Wedding planner + Venue coordinator, what's the difference?

The wedding planner and venue coordinator combo.

Here we discuss the key differences between a wedding planner and venue coodinator.. and ultimately which one you need. Firstly, a wedding planner is hired by the couple, a venue coordinator in employed by the venue.

Wedding planners play a role that extends beyond just the venue. They look at the broad picture incorporating the details and feelings that are important to the couple and make sure they are seamlessly included in every aspect of the wedding.

During your wedding day your planner takes up the role of logistics conductor. Ensuring your breakfast platter is delivered so you eat before the ceremony, all of the styling elements that have been meticulously planned for the reception come together or, coming up with a solution when your celebrant has lost their voice and you need a quick replacement. All the while making sure you stay inside the wedding day bubble as they take care of anything and everything that may be going on outside of it. And the good ones do this without you even realizing all this hard work is going on behind the scenes.

Venue coordinators are very different to planners but... don’t get me wrong, in many cases crucial to the running of the day. Their job is to ensure everything runs smoothly within the venue parameters. For example, the ceremony lawn has been cut, the reception area is prepared for when the florist and furniture deliveries come in and communicating with the wedding planner on anything venue related. Especially in large venues and ones that provide food and beverage internally, they will be playing a key role through the day. While in some cases your planner may depart once the dancing starts, the venue coordinator will be the one to lock the doors once the last, slightly wobbly guests have gone home.

A key difference is that venue coordinators work in one place. They are an expert on that one place and will be very knowledgeable on what is possible at the venue and on what is not. Wedding planners on the other hand, have an extensive network of connections and a comprehensive understanding of multiple venues across a town, city, or even country. So, if something is important to you but it’s not possible at a certain venue, your wedding planner will find you a different one where they can make it happen.

So often, your wedding planner and the venue coordinator will work together, and many have great relationships with each other. But the thing to remember is, the venue coordinator oversees ensuring the venue delivers what it promises and is looked after, ready for the next booking. Whereas your wedding planner is focused on every aspect of your wedding day including, venue/ guests/ décor/ your transport and all those little details like giving you sunscreen when it’s unexpectedly hot and making sure you have your favorite beverage in hand, before you even get thirsty. 

Imagery: Anneke Lisa, Kate Roberge, Jess Howzen