When it comes to planning a wedding, there are so many new terms to learn! So what are the differences between a wedding ‘planner’ ‘designer’ ‘coach’ and ‘coordinator’? How do you know what you may need?

Every couple is different and will have their own challenges when it comes to planning, designing or managing their wedding day / weekend. If you read our last blog post about planning a unique wedding, you know that my husband Louis and I were involved in every little detail of our wedding. While that was a great way to save some money, it was A LOT of work. Not every couple has the amount of time, energy, or event knowledge that we had. So when you think about hiring some support, it’s worth asking yourself what level of involvement you would like to have in your wedding.

Once you have set your budget and had those important conversations to set expectations and boundaries, ask yourself:

Do I have the time and ability to think through my likes and dislikes, must haves and deal breakers?
Do I have the time and patience to research, contact and visit venues?
Do I have the time and ability to determine the things on my plate and manage my timeline effectively?
Do I have the time and patience to research, contact and meet with vendors?
Do I have the time and ability to sort through quotes, review contracts and confirm details with my vendors?
Do I have the time and skill set to think through my design aesthetic?
Do I have the time and skill set to research and locate items that match my design aesthetic?
Do I have the time and ability to create a wedding day / weekend timeline and stick to it?
Do I want to be in contact with all my vendors leading up to and on my wedding day to make sure all the details are set?
Do I want to manage the setup and breakdown of my wedding events?

Now that you have answered these questions and know where your pain points are, let’s define these terms so you can determine what level of support you may need.

Wedding Planner. A professional who assists with the organization, logistics, and management of a client's wedding. Think of a wedding planner like your fairy godmother that’s going to build and execute your dream wedding using your input. They will likely meet with you prior to quoting their services to determine the level of support you require, and confirm the budget you are looking to stay under. Once contracted your planner usually works with you for about 6-18 months before your wedding. I have planned weddings in as little as three months, but it’s always best to plan ahead for ample vendor availability and to avoid last minute stressors. Your planner is your one stop shop and should manage your budget, planning timeline, basic design aesthetic, vendors, oversee the setup, run and breakdown of your wedding day / weekend. Your planner will likely provide you with a list of services they will include in their rate, so make sure to look through the services carefully and confirm everything you need is listed. If something is not included, often times you can add on services such as reservation management for hotel blocks, rehearsal dinner or farewell brunch planning and management, gift management for your wedding party or guests, creation of visual or artistic design elements, etc.

Wedding Designer. Often times someone that is marketing themselves as a designer is going to be hands on with the artistic vision of your event and may design and build custom artistic elements for your wedding. Think of this as a consultant for all things visual, floor plans, lighting design, florals, furniture, place settings, candles, linens, and attire. This is for those couples that want that picture perfect wedding experience with a lot of personality.

Wedding Planning and Design. This service is a combination of planning and design, so think of this as your logistics master with an artistic eye on visual elements. This is what we LOVE to offer at The Maples Estate so you know your wedding will be low stress and customized to your liking.

Wedding Coach. Think of your wedding coach as someone that’s going to guide you through the wedding planning and design process and answer all your questions along the way. They will talk you down from that wedding planning spiral, help you think through your budget, make vendor and design recommendations, be your voice of reason and your personal coach through the wedding planning process! At The Maples Estate we offer a partial planning package that is a combination of wedding coaching and coordination so you can be hands on with your wedding without having to stress about the details and how it’s all going to come together. We are neutral and judgement-free!

Wedding Coordinator: Often referred to as day of management, this is the person or persons that will help you pull off every detail of your wedding day from load in to load out and everything in between. They are not involved in the planning or design, but will work with you about 30-45 days out to ensure that everything you have done to that point is in good working order. If it’s not, this will give them time to tweak any details and tie up loose ends. Your coordinator should build out your wedding day / weekend timeline, confirm floorpans, communicate with your vendors to finalize details and manage the wedding day / weekend timeline. These services are included in our packages at The Maples Estate! Many coordinators can offer a full service package with a second support just for bridal management. This assistant works directly with the bride / groom and photographer to ensure you are looking and feeling your best all day long. Let us know if this is something you would like and we can arrange for an assistant to be by your side!