The Difference Between a Wedding Planner and a Wedding Coordinator, and Which One is Right For You

Wedding planners and wedding coordinators are similar, but they have different roles in planning and executing a wedding. Today, we’ll look at what the differences are and explain which one is right for your budget and planning needs.

What does a wedding planner do?

A wedding planner does exactly what the title says, they plan the wedding, but not all wedding planners and packages are the same, as they differ in offerings. They will help find the perfect venue that matches your vision and will help find vendors to bring that vision to life. Some planners only focus on the logistics of planning and booking vendors, and others will also help you style and design your wedding. If a planner doesn’t offer design in a package or a la carte offering, there are wedding designers you can hire who just focus on the style and design aspect of wedding planning. Planners will help keep all the details organized so you don’t miss anything and keep you on track with a planning timeline, so you are doing tasks at the right time.

Is a wedding planner right for me?

If thinking about planning your wedding stresses you out and you have no idea how to start, hiring a wedding planner is your best bet if it fits in your budget. Or if you work a lot and don’t have the time to plan it yourself. A wedding planner may not be a great fit if you have a very tight budget (under $15,000-20,000) as you will need to allocate your funds for other wedding vendors. However, some planners have a la carte services, so if you have a tight budget, but are stuck on a wedding planning task, an a la carte service can help save you time, stress, and money. If you are Type A and you are beyond excited about planning your wedding, a wedding planner may still be a great investment to help save you time. You can still be involved in the planning without researching a million vendors or trying to do everything yourself. 

In my wedding planning package, I include five consultations, budget creation, vendor search and bookings, style and design, day of timeline creation, and monthly communications with checklists to keep you on track with planning. I also have several a la carte services that will help you out and match your budget, including consultations by the hour and vendor search.

What is a wedding coordinator?

While a planner does the heavy lifting at the beginning of planning, a wedding coordinator comes in later to tie up any logistical loose ends. They are physically there in person the day of to execute the wedding. Some wedding planners will also coordinate the wedding, but some planners do not offer coordination, so double check what your package entails. A coordinator is usually hired later in the planning process and they will start working with you about a month or two before the wedding. They will meet with you to get all the vendor contact information and all the details of what will happen the day of. Then, they create the schedule of the day, which vendors in the wedding industry call the Day of Timeline. Then, on your wedding day, they are there to make sure everyone stays on schedule to make sure that everything you want to happen the day of the wedding actually happens. They also make sure vendors know when and where to set up and help manage any problems that may come up so you can relax on your wedding day.

Is a wedding coordinator right for me?

Every bride needs a coordinator, the question is whether you will hire a professional or have a family member or friend do it. I recommend having a professional, whose job is to watch the clock and make sure everything runs on time. Not everyone in your bridal party will be watching the clock on the day of, and it is really easy to fall behind schedule and miss some of the special moments you wanted to happen. Some coordinators will also manage your wedding rehearsal along with your officiant so that it goes smoothly and everyone knows their part of the ceremony. Sometimes, this is an added service for an additional fee.

Wedding coordinators are perfect if you have a tighter budget, as wedding coordinators are a less expensive way to have a professional handle your wedding. If you really want to plan the wedding yourself, a wedding coordinator is the perfect vendor for you to hire, as they come in towards the end of the planning process and help with the logistics. If you already have a wedding planner hired, see if coordination services come with your package or if you need to purchase the service separately or hire a wedding coordinator along with your wedding planner.

My coordination service is purchased separately from my planning package. It includes two consultations, starting 6-8 weeks before your wedding, timeline creation and management, rehearsal management, vendor coordination, setup and teardown assistance, and checklists to make sure you don’t miss any important details.

I definitely need a wedding planner or coordinator, what are my next steps?

If you have decided you need a wedding planner or a coordinator, I would love to help you plan and coordinate your wedding! I am a full-time elementary teacher who decided to jump into wedding planning after planning my own wedding in 2024! When I’m not teaching or learning how to run my own business, you can find me buried in a romantic or inspirational novel, listening to music, and binging Netflix shows. I’m an avid traveler and currently have been to 42 states and 3 countries so far! If you want your wedding to be romantic, elegant, and timeless, I may be a good fit for you! Send me a message and let’s meet to get to know each other!