Photography: Joseph Esser Photography
Similar to finding love, finding your wedding vendors can take some dating. Sometimes you can find “the one” during your first date (aka your initial consultation) and sometimes it takes a few conversations and advice from married friends to know if they are the right one for you! Though most wedding vendors, such as hair & makeup artists, florists, photographers/videographers, entertainment, etc. have photos & videos of their service that will help you select the vendor that will bring your wedding vision to life, wedding coordinators are a little different. Unfortunately there’s not exactly a photo/video that can encompass all that the company does to plan and execute your wedding day. So knowing that selecting a wedding coordinator is no easy task, we wanted to share a few things to consider when hiring a coordinator for your wedding!
Expectations
In life we often realize we had certain expectations about something or someone, after those expectations are not met. Similarly, when hiring a wedding coordinator you may not be actively aware of the expectations you have of your coordinator until those expectations are not met (and we don’t want that to happen!). At the same time your wedding coordinator may not know that you have certain expectations of the kind of service you expect to receive from them. So to avoid any unmet expectations, we highly recommend that couples consider the type of service they expect from their coordinator and to vocalize them during their initial consultation. Managing your expectations and sharing them with your coordinator will ensure that you will get the wedding that you hoped for because both you and your coordinator are on the same page!
Photography: Ashley Goodwin Photography
Communication
In every relationship whether it’s romantic or in this case a working relationship, communication is key! In your initial consultation with your coordinator, consider asking about their communication policy. While some coordinators allow their couples to contact them 24/7 by text, email, and phone, others allow their couples to only contact them during business hours no more than 1 month prior to their wedding. As every company has a different response time and communication policy it’s important to chat with your prospective coordinators on this so you know what kind of level of communication you can expect from them.
Reputation
As a wedding coordinator is one of those services that you only really want to use once in your life, it’s hard to know what you want in one when you’ve never had to hire one before. When you haven’t done something before the best way to find out more about it is to of course ask someone who has! Asking for advice from friends/family members who have hired a wedding coordinator before, especially if the coordinator they hired is one you’re considering, can be really helpful in getting an inside scoop on the company’s service! Along with word of mouth, reading reviews on the company and even checking out their website to learn more about their history and services can help you get an idea of what it’s like working with them before you say “i do” to their contract!
Cost
Last but definitely not least, is the cost of the wedding coordinator. We know that so many couples are planning their wedding on a budget and sometimes it’s hard to validate the cost of such an intangible service. When meeting with various wedding coordinators, don't be afraid to ask for a quote or an estimate of what they will charge you for their services. And at the same time evaluate if the service they are providing at the cost that they’re asking best fits your needs and your budget. At the end of the day whether you hire them or not, wedding coordinators want to help couples have the wedding of their dreams. So if you do have a strict budget let your prospective coordinator know, they may be able to help you find a service or company that’s in your budget!
Photography: Absolutely Loved Photography
A cost friendly service that we offer is the creation of a detailed timeline for your wedding day. This service is perfect for the couple that just want the peace of mind that the schedule of their wedding day has been created and approved by a professional coordinator.
To learn more about this service click HERE!
Additional Wedding Coordinator Resources
Is Planning a Wedding Really That Hard? Do I Need a Wedding Planner?
What Does a Wedding Planner Typically Cost? How Do They Determine Their Fee?
XOXOXO
(A Perfect Day)