Wedding planner VS venue coordinator

Friday, 20 November 2015 00:00

If you are thinking of a wedding in Spain the chances are you are planning a visit to look at venues and get an idea of what you want for your Big Day. In the process you may come across Venue coordinators offering to help you plan your wedding at their venue. If they are not charging a fee then it is tempting to think this is a convenient and cheap route for your Big Day. Before taking the plunge and booking your Spanish Wedding however do make sure you know the difference between a venue coordinator and a Wedding Planner as this can have a huge impact on the planning and day itself.


The Venue Coordinators!
Looking first at venue coordinators the primary thing to emphasise is that they only work at one venue. This means that they are essential employed by this venue to coordinate weddings and other events taking place there. They not only have a vested interest in you booking that particular venue therefore, but also have the venue´s interests at heart. 


A good example of this is when there are decisions to be taken about the weather and your wedding day meal. If skies are grey but you want your wedding outside. A venue coordinator will want to go with what is best for the hotel which may be to set up everything inside just in case…. Your wedding planner however works for you, so if you have specified eating al fresco will fight for this if at all possible, even if it means extra work for the hotel.


In addition to this venue coordinators are as their name suggests simply there to coordinate the parts of your wedding which pertain to the venue. Generally speaking they do not book additional suppliers for you or, crucially, advise you on whether these suppliers are suited for the venue and type of wedding you have in mind. If you are happy to use the hotel DJ or flowers therefore that´s great. If you want more choice however you will not only need to find these yourself but check what is and isn´t possible at your chosen venue.


The Wedding Planners!
Although the initial fee for a wedding planner can be off-putting, the advantages can be numerous! When visiting for the first time to look at venues a wedding planner can create a list of potentials based on your ideas, guest numbers and budget. This means less time wasted on venues that are too pricey, or simply not right for you. A planner can also give you an objective list of pros and cons of each venue as she is independent of them and works for you the couple.
EG: If you want to dance until dawn you need to know the noise restrictions at each venue and which bands and DJs work well there. A good planner will be able to advise you on these along with all the other suppliers you need for your wedding day. If you want something unusual – a funk band, or fireworks, she will be able to research if these are possible and if so, liaise between the supplier and venue to make sure everything is clear.


This liaison between suppliers and your chosen venue is a vital and under rated one, yet is often overlooked by couples planning to do everything themselves or with the venue coordinator. You, your wedding day suppliers and your chosen venue will all have an idea of how your wedding will run and when it will start and end. If these ideas do not coincide however you can have big problems. Venue planners will stick to the timeline that suits the hotel but it may not suit your or your wedding day suppliers. A good wedding planner will check and advise on the best time line to accommodate you and the venue and make sure everyone knows where they need to be, and when.
More than this even, ultimately your wedding planner is on your side. She will be the one advising you on menus, great bands and all fantastic local suppliers she knows. She’ll be there opening the door of the church for you or tying sashes on chairs. She will want you to have YOUR best Wedding day ever - not a copy of someone else’s…..

 

 

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