Venue Coordinator vs. Wedding Planner
We hear it all the time, “I don’t need a wedding planner. The venue provides one.” While venue coordinators are extremely helpful during the planning process, they have a different set of responsibilities. The main difference: the venue coordinator works for the venue, while a wedding planner works for you, the client.
Venue Coordinator:
A venue coordinator's responsibilities revolve around ensuring that your experience with the venue goes smoothly. They work for the venue, acting as a liaison between you and the venue staff. Though responsibilities vary depending on whether catering is provided in house or not, typical duties include:
- Contracting with you for necessary rooms and amenities
- Providing catering menus and pricing
- Arranging menu tastings and helping you decide on food and beverage choices
- Assist with space planning
- Coordinating service staffing and security
- Processing venue payments
- On the day of your wedding, they are there to turn on the lights, set the tables, chairs and linens, ensure the food gets out, the drinks are poured, and the space is cleaned up at the end of the night.
- They are not there, for example, to ensure the cake is delivered or that the DJ knows the run of events for the day.
In fact, usually the venue coordinator you work with is often not on site the day of your wedding, leaving that responsibility to an event captain you likely will not have met. If they are on site, they usually leave after the meal has been served. Contact with the venue coordinator usually cuts off once the contracts are signed, and they are not involved in the planning process again until about a month or two before the wedding. Although venue coordinators can provide catering and vendor referrals, these recommendations are not based on the style of wedding you are planning or your budget and the venue’s involvement often ends at the referral. Their main focus is to ensure that they provide all of the items outlined in the venue contract in a smooth, efficient manner, not to give feedback on how to best decorate the space.
Wedding Planner
A wedding planner is hired by, and works for, you as a consultant throughout the planning process. Of course, the level of planner involvement varies based on the services for which we were hired. However, typical responsibilities that we provide that are not provided by the venue coordinator include:
- Regular consultations and guidance.
- Budget and timeline development and management. This includes a final wedding timeline for the day of the event.
- Vendor recommendations that are based on your specific budget and style.
- Final audit of all planning to ensure all the final details are in place.
- Final calls with all vendors to ensure counts, timing and other details are confirmed.
- Guidance with selection of all visual elements of the wedding including décor, fashion, invites, favors, and cake.
- Scheduling of, and attendance at, all vendor appointments.
- Arranging of hotel blocks and group transportation.
- On-site coordination from the very start of set-up, all the way until the end of tear down.
We work with you to ensure you get the wedding of your dreams, with minimal stress. Then, day of, we do everything from keeping emergency kits on hand in case of tears or stains, to ensuring every vendor, including the venue, delivers an amazing experience for you and your guests.
Wedding Pinspiration: Marsala
Pantone {AKA the “world-renowned” authority on color} announced Marsala as the 2015 color of the year for everything, from fashion and furniture, to weddings. We, at Style-Architects, are obsessed with the color and have already offered our expert advice on adding Marsala into your personal style. So naturally, SA Weddings owes you brides some Pinspiration for incorporating this “it" color into your big day.
Marsala can best be described as a warmer shade of burgundy, maroon, and other deep reds mixed with brown. Its earthiness makes it versatile for weddings in any season. You can pair marsala with metallics {gold + copper} or various shades of amber and other neutrals for an elegant fall look. Marsala mixes beautifully with already popular wedding colors like blush and navy for summer weddings. A touch of greenery can brighten up and add lush accents to your florals.
If you don’t want your wedding look to be centered around Marsala, consider adding subtle hints of it throughout your decor {napkins, chargers, cake). The perfect shade for any skin tone, marsala is also a great choice for your bridesmaids and groomsmen attire.
Check out our “Marsala” Pinterest board for more ideas on how to add this hot hue to your wedding.
Vendor Feature: Kennedy Blue
Finding the right bridesmaids’ dresses for all of your lucky ladies is never easy. Part of our job here at SA Weddings is making sure the process is seamless and fun! The ladies from Kennedy Blue are on the same page as us when it comes to providing stress-free service for brides and their bridesmaids to try on and choose the perfect dress in every color and size. Check out our interview with Danielle Salazar, Kennedy Blue’s Marketing Specialist, who explains what makes Kennedy Blue buzz-worthy.
