Blissfully Creative Moments

Planning a wedding comes with a whole new tradition of language, and words you thought you understood suddenly take on a totally new meaning. One of the major differences that a bride needs to work out is what, precisely, the difference is between a wedding coordinator a wedding stylist designer, and a wedding planner. Below is a breakdown of what each different wedding expert organises! compiled from experts in the Wedding industry. 

Wedding Coordinator/Consultant 

What Does a Wedding Coordinator Do? 

A wedding coordinator is logistically focused, but on a shorter timeline than a planner. They usually begin helping you prepare a month or two before the wedding and function as the point person on the wedding day. They will confirm vendor contracts and create a day-of timeline, as well as make sure things like payments and guest counts are in order, but won't be involved in the earlier planning phases or keeping track of your budget. 

Part of their job is to coordinate everything involved on the day of the event, from load-in and load-out to ensuring that everyone and thing are on schedule. Coordinators make sure everything you've done up until they take over is in good shape. Hiring a coordinator to take over the month or two before your wedding gives them time to tweak any details and follow up on loose ends. Everything is in order, nothing is forgotten, and you're free to enjoy your wedding day! 

Wedding Coordinator Duties

 1. Puts in at approximately 25 hours. 2. Meets with you four to eight weeks before the wedding to get a handle on what you've planned thus far. 3. Checks in with your vendors to review the signed contracts and confirm logistics. 4. Creates detailed timelines and floor plans. 5. Completes a final walk-through of the ceremony and reception sites. 6. Addresses any overlooked details (such as forgetting to hire a coat check attendant). 7. Manages the rehearsal. 8. Oversees everything on the wedding day. Hire a Wedding Coordinator If ... 1. You want to play an active role in planning your wedding but would like someone to take care of the last-minute details and make sure you haven't missed anything. 2. You're extremely organized and detail-oriented. 3. You don't have the budget for a full-service wedding planner. 

Wedding Designer/Stylist Also known as Wedding Architect. 

What Does a Wedding Designer Do? 

A wedding designer's role is purely aesthetic and doesn't include things like contract negotiations or attending appointments alongside the bride. We specialise in design, consulting on everything from floor plans and lighting design to the flowers, furniture, linens, and attire. We help with the decisions that will give your event a cohesive, stylish and sophisticated look. The ability to design an event and create an atmosphere is a unique and rare talent. It's more than choosing linens and chairs. A designer has an artistic eye that allows them to conceptualise the whole event and truly transform a space. 

Wedding Designer Duties 

1. Puts in up to approximately 40 hours depending on the size of the wedding and its location. 

2. Creates the wedding's design concept. 

3. Provides colour palette guidance.

4. Oversees the decor budget and vendors (florist, rentals, lighting, stationery). 

5. Sources special props and equipment. 

6. Attends a site visit to visualize where you want everything to go, devise a layout, and identify potential problems. 

7. Creates detailed floor plans. 

8. Ensures all of the decor elements are in place on-site at the wedding.

Hire a Wedding Designer If ... 

1. The decor is the most important element of the wedding for you. 

2. You're confident in your organisational and logistical skills, but your creative skills are lacking. 

3. You're trying to pull off a very specific theme or you have a million wedding style ideas that you can't narrow down. 

Wedding Planner 

What Does a Wedding Planner Do? 

Wedding planners are all about the logistics, from vendor referrals and contract negotiation to the day of execution of your vision. "Planners take the guesswork out of the process, making planning a wedding as seamless and smooth as possible. A planner will keep track of your budget and handle the logistics. This is a skill that many can learn, but only the best planners have the years of experience and credentials that set them above the rest. Some planners also provide design or styling services, helping with the creative specifics of your wedding day, while others opt to leave those details to a wedding designer. This means you'll need to hire two professionals to create the day you've dreamed of. Be sure to discuss whether your planner offers design services, or else read on... 

