Wedding Coordinators seem to be the mythical unicorns of the wedding planner industry. I've had so many people ask what coordinating a wedding entails. How is a wedding coordinator different from a wedding planner? What does a wedding coordinator do? Is a wedding coordinator only for day-of-wedding coordination? Should I hire a wedding coordinator if my venue helps set everything up for the wedding?

You might not know what a wedding coordinator does but this is where my first-hand account of being a wedding coordinator and planner for 9 years comes in because I can tell you exactly 10 reasons why you should consider adding a wedding coordinator to your day.

1. Wedding Therapist

Did you know that wedding coordinators are also wedding therapists there to talk your through all aspects of your planning and the stress on your wedding day? You surround yourself with fantastic family and friends throughout the process but eventually they want a break from color schemes and koozie fonts. This is my favorite part of helping you plan your wedding! Being a part of the details that pull the event together and talking through any conflicts or wedding anxiety is a special position. I’m here to help you through the process and especially to see you through the most exciting day you’ve ever experienced!

2. Professional Cat Herder

Bridesmaids and caterers and uncle bobs, OH MY! There are so many people and jobs that are happening on your wedding day that it is easy for one mishap to send the whole timeline and group into chaos. While you are getting ready that should be the ONLY thing you are focused on - not whether or not the right people are getting to the right spot. While you are surrounded by so many people that love you, I’m here to make sure that you, your family, and your friends enjoy the day while I see that everyone and everything is where it needs to be, when it needs to be there!

3. Timeline Extraordinaire

Wedding timelines are an important document to make sure your wedding day runs seamlessly without problems. Timelines are probably one of my favorite things to put together as a wedding coordinator. Many wedding vendors will give you their own versions of a timeline but I take everything they give you and compile it into one document so that you know with one glance what should be happening right now. I make sure you won’t go over any time limits, that everything is as efficient as possible, and that on your big day I’m the only one that has to fret over making sure things happen on time. As a coordinator I want your day to run smoothly so from the beginning let’s coordinate your perfect day!

4. Personal Decorator

Because I work both as a wedding coordinator and a wedding florist, I have a slight decorating problem. If you ever come to my house you will see that I have bookshelves, china cabinets, and end tables galore full to the brim of treasures I've collected. I’ve got designs for custom balloon installations and incredible floral arches and I love finding gems with stories, then finding the perfect place to display it for all to see! I make sure all of the items you bring are where you want them in the most beautiful organized manner possible!

5. The Proverbial “Bad Guy”

Sometimes things happen. Sometimes vendors make mistakes or don’t handle things properly. People change clothes too early, a vendor is running late and didn’t let you know, or someone is breaking a venue rule. There are a number of things that can go wrong on your wedding day but I’m here to handle it so you can enjoy your day! As the wedding coordinator I act as the “bad guy” who has to correct mistakes or force people to act how they should. I handle any things that come up during the wedding day that threaten to throw things off track.

6. Expert Cake Tester

What cake to order for your wedding is probably my favorite, but one of the most difficult decisions for the wedding. What kind of cake and icing do we pick, and how in the world should we decorate it? Have no fear, I got you girl! I really do enjoy helping you choose how to decorate your cake, and I mean no one complains about samples! It doesn't stop at cakes though, I love helping you pull together the details of your wedding from the smallest items to the largest. From the stationary, the welcome table, the centerpieces, even the alter....I am here helping you coordinate the style of the whole shebang! You probably have a lot of ideas you love and as your coordinator I help you narrow them down to a cohesive theme and look that coordinates.

7. Girl Friday - Right Hand Woman

So what do wedding coordinators do exactly? The answer is whatever you need them to do! By your wedding day we have been through the entire process together and I’m aware of exactly how you want your wedding day to go. I know exactly why you picked what you picked and where you want everything! I am your go to girl and I will make it happen no matter what comes up. I’ve sewn dresses, fixed makeup, and hidden wine stains....no one has to know what goes on behind the scene! I help you make it pretty and more importantly, make it happen.

8. Time keeper

Wedding coordinators most important job on the actual day of the wedding is keeper of the timeline. Bouquet tosses, cake cuttings, first looks......to shove everything into one day you have to have a very strict wedding day timeline and stick to it. Sometimes multiple things are even happening at the same time. I make sure they all go off without a hitch, that we always start the ceremony on time, and that at the end of the night you’re not accidentally getting charged for a vendor being there too long.

9. Fire-woman

It doesn’t fail, weird things happen at weddings. It downpours and people get stuck in traffic, the plumbing goes out, you forgot your wedding certificate, your wedding bands arrive the day before your wedding, someone steps on the dress...I guarantee that you just have to roll with some of the things that happen unexpectedly on your wedding day. I make sure to take care of everything I can and that none of the worry or stress gets to you!

10. Dancing Instigator

We all know that weddings where no one dances are a bit awkward, but I’m a professional at making sure that doesn’t happen at our client weddings. I will warn you I am horrible at dancing. However, after years of coordinating weddings I am fantastic at getting people better at dancing than me into the dance floor! It’s the time of the night when people want to enjoy themselves and have fun for the remainder of the night so I love to start that party. I can’t wait to help you dance the night away as a newly married couple!

Wedding Coordinators Do It All

By now I hope you realize that a wedding coordinator really does it all - whatever job you need us to fulfill can be figured out. Our main job is to make sure your wedding goes off without a hitch and we’re experts at accomplishing that! Whatever jobs you need us to accomplish, get in touch and we will figure out how to make it happen!