Day-Of Wedding Coordinator vs Venue Coordinator
What's difference between a Day-Of Wedding Coordinator and a Venue Coordinator?
A lot. In fact, there are many little details that a Day-Of Coordinator manages that Venue Coordinators are not contractually obligated to.
When my husband and I were planning our wedding, we found a gorgeous venue that would be able to accommodate all of our needs. We met with the Venue Coordinator, she gave us a tour of the grounds and then we signed a contract. She also connected us with their head chef to help us design a custom menu and offered a list of wines that paired beautifully with the meal. She truly went above and beyond to accommodate our special requests. However, on our wedding day, she was a no show. In fact, she didn't have to be there. Why? Because her responsibility was to the venue and making sure their end of the contract was fulfilled.
As a Wedding Planner, I knew I needed to hire a Day-Of Coordinator, but many couples don't know this, and at the eleventh hour they're trying to find someone to help.
Anyway, I digress. The point of my story is - find out what services your Venue Coordinator offers so you're not in a bind. Also, try to assess whether or not you'll be needing additional help on the day of your wedding. Sample responsibilities for a Day-Of Coordinator are...
Day-Of Coordinator:
Timeline Creation & Management
Setup personal items and breakdown
Navigates couples expectations such as floral set up, table decor, gathering guests for a sparkler send off, cue for cake cutting, setting up favor table, and etc..
Point of contact for all wedding vendors, making sure they arrive and set up on time, and deal with any hiccups that may come up. Need a tent because it's raining? A wedding coordinator will take care of that.
Organizes and directs ceremony processional, cocktail hour and reception
Wrangles the bridal party and family for photos ops
Packs gifts
Now, don't get me wrong, there are a few venues that do offer Day-Of Coordination. But, I would strongly recommend asking them to clarify what's included. A few questions you can ask are...
Questions to Ask Your Venue:
Will you be onsite the day of our wedding?
Can you create a timeline that we can use for our wedding day?
What services are included with the venue coordinator?
How much assistance can I get with the set up/breakdown/decor?
Do you offer help packing gifts and decorations?
Can you be the point of contact for all of my vendors?
Can you help transition my guests from the ceremony to the reception?
Both roles are equally important. However, the role of a Venue Coordinator can easily be misconstrued. As a Wedding Planner and Day-Of Coordinator, it's my goal to make sure your expectations are met, and that your wedding day runs as seamless as possible. Hope this helps clarify the difference between the two. :)
Cheers!
Vanessa
