The difference between a coordinator and a planner

Couples are often confused by the difference between a wedding planner vs a coordinator. Well, this is a question we hear all the time and we are ready to clear it up. 

Let’s chat about a coordinator first. 

Coordinators typically start their process 4-8 weeks out from the wedding date (if you’re confused by the term “day of coordinator”, read this blog). We begin this process by getting to know more about your wedding date, what you’re doing in terms of decor, and vendor information. From there, we do some vendor communication to create a timeline and get things organized. Some coordinators offer just one meeting, and some offer two. It really depends on the company you’re booking with. If someone does offer a second meeting, this is usually used to finalize the timeline and make sure that everybody is on the same page. We also offer final vendor confirmations, where we make sure each vendor knows where they need to be at what time. 

Coordinators are important because you don’t need to be doing things like setting up, tearing down, vendor management, and putting out the fires on your wedding day. But, remember that you also get this when you hire a planner. 

Next, what’s the difference between a planner and a coordinator?

Planners are different from coordinators because they’re more extensive. While coordinators come in for the final moments to make sure everything makes sense, planners are there for the entire process planning the wedding alongside you to make sure that you’re getting the best vendors, the best prices, and the most beautiful day (or days if you’re looking for a wedding weekend 😉). 

Now, you might be wondering why you’d need to spend the money on a planner. Planners help reduce so much stress during the process – truth is, we’ve done this before. We know the best way to get things done, the best vendors to do it, and how to do it. For example, I see sooo many couples, especially during the budget stage, feeling lost and confused. They either don’t know where to start, don’t have the time, or just aren’t sure what’s happening. When you hire a planner, you have someone on your side that can easily explain things to you. For example, we recently chatted with a couple looking for a wedding in Bend, Oregon on a $10k budget with a view of Smith Rock and a 200 guest count. It’s just not possible. However, they had no idea. We also recently had a couple planning a Phoenix, Arizona wedding and they hired us to handle their planning process. They wanted a bright, colorful wedding, and we found their dream florist that they hadn’t seen before. We have connections that you might not find otherwise. This is the difference of hiring a planner versus a coordinator. 

Make sure to ask questions during your consultation with a potential planner to help decipher between their different packages and inclusions, specifically the difference between their planning packages and coordinating packages. Daisy and Sun Events offers consultations that specifically go over package differences – feel free to contact us here.