6. Coordinator vs. Planner: Decoding the Roles for Your Dream Wedding

Before I Do Podcast

Honestly, the differences between a wedding coordinator and a wedding planner are foggy even among other wedding industry pros. And just a little caveat here, every coordinator/planner is a little bit different, but this is how most folks in the industry would describe the difference, and how we at J + J break it down.

Let's start with 5 key descriptors of a coordinator.

Coordinator (Event Management Package):

1. Services typically start ~6 weeks before wedding. You usually cannot access them before this mark.
2. When services do start, the coordinator will jumps in and help tie up any loose ends and executes your plan.
3. A coordinator will create your weekend timeline.
4. She/He will coordinate deliveries and vendor set up before and during the wedding.
5. She/He will be present to act as "air traffic control" on wedding day.

In a nutshell, you do the planning and your coordinator will jump in at the end to bring your vision to life.

Now let's talk Wedding Planner.

Full Service Planner:

1. Services start upon hire.
2. A planner will help find and hire your vendors.
3. A planner takes the lead on design and assist in setting/following a budget.
4. You have access to your planner throughout the entire planning process:
5. A full service planner might also provide services like sending out invitations, tracking RSVP’s, delivering welcome bags to hotels, planning welcome parties, etc.
6. Your planner will of course create your timeline and be present on wedding day to act as "air traffic control."
7. Your planner will attend vendor meetings with you, act as your sounding board, and help you make the big ticket decisions.

Basically your planner will get to know you and your wedding vision from the very start and execute plans throughout engagement to make that vision come true.

Now let’s touch on a Partial Planner: Another caveat, I feel like everyone does partial a little differently, but this is how WE do our partials:

A Partial Wedding Planner is a service level up from a Wedding Coordinator. View it as the Event Management package with added support and coaching - not hands off planning like a Full Service.

In our partial plan, we help you set the foundation for your wedding plans by analyzing your budget, coaching you through vendor hires by sending a short list (usually 2-5) of vendor options that fit your budget/style, then you make the hires.

In a nutshell, a Partial Planner is your wedding planning coach, helping you stay on track and helping you make wise planning decisions along the way, then will execute your plans through Event Management at the 6 week mark!

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