The Pros of Hiring a Coordinator
A coordinator is a very essential component to any wedding planning process. Coordinators are experienced in negotiating and have relationships with all the vendors needed for an event. They can save you lots of time, stress and money. They are aware of discounts that are only available to them because of their relationships with the vendors they know and work with repeatedly. They also will know the things you should look for when selecting a vendor and which vendors to stay away from.
Most brides work every day and have other responsibilities. The average wedding can take more than two hundred fifty hours just to plan. It is very overwhelming to keep up with all of the details of planning a wedding and one mistake can be very costly. It may be hard to compare all the options, the services and contracts. I encounter many brides that pick a venue before they come to me only to find that they have overlooked some important details that is going to have a big impact on their budget.
A coordinator is not hired to make decisions for the bride. Our job is to lead the bride in the direction of the best possible resources and advise her along the way. We point out potential problems, offering viable ideas and solutions, which is imperative. Knowledge is power. We will help you organize a dream wedding and keep the budget intact by suggesting ways to get the most bang for your buck!
Things to Consider When Hiring a Wedding Coordinator
When hiring a coordinator, ask questions, both of yourself and the prospective coordinator. Here are some questions to guide your decision making:
- How comfortable do you feel with this person? Trust is very important in any relationship. You should feel completely comfortable and feel like she is listening to what your ideas are and understands them.
- It is important to find out how long the coordinator has been in business.
- What types of packages are offered? What are the rates? Is there a payment plans? Review the contract before signing and ask questions.
- Does she have an assistant that will help with your wedding?
- Does she offer other services?
- Does she stay for the entire event? How many hours are included in the fee?
- Will she be at rehearsal? How much time does she allow for rehearsal?
- Does she have a backup plan if she is not able to attend your event?
As far as fees are concerned, coordinator fees can vary. They can charge a flat rate or a percentage of your budget. Stay clear of coordinators who take kickbacks from other vendors. A coordinator should always have their client’s interest first and not the vendors she is affiliated with.
Get the Most Out of Your Special Day!
Now, you can be adamant about doing this yourself or have a family member do it and that’s fine. But please let me share some of the possible scenarios. First of all, it’s your wedding day! Do you really want to take the chance of there being a problem that you or your family member may not be equipped to handle? Also, weddings are a lot of work. Do you think you will want to work yourself to exhaustion? And how many places can you be at one time? What happens if the DJ doesn’t show up or the photographer happens to disappear right when you’re supposed to go down the aisle? Who is going to make sure everything is going as planned at the reception location while you are getting married at the church? And remember, the person that will be available to you at the venue is NOT a wedding coordinator, they are venue facilitators. They will make sure you have the correct number of tables and chair and the correct linens and that’s about it.
A professional coordinator has the training and experience to do the ground work, the leg work, and the grunt work, making sure it all comes together. Meanwhile, you can relax and enjoy your day. Also, professional vendors appreciate a good coordinator on-site at a wedding. It helps things flow easier and they all speak the same language.
Source: WedAlert.
