Congratulations, you're engaged and planning your wedding! You may be at the beginning of the journey, which many publications suggest is the time you should be picking a planner, or you could be close to the end, wrapping up the details. Either way, you're thinking about hiring a coordinator, and what will make them a good fit for your wedding. In this pandemic reality we are all living in, the need for a coordinator has been throw into stark relief, as brides around the world have leaned on theirs to help with the decision to postpone, finding new vendors and venues, and as a shoulder to cry on. So let's dig in and discuss it, shall we?!
1. Find someone who fits your personality!
Your coordinator is without a doubt the vendor you will be spending the most time with on your journey toward your wedding day. Whether it's in-person meetings, email or Zoom calls, you will be talking and meeting with your coordinator a lot, so it's extremely important you find someone whose personality clicks with you! It's also easier to take direction from someone you like, and they will be directing you and your wedding party at some points during the rehearsal and wedding day. Facebook and Instagram stalking are a given, but really take the time, invest in finding out about the person behind the business, and don't be afraid to get personal! This is also the time the coordinators on your short list will be learning about you, what issues and concerns you have, and where they can focus their efforts to make sure your stress level stays low and your enjoyment of the process is maxed out!
2. What does a coordinator do?
Before we go any farther, it's important to have an idea of what a coordinator actually does, which will help with the next step of being clear about what you want from them. Every coordinator does things a little different, has things that they specialize in and love to do, but here are the things you can expect pretty much every one of them to do. They will be your main problem solver in the weeks leading up to the wedding, dealing with last minute issues and addressing your concerns. They will help you stay organized with all the details, and will do the same for your vendors. They will make sure all vendors are on the same page and following the same schedule for the wedding day. And on the big day, they will make sure that all your decor is how you want it, get everyone lined up and in place for the ceremony, and ensure that all parts of the day run smoothly so you can concentrate on having fun with your partner and guests without worrying about the details!
3. Be clear about what you want from them Most coordinators offer full planning services as well, so they are used to offering various levels of service to their potential clients. When you are meeting with your short list candidates, it's important to let them know how much you want them to be involved and what you want them to do for you. Not only does this affect the price you will pay, but it will help both sides be clear on what is expected and what can be delivered. Your needs may evolve of course, and all coordinators understand that, but giving a baseline for what you want from them is a really important step. This will help you get to know them, what they can do for you, and how their services will fit with your needs. Some coordinators lean more toward design, some lean toward the logistics side, and some love to do it all. If you have a solid vision and want help putting all the pieces together, you may prefer a logistics-minded coordinator. If you are wanting help choosing vendors and someone to go to meetings with you, a design-minded planner may be your preference. Either way, going through the process will help you know how you will mesh with a particular person.
