Venue Coordinator vs. Wedding Planner: How Our Team Offers the Best of Both

1. Venue Coordinator: The Venue’s Best Friend

A venue coordinator’s job is to focus on all things related to the venue itself. They are employed by the venue and make sure everything that pertains to the location runs smoothly.

Here is what a venue coordinator handles:

• Venue-Specific Tasks: This includes room layout, table and chair setups and managing any catering or bar staff that the venue provides.
• Logistics: They coordinate the timeline for your event, ensuring everything is in place on time, from when guests arrive to when dinner is served.
• Venue-Specific Rules: The venue coordinator ensures your event stays within the venue’s established guidelines, such as noise restrictions or parking regulations.

However, the venue coordinator does not handle:

• Wedding Planning: They are not responsible for planning your wedding vision or helping with things like choosing florists, managing your budget or booking off-site vendors.

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2. Wedding Planner: The Big Picture Organizer

A wedding planner is there to manage every aspect of your wedding, from start to finish. They help with vendor coordination, budgeting, designing your event and much more.

Here is what a wedding planner handles:

• Full Event Coordination: A wedding planner manages everything from creating timelines to making sure your event runs smoothly. They work with vendors, handle contracts and manage your overall vision.
• Design & Aesthetic: Wedding planners help bring your vision to life. They coordinate décor, lighting, floral arrangements and other design elements.
• Vendor Coordination: Wedding planners handle all communication with vendors, ensuring that everything is in place and running on schedule.

However, wedding planners do not handle:

• Venue-Specific Tasks: Wedding planners do not manage venue logistics or enforce venue-specific policies like a venue coordinator does.

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3. Our Team: The Best of Both Worlds

Here’s where we stand out: Our team offers a unique hybrid of venue coordination and wedding planning. When you book with us, you do not necessarily need a full wedding planner. Unless you want someone to take care of everything outside of the venue, or if you have specific needs, our team is equipped to handle almost every detail, ensuring you enjoy a seamless experience.

Here is what our team handles:

• Timeline & Event Coordination: From the moment you book with us, we guide you through creating your timeline, discussing the logistics and making sure your day unfolds exactly as planned.
• Layout & Design: We work with you to create the layout, design and flow of the event, so everything is aligned with your vision. We handle all venue-specific setup and décor, as well as all client-provided presentation ready decor, so you can relax and focus on enjoying your big day.
• On-Site Execution: On your wedding day, we are with you every step of the way. We oversee the setup, ensure everything is in place and make sure the day runs smoothly. We work closely with your vendors to ensure they are in sync with the venue’s logistics.
• Vendor Communication (When Necessary): While we do not handle all vendor communication, we are in regular contact with your vendors to ensure they have the information they need and that everything is aligned for your big day.

What we do not handle:

• Off-Site Events & Full Vendor Coordination: We focus solely on the venue and event day logistics. We do not manage other wedding weekend events such as rehearsal dinners, nor do we book or manage vendors (except those directly related to the venue).
• Budget Management: While we help with coordination and logistics, we do not manage your wedding budget or assist with cost breakdowns. However, we can direct you to vendors that would better align with your budgetary requirements.

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4. Do You Really Need a Full Wedding Planner?

If you book with us, you may find that you do not need a full wedding planner. Our team is equipped to manage the venue, your timeline, setup and overall event coordination, giving you the flexibility to focus on other elements of your wedding without feeling overwhelmed.

However, if you feel you need help with the entire planning process, such as managing the budget, selecting off-site vendors or handling complex logistics, then hiring a wedding planner may still be a good option. For many couples, our hybrid approach is all they need to create their dream wedding without the extra cost of a full wedding planner.

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5. When Should You Hire Both?

For couples planning a very large, complex wedding, or those who want to ensure every detail is professionally managed, hiring both a wedding planner and a venue coordinator is a great option. Here is why:

• A wedding planner manages everything outside of the venue, such as vendor coordination and design. They are your go-to for any overarching wedding planning needs.
• A venue coordinator handles all the logistics and coordination at the venue, ensuring everything runs smoothly on-site.

For those who are comfortable managing their own vendors, our team’s hybrid approach can cover all of your needs without requiring a full wedding planner.

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In the end, understanding the difference between a venue coordinator and a wedding planner is essential in deciding what kind of support you need for your wedding day. At our venue, we combine the best of both worlds, providing you with personalized event coordination and venue management without the need for an additional wedding planner, unless, of course, you want one.

From timeline creation to on-site execution, our team is dedicated to making sure your wedding day runs seamlessly. You can trust us to handle the venue logistics, so you can focus on enjoying your day. Whether you need a wedding planner or not, we are here to guide you every step of the way!

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