What Is Something Special You Are Able To Offer Clients
At Grangefields we offer epic weddings and we work closely to ensure everything is perfect for our couples in their own unique way. The food offering is of the highest possible quality, the venue and facilities are stunning, we are relaxed but professional in our delivery and will always go above and beyond on the day to ensure it is literally the best day of their life. You are in the safest possible hands with myself and my team.
I Really Want To Have Help But Cant Afford It What Else Can I Do
Another option is to look at the possibility of hiring an assistant who works for a respected wedding planner. Ask vendors if they know of anyone and call wedding planners with a great reputation to see if they have an assistant who may be willing to do it for you. Assistants have likely worked at many weddings and understand the basic requirements. While they wont be as skilled with problem solving as an experienced planner, at least youll have someone there who has worked at weddings before and can help with the flow of the day. The cost for hiring an assistant will vary greatly, but shouldnt cost more than $500 $1,000.
The final option is to hire an extremely organized friend who will act as your coordinator for the entire day. This cannot be anyone from your wedding party, close family, or anyone with a drinking problem! Its also not the job for anyone timid as they will be directing your vendors and guests. If you are thinking about hiring a friend, make sure to become a member and watch our video on the Top 7 Mistakes DIY Brides Make & How to Avoid Them so you can skip the common pitfalls that can do along with hiring a friend. Also, be prepared to pay this friend either with cash or an expensive thank you gift as it is a big job. We highly recommend having a written agreement on exactly what your friend is responsible for in advance.
The Day Of Wedding Checklist
Checks in With the Couple
The first matter of business on the wedding day is to check in with the couple. The coordinator will see how they are feeling, if they need anything, and provide them with any important updates.
Keeps the Wedding on Schedule
On the day of the wedding, your coordinator makes sure everyone sticks to the prepared timeline as closely as possible. They are the ultimate timekeeper, and will make sure everything stays on schedule, plus shift things accordingly if need be.
Coordinates With Each Vendor
The wedding coordinator will communicate with each vendor as they arrive, make sure they have everything they need, and check that they have fulfilled all of their services as promised. The coordinator should have all vendor contracts on hand, so if anything is forgotten or not as expected, they can address it.
Keeps Tabs on the Wedding Party
The coordinator makes sure your wedding party is where they need to be at the correct time, whether that means in the makeup chair, putting on ties, or lining up for the grand entrance. He or she also keeps the bride tucked away, so neither guests nor her SO will spot her before her walk down the aisle.
Keeps Track of Important Items
Some of the smallest details of your wedding are the most important. The coordinator knows this and is in charge of keeping track of these crucial items, either by entrusting them to an assistant or member of the wedding party:
- Wedding rings
- Vows
Oversees Set-up and Tear-down
Puts Out Fires
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Working With The Wedding Party
The coordinator must instruct the bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, ring bearers, parents and officiant on how to stage the ceremony and make entrances at the beginning of the reception. This often involves working with the musicians or DJ to ensure attendants enter and exit at the correct time. The coordinator should also instruct the best man and maid of honor when to give their speech during dinner. If any attendants have issues or questions on the day of the wedding, they should direct them to the coordinator instead of the bride, groom or parents.
What Is A Day
A day-of wedding coordinator is a person responsible for making sure the wedding day or weekend is executed perfectly. Their roles include overseeing vendors, managing the timeline, and overcoming any last-minute challenges that arise during the festivities.
“The day-of coordinator is responsible for the flawless execution of the already-made plans,” says wedding planner Shollah Oshikanlu. They’re also the point of contact for vendors, so questions or concerns are diverted away from the happy couple and their families. Unlike the wedding planner, who envisions, curates, and books the wedding, this type of professional makes sure everything is pulled off seamlessly in real time.
Meet the Expert
Shollah Oshikanlu is an Atlanta-based wedding planner and day-of wedding coordinator with over 10 years of experience. She is the founder of Unique Events by Shollah.
Read on to find out what a day-of wedding coordinator does, how much they cost, and whether you need to hire one for your wedding.
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Reasons To Hire A Day
If youre confident that you can take care of most of your wedding planning duties on your own but still would like a bit of help with the finishing touches, a day-of wedding coordinator might be worth looking into. Theyll work alongside you in the last few days leading up to the main event to ensure everything is running smoothly, saving you from stressing out at the last minute. Theyll be responsible for finishing what you started by assisting and directing your wedding vendors, keeping an eye on your itinerary, managing setup and the breakdown and handling all the other little things in between so that you dont have to oversee your wedding plans while youre trying to soak up every moment of your celebration. If day-of wedding coordination sounds like something youd be into, read on.
Here are the reasons you may want to hire a day-of wedding coordinator.
Which Current Wedding Trend Do You Want To See More Of
I am a lover of ensuring every wedding is different at Grangefields. By working closely with my couples we ensure aspects of their lives are incorporated into their big day there is nothing better than elaborate garden games, salsa dancing or a fire show to bring a wedding party together.
A recent wedding had a rum and reggae hour, whereby we produced lots of perfectly crafted rum cocktails whilst the DJ got everyone grooving to some Bob Marley classics! The more unusual concepts are the things that ensure all the guests remember our weddings over others.
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Coordinators Coordinate With Your Vendors
A day-of wedding coordinator has many jobs, both leading up to and during the big day. One of their most important functions is coordinating with vendors. Coordinators typically meet with vendors before the wedding to make sure theyre aware of scheduling. They work with the caterer to make sure that they arrive on time and have time to set up. They make sure that any special dietary requirements are met and that meals, dessert bars, and any special food stations are set up and ready by the time everyone arrives.
Beyond helping with catering, a wedding coordinator is constantly behind the scenes working with the venue, florist, decor team, and other staff members. They make sure the tables are set according to the couples instructions, ensure that the officiant is on time and the ceremony starts when its supposed to, and that all vendors are ready. They can even work with the photographer to make sure that the couple gets the wedding photos they want.
Offer Fashion Input And Expertise
Need an extra pair of eyes when deciding what your bridesmaids, groomsmen, family members, and other people in your wedding party? Leave it to your wedding planner to lend their expert advice. And if you want an objective opinion when shopping for your wedding dress, suit, tuxedo, or accessories, your planner can offer guidance on that, too.
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Take The Worries And Details Of Your Wedding Day Off Your Shoulders By Hiring A Day
While they dont help you with the original plan and decisions for your wedding day, a Day-Of Wedding Coordinator will make sure all your hard work and planning is accomplished to your vision. For example, they may not make the seating chart and place cards, but they will make sure everyone is seated in the proper spot. They wont help you plan the menu, but they will make sure the caterer begins serving on time and everyone has a plate.
Day-Of Wedding Coordinator Responsibilities:
How Much Time Will They Spend On My Wedding
An experienced, professional, DOC spends between 15 20 hours in preparation for your wedding day. This includes calls and emails with you, offering vendor advice and recommendations, finalizing your timeline, contacting all your vendors and sending everyone the necessary information for the big day. They will spend approximately 2 hours for rehearsal and at least 10 hours on the wedding day . This amounts to roughly 30 hours of work. In addition, many will also provide an assistant who will be there for an average of 8 hours on your wedding day.
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How To Find The Perfect Wedding Planner
Youre engagedso exciting!and now its time to make some decisions about wedding planning. Lots of decisions. So many decisions that it can feel a little bit overwhelming. But rather than go-it alone, your very first decision should be whether to hire a wedding planner, and if so, who that planner is going to be.
In fact, hiring a wedding planner is one of the most important decisions youll make about your big day, and lots of factors go into it. But first, a little background.
What does a wedding planner do? He or she can be one of the most valuable team members youll work with, and can support you as you navigate all the elements of your nuptials, including the overall wedding design, coming up with a wedding theme, hiring other vendors like the caterer, photographer and florist, and so much more. Some will even help you find your dream dress. Planning a wedding can feel daunting and it is hard to figure out where to start for many people, says Melanie Zelnick of San-Francisco-based Glow Events. If you begin the journey with a planner, you will have a road map to the planning process and assistance for choosing the rest of your vendor team.
But finding the right wedding planner for your needs can also be a daunting task. Weve broken down some of the key factors to think about as you research and meet with potential wedding planners, and to help you navigate your choices.
What Is The Role Of Wedding Coordinator
A wedding coordinator is tasked with a leadership and organization role over all wedding vendors, details and wedding-day tasks. Also known as a wedding planner, the coordinator maintains contact with all vendors during the planning period and acts as a liaison between the bride and groom and the various wedding participants. The planner may also offer consultative advice and help with the budget.
The idea of getting paid to coordinate weddings might seem like a dream come true for many. Wedding coordinators and planners help build the agenda of the event, including the ceremony, the décor, the reception, and entertainment. They create a unique and memorable experience for everyone who attends.
But the job is not without some significant pressure. A wedding coordinator must effectively be a jack of all trades and must possess certain skills that are essential to performing each of them.
The job can involve hand-holding in one moment, chasing down a vendor the next moment, and corralling loafing employees with the very next breath.
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Tips For Hiring A Day
Most of us dont realize how much work planning a wedding is until we get engaged. In a recent survey done by Wedding Paper Divas, 40% of brides were spending 10-15 hours PER WEEK on her wedding. Its practically a part time job. While most of us wish we could afford to hire a wedding planner to help with every little detail, the majority of us simply cannot afford it.
When it comes to the big day itself, the work and stress doesnt stop. There are tables to be set, deliveries to sign for, timing to be determined, and vendors to direct. Guess who gets to manage all that? You! Unlessyou hire someone to help. Hiring a day of wedding coordinator is one of the best investments you can make for your special day.
What Does A Wedding Planner Do
A wedding planner is experienced at listening and executing your vision for your wedding day. They have a list of vendors that they prefer to work with, and they take out the guesswork making your wedding flow with ease. There are different types of planning services including, Full-Service Planners, Event Designer, Day of Coordinator, and A la Carte Planner.I am fortunate that I get to meet many couples, and quite often these questions are asked:
What are your thoughts on wedding planners?
Are they needed?
I was told to look into it!
Do you think they are worth it?
There is often a big grey area and confusion about planners as many brides initially think they are for the rich and super-wealthy. I started my photography career in 2007, and I will say that not one bride and groom has ever regretted hiring a wedding planner. I have a list of preferred vendors that I recommend, as I only want the best for my clients. I have often found if a bride and groom are busy people and they want a smooth and fun wedding day, and they are best to go with a wedding planner. And by the way, they are not for the super-wealthy, some are for sure, but most have built their businesses around small to medium-sized weddings.
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What Is A Certified Wedding Planner
A certified wedding planner is someone who has completed an industry-approved educational program and who often has substantial professional experience as well. The certification is granted by the educational authority, such as Longevity Universitys Wedding Planning Institute, which offers courses through several colleges.
Industry associations also have certification programs. For example, the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners requires candidates to have done full-service planning for three weddings within 18 months, have completed two mentorships by AACWP members and accredited educational courses, and furnish business credentials: a business license, proof of liability insurance, client references, and two accounts with national suppliers.
