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Planning a wedding is not easy - in fact it is one of the most stressful events in a person's life, which is why many couples hire a wedding planner to help them bring it all together. But one question that often comes up is - what is the difference between a wedding planner and a wedding venue coordinator? We've got the answers for you so you can make the best decision for your big day.
1. Wedding venue coordinators work for the venue; wedding planners work for their clients
Most couples who have a wedding coordinator think that they don't need a wedding planner, however their roles are quite different, especially when it comes to the venue. As the representative for the venue, the wedding coordinator will want to make sure the venue looks amazing for you, and will be on hand on the day to help set up and make sure their staff know the plan for the day. Some wedding coordinators may also help with timeline management but only with the venue in mind, so that means they won't be organising your photographer, videographer and/or other suppliers' timelines as well. This is where a wedding planner is vital: they are the point of contact for all your suppliers, before and on the day, and will be there to coordinate the entire day, often in tandem with the wedding coordinator. They'll be the one on the phone to your suppliers the week before running them through individual timelines, and be 100% focused on making sure the entire day runs smoothly.
2. Wedding planners can help create the perfect customised wedding for you, with suppliers to match, whereas wedding venue coordinators have standardised packages
Most wedding venues in Ireland have a preferred suppliers list, but spoiler alert: these lists can often be outdated, or feature vendors that are pricey or not an ideal fit for the couple. This can restrict creativity and may make the wedding feel less unique or fully customised. A wedding planner that helps you find your dream wedding venue in Ireland will also provide you with customised supplier options and can also help you negotiate with them for the best price. Also, wedding venue coordinators may have restrictions on external suppliers they have not worked with before, or might only liaise with their own suppliers, leaving the couple to manage the external suppliers - which can be tricky if there is no wedding planner.
3. Wedding coordinators won't wipe your tears or fix your dress!
Because a wedding venue coordinator will be at the venue setting up on the day of the wedding, they won't be able to check in with the bridal party, make sure mam is alright, or fix any wardrobe malfunctions. A wedding planner on the other hand comes fully equipped with an emergency kit with everything you could possibly need - from hair brushes to gum to extra ties and socks to tape, scissors, a sewing kit and a full toolkit. They've seen it all and are prepared for every scenario! Think of a wedding planner like your best friend, sidekick and cheerleader all in one.
4. Wedding planners will help with more than just the wedding day
Wedding planners are experts at planning weddings and making sure every aspect of the wedding is taken care of...not just the wedding day. Wedding planners take care of a huge list of tasks like sending invites; checking RSVPs; coming along to supplier meetings, venue viewings and menu tastings; helping guests with travel bookings and accommodation; as well as budget management; timeline creation; and of course the best bit: amazing, unique, personalised wedding design and vision planning. Hiring a wedding planner is great if you and your partner either have no idea about what type of wedding you'd like to have, or if you're the most organised couple on earth. Getting extra help and that peace of mind is priceless, especially on one of the biggest days of your life. Wedding venue coordinators will help with accommodation for their venue only, and won't do all the finer details of planning.
5. Wedding coordinators typically offer only one type of wedding package for their services
When you visit a venue that has an in-house wedding coordinator, they will likely only give you a range of wedding packages based on per head for meals, and nothing customisable for wedding coordination. You could be spending €30,000 at a venue but still get the same service as someone who paid €10,000, as wedding coordinators do not usually have tiered pricing for their services. A good wedding planner, by comparison, will offer bespoke services for just about everything you can think of, from partial to full wedding planning, helping with rentals, making a wedding website, to researching venues. If it's wedding-related, they can do it.
6. Wedding planners will be fully dedicated to planning your wedding
Wedding coordinators may also double as the venue manager, which means they likely will have the entire hotel or venue to run in between wedding bookings. Even if they are solely dedicated to weddings and functions, a venue can take on multiple weddings a week. It's completely different for wedding planners: because wedding planners are usually a one woman/man show, they will only take on a limited amount of weddings per year. This means they'll be much more responsive and will have more time to plan your wedding down to the last detail! No shade at wedding coordinators, who can often be very communicative, it's just that wedding planners' reputation depends on being there for the couple 100%.
Hopefully you now feel much more confident to make a decision about hiring a wedding planner, no matter if you already have a wedding coordinator or not. And remember: no couples ever regret getting a wedding planner, couples regret not having one!
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