What is the Difference Between an Independent Wedding Planner and On-Site Venue Coordinator?
When planning a wedding, it is incredibly important to understand the difference between an independent wedding planner and an on-site venue coordinator. The two are often referenced as the same, which is simply not true. Although both play an important role, there are a few key differences that can deeply impact your wedding depending on what your goals are. In this blog, we will go over what each is and what they do!
INDEPENDENT WEDDING PLANNER
The first big difference between the two is that an independent wedding planner partners and works for you, the client. Their focus is the couple. Whereas the on-site venue coordinator works for the venue space. The wedding planner will be with you from day one, guiding you through every detail of your wedding planning process, like floral arrangements, cake design, videographers, photographers, music & entertainment, rentals, paper goods, tuxedos rentals, and so much more. The venue coordinator will not be involved in any of these details. Wedding planners are your go-to source for all questions each day leading up to your wedding. They also act as a liaison between their clients, venue coordinator, the vendors, and all other parties involved in the planning of your wedding. So, not only will the planner assist you in the planning, but you’ll also never need to make any call. Wedding planners handle it all.
ON-SITE VENUE COORDINATOR
As mentioned before, on-site venue coordinators work for and manage the venue ONLY, and nothing that falls outside of those venue walls. This isn’t to say their job is easy though. They will discuss the menu (if that menu is desired), catering, floor plans, rental agreement, and rules. Coordinators will also discuss and manage all venue-related topics, like contract management, site tours, event schedule, as well as overseeing on-site (sometimes a few at a time) events. However, they do not replace a wedding planner. Venue coordinators are primarily there to make sure that the venue is managed properly on the day of the wedding, which is a big job! The wedding planners’ primary purpose for being there is to take care of all things involving the bride, groom, guests, and outside vendors. An easy way to think of it is that the venue coordinator coordinates all the moving parts within the venue, but a wedding planner provides that one-on-one attention that is well deserved on your wedding day.
REASONS TO HIRE AN INDEPENDENT WEDDING PLANNER
If you’re feeling lost, stressed, unorganized, and overwhelmed, that is probably a sign that you should hire a wedding planner. If you feel like you cannot handle all the tasks required to plan a wedding and would prefer to just enjoy your day with your family and friends with no distractions, hire a planner! It is our goal to take everything off your plate. We are also here as a friend to bounce creative ideas off, as well as provide assuring emotional support. Wedding planners also keep the on-site venue coordinators organized. Venue coordinators come with the venue no matter what, but we the wedding planners are the organizers, decision-makers, and main point of contact, which is important because if there are any conflicts, the wedding planner will be the one to fix them. The on-site coordinators, unfortunately, cannot help with any problems outside of the venue space and their staff. The on-site venue coordinators assist the wedding planner with venue matters but planning your entire wedding is outside of their expertise. Wedding planners will plan, problem solve and provide constant knowledge and support to you and your spouse, so your only focus is how happy you are on your wedding day.
The assistance of the on-site venue coordinator to the wedding planner is a perfect partnership. The coordinator can provide the planner with vital details such as where to park, the location of power outlets, and floor plans. The coordinator will handle all things venue space so the planner can focus on all things involving the married couple. It creates a great system of support so both the wedding planner and venue coordinator can focus on what they do best, ensuring a flawless night for your couple and their guests! As always, this blog covers a good amount of information but if you have any further questions, give Exclusive Planning and Management a call! Also, feel free to check out our Instagram @sandynissou for all things wedding décor, inspiration, and tips.
Interested in looking further into how we can help with your wedding planning? Send us an email to see how we can help make your dream day come to life!