One Bride’s Decision on Hiring a Wedding Coordinator
A wedding coordinator is a necessity in wedding planning. When I was planning my wedding in 2004, one of the first things my mother told me was that I needed to find a coordinator. She explained that one of the things that she regrets about her wedding is that she didn’t remember much of it because she was too stressed out making things happen. She wasn’t able to enjoy the party because of that stress and she wasn’t about to let that happen to me.
I would have been the last candidate in the world for a wedding planner if it weren’t for my mother’s urging. I was on my last few weeks as a public relations major – I basically got a degree in special events with all the functions I organized during my major coursework. I had interned with a special events company putting together feats 100 times larger than my 80-guest wedding in venues from hotels to NFL stadiums. I was going to have a simple church wedding with a nice luncheon to follow and let the after party roll on afterwards. Simple right?
Thank goodness I took her advice though. I live in Orange County, and with the wedding business grossing $72 billion per year in the United States, there are individuals clamoring to make their name in the wedding industry. With a wedding coordinator, a lot of the leg work will be done for you in finding the right band or DJ, the perfect location, or that flower that you just can’t live without.
Now before you go out and hire the first wedding coordinator you see, keep a few points in mind:
1.Make sure that the coordinator is offering the level of service you need and can afford. Know exactly what you need help with and what you can take care of yourself. Most will offer flat-fee packages, while some will base their fee on the guest count or total budget.
2.Ask coordinators if they are offered referral fees by other vendors. Those who take such fees are not as likely to refer you to the best vendor within your budget, but are more likely to send you to a vendor who will make it worth their while.
3.Make sure your personalities mesh. This is a person that both you and your fianc�© will be working with for the next few months to produce the wedding of your dreams. Make sure you like them!
4.Make sure you have a contract drawn up and read it carefully. Make sure there is a clause for you to get any fees paid back if the vendor bows out. Double check the dates and times. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
Beyond helping you find your perfect wedding vendors, a coordinator is responsible for making your day run smoothly. They will be the ones confirming all your vendors in the days prior to your wedding, creating a timeline for your wedding party to follow and making sure that each flower and musician is in place prior to your first steps down the aisle. A great professional wedding coordinator makes everything run smoothly without getting in the way of your venue’s staff and without catching the attention of your guests.
Now some sites, DJs or florists offer woordination services as an added bonus to their services – these are not the coordinators you need during your wedding day. edding cYour florist’s job is to make sure that the flowers are in place and fresh-looking, your DJ needs to keep the party going and the site coordinator should be doing just that – making sure the wait staff is keeping your guests as happy for you as they were when they left the ceremony. These should not be the people helping you bustle your dress or making sure that the best man is in his seat when it’s time for his toast – they have their own jobs to worry about.
The top-rated hotels and wedding sites in the United States now require their wedding couples to hire a personal wedding coordinator when holding their event on their grounds. This ensures that the bride and groom have their personal needs taken care of, while the hotel can concentrate on what they do best. It enhances the overall satisfaction of their customers, both newly married couples and their guests.
My wedding went off seamlessly – from the bright blue cake that my coordinator so brilliantly suggested to the honorary first dance by my parents. My coordinator checked in the caterer, set up my decorations exactly how I wanted them and made sure we actually had some of the delicious food that we paid for! I remember every moment of that day and I have three people to thank – my husband, my mother and my wedding coordinator.
