Are you entertaining the idea of using a wedding coordinator for your special day? Every Little Detail Event Planning and Design made a list of a few helpful tips, as well as questions, you should ask when interviewing wedding coordinators.
Make sure you are comfortable with the person.
Is the coordinator listening to what you have to say about your wedding? They should be taking notes (mental or written) as to how you are envisioning your wedding day.
Do they scout vendors for your event?
Will it be a problem to use vendors outside of who they suggest?
Will they be there with you for your vendor appointments and negotiate contracts for you?
A full coordination wedding planner should scout the venue, DJ, florist, photographer, limousine, cake, caterer, and videographer as needed. They should look for vendors based on criteria of what you need and want for your wedding and then take you to various appointments for your final decision. A wedding coordinator should be open to any vendors you may suggest, or want to use and help negotiate a fair price for the services.
Does the person work with a team?
If so, who are all the people you will be working with?
Will the coordinator you met with be the one on your wedding day?
You should be able to meet all the people you will be in direct contact with. Again, you want to feel assured that they will do an amazing job for your wedding.
Do they design the timeline for the entire wedding day for you with your input?
This is something most important to brides and grooms. The timeline is to keep the day running smoothly and orderly for everyone involved. The wedding coordinator should design multiple timelines for the day. For example: a Bride and Groom timeline, a bridal party timeline, a vendor timeline, and a reception timeline, just to name a few.
Do they coordinate with all the vendors involved and keep them informed of changes and time schedules?
Whether you have a full coordination or day of wedding planner, this is something you do not want to be worried about on your wedding day. You want to be able to sit back and relax and let the wedding coordinator you have hired handle all those details.
Know your budget.
Go into your consultation knowing the price you feel is reasonable for the services the wedding coordinator will be handling. A day of coordinator is usually an hourly rate. A full coordination wedding is usually a flat fee based on a percentage of the total budget. Write out the responsibilities of the wedding coordinator and negotiate based on the total budget you have set aside for your wedding. Whether you go above or below that total, the coordinators fee should not vary.
Make sure you are comfortable with the person.
Is the coordinator listening to what you have to say about your wedding? They should be taking notes (mental or written) as to how you are envisioning your wedding day.
Do they scout vendors for your event?
Will it be a problem to use vendors outside of who they suggest?
Will they be there with you for your vendor appointments and negotiate contracts for you?
A full coordination wedding planner should scout the venue, DJ, florist, photographer, limousine, cake, caterer, and videographer as needed. They should look for vendors based on criteria of what you need and want for your wedding and then take you to various appointments for your final decision. A wedding coordinator should be open to any vendors you may suggest, or want to use and help negotiate a fair price for the services.
Does the person work with a team?
If so, who are all the people you will be working with?
Will the coordinator you met with be the one on your wedding day?
You should be able to meet all the people you will be in direct contact with. Again, you want to feel assured that they will do an amazing job for your wedding.
Do they design the timeline for the entire wedding day for you with your input?
This is something most important to brides and grooms. The timeline is to keep the day running smoothly and orderly for everyone involved. The wedding coordinator should design multiple timelines for the day. For example: a Bride and Groom timeline, a bridal party timeline, a vendor timeline, and a reception timeline, just to name a few.
Do they coordinate with all the vendors involved and keep them informed of changes and time schedules?
Whether you have a full coordination or day of wedding planner, this is something you do not want to be worried about on your wedding day. You want to be able to sit back and relax and let the wedding coordinator you have hired handle all those details.
Know your budget.
Go into your consultation knowing the price you feel is reasonable for the services the wedding coordinator will be handling. A day of coordinator is usually an hourly rate. A full coordination wedding is usually a flat fee based on a percentage of the total budget. Write out the responsibilities of the wedding coordinator and negotiate based on the total budget you have set aside for your wedding. Whether you go above or below that total, the coordinators fee should not vary.
Most importantly…Have fun!
This is one of the biggest days of your life and you should enjoy every step of the wedding planning process. Best wishes on a wonderful marriage!
Every Little Detail Event Planning and Design offers wedding and event planning services in the Orange County, Inland Empire, Los Angeles County, and San Diego County areas.
