The Essential Guide to Wedding Planners, Coordinators, and Designers—and Which One is Right for You
With Wed&Done, you get the best of both worlds: a seamless combination of a wedding planner and a day-of coordinator to bring your dream day to life.
Planning a wedding can be an overwhelming experience, especially when it comes to understanding the roles of wedding planners, designers, and coordinators. Each professional brings a unique skill set to your big day, but finding the right combination can be tricky. Wed&Done offers an all-in-one solution, blending the roles of wedding planner and day-of coordinator to cover both the planning details and day-of logistics, making your wedding journey simple and stress-free. Let’s break down each role, so you can decide how Wed&Done can help make your celebration unforgettable.
1. What is a Wedding Planner?
A wedding planner is responsible for handling every logistical detail, from budgeting and timeline management to vendor referrals and contract negotiation. “Planners take the guesswork out of the process, making planning a wedding as seamless and smooth as possible,” says Renny Pedersen, owner of Bliss Weddings & Events. With Wed&Done, this is taken even further—our digital planning tools help you track all major milestones and connect with vendors, handling up to 90% of the logistics, leaving you free to focus on personal touches and design elements. AND we book all of your vendors for you, we don’t just give you a list of referrals to go through on your own.
Duties of a Wedding Planner
- Provides vendor referrals and negotiates contracts – or better yet BOOK all your vendors AND sign all the contracts for you.
- Schedules and attends vendor meetings
- Tracks deposits and payments for all vendors
- Creates detailed timelines and floor plans
- Assists with budget management
- Coordinates hotel room blocks and transportation
- Manages the rehearsal
- Oversees all wedding day logistics
When to Hire a Wedding Planner
Consider hiring a planner if you:
- Want to minimize wedding-related stress (who doesn’t want that!?)
- Have limited time for planning
- Lack organizational skills
- Are planning a destination wedding
Wed&Done combines these essential planning services with intuitive tools and a Magic Plan that maps out your entire journey. Our platform gives you the organization of a planner, so you don’t have to worry about managing every detail yourself.
2. What is a Wedding Designer?
Wedding designers focus exclusively on creating a visually stunning atmosphere for your wedding. Unlike planners, they don’t handle logistics but instead guide you in selecting colors, decor, and layouts. “We specialize in design, consulting on everything from floor plans to flowers and furniture,” says Tracy Taylor Ward, owner of Tracy Taylor Ward Design.
With Wed&Done handling all the logistics, you and your wedding designer can spend time on the FUN part of putting together your big day.
Duties of a Wedding Designer
- Creates the wedding’s design concept
- Provides color palette guidance
- Manages the decor budget and oversees related vendors
- Sources unique props and design elements
- Conducts site visits to plan layouts and check logistics
- Ensures all decor elements are in place on the big day
When to Hire a Wedding Designer
Consider hiring a designer if:
- A cohesive, beautiful aesthetic is your priority
- You have logistical skills but need help with creative direction
- You want a unique theme or style
3. What is a Wedding Coordinator?
Wedding coordinators handle the logistics on your wedding day, managing details to make sure everything runs smoothly. They typically step in a month before the wedding, coordinating with vendors, confirming timelines, and ensuring every part of your day unfolds perfectly. As Pedersen explains, “A coordinator makes sure everything you’ve done up until they take over is in good shape.”
With Wed&Done, you don’t have to choose between a planner and a coordinator, you get it all! Techno wizardy to help with the planning and your very own Planning Pixie to handle the day of coordination. Win-Win!
Duties of a Wedding Coordinator
- Confirms logistical details with vendors
- Reviews your plans and vendor contracts
- Conducts a final walk-through of ceremony and reception sites
- Manages the rehearsal and day-of timeline
- Oversees vendor setup and keeps the event on schedule
When to Hire a Wedding Coordinator
Consider hiring a coordinator if:
- You enjoy planning but want support on the wedding day
- You have organizational skills but want assurance on day-of details
- You’re looking for a budget-friendly planning option
With Wed&Done, our integrated planning path ensures that all your plans are centrally organized and easy to access, making it effortless for you and any day-of assistants to carry out your vision.
4. Key Considerations When Choosing Your Wedding Support Team
Choosing the right support professionals can make all the difference in the planning experience. Here are a few factors to keep in mind:
Book Early
Hiring your planner, designer, or coordinator early secures their services and allows for the best experience. But with Wed&Done you don’t have to worry about the timing. Since we’re with you from the beginning, helping you find that perfect venue and booking all your vendors for you, we’ve got you covered!
Consider the Cost
Hiring a wedding planner or designer is an investment, with costs often making up 15-20% of the total budget. But with Wed&Done you save on that cost by about 10-15%! Isn’t cost savings with automation awesome?
Vet Your Vendors
There are no licenses for wedding planners, so read reviews and check portfolios before hiring. With Wed&Done, again, you don’t have to worry about vetting anyone. We’ve been in this business for over 2 decades and we only work with the best of the best!
Designate Day-of Support
If hiring a professional isn’t possible, the old-school planners suggest asking a responsible friend to help with day-of tasks. But yikes! Who wants to put all that on a friend or family member. Stick with Wed&Done!
From early planning to day-of coordination, Wed&Done brings together the essential functions of a wedding planner and coordinator. Our platform guides you through each step, providing the tools you need to create an unforgettable celebration. With Wed&Done, you can relax, knowing every detail is expertly managed from start to finish.
