'Our venue provides a coordinator. Do we really need another one?'
I get asked this question alll the time and feel the need to set the record straight: YES, you do need both a venue coordinator and an actual wedding coordinator. Our roles and responsibilities in your day are vastly different and it kills me to think that there are quite a few venues out there that try to sell their 'venue coordinator' as a 'wedding coordinator.'
Now, your probably wondering, 'how in the world are they different?' Am I right? In order to answer that question, let's chat a little bit about each position, starting with a venue coordinator:
Venue Coordinator:
A venue coordinator is an employee of the venue and serves as the liason between you, as the bride and groom, and the venue.
Their job prior to the wedding is to showcase the venue and handle your food and beverage needs (If there is food and beverage on-site). They will work with you to pick menu options, create your banquet event order, arrange your food tasting, and handle your invoicing with the venue. They are NOT their to guide you through the planning process, give you design and etiquette advice, and to work through all the details with you.
When it comes to the wedding day, they handle everything related to the venue. They will help ensure the room is set up accurately (including tables, chairs and dishes ONLY). Things such as place cards, signage, favors, etc are not their responsibility. Once the room is set they will then work with their banquet staff to ensure all the food and beverage is ready and out on time. Once dinner is served, your venue coordinator will typically head out for the evening. They also aren't responsible for running your ceremony or ensuring you, as a bride or groom, have everything you need for the day.
Wedding Coordinator:
A wedding coordinator serves as your personal consultant, and YOU are the main priority.
In the initial stages of planning, a coordinator will assist with things such as providing venue options, reviewing and negotiating contracts, recommending vendors and assisting with the design. As the wedding day approaches, your coordinator will help with your wedding day timeline, organize your rehearsal and confirm all the details with your vendors.
When it comes to the wedding day, your coordinator is everyone's go-to and is the one trouble shooter with vendors, and allows you as the bride and groom to fully relax. Your wedding coordinator will set-up all of your personal items (place cards, signage, guest book, favors, etc) and will ensure everything stays on time throughout the day, including, but not limited to, the ceremony, processional, cocktail hour transition, grand entrance, first dance, toasts, dinner service and cake cutting. It is also your wedding coordinator's responsibility to work WITH all your vendors to ensure they are all ready for each event throughout the evening. Finally, your wedding coordinator will stick around all evening and will assist with the wedding breakdown.
I hope that helps to give you a little bit of a better understanding! Venue coordinators and wedding coordinators are two drastically different roles and your truly need both for a successful wedding day.
