What is this difference between a wedding coordinator and a venue coordinator?

Many wedding venues offer a wide range of extra services to help bundle almost everything you need for your wedding into one "perfect wedding package" for you. Some even say that they have a coordinator on site which leads you to think that everything will be taken care of. However, what you don't know is that this is a venue coordinator and not a wedding coordinator.

Many couples are excited to find that a coordinator is a part of their wedding package when they book the venue. Later on, they find themselves a little surprised and disappointed in what that actually encompasses. A venue coordinator can be very different than a wedding coordinator.

A venue coordinator really only takes care of matters that are pertinent to them. For example, your package may say that they include the set-up of chairs, tables, and linens, and that's exactly what they will do. They are in charge of the venue itself, so if there's lighting or AV set up, they will handle that. The venue has staff that are knowledgeable about the venue. They will schedule maybe 3 meetings with you to go over the layout of the ceremony and reception, and they will write down your other vendors' contact information (however, they won't go out of their way to contact the vendors and make sure that they'll show up). I have seen some venue coordinators offer wedding coordination services for an additional price, which seems to work out well too.

A wedding coordinator has a long list of duties to ensure that your wedding day goes smoothly as you had planned it and also thinks about all the other things that you might not have considered. A wedding coordinator dedicates many hours to gather information on your vision for the wedding day and creating a cohesive timeline to help the day go smoothly. Not only does a wedding coordinator take down the contact information of your other vendors, but I'll get in touch with them before the wedding day to make sure that we are all on the same page. As a wedding coordinator, I make separate timelines for each vendor and answer any questions they may have. With the couple, the wedding coordinator will do a walk-through of the venue and also run the rehearsal. On the day of the wedding, the wedding coordinator arrives early to ensure that the set-up of the venue is done right and looks nice. The wedding coordinator and the venue coordinator work closely together to trouble-shoot any problems that might arise. The wedding coordinator is also the point person for other vendors to contact and check in with on the day of the wedding. The wedding coordinator understands the full vision of the Bride and Groom and makes sure that the florist, the DJ, the officiant, the photographers, the caterers, and the baker are all doing their part. On top of overseeing the set-up, the wedding coordinator also sets up all the other little things that aren't covered by another vendor. For example, making sure the escort card table is set up with all the names in alphabetical order and the framed photographs are placed in an aesthetically pleasing way. Throughout the wedding day, the wedding coordinator checks in with the Bride and Groom to see if there's anything else that they need before the festivities begin. The wedding coordinator works with the caterer and the DJ to ensure that the reception goes smoothly and helps the photographer get the best angles during the toasts and the dances. At the end of the night, the wedding coordinator is there to check that everything is cleaned up and returned to its original state.

When you are about to walk down the aisle and say your vows, you do not want to be bothered with questions such as, "Can someone help me put on this boutonniere? Should the favors be on top of the napkin or above the plate? Where do these framed photographs go?" The Bride and Groom should enjoy their wedding day and not have to stress out about small details nor have to hassle family members to take care of things. Hiring a wedding coordinator can help reduce stress leading up to the wedding and on the wedding day.

A sneak peek behind the scenes, here's Sonya teaching the Bride and Groom how to cut the cake so that the Photographer can get the best photos for the special moment. Photo by France Photographers

The happy newly-weds cutting the cake and toasting to a happy marriage! Photo by France Photographers

A newly-wed couple recently wrote about Events by Sonya, "Thank you for being a huge part of our wedding day! The day's events would not have gone so smoothly without your help. We received compliments from a number of guests about how well planned the wedding was so we weren't the only ones who thought that!" When you're ready to start planning your wedding, make sure you have a coordinator that understands your entire vision and can make it happen!