When it comes to planning a wedding, there are so many moving parts, and you want the day to go without a hitch – that’s why many couples choose to hire a pro luxury wedding planner to help.
One of the most frequently asked questions, which was also true of my own experience as a bride, is what is the difference between a wedding planner and a venue co-ordinator. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the key differences between a wedding planner and a venue co-ordinator and help you understand which one is the best fit for your wedding needs.
LUXURY WEDDING PLANNER
A luxury wedding planner is a professional who specialises in creating high-end, bespoke and luxurious weddings that create a wonderful experience for both the couple and guests. They work with couples to create a customised and unique wedding experience that reflects the couple’s personalities and style. Some of the key responsibilities of a luxury wedding planner include:
BUDGETING
A wedding planner will help you to create a budget for your wedding and ensure that you stay within your spending constraints. They also have access to a little black book of suppliers and can help you to source the best vendors for your wedding that fit both your aesthetic and your wallet to a tee.
VENUE SELECTION
A wedding planner will help you find the perfect venue for your wedding, based on your style, budget, and guest count. They have a vast network of contacts in the wedding industry and can help you secure the perfect venue for your special day. Not only this, but some exclusive venues in the UK will only work with couples who have a wedding planner on board from the get-go. This is especially true for ‘dry-hire’ venues (i.e. venues that only provide the use of the space and no other infrastructure). Thinking about generators, marquee placement and portaloos is not a glamourous job, and this is where a wedding planner’s logistical knowledge shines.
DESIGN & DÉCOR
A luxury wedding planner will work with you to create a curated design and décor plan for your wedding. They have access to the latest trends and styles from often niche suppliers and can help you create a luxurious and stylish wedding that is both elegant and totally bespoke. As part of our Full Planning & Design service, we offer digital tablescape mock-ups, for example, which can really help couples to envisage the finer details of their day and get excited for what’s to come.
VENDOR SELECTION
A wedding planner will help you select the right vendors for your wedding, based on your style, budget, and needs. A good wedding planner will only ever recommend vetted, trusted suppliers who already fit the brief when it comes to budgetary constraints, style and quality – this totally removes the headache that most couples face when trying to source suppliers, only to be disappointed if they don’t deliver.
WEDDING DAY MANAGEMENT & CO-ORDINATION
A wedding planner will take care of all the logistics and co-ordination for your wedding. They will ensure that everything runs smoothly and according to plan, so that you can relax and enjoy your special day, which in truth, is the ultimate goal. To ensure the very best time for couples and their guests, in my experience, we often go above and beyond for couples, often being first to arrive and leaving well after heels have been kicked off on the dance floor!
PROBLEM-SOLVING
A brilliant wedding planner arrives with a ‘box of tricks’ designed to ensure that there is a solution to every conceivable problem that may arise on the day. Bride has a stain on her dress? The wedding planner has stain remover and white chalk (to mask the stain) to hand! Grandma has forgotten her handkerchief? The wedding planner has tissues! Bridesmaids grappling with soggy bouquets? The planner has you covered with kitchen roll to dry them off! Our own wedding emergency kit is a well-loved feature by our couples, and is included in all levels of service that we offer.
VENUE CO-ORDINATOR
A wedding venue co-ordinator is a professional who works solely for the wedding venue and who is responsible for managing the logistics and co-ordination of your wedding from the point of the venue. Their main job is to liaise with the nearlyweds (and their planner, if part of the couple’s team) and the venue’s operational team. Some of the key responsibilities of a venue co-ordinator include:
VENUE CO-ORDINATION
They work with your venue to ensure that everything is set up and ready for your wedding. They co-ordinate with the venue staff and vendors to make sure that everything runs smoothly on the day of the wedding as it pertains to the venue itself. For example, they will liaise with the couple about areas that will display welcome signs, menus, photobooths, etc., as well as arrange menu tastings if the venue will be providing catering, too.
HANDLING GENERAL QUERIES
A venue co-ordinator will respond to general queries raise by the couple in the lead up to the wedding day. Larger venues often handle an increased number of events, both weddings and corporate, and often lack the time to dedicate to your specific wedding.
VENUE SET-UP
A venue coordinator will co-ordinate the set up of wedding breakfast tables, ensuring cutlery, crockery, stemware and agreed alcohol/drinks are provided as agreed in the overall venue contract. They will also liaise with in-house caterers to deliver meal service on time, and ensure that vendors leave the premises by a certain time.
WEDDING DAY SERVICE (ONLY UNTIL YOUR WEDDING BREAKFAST BEGINS!)
A venue co-ordinator will be on hand on the day of your wedding to manage any venue-related issue that arise. They are often only in situ until your wedding breakfast is served, and then hand over to a duty manager, whose main goal will be to conclude meal service and account for the bar. A wedding planner, on the other hand, will be there from dusk until dawn and often beyond, purely dedicated to the needs of their couple.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT PROFESSIONAL FOR YOUR WEDDING
When deciding between a luxury wedding planner and a venue-supplied co-ordinator, it’s important to consider your needs. If you are looking for a comprehensive wedding planning experience that is as delightful as the day itself and have a healthy budget, a wedding planner may be the right choice for you. They will take care of all the details, from start to finish, and help you create a luxurious and unique wedding experience.
If you are looking for someone to help at the venue only, a venue co-ordinator may be the better choice.
It’s important to choose a professional who you feel comfortable with and who understands your vision for your wedding. We offer complimentary consultation calls to ensure that we are a good fit for our potential couples, and that we understand how best we can collaborate together.
In conclusion, the difference between a luxury wedding planner and a wedding venue co-ordinator lies in the scope and focus of their services. A wedding planner offers comprehensive planning services, while a wedding venue co-ordinator focuses on the logistics of the wedding day from the venue’s perspective. Choose the professional that best fits your needs, budget, and vision for your wedding. With the right wedding pro by your side, you can be sure that your special day will be unforgettable.