Wedding Planner Duties 

1. Puts in 80 to 250 hours. 

2. Provides vendor referrals and negotiates contracts; schedules and attends all vendor meetings. 

3. Creates detailed timelines and floor plans. 

4. Helps determine and manage your budget. 

5. Attends site tours and menu tastings.

6. Brainstorms style ideas and coordinates design details. 

7. Coordinates hotel room blocks and transportation. 

8. Manages the rehearsal. 

9. Oversees everything on the wedding day (makes sure everyone adheres to the timeline, handles snafus, manages vendors, and executes your vision on-site). 

Hire a Wedding Planner If... 

1. You have the budget for it. 2. You want the least possible amount of wedding-related stress. 3. You have no free time because of a demanding job. 4. You have no clue where to start when it comes to planning, and your organisational skills aren't the greatest. 5. You have a very short time frame for planning. 6. You're throwing a destination wedding and/or a wedding weekend involving multiple events. 7. You're hosting your wedding in an unusual space (read: not a hotel, restaurant, or banquet hall).

Be sure to return for other interesting and hopefully useful information. Or send us an email or message and we will be happy to post a blog on your topic. We also have a Youtube channel covering our Blog topics.

This is the thought that runs through the minds of many couples. If this is, you! Pay attention, your psyche is trying to tell you what you already know the answer to. It’s often a challenge when you are planning your own wedding, knowing how to allocate money to each vendor/supplier, and where it could be best spent. We love the challenge that all new events bring, if we notice your hard-earnt wedding dollars are wasted on service, we’ll be the first to let you know, (this includes our own services). So, if any of the above scenarios echo with you, perhaps it’s time to call us.

You Have A Life Which Includes Work, Possibly Children and Accommodating Relatives from Out of Town

Life can become busy. Wedding planning and coordinating is a full-time job for us. We understand that it gets pretty crazy trying to juggle and stay focused on the details of your event when you have a dozen different vendors wanting your full attention. A busy life can create chaos when it comes to getting the smallest detail wrong when you are confirming your wedding vendors or suppliers, these have the potential to lead to hideous nightmares on your big day. Delegating these jobs to wedding professionals like us is the greatest peace of mind money can buy. Having a knowledgeable person cross-checking all booking you’ve made is priceless. Our wedding coordinators can also make suggestions about bookings you may not have so far considered or they can assist with ensuring a better experience with the one you have already booked.

If you have booked any kind of transport for your guests (this may be by Charter coach or limousine Car Hire), we can be there on the day to help make sure the whole day runs as smoothly as possible. The drivers will have our contact details for the lead up to your wedding, and it’s nice to know that if a

guest goes missing or a driver gets lost – then they have someone to call on the day of the event. It should never be the Brides or Grooms, not even any member of your wedding entourage party…They should be fully focused on helping you both be calm.

Keeping Track of The Multiple Wedding Vendors/Suppliers You Have Hired

You've started a relationship with Pinterest during the planning of your unique wedding, and the temptation of wanting to bring everything to life that you’ve seen has become all too hard and real. Juggling multiple vendors/suppliers and understanding the dependencies of each one, as well as their own timings is an art form. Outsourcing this to a professional planner who can pull it all together is always a grand idea and worth its weight in gold.

Personalised Favours and Details

If you’ve made your own personalised favours or table placement/menus, that need set-up can create a great deal of pressure relying on family and friends to do this for you. After all, they want to be there with you enjoy the day just as much as you do, and why shouldn’t they. 

This is not something we’d ever recommend to be honest. If something happens on the day of your wedding and they are unable to complete the job, it may be hard to make peace with a family member or friend afterwards if they let you down, and frequently not worth the heartache that it occasionally causes.

Style and Location of Weddings

So, you both decided to have your wedding at home. Weddings at home are never easy for many reasons. Do you really want a group of wedding vendors/suppliers trudging through your home whilst you are trying to relax whilst getting your hair and makeup done or for the fella’s you don’t want to be stressed by numerous questions you just want to chill and remember the order of your ceremony right?. 

All this can be a bit overwhelming. Usually, on the day of the wedding, you can’t always be around to see what’s going on and why would you want to deal with it. Weddings at home always benefit from one of our more substantial coordination packages involving site visits to your home in the months leading up so have a good grasp on the property and have a seamless take over on the wedding day. It’s always a better experience if questions from vendors/suppliers are fired across to us so that you are not working on the day of your event.

For an outdoor wedding, peace of mind is always assured by hiring one of our planner and or coordinators to be there and oversee the setup of your wedding. We will direct your vendors/suppliers to the precise location of the place where you’d like the ceremony to be set up. We’ll make sure your entertainment, musician and celebrant have arrived, and anyone you have booked for your decor. We’ll also take any of your own special items and put them in a safe place for you. Just in case you were quiring, we can also supervise pack up – and pick up any of your own items or special effects left behind.

Blank canvas spaces make the best events. You can really make it your own if you’re starting from just a vacant place. Having someone there at the start of the day ensure all your deliveries arrive, your catering team and kitchen equipment are there, and your lighting is set up at the start of the day is practical. Having the contact name and number of your wedding coordinator to give out to your vendors/suppliers is invaluable. You sure don’t want them to be calling you on the day if any problems arise or deliveries are late.

Your financial Investment in The Wedding Is Potentially One of Your Biggest Outputs

The expense of a wedding planner or coordinator is often insignificant in comparison to the thousands that many will spend on a Florist/Photographer along with food and beverage alone. Couples can spend so much on their wedding day and have no one to act on their behalf ensuring that all the hard-earned money that they have invested is really a reflection of everything they wanted the day to be. Only for it to seem so brief as they were not able to be present at the moment and enjoy every second and beautiful memory.

What may be considered Traditional" wedding roles can be quite overwhelming? Therefore let's look at the four most known. Outside of all things traditional we need to also consider cultural differences of the Bride and Groom. So "Traditional" is just as unique as the individuals involved. Bottom line is, it is all about the Bride and Groom having not to stress and being present at their special day. Depending on your timeframe 2 years, 12 months est. The day itself can feel like it vanished in minutes. So be kind to yourself and enjoy every second. 

So what are the roles of most known individuals that could be in the Bridal/Groom entourage; 

Maid of Honour * Bride's right-hand woman throughout the wedding planning process. * Plans and Hosts Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party. * Organises bridesmaids outfit, fittings, and all things girls do to glam up for the day. * Keeps check of bridesmaids and flower girls on the day. * Adjusts bride's outfit and reapplies makeup throughout the day. * Holds bride's bouquet and groom's ring during ceremony (if not having a page boy as ring bearer). * Signs the marriage registry as a witness. * Might give a speech during the wedding. * Organise for bride's dress to be dry cleaned after the day. * Pays for: Her Outfit, Bridal Shower and Bachelorette, Gifts for Couple. 

Bridesmaid * Helps Maid of Honour in shower and bachelorette night planning. * Keep up to date and helps bride with wedding planning. * Contributes to group gift from all maids. * Assisted with prepare welcome bags and favours. * Pays for: Her Outfit, Bridal Shower and Bachelorette, Gifts for Couple. 

Best Man * Organises and host bachelor party * Checks up on honeymoon flights tickets (if travelling) and hotel reservations. * Coordinates all groomsmen beforehand and throughout the wedding. * Holds brides ring during ceremony. (if no page boy as ring bearer). * Signs the marriage registry as a witness. * Gives speech at reception. * Returns all Suites (If hired) * Pays for: His Outfit, Bachelor Party, Gift for Couple. 

Groomsmen &/or Ushers * Assist Best Man in Bachelor Party planning * Show up at least an hour early and assists with seat guests at ceremony. * Chaperon bridesmaids down the aisle. * Help guest know where to go after the ceremony. So Bride and Grooms offer entertainment for guest whilst they are having photoshoots done. * Pays for: His Outfit, Bachelor Party, Gift for Couple. 

I hope you found this information useful. This is just an example of how weddings roles are generally planned.

 Wishing your special day be sprinkled with fairy and unicorn dust and all is magical for you both.