Venue Coordinator vs. Wedding Planner
I am often asked how a venue coordinator differs from a wedding planner. And, do you need both? Most venues include some kind of coordinator in their package. The exception is a bare-bones rental property with no extras. It's an empty building or open area. You must supply all rentals, catering, etc.
The Venue’s Coordinator will protect the property and ensure the venue meets its contracted duties. Without one, there would be no one to handle these tasks. This highlights the basic difference between a Venue Coordinator and a Wedding Planner. The venue employee's main focus is on the venue's needs and responsibilities. As a venue employee, they work on a shorter timeline and help with the essentials to prevent a bad review.
A Wedding Planner, on the other hand, works closely with you throughout the entire planning process to help with every aspect of planning. This typically includes creating and managing a budget, helping design a cohesive look, and finding and coordinating vendors to bring everything together seamlessly. They attend vendor meetings, review contracts, navigate tricky family dynamics, and organize thousands of details to ensure everything goes off without a hitch. They make sure nothing is forgotten, acting as a liaison between you, your vendors, and key guests on your wedding weekend, so everything runs smoothly and you can relax and enjoy it all.
They are your best friend and biggest advocate, every step of the way. They often spend hundreds, or even thousands, of hours planning and orchestrating your wedding vision.
They will work closely with each other to ensure everyone is on the same page and have what they need to best do their jobs. Ultimately, they complement each other to help make the wedding day run smoothly. At a simple venue, a Wedding Planner can perform the duties of a Venue Coordinator, in addition to their many other tasks. In contrast, a Venue Coordinator typically doesn't assume the broad range of responsibilities that a Wedding Planner has.