It’s an age-old question. Why do you need a Day-of coordinator? But picture it…you’ve planned every detail of your wedding, the invitations have been sent, the venue is booked. All the vendors have been hired, the vows are written and you are about to put on your stunning white dress. Then you start to think… have the flowers arrived? Did the caterer remember the date? Will the limousine be on time? Who will guide the Bridal Party? The truth is, as organized as you know you are, you don’t want to be handling the logistics of your wedding day. In comes the Day-of Coordinator.
There is actually no such thing as a ‘Day-Of Coordinator’.
“What!” you may say. Though many Coordinators use this term to describe a service that they provide, they are actually ‘month-of coordinators‘. Think about it. It is really difficult for a planner to show up on your wedding day expecting to take control of all the activities from start to finish without first having prior knowledge of what to coordinate. So, the service starts with a comprehensive consultation with the couple at least three to four weeks prior to the wedding. This is to gather all the details of the plans they made and have been stressing over for the last several months.
What do Day-of Coordinators (DOCs) do?
They are the professionals that execute all the logistics of your wedding day from start to finish. They ensure that your special day is exactly how you envisioned. From supervising the rehearsal on the evening before, checking arrival times of all vendors, queuing the bridal party for the processional to the collection of gifts and personal items at the end of the event. The day-of coordinator does it all.
Bridesmaid broke her nail? Groomsman can’t find his shirt? Is the flower girl crying for her mom? Will an elderly guest need assistance? Are final payments to be made to vendors? Undoubtedly, these are all real life wedding day occurrences. The day-of coordinator ensures that your plans are carried out smoothly and discreetly handles any problems that may arise. Most importantly the day-of coordinator keeps everyone calm, relaxed and happy throughout the event.
A full-service wedding planner handles EVERYTHING for the couple, from conception to execution on the day of the wedding. A day-of coordinator will will get everything organized as you lead up to the day of the wedding and ensure that all the details are executed as planned by the couple.
Do you really need a Day-of/Month-of Coordinator?
Absolutely, yes! Here’s the thing. Do you really want to leave the nitty gritty of your wedding day in the hands of your Maid of Honor or your mother? Besides, your family and friends are guests too and should be able to relax and enjoy your special day and not feel like ‘event staff’. While nothing is wrong with planning your own wedding, one thing is absolutely certain – you cannot coordinate your wedding day! Think of a wedding you have been to where it was clear that the couple needed more help or where things were always running late. It looks very bad on the bride and groom. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that every couple who plans their own wedding should hire a Day-of Coordinator.
Accordingly, your peace of mind on your wedding day will be worth every penny spent for this service.
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