Do I need a wedding planner if I have a venue coordinator? 

Let’s first explain the difference between a wedding planner and a venue coordinator. 

The main difference is that a planner works for YOU, creating a full detailed timeline for your day or weekend. A wedding planner becomes your confidant, helps design, acts as decision maker, and the go-to for all your wedding suppliers. A planner will take on the majority of admin to include (but certainly not limited to) sourcing suppliers, checking their availability, pricing and terms, using their extensive experience and reputable industry contacts, manage timings to ensure the day flows like a dream, and ensure the overall look and vision is cohesive throughout, whilst working to your budget and making your celebration unique to you. Perhaps the biggest concern over hiring a planner is that you lose control; please rest assured that it fully remains your day, with any final decisions remaining with the couple.

A venue coordinator is employed by the venue. They may give you template timings, assist with suppliers arrival onsite, but their main role is to ensure the venue is taken care of and things run well for them.

Eve Dunlop Photography

What is the difference?

A wedding planner is often perceived as a luxury investment, but for many it is essential. With an average wedding topping over 300 hours of planning, a great wedding planner will allow the couple to have just one main point of contact rather than managing multiple individual suppliers (often between 20-30!). A full wedding planning service includes managing every element; from guest lists, dietary requirements, accommodation bookings, wedding websites, timings, and so much more. Our clients are busy professionals with an equally full social life and simply don’t have the hours to spare to plan their wedding. 

An on the day coordinator often included as part of a venue package but they are employed by the venue to ensure your plans are carried out correctly and on time, typically departing after the first dance, and of course you may find there are staff changes along the way. Many venues have wonderful coordinator teams in place but they will be restricted on what they can do to support you with in both the lead up to, and on the day.

Mark Horton Photography

Your dedicated wedding planner will have spent months, maybe years getting to know and will be there ready to support you come hell or high water! My team and I are onsite from first thing in the morning until the last guests depart, allowing you to enjoy all the celebrations the the fullest. We even pop back the next day to clear down and ensure hire items are ready to be returned. With years of experience we know that the day is not over after the first dance, far from it – if accidents happen, or taxis not booked, it will likely be late in the evening and we want to be there to make sure you don’t have to worry (and ideally never know about it!).

Marquee weddings

If you are having a marquee celebration it’s unlikely a coordinator will be included. We love planning marquee weddings and enjoy the flexibility they offer, but essentially you are building a venue from scratch and this often takes several days to build and set up, not to mention the complexity in the planning stages.

For marquee events we oversee everything from the start of the build to make sure everything is perfect. There are many additional elements to consider, so a wedding planner is a must-have for this type of celebration; whether that be full planning, partial service, or on the day management. You do not want to be the point of contact if the sinks in the loos stop working, or the generator needs attention!

Eve Dunlop Photography

The best investment you will make

Guess what? A wedding planner can save you money in the long run! 

With experience in knowing what suppliers charge, where money can be saved based on your priorities, and often benefiting from trade rates for hire, they can help your budget go further. Planners all work in different ways, but here at Salt and Scent we always pass these benefits directly onto our clients. For this reason, the earlier you instruct a planner the more value you get.

We also keep couples on track (!). There is the temptation to panic buy additional items in the final lead up; but we can help rein you in making sure you only spend on items that will be beneficial to your day. 

Rob Tarren Photography

If you would like to chat about planning support, or on the day management please head to our contact page to get in touch.

Loads of love,

Rach x