Wedding Designer vs Planner vs Coordinator: Understanding the Differences
What is a Wedding Designer?
A wedding designer is responsible for creating the overall design concept of your wedding. This includes developing the theme, color palette, and floral selections. They communicate with vendors and collaborate with wedding planners to implement the design effectively.
Designers create layouts, manage decor budgets, and identify potential issues that may arise.
Why Hire a Wedding Designer?
If decor is a top priority for you or if you have multiple style ideas that you’re struggling to narrow down, a wedding designer can be an invaluable asset to your planning team.
What is a Wedding Planner?
A wedding planner oversees all aspects of your wedding day. They assist in managing your budget, planning timelines, and helping you choose attire, venues, music, and catering. Planners also help brainstorm design styles and coordinate with vendors and other team members.
Additionally, they manage rehearsals and handle behind-the-scenes details to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Why Hire a Wedding Planner?
If you have a tight timeline, want to minimize stress, or lack the time or organizational skills to plan your wedding, hiring a wedding planner can greatly ease the process.
What is a Wedding Coordinator?
A wedding coordinator, also known as a wedding consultant, is the point person on your wedding day. They typically step in about a month before the wedding to ensure all logistics are in order, including guest counts, payments, and vendor coordination.
Coordinators create detailed timelines and conduct final walkthroughs to ensure no detail is overlooked.
Why Hire a Wedding Coordinator?
If you prefer to handle the planning but need someone to manage last-minute details and serve as the point person on your wedding day, a wedding coordinator can be a valuable resource.
Considerations About Wedding Day Roles
It’s common for the mother of the bride to serve as the point person on the wedding day. However, surveys show that many brides and mothers wish they had hired an external coordinator instead, as it allows mothers to enjoy the day without the burden of responsibilities.
What is a Wedding Facilitator?
A wedding facilitator is typically provided by the venue. They handle setup, teardown, and cleanup but do not manage decor or the day’s itinerary. Hiring a wedding facilitator can significantly reduce stress on your wedding day.
Things to Consider Before Hiring
Before hiring any wedding team, consider your budget. Wedding planners are usually the most expensive option, charging around15-20% of the total wedding budget, but they offer comprehensive support from start to finish.
On the other hand, designers, consultants, and facilitators are generally more affordable but provide less extensive assistance.