferences and needs will be different, we strongly recommend that you hire a planner for month of coordination, if nothing else. Asking a cousin or friend to fill that role can end up with less than ideal results, and you want to make sure that they can enjoy the festivities too!
“There is a distinct difference between a wedding planner provided by a venue and a dedicated planner like myself. Wedding planners from a venue make sure their in-house services are on schedule and organized for your event. An independent planner is dedicated to executing the client’s overall vision and designing the event from start to finish. My role is to act solely on behalf of my client, every step of the way—to create an immersive experience reflective of each couple.” – Kate, Kate Siegel Fine Events
Photography by Natalie Cheng Photography