Ok, so I'm from the South, and while I'm sure this isn't done everywhere, in my upbringing everyone has a close family friend or friend of the bride be the wedding coordinator. I can't tell you how many times since I've gotten engaged that I've heard, "Hi, I'm so and so! I coordinated FI's parents' wedding!" or "Hey, remember when Auntie coordinated cousin's wedding?!" or "Man, remember friend's wedding that I coordinated last year! It was a blast!". The women are all very proud that they got to be the coordinator and they brag all the time about how they put the wedding of so and so together and how awesome the wedding was! I can't think of a wedding where there wasn't a friend or family member coordinating. We just don't hire someone to do what family can, at least in my experiences with friends and family (and even people at our family's church!).
So, have ya'll heard of this? Did any of you have a friend or family member as a coordinator? What advice would you give to a bride who wants to ask someone to be a coordinator? I know I have a friend who I'd like to be my coordinator, and while we've spoken about it on a very unofficial level, I'd like to do something nice for her and make it official.
Stories, advice, twists on the tradition, whatever you'd like to add would be lovely! Thanks, Knotties!