Wedding Planner vs Designer vs Coordinator
What’s the Difference?!
When it comes to planning your big day, it can be overwhelming at first! From finding long ‘to-do’ checklists on Pinterest to reading new event planning terms, the list of what you need to figure out is never ending.
Many people choose to hire a professional in the wedding industry to give guidance & advice on creating the wedding of their dream. One of the most common questions a wedding planner gets asked is “What is the difference between a wedding planner vs designer vs coordinator?”
You may think that those terms are used to describe different jobs, which is correct! Or you may think that all those terms are used to describe the same job, which is also correct!
Sound confusing? First, let me break down the individual duties for each job:
Venue– Occasions at Laguna Beach | Photo– Two Fourteen Photography | Flowers– Flower Allie | Rentals– 24/7 Events, La Tavola Linens
Roles & Job
Wedding Planner
Wedding Planners are all about the logistics and organization of a wedding from the very beginning. Your wedding planner’s role is to support & give guidance throughout the entire planning process, often months or years in advance. Some of the many aspects of their job include:
– Creating & managing the wedding budget to ensure the couple stays on target
– Checklists of what needs to be completed month to month to stay on track
– Sourcing a venue & vendors to create the ideal team for your vision
– Act as liaison between you & all vendors, attend vendor meetings, and review contracts
– Create floor plans, seating charts, and timelines
Wedding Designer
A Wedding Designer concentrates the overall aesthetic & look of your wedding. From the lighting and the florals to the table scape and menu options, designers help couples with every detail. Wedding Designers specialize in:
– Creating a custom color palette & establish a design concept unique to your style, vision, & aesthetic
– Incorporate your personality into wedding designs
– Assist with selectioning floor to ceiling decor & styling elements, ensuring they work well in your venue space
– Enhancing guest experience through thoughtful design choices
– Understanding trends & incorporating fresh ideas
Wedding Coordinator
A Wedding Coordinators role is to ensure your wedding day runs smoothly behind the scenes so you can enjoy every moment! One word that best describes a wedding coordinator is ‘Manager‘. They begin working with you 3o- 60 days prior to your wedding. On the wedding day, a few of the jobs include:
– Managing setup & breakdown to ensure vendors supply according to their contracts
– Set out personal decor provided by you (card box, guest book, pictures, etc.), including packing these items up at the end of the night
– Cueing the couple, bridal party, family members and vendors for events such as processional, grand entrance and father/ daughter dance
– Timeline & floor plan management
– Assist with unexpected situations that arise on the wedding day
How do these roles work together?
Now that we understand the difference jobs of a wedding planner vs designer vs coordinator, what does that really mean?
As a general rule, the term ‘Wedding Planner’ encompasses all 3 roles (planner, designer, & coordinator), and is the most common out of the three. Planners are with you from booking your venue to sending you off in your getaway car, working on every aspect & design of your wedding.
For a Wedding Designer, their main & only focus is design. They work with you to create the look & feel of your wedding. Designers will assist with setup of your wedding, but only to focus on the designs. However, they are not there to run timelines or manage other vendors. It is common for a design and a planner to work as a team either at the same company or as separate vendors.
Wedding Coordinator is a defined term, meaning their role is to manage your wedding day. Coordinators do not help you book vendors, organize details, or create designs. While they do begin working with you at least 1 month prior to your wedding, coordinators use that time to learn & study your wedding to know every detail as if they were a part of the planning & design process.
Wedding professionals may advertise themselves or their packages in different & unique ways. On one website you may see a ‘Full Wedding Planning Package’, on another it says ‘Deluxe VIP Planning’, and on a third it is called the ‘Full XOXO Package’. It is important to look closely at the description of what the package offers. If you have any questions or want anything clarified, it is always best to reach out to the wedding professional and ask them directly!
*Remember!
Hiring a wedding planner or designer may not align with your budget. However, investing in a wedding coordinator is the best advice I can give any couple! Working with a wedding professional to run, manage, and assist the ‘behind-the-scenes’ of your wedding is crucial to a making your wedding memorable & stress free.
Sophia Kraak
Sophia Katarina Events