If you’re a newlywed-to-be who has recently begun planning the wedding of their dreams, I bet your Google search history may look a little something like this…

• What is a wedding planner
• What is a wedding coordinator
• What is a wedding coordinator vs wedding planner
• Should I hire a wedding planner or a wedding coordinator

While the two terms are similar, they aren’t interchangeable. Both a coordinator and a planner are vital components of the wedding industry, and they each offer a unique scope of service, and value to your planning process and wedding day.

Let’s break the two down further, so you can make the decision to hire the service that best fits you and your needs!

At its heart, planning a wedding is a whole lot of project management. The wedding day is the project, and its various components, things like the timeline, vendors, budgets, design, etc. all need to be managed. A coordinator, and a planner each take on different roles and responsibilities at different points in the process to ensure all moving parts come together seamlessly.

What is a wedding planner?

A wedding planner is responsible for the entire wedding, and its components from the very beginning of the planning process, until the very end. They take the lead on the project management side of your wedding, while you take a supporting role, making decisions, and completing your personal tasks. Along the way, a planner will take on the majority of the work, communication, logistics management, details, sourcing, email writing, and invest the time required to plan a wedding. Along the way, your planner will check in with you to make decisions, and provide updates. 

Hiring a wedding planner is perfect for couples who want a beautiful wedding, yet they don’t want to invest every spare moment of time they may have (or don’t have) planning it. A planner takes the lead, giving you your time back, all while making your wedding dreams come to life. You’re still very much involved in the process, but get to focus on the fun parts of planning – like dress fittings and cake tastings.

What is a wedding coordinator?

A wedding coordinator is responsible for taking all of the well laid plans you’ve made, and making sure everything comes together as it should on the day of. Along the way, your coordinator will be there for support, advice, and recommendations, but you take the lead on project management of your wedding. During the final few months, your coordinator will step in to begin finalising your details, confirming vendors, and making sure everything is as it needs to be for your dream wedding day. 

Hiring a wedding coordinator is perfect for couples who are excited and ready to invest time to plan their wedding, but they know they’ll need support in the final weeks leading up to, and on the day of. You’re fully immersed in planning your day, and toward the end, get to focus on being the newlywed, instead of the planner.

What is the difference between a wedding planner, and a wedding coordinator?

A wedding planner makes the plans for your wedding. A wedding coordinator coordinates the plans you’ve already made for your wedding.

A planner works from the very beginning in a one on one capacity, while a coordinator steps in during those final few months to offer support in a one on one capacity. While a coordinator can assist you in planning, offering advice, or recommendations, they do not source vendors, manage communication, or act as a replacement for 

A planner initiates plans, details, and logistics for you, and a coordinator confirms plans, details, details and logistics you’ve already put together.

I know that I need help, but I can’t decide. Should I hire a wedding planner or a wedding coordinator?

The decision to hire a planner or a coordinator really comes down to your own specific needs, requirements, and in some cases, personality type.

If you aren’t prepared to spend all of your spare time planning, sourcing, and sending hundreds of emails, or if you feel lost in the overwhelm of it all, struggling to make decisions and figure out what you want, a full service wedding planner may be best for you.

If you feel you’re excited about planning, know exactly what you want, and prepared for the investment of time that’s required, a coordinator may be best for you.

If you’re stuck between the two, think beyond just your wedding day. You deserve to enjoy every moment of your engagement and the planning process, just as you deserve to bask in every second of happiness on your wedding day.

Whatever direction you choose to go in, having a wedding planning partner on your side is the best investment you can make in your wedding day. A planner or coordinator is the one vendor who knows your day inside and out, takes care of your vision, and supports you along the way.

If you’re looking for planning support, I’m here to help. Connect with me today about your wedding day.

Photography by Taylor Ehman Photography