What is a Wedding Coordinator, Bridal Consultant, &.

What is a Wedding Coordinator, Bridal Consultant, Wedding Planner – REALLY?

In today’s wedding market, the designation wedding plannerhas become all too commonplace. DJ’s, Florists, Caterers, Venues, and Churches claim to have bridal consultants or wedding coordinators on staff. This is unfortunate for those who really are professional wedding coordinators, as well as for the bride who believes she has hired a professional consultant, only to find out that the person is a liaison for the particular vendor or venue.

Many venues claim to have wedding planners. This may lead you to believe that the on site person will assist you in planning all aspects of your wedding. Actually the person is an employee of the venue and their number one priority is the venue and what the venue provides, not the bride.

The foundation of event planning is just that – planning the entire wedding or parts that the bride needs help with. Then coordinating with the every single professional in order to execute the couple’s unique vision. A wedding planner is in essence a Project Manager.

As a project manager they facilitate, mediate, manage money, are the creative artisan and constructor of dreams. Whether you are a bride, groom, or even a bridesmaid, you know the kind of stress involved with planning a wedding. You can add to a wedding planners job descriptiontherapist, sounding board, contract negotiator, legal review, and logistical engineer. It is difficult for an employee of a vendor or venue to fill these roles, this is what a wedding planner does.

The relationship between planner and client starts with an in-depth interview, which will include talking about your budget yes your money!. It is important that a planner knows your budget from the start, otherwise, she cannot make appropriate vendor recommendations. It is their job to find the best vendor for your money and the only way to do this is for you to be honest about your funds.

As important as money are your wants, needs and desires! What is your priority? Music, flowers, food, venue? What are your colors? How many people are in the wedding party? Do you want an indoor formal or outdoor fun wedding? Are there family dynamics that need extra special attention? How about special needs; wheelchair access, diabetes, there is an entire list of things that a professional planner needs to uncover and discover in order to do the very best job possible for you.

This is when the planner goes to work to save you time and money by narrowing down the many vendor and venue choices. They are familiar with the availability and pricing structure of most of the reputable vendors in the area. They can even set your appointments. How irritating would it be to meet with a vendor and find out they are out of your price range or not available on your date?
Before a contract is executed, a professional wedding planner makes sure that vendor knows what the bride expects. Likewise they will ensure the bride knows what the vendor is providing. Brides have been shocked when a DJ announces last dance an hour prior to what the bride thought, or when a linen company charges to come after midnight to collect linens.

Most people do not read the fine print of contracts, Many professional planners will send vendor contracts to their corporate attorneys to double check that services being provided will meet the client’s expectations.

Then after the legal review a planner starts to build the wedding weekend. Over the following months, the wedding a consultant will be in touch with the bride and every single vendor, (including the officiant) throughout the planning process. Finally, on the wedding weekend, the consultant will be at both the ceremony and reception location to oversee the delivery and set up all every contracted service.

A professional wedding planner serves the bride not a vendor or a venue. They will do whatever it takes to make sure the wedding is flawless. Providing pantyhose, having hair pins, helping with children, sitting with gandparents, having other vendors on a backup plan in case of emergency.

A professional planner knows that it is not all flowers and romance. It is a very real profession. They are the main point of contact for each and every vendor involved with your wedding. They know how to keep things running in order to avoid headaches and last minute problems. They are professionals, there to save you time, money and make your wedding day stress free.

Angela M. Brant,
President – In the Details Event Orchestration
http://midwest.inthedetailsevents.com