Understanding the Difference
External Wedding Planner
A wedding planner manages the entire wedding experience from start to finish.
Before the Wedding
- Weekly/monthly planning meetings
- Budget creation and management
- Vendor sourcing and recommendations
- Design and styling development
- Décor planning
- Invitation and stationery guidance
- Full wedding day timeline creation
- Accommodation and transportation planning
- Guest experience planning
- Ongoing planning meetings and check-ins
- Managing planning deadlines and to-do lists
- Hair and makeup scheduling
- Family coordination
- Ceremony processional planning
- Full wedding day logistics management
Wedding Day
- Lead point of contact for all vendors
- Bridal party and family management
- Décor installation and styling
- Timeline management for the entire event
- Ceremony coordination
- Troubleshooting and issue resolution
- Overseeing all aspects of the wedding day
Typical Venue Coordinator (Most venues don’t even offer a venue coordinator!)
A venue coordinator focuses on venue operations and ensuring the event runs smoothly within the venue.
Before the Wedding
- Approximately 3 venue planning meetings
- Floorplan development
- Menu and bar planning
- Venue logistics
- Final details review
- Coordination of venue-related vendors
Wedding Day
- Venue opening and preparation
- Coordination of venue staff
- Catering and bar service management
- Ceremony setup and room flips
- Venue logistics and timeline oversight
- Vendor access and venue operations
- Guest experience within the venue
- Ensuring food and beverage service runs smoothly