The man of your dreams just popped the question! At first there is excitement... then comes the realities of planning a wedding. It can be stressful and overwhelming. From picking a date, bridesmaids, venue, musicians, bakers, florists, designers, the invitations, a floor plan, the list goes on.
This should be the happiest day of your life! You should only have to worry about marrying your man and enjoying the day. Not worrying if the DJ is running late or the florist brought the wrong flowers, or Uncle Bob and Rob are fighting again... or it starts to rain. This is a brides nightmare.
Well some of us have been planning and dreaming of this day since we were five. These hopeless romantics might only need a wedding coordinator or consultant. On the other hand some of us never thought we would see the day of marriage - now you are freaking out at all the things to do.... these people might need a planner.
Well what's the difference between all of these?
con·sult·ant
/kənˈsəltnt/
noun 1. a person who provides expert advice professionally.
Most people will consider a wedding consultant and a coordinator to be the same. The difference between the two is a consultant simply provides advice and recommendations to the couple. Nothing more. A consultant might put in about 30 hours or less to one couple. They will do the research of *finding* venues, bakers, florists, photographers, etc. They exist to provide recommendations and which places/people to avoid.
I emphasize "finding" because a consultant will not and does not contact the vendors.
Why would someone need a consultant?
If you don't know where to begin, hiring a consultant is a great place to start. They can give you an idea of what all you need to look for for your wedding. Ideally, a consultant is good for those who have time management skills and who want to be more hands on with their wedding.
co·or·di·na·tor
/kōˈôrdənādər/
noun 1. a person whose job is to organize events or activities and to negotiate with others in order to ensure they work together effectively.
The wedding coordinator comes into play about 4-8 weeks before a wedding. The role of a coordinator is to make sure everything runs smoothly. They will be the point of contact on the day of the wedding. The coordinator is essentially the director of your wedding day. They tell people where to go, what to do, where to be, handle conflicts, etc. They also contact the vendors to make sure they are showing up.
Why would someone need a coordinator?
I strongly believe every bride needs a professional coordinator at the very least. If a couple has it all planned out from beginning to end, that is awesome! BUT who is going to execute all the details? The bridesmaids? Mother of the Bride? Those are good options... but they are going to want to partake in your special day as well. No one wants to stress about setting up tables or making sure the vendors have arrived. They will be focused on getting dressed and focused on the bride. However, a coordinator removes the weight off of everyone and assures everything will run smoothly - so the couple, families, and friends can enjoy their day.
plan·ner
/ˈplanər/
noun
1. a person who makes plans.
Honestly, it is kind of funny how simple the definition is of a planner, but the job itself is very complex. A planner is the whole sha-bang - they are the consultant and coordinator wrapped into one.
Why would someone need a planner?
A planner is a good option for those who have little to no time to plan a wedding. If you aren't great with money, a planner can also help with managing your budget. The role of a planner is to make sure everything the bride wants, the bride gets. They keep everything stress free during the ceremony to the reception.
Just get to the point...
In summary, here is a simple breakdown of the three.