1. How was Kennedy Blue started?
In 2012, Kennedy Blue was created as an exclusive line for Wedding Shoppe, Inc. when they discovered a need for high-quality wedding attire at an affordable price. The line grew in popularity, exceeded expectations, and became big enough to branch off into its own brand in 2014. Wedding Shoppe, Inc. remains an exclusive retailer of the Kennedy Blue collection.
2. What type of bride do you think fits best with Kennedy Blue?
Kennedy Blue perfectly suits a classic bride looking for a chic, romantic look. Our affordable wedding dresses were designed with simple details so that a bride can easily dress them up or down to suit any venue or personal style.
3. Tell us about the style and fit of your dresses.
We've created high-end styles for brides and bridesmaids that don't carry the high-end price tags. Our bridal gowns are simple and chic, while our mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses were designed so that each 'maid can wear a style she'll love!
Most designers in the wedding industry are based on European size charts--forcing customers to order significantly larger than their regular retail dress size. However, Kennedy Blue's bridesmaid dresses run true to size, allowing you to feel beautiful and confident in the gown you order!
4. How do your dresses change with the seasons or trends?
In the past our styles have stayed pretty consistent, but we've become dedicated to keeping our line upbeat and on-trend. This past summer we added new silhouettes to our collection of short, lace bridesmaid dresses. We also just announced teal, royal, and champagne as the latest colors for our chiffon styles. In addition to these fresh looks, we've recently released an entirely new spring bridesmaid collection!
5. Why should customers go to Kennedy Blue instead of more traditional retailers?
With our At Home Try-On program, you can skip the crowded bridal salon and host a dress appointment in the comfort of your home. We take away the unnecessary stress of coordinating an appointment and squeezing into tiny dress sizes by giving you and your girls the experience of sampling a stylish, designer line sent straight to your front door. It's also the perfect service for out-of-town 'maids who want to try a sample style before they buy!
This program allows you to sample up to 3 dresses for 3 days. The cost is $10 for the first dress, and $5 for each additional. Simply fill out a form online to request the dresses in your desired styles and sizes. You can also request color swatches. Once the form is submitted, we do our very best to fulfill the request in a timely manner.
Our blog "Online Dress Shopping Made Easy" explains all the great perks of Kennedy Blue.
Visit the Kennedy Blue website to check out all of their styles.
2013 IN(DY)SPIRE: The Independent Wedding Fair
Stock up on bridal inspiration at the sixth annual Indyspire! Presented by the Independent Wedding Association, Indyspire will feature hand-selected wedding vendors, workshops and even various mini-workshops! Don't miss Joy Teiken of Joynoelle Bridal's mini-workshop discussing the custom dress process. There will even be a chance to experience an actual dress fitting! Also, be sure to enter the Pinterest to Reality Challenge and have your favorite DIY inspiration created during a workshop at the fair!
Saturday, February 16, 2013 American Swedish Institute 1:00 - 4:00pm Tickets $15 per pair
1:15 - 1:45pm Pinterest to Reality: how DIY translates (in time and money) to your big day Presented by Jessica of Jeff Loves Jessica Photography and Alyson of Bash Collective.
2:45 - 3:15pm Photography Panel: this mostly Q & A session includes a panel of 4 wedding photographers discussing how to best select a photographer.
3:30 - 3:45pm Personalizing your Ceremony: Presented by Sarah Lawton, pastor of NE United Methodist Church. Will include sample ceremony scripts and helpful tips for writing vows, including your diverse or non-traditional family, and same sex couples.
MN Bride Awards: Vote for Style-Architects!
Minnesota Bride Magazine is now accepting nominations for its 2013 "Best Of" Awards and we would be so grateful for your vote! If you are a former bride, have attended a Style-Architects planned event and/or simply love our weekly blog inspiration, please submit a vote for Style-Architects as the Best Wedding Planner! Winning a "Best Of" is one of the most coveted awards for vendors like us and your vote would mean the world to us. And, for extra credit, we'd love it if you'd pass this along to your friends and family. All you need to do is...
- Click HERE to vote
- Enter your information
- Write-in "Style-Architects" in the Wedding Planner category (#40)
- Vote in at least 6 categories or your vote won't count!
- Know that you are making our team smile!
- Forward this email to your friends and family and ask for their vote!
Deadline is Monday, February 11th.