A while back I wrote this piece for an AMAZING Officiant, Virginia Bishop, and decided it was about time to put it on my own blog. I can really speak to this because I have been the "Venue Coordinator" and I know how it can work to your advantage and most likely your DISADVANTAGE. In the beginning, using the Coodinator that works at the Venue seems like an easy, and cost effective, option but I want all of the Brides reading this to think twice about your decision. Odds are good you wouldn't always get someone like me working at that Venue and the money you spend on a professional coordinator can save you bundles in the long run. Over the next few days I will be posting some of my top 10 reasons to go with a Professional. Tonight we have 8-10.
In today’s stellar economy, brides, whether their budget is $5,000.00 or $500,000.00, are trying to find creative ways to reduce expenses while pulling off their dream wedding. One of the alarming trends we are beginning to see in the industry is instead of obtaining the services of a Professional Wedding Coordinator, brides and their families are opting to go with the venue “wedding coordinator” that is provided at no cost once they sign a contract to host their wedding there. As a former Hotel Wedding Coordinator I can say that 75% of venue “wedding coordinators” are not trained in weddings and a large percentage don’t exactly have a passion for the industry, have a desire to be a Professional Wedding Coordinator or even like weddings…it’s just a job. Venue Coordinators are great…for handling venue logistics NOT for executing an all encompassing flawless day.
Here are 10 things to be mindful of when you decide to forgo a Professional Wedding Coordinator:
10. Contractual Obligations
You sign a lot of contracts in the wedding planning process. It’s not the most fun aspect of planning but these contracts protect you and the vendors you are working with. The photographer you love, that funky DJ, your amazing floral designer, they are all guaranteed to be working their magic on your wedding day. Signing that venue contract guarantees you the venue and maybe will lock in your menu and pricing. It does not guarantee that “planner” you have been hammering out every detail with over the past year has to be there. I can’t begin to tell you how many brides I felt bad for leaving at my former venues but life happens and in the end, I was just the one to sell it to you. You signed with my venue, not with me.
9. Education
It’s a growing source of contention and bitterness with Professional Wedding Coordinators that Hotel Coordinators can hold a title such as “Certified Wedding Planner” without having any experience. Trust me, I took the “Certified Wedding Planner” Exam through the major hotel chain I was working for that offers it. It’s 20 or 30 questions asking things like what side of the aisle does the Groom’s Parents sit on? It is so easy the Executive Chef and the Banquet Captain accidentally took it and passed. That exam doesn’t teach you anything you need to know about weddings other than a few basics and tips, at least it’s not enough to pull off a successful one. Professional Wedding Coordinators should be a member of the Association of Bridal Consultants and through this organization they require that you have a certain amount of continuing education credits each year to stay a member. I currently hold the title of Accrediated Bridal Consultant which required me to study about Wedding Day Management, Etiquette, Marketing and more, pass exams and do a final project and submit a binder and essays for approval, requiring proof of your work. That binder has taken me months to produce, it is not something that is done in a day. Obtaining the Master Bridal Consultant designation is even more difficult. It’s understandable why we may be offended with someone running around with a “Certified Wedding Planner” title which only took a 20 question test and half an hour to get. We have the training to fix what could go wrong but more importantly, have the education to spot those potential disasters before they even happen.
8. Going the Distance
What was my favorite part of being a Hotel Planner? Getting to go home right after the entrees were served on the table! Did you really think Hotel Planners had to stay for your entire event? Think again! My job was to be there at about 1 or 2 in the afternoon, make sure your room got set up, make sure the ceremony looked ok if it was being held at the hotel and make sure the Kitchen and Banquet staff were on point with what was listed on the event orders you signed. Once that food was out of the box and on your headtable I was gone. See ya! Have a wonderful marriage! I didn’t have to be concerned if you knew how to make that first cut in your cake, if the DJ knew when you start the party music or if your gifts got to your room. I wasn’t getting paid at that point to be concerned. Now, if I am your Professional Wedding Coordinator, I was there at 8am, making sure you made your hair and makeup appointments on time, trying to get you to munch on some food so you don’t starve, make sure everyone is dressed, ready and fabulous to be prepared for those important pre-wedding photos, running to the store when you accidentally rip your pantyhose…then maybe on to Popeyes to get you a biscuit because that is all you can even eat because you are nervous. All the while getting chair bows tied, your place cards perfectly set up, laying out the coolest candy bar ever seen and placing all your favors for your guests while making sure vendors are on time. Then there is lining the wedding party up for the ceremony while being crafty enough to keep the bride and groom apart and getting you two down that aisle. Bustling your train, getting you announced in your room, making sure you have a blast, getting your gifts, your luggage and probably your shoes back to your room and giving you an amazing send off. See who at the hotel will do that.
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