Thoughts on wedding coordinators...

matcha

Did anyone use a wedding planner/day-of-coordinator?  I'm really debating it.  One one hand, its $800 out of my rather limited budget.  On the other hand, I really want my wedding day to be stress-free and fun.  Any thoughts?

calindi

I have a day-of-coordinator.  I hadn't planned on it, but it's my Mom's really good friend who is a senior event coordinator for a big university, and she volunteered to do it for free (we're giving her a spa gift package as a thank you).  But the more I think about the details, the more glad I am that we have her.  I think it'll be the one thing that keeps my Mom sane on the wedding day!

I guess I'm on the fence about whether it's worth $800.  I think if we didn't have our coordinator, our caterer would probably be more than capable of pulling everything together.  I think it's just important to have someone who can run the show, tell vendors where to set up, make sure the tables are arranged the way you want, and who knows how to get in contact with any vendors who don't show up when they're supposed to.  If that someone is your venue coordinator, then great.  If that someone is your caterer, then great.  If you don't have that someone, then it might be worth paying someone to do it.

In our case, our venue coordinator is useless and I wouldn't trust her to do much more than unlock the doors to let us in.  However, our caterer is awesome and I believe could handle all the details.

How much set-up will you need?  Are there a lot of little details that need to be put out right, or is it mostly big stuff that are pretty straightforward?  Like setting up each individual escort card in the right way might need someone to pay attention to that, whereas if you can pre-arrange them and just have someone put it out the day-of (like if they're pinned to a board or something) then that's easier.

Beachy730

Does your reception venue provide any type of coordinator or person you're working with?  I had never considered hiring a cooridnator, but our reception center had one that was included for us when you booked their ballroom.  She took the business cards of all my vendors, and had me give them all her cell phone number for set up.  Everything was perfect, or at least as far as I know it was.  

From my experience I would never pay for a wedding coordinator, but a day of coordinator is nice to have.  However I wouldn't spend $800 on it.  I would rather hire a friend for much less, like $100-200, and have them be my point of contact for the vendors and have that friend know exactly where I wanted them to set up.

Zimsgirl

I had always wanted a wedding planner for the whole time but knew it wouldn't be possible. I don't know any in our area and it probably wouldn't work with our budget. I don't think it'd be worth $800. I'm saying screw it to a limo for the same reason. It's not worth a few hundred dollars for 2 hours. Our church sent us a packet that helps us plan every step of the wedding even the wording in parts. Then there's a banquet manager at our reception and we'll set up our stuff at 8 am and our florist will do the same with the flowers.

matcha

The venue has a staff that will help set-up and the caterer is more than professional and competent, but the venue strongly suggested a day-of-coordinator.  I don't think I'll have a lot of details- mostly centerpieces and the ceremony site.  I'm leaning towards not having one, but I was curious if anyone had discovered their DoC was totally impressive and necessary.

DarrahDoo

It is totally worth the $800!  I had one when I got married and it was sooo worth it!  She ended up picking up a lot of the pre coordinating as well for free (not guaranteed with everyone, but where do you draw the line on what is considered day of etc?). Wedding coordinators for even just the day of are experienced, professional, and often your vendors and your coordinator already know eachother.  It puts your vendors at ease, you at ease and the day is soooo much easier!  It's the little things like making sure your first dance is announced at the right time.  People know when drinks are served and dinner is served etc that you don't think about that they handle.  Dress crisis, BM attitudes, they can handle it all! Having a friend do it is great, but then that friend is constantly working.  I would rather my friends enjoy the day.  Not all of the venue coordinators or your vendors will work well together, so it is nice to have someone have your back!   I sound like an infomercial but I am very very pro day of planner!  Let mek know if you have any questions.

TeamBaby

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_thoughts-wedding-coordinators?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:5bc45f10-92cf-4dea-8289-494a51dbcbdcPost:4f2826fd-cd56-442b-ab90-300cc0f72bdc">Re: Thoughts on wedding coordinators...</a>:
[QUOTE]It is totally worth the $800!  I had one when I got married and it was sooo worth it!  She ended up picking up a lot of the pre coordinating as well for free (not guaranteed with everyone, but where do you draw the line on what is considered day of etc?). Wedding coordinators for even just the day of are experienced, professional, and often your vendors and your coordinator already know eachother.  It puts your vendors at ease, you at ease and the day is soooo much easier!  It's the little things like making sure your first dance is announced at the right time.  People know when drinks are served and dinner is served etc that you don't think about that they handle.  Dress crisis, BM attitudes, they can handle it all! Having a friend do it is great, but then that friend is constantly working.  I would rather my friends enjoy the day.  Not all of the venue coordinators or your vendors will work well together, so it is nice to have someone have your back!   I sound like an infomercial but I am very very pro day of planner!  Let mek know if you have any questions.
Posted by DarrahDoo[/QUOTE]


Yes!  All of this exactly!  I had a full coordinator (since I was planning from OOT), but coordinators in general (if you have a good one) are worth their weight in gold.  I didn't want anyone in my family or friends to have to do anything besides "show up" and enjoy the day and that's exactly what happened.  My coordinator handled everything and every tiny detail.  She set my venue up completely and even tore it all down at the end.  She worked with all the other vendors and ensured everyone knew their marks.  She handled everything during the ceremony (placing, timing, etc..), and throughout the eveing at the reception was like a personal assistant- helping me to fluff my dress, change my shoes, touch-up make-up.  You name it, she did it. 

My venue did come with an event manager, but their main priority is to ensure the staff at their venue is doing what they're supposed to.  They'll do some coordinating with other vendors to ensure those vendors know what to do/where to go, but they won't do nearly as much as someone who is hired to coordinate for you.  A coordinator is there for YOU and all about YOU and YOUR DAY.  An event manager is there for THEIR VENUE.  Now there definitely are some great event managers out there (I had one at my venue), but you'd be surprised at all the minor details that need attention throughout the day- and your venue person won't be/or won't get involved. 

If you can afford it, a DOC is an absolute must have.

kmmssg

We have 3 married DD's and had a wedding coordinator at the last one.  Best gift I could have given ME!  The kids live in Utah and got married back here in MI.  I'm her stepmom but she wanted me to help her plan which meant doing all the leg work back here.  I was fine with that. 

I rememered how crazy the first wedding was and how busy I was and I called DD and asked her how she would feel about a day-of-wedding coordinator.  She was leary about the budget as they were helping to pay for the wedding to.  I told her Dad and I would pay the extra money and it wouldn't come out of the wedding budget.  DH said it was money well spent because my stress level dropped like crazy.

We have one single DD and I told her that when she decides to get married she has to make sure our coordinator, Lynn, is available.  She was amazing and handled things like a champ.  I adored her.

If you can skip eating out, maybe pick up some part time work to cover the cost I would really encourage you to do that.  Get local reviews of anyone you are considering off of your local boards and make sure they have been doing this for awhile.  You don't want to be the guinea pig bride for them.

It was the best money we spent on that wedding